Sensor probes are to be generally mounted normal (perpendicular) to a target surface. With some applications, such as displacement of a cantilever beam, the target surface rotates as deflects. In other applications, due to installation constraints, the probe can not be mounted normal to the surface. In applications where tilt is unavoidable, what sensors can be used?
Our latest application note Sensor Applications With Tilt provides guidance on sensor performance and selection.
When the cryogenic medium is Liquid Oxygen (or Liquid Natural Gas), calibration in water is a better approximation than calibration in air:
Air Refractive Index = 1.000
Liquid Oxygen Refractive index = 1.221
LNG Refractive Index = 1.286
Water Refractive Index = 1.332
A sensor’s operating range is extended in proportion to the ratio of the refractive indices.
For example, to calculate a sensor’s response in LOX, first calibrate the sensor submerged in water. Then remap the displacement data by the ratio 1.221/1.332.
Space launch vehicles use liquid propellant rocket engines with high-pressured turbopumps to deliver extremely low temperature propellants of liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen or liquid natural gas (methane) to a combustion chamber in the engine. During developmental testing of advanced turbopump designs, engineers monitor the radial and axial displacements of the rotors over the entire speed range of operation.
Philtec’s FODS (Fiber Optic Displacement Sensors) are being successfully used for rotor dynamics measurements in cryogenic fluids. When a fiber optic probe is submersed in a fluid, light rays diverging from the probe tip are more collimated than they would be in air. This increases the operating range of the sensor. The degree of collimation is proportional to the index of refraction of the fluid.
Refractive Index of Common Cryogenic Fluids
1.0002926 Air
1.0974 Liquid Hydrogen
1.2053 Liquid Nitrogen
1.221 Liquid Oxygen
1.286 Liquid Natural Gas (Methane)
OPERATION IN CRYOGENIC FLUID, EXAMPLE
Philtec provides the rocket engineers with a calculated best estimate of sensor performance following this example:
For example, a sensor is calibrated to a target surface in Air with Refractive index of 1.0002926
For a probe immersed in Liquid Hydrogen with Refractive index of 1.0974, the sensor’s calibration gap data is scaled by the ratio of the Refractive Indices:
1.0974 ÷ 1.0002926 = 1.0971
Two calibration charts are provided: One for operation in Air; one for operation in LH2
The shape of curved glass windows in automated production lines is typically measured using LVDT contact sensors. When the glass is very thin and light, normal pressure of the LVDT probes tend to mov
e the glass from the holding fixture and corrupt the measurement. Philtec’s non-contact FODS (Fiber Optic Displacement Sensors) solve the problem.
This month Philtec has delivered 100 sensors for a gaging station at a European automotive glass window manufacturing plant (50 for the driver side, and 50 for the passenger side). These sensors are very accurate, and prevent movement or scratches on the glass.
The model RC171 FODS is a reflectance compensated optical sensor with 15 mm operating range. It is insensitive to part-to-part reflectance variations as well as to ambient lighting interference. Data from a set of 50 probes is read in less than 1 second.
Gas and steam turbine manufacturers of fossil power plants have long used hand-held feeler gages to measure turbine blade tip clearances and inspect the roundness of the TBC linings at access ports provided for that purpose. With new construction and at overhaul, turbine blade tip-to-casing clearances at room temperature must be properly set.
Philtec has developed the wireless non-contact sensor system CMS3400 to replace manual feeler gage methods. As a technician slowly jogs a rotor thru 360° of rotation, Gap and Angle data pairs are simultaneously recorded from 4 rows of blades and saved to a USB flash drive for offloading and data analysis. CMS3400 is a four channel wireless sensor system that digitally captures the full 360° picture of blade tip-to-casing roundness and clearance data. This product represents a major advancement in the state-of-the-art.
MORE INFO AT Wireless Sensors for Blade Tip Clearance
Introducing our smallest and most powerful digital sensor series with USB output: the MicroDMS series (µDMS). Powered via any standard USB port, or multiplexed via any standard USB hub, this new sensor series boasts a maximum data sample rate of 16,000 samples per second in a 145 gram enclosure of LWH dimensions 75 x 50 x 23 mm. With Philtec’s fully-featured DMS Control freeware, this sensor is a powerful solution to many measurement problems.
With its miniaturized size and USB power, it is an ideal solution for high density workstations where space is at a premium. Sensors can be stacked together to form the most compact arrangement. For example, 6 sensor modules can be stacked together in a space of 132 mm.
Contact our application engineering staff to explore the possibilities the µDMS series offers for you.
Philtec adds the model D240 sensor having an overall operating range of 75 mm.
Sensor with 75 mm Measurement Range
The Problem: Inspection of the integrity of small internal threads such as M10.
The Solution: Very small fiberoptic probes can be made having two diametrically opposed sensors.
The probe can be used to scan the length of internally threaded holes as the probe is inserted. The probe is rotated 90° at the bottom of the hole and the thread is scanned once more as the probe is retracted, thereby providing complete thread inspection every 90°. Plus and minus accept/reject tolerances can be set by comparing known good part voltages with known defective part voltages. Missing, shallow and/or damaged threads can be detected as they fall outside the accept/reject tolerance.
Advantages of Fiberoptic Probes
INTRODUCING
Blue Light Sensors for displacement measurements on extremely hot targets.
Metals emit light energy in the red spectrum when heated above 600°C. Red-glowing parts interfere with displacement measurements of optical sensors that use red lasers or LEDs as the light source.
Tests run by Philtec engineers demonstrate there is no detectable light energy from hot targets in the blue wavelength spectrum.
MATERIALS
Sensor probes and tips exposed to temperatures >600°C are constructed with exotic materials that can withstand extreme temperatures such as:
– fused silica (quartz) fibers
– ceramic adhesives
– high temperature alloys
APPLICATIONS
– gas turbines
– glass forming ovens
– glowing metals and ceramics
– hot steel processing
CONTACT US
The combination of blue wavelength and exotic material technologies allow displacement measurements to be made in extremely high temperature applications. Tell us about your application. Our engineers will help you configure sensor systems meeting your requirements.
Philtec has developed an accessory pack BAP 2.0 that enables any Philtec mini-DMS Displacement Measurement System with RS-232 output to be run in wired or wireless modes.
BAP2.0 includes:
Power Requirements
USB @ 500mA
Specifications
Time To Charge: 4 Hours
Run Time: 10 Hours w/full charge
Standby Mode: 4 Weeks
Run Time: 3 Hours After 4 weeks Standby
Max. Data Rate = 900 Samples/Second
