Integration of Intensity Variation-Based POF Sensor Into Turbomachinery for Measuring Rotational Movement of Wind and Hydro Turbines

This study proposes the rotation measuring sensors by utilizing polymer optical fiber. The sensor measures rotational movement by the optical power intensity variations. Initially, optical power is launched into the optical fiber and propagates along its length. At the sensing region, the optical power is going to be loss due to enhanced interaction of the evanescent field with the surrounding medium. When the rotating arm is positioned over the exposed sensing section, the optical losses are reduced. Consequently, the transmitted optical power intensity varies as a function of the rotational position. Therefore, rotational movement is quantified by monitoring the changes in output optical power. The initial sensor response is measured during controlled rotational movement variation, achieved by regulating the movement of the rotating arm over the sensor-integrated disc. The sensor responded effectively to measure the rotational movement in the range of 15 to 40 rpm. The successive sensor response for regulated rotational movement extended the sensor integration into wind and hydro turbines. For wind and hydro turbines, the sensor is integrated into prototypes of the turbines. Similarly, the sensor plays an effective role in measuring the rotational movement of the turbomachinery. The sensor demonstrates its capability to track rotational movement at an interval of 0.1 seconds. The successive sensor response, which measures rotational movement, makes it a competitive alternative to commercial sensors. This advancement represents a significant step towards enhancing the reliability of the proposed sensor in modern turbomachinery.