Performance analysis of fiber-optic transducer for measuring low pressures

In this paper we present an analysis of the performance of an industrial prototype of the fiber-optic transducer for measuring low hydrostatic pressure. Panda 800 and novel elliptical-core side-hole fibers were used as highly birefringent sensing elements for two ranges of pressure up to 2.1 MPa and up to 0.28 MPa, correspondingly. Metrological data presented here show an overall accuracy of 1% including stability, repeatibility and error of temperature compensation can be maintained over a significant range of temperatures. Connectorized leading input and output fibers using FC Seiko single-mode optical connectors allow convenient exchange of sensing heads and remote operation up to about 1 km. Using standard pressure fittings the transducer can easily be connected to any kind of pressure chamber or vessel