The objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate a fiber-optic, fluid-flow sensor that will lead to all-optical, flight-data and engine-control instruments for high performance aircraft. By mounting a photo-elastic pressure sensor on the side of a vortex-swirl flow housing, pressure pulses may be sensed. The pressure-pulse frequency is a linear function of flow rate in a vortex swirl meter. The pressure sensor is a device partially developed under a 1986 NASA SBIR Phase I contract which has been applied to vortex swirl flow measurements by the company's personnel. This project, however, will create a passive optical device, addressed solely by optical fibers, which will utilize the firm's existing generic electronic interface unit. The resulting flow meter will be tested over a range of flow rates determined in consultation by NASA and over a range of temperatures from -55 F to +150 F.
Potential Commercial Applications:Commercial applications are in military or commercial aircraft instrumentation for measurement of fuel-flow rate, air flow, and airspeed.STATUS: Phase I Only
