High temperature monitoring of an oxy-fuel fluidized bed combustor using femtosecond infrared laser written fiber Bragg gratings

Abstract

Femtosecond pulse duration infrared laser (fs-IR) written fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), have demonstrated great potential for extreme environment sensing. Harsh environments are inherent to the advanced power plant technologies under development to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The performance of new power systems are currently limited by the lack of sensors and controls capable of withstanding the high temperature, pressure and corrosive conditions present. This paper discusses fabrication and deployment of several fs-IR written FBG arrays, for monitoring the temperature distribution within a fluidized bed combustor. Results include: calibration data to ~ 1100 °C, discussion of deployment strategies, contrast with thermocouple data, and comments on reliability.