Plastic optical fiber hydrogen detection sensor systems for harsh environment in aerospace application

Alex A. Kazemi; Kish Goswami; Edward Mendoza; Lothar Kempen

doi:10.1117/12.918897

10 May 2012 Plastic optical fiber hydrogen detection sensor systems for harsh environment in aerospace application

Alex A. Kazemi, Kish Goswami, Edward Mendoza, Lothar Kempen

Proceedings Volume 8368, Photonic Applications for Aerospace, Transportation, and Harsh Environment III; 836807 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918897
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

This paper describes the 1st successful Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) cable and Glass Optical Fiber (GOF) hydrogen detection sensor systems developed for the Boeing Evolved Expandable Lunch Vehicle (EELV) Delta IV Launch Vehicle harsh environment of engine section. H₂ sensors are necessary to monitor the possible leak of rocket prior launch to avoid explosion, which can be highly dangerous. Due to harsh environment of launch vehicle, we developed the first combination of 100 m POF and glass fiber H₂ sensors. The hydrogen sensor consisted of optrodes distributed at multiple locations along a fiber optic cable-based network. These hydrogen sensors were used on the Common Booster Core (CBC) of Delta IV had to perform in temperatures between -18° C and +60° C. The hydrogen sensor sensitive chemistry was fully reversible and had demonstrated a response to hydrogen gas in the range of 0% to 10% with a resolution of 0.1 % and a response time of 5 seconds measured at a gas flow rate of 1 cc/mm. The optical signature of the optrode in the visible spectrum varied proportionally to the local hydrogen gas concentration. To qualify the POF and fiber optic cables, performed detail investigation for attenuation loss, thermal, humidity, temperature, vibration and accelerate testing for life expectancy. Extensive networking using LabView were carried out for lab and actual field demonstrations.

Citation Download Citation

Alex A. Kazemi, Kish Goswami, Edward Mendoza, and Lothar Kempen "Plastic optical fiber hydrogen detection sensor systems for harsh environment in aerospace application", Proc. SPIE 8368, Photonic Applications for Aerospace, Transportation, and Harsh Environment III, 836807 (10 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918897

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