Techniques and Materials for Optical Fiber Sensors Sealing in Dynamic Environments with High Pressure and High Temperature

Abstract

We detail a study of the techniques and sealing materials for optical fiber sensors used in dynamic environments with high pressure (>300 bar) and high temperature (>300 °C). The sealing techniques and materials are the key for the robustness of sensors in harsh dynamic environments, such as large combustion engines. The sealing materials and techniques studied in this work are high-temperature epoxies, metallic polymer, metallic solders, glass solder, cement, brazing and electroless nickel plating. Because obtaining high temperature simultaneously with high pressure is very difficult in the same chamber in the laboratory, we developed a new and simple method to test sealed fibers in these conditions in the laboratory. In addition, some sensors using the materials tested in the laboratory were also field tested in real thermoelectric combustion engines. The study also discusses the methods of fabrication and the cost−benefit ratio of each method.

Keywords

• harsh environments
• high pressure
• high temperature
• materials
• optical fibers
• optical sensors