Temperature-Independent Fiber Bragg Grating Liquid-Level Sensor

Based on Reflection Optical Power Detection

Tuan Guo∗ , Qida Zhao, Lifang Xue, Guiling Huang, Shiyu Gao, Yan Yu, Luming Zhao, Lihui Liu
Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, China 300071

ABSTRACT
Design and construction of temperature-insensitive fiber Bragg grating (FBG) liquid level sensor based on bending
cantilever beam (BCB) is proposed and demonstrated. The BCB induces spatially gradient strain on the unique sensing
FBG, resulting in a Bragg bandwidth modulation. The broadening of FBG spectrum bandwidth and the reflected optical
power are corresponded to liquid level changes, insensitive to spatially uniform temperature variations. In the liquid-level

range of 500 mm and temperature change from 20 C to 80 oC , the liquid level measurement fluctuates less than 2%

without any temperature compensation. By a pin-photodiode (PD) optical power detecting, the liquid-level sensor avoids
expensive and complex demodulation techniques and potentially costs low.

Keywords: Fiber Bragg gratings, liquid-level sensor, temperature-insensitive, bending cantilever beam.

1. INTRODUCTION
Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) have been increasingly studied as smart optical sensors in a variety of applications. Great
deals of interests have being focused on liquid-level sensing for the numbers of requirements in current modern industry.
Wide range of liquid-level sensing techniques based around mechanical [1], electrical [2] and ultrasonic [3] methods have
been reported. However, their applicability is compromised if the liquid to be monitored is conductive or if the
environment is potentially explosive. The use of optical fiber technology, for its intrinsical advantage of dielectric and
immunity to electromagnetic interference, is particularly appropriate for potentially explosive environment. Several
optical fiber liquid-level sensors have been developed during the past few years[4-15]. For example, a liquid-level sensor
based on the refractive-index sensitivity of long period gratings with a high precision but very short distances in the
micrometer range [12], microbending optical fiber sensors with a resolution of 10 mm in meter range measuring and a
temperature measurement is needed for temperature compensation [13], intensity modulation using a pair of fibers as
transmitting source light and receiving the partial reflection light off the liquid surface through a glass prism, restricted by
the fluctuation of source light power and the cleanness of prism surface[14,15].The ultimate goal of developing new
sensing devices with better qualities and possible lower costs encourages research in this field.
In this letter, a novel method for liquid-level sensor using fiber Bragg grating based on spectrum bandwidth modulation
is proposed and demonstrated. The bending cantilever beam (BCB) is designed to induce spatially gradient strain on the
originally unique sensing FBG. The broadening of Bragg spectrum bandwidth is in response to the liquid level changes,
but is immune to spatially uniform temperature changes. A pin-photodiode (PD) is utilized to detect reflection optical
∗

Email: guotuan2001@163.com / guotuan@mail.nankai.edu.cn; Phone: 86-22-23509849; Fax: 86-22-23508770

Passive Components and Fiber-based Devices II, edited by Yan Sun, Jianping Chen, Sang Bae Lee, Ian H. White
Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6019, 60191W, (2005) · 0277-786X/05/$15 · doi: 10.1117/12.637060

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6019 60191W-1

power avoiding the expensive using of optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). The simple and low-cost liquid-level sensor has
a considerable application potential, particularly in which temperature changes need to be considered.

2. PRINCIPLE
Fig.1 shows the structure of the bending cantilever beam (BCB). BCB can be divided into three parts with different
functions: the above horizontal beam where the force is applied, the side beam used to induce spatially gradient strain and
the beam base with which the whole BCB is firmly fixed on experimental vessel. Optical fiber is attached on the outer
surface of side beam along its central axes and the area of the grating is symmetrically parallel to the top of half round
hole.

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of fiber Bragg grating liquid-level sensing and the structure of the bending cantilever beam.

For different points on the FBG, when force is applied, the elongation of spatial period ⊄ of the grating varies from
the maximum at arc center to the minimum on both end sides. Thus, the shifts of Bragg reflection sub-wavelength are
separated in response to different positions of the FBG. However, the shifts of each separated sub-wavelength are
comparatively smaller than that of the bandwidth. As a result, most parts of every sub-reflection spectrum overlaps with
others. Then, one reflection spectrum with wholly broadened bandwidth generally comes into being. Because most
intensity of reflection light is convergent upon the center of FBG where the spatial period ⊄ is elongated most and the
longest wavelength is reflected, the Bragg reflection spectrum presents a gradient up-edge. The results of subsequent
experiments confirm the above analysis, which is shown in Fig.2.
As to temperature influence, because the thermal expansion coefficient is only related to the material which is uniform
in the whole cantilever beam, thus it keeps its value of ~23.6µm/m·k no matter where the position is. Axial strains of
different parts of the FBG are equal when the temperature changes. Therefore, temperature changes only result in the
shifts of Bragg reflection wavelength and do not affect the bandwidth[16].

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6019 60191W-2

 Fig. 2. Reflection spectrum of fiber Bragg grating at three liquid level: (a):-300mm; (b) 150mm; (c) 0mm; (d) 200mm.

3. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fig.1 shows the schematic figure of the experimental measurement system. Light from a broadband source (BBS)
illuminates the grating via a 3 dB coupler, an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) is used to measure the Bragg wavelength
shift and bandwidth broadening by monitoring the reflection spectrum of the Bragg grating, and a pin-photodiode (PD) is
used to measure the reflection power. The FBG used in this work is UV-written in a hydrogenate B/Ge fiber using a

uniform-period phase mask, with Bragg reflection wavelength of 1550 nm at a temperature of 28 C .A properly designed

column buoy is vertically fixed under the horizontal beam of the BCB to transfer liquid level variations into vertical force.

With the liquid change of -300~200mm, the measured bandwidth broadening ∆ BW and wavelength shift ∆ B of

FBG in response to liquid level change is shown in Fig.3. Here the bandwidth threshold is set to 15 dB in order to cover
the whole broadened bandwidth. Fig.4 shows the response relationship between FBG total reflection power and liquid
level change through a PD optical power detecting.
It is difficult to determine the direction of liquid level variation simply by monitoring the optical power. One effective
solution is to pre-weigh a buoy to ensure that the BCB works toward only one direction with one sign and that zero
pressure corresponds to zero liquid level.
Reflection spectrum shows a stable figure through repeated measurement. The liquid level measurement fluctuates less
than 2% without any temperature compensation. Based on the structure of BCB, the liquid level sensitivity and
measurement range can be flexibly adjusted by changing the thickness of arc beam and the position where force is applied.

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6019 60191W-3

 Liquid level (mm)

-300 -200 -100 0 100 200

1553

2.0 Bandwidth (15dB)

Peak wavelength
1552

1.6

1551
1.2

1550
0.8

1549
0.4
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4
Force (N)

Fig. 3. Bandwidth broadening ∆ BW and wavelength shift ∆ B of FBG in response to liquid level change

Liquid level (mm)

-300 -200 -100 0 100 200

-24

Total reflection power

-25

-26

-27

-28

-29

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4

Force (N)

Fig. 4. FBG total reflection power in response to liquid level change

4. CONCLUSION
In this letter, a novel method for liquid-level sensor using fiber Bragg grating based on spectrum bandwidth modulation
is proposed and demonstrated. The bending cantilever beam (BCB) is designed to induce spatially gradient strain on the
unique sensing FBG. The broadening of Bragg spectrum bandwidth is in response to the liquid level changes, but is
immune to spatially uniform temperature changes. A PD is utilized to detect reflection optical power avoiding the
expensive using of optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). The simple and low-cost liquid-level sensor has a considerable
application potential, particularly in which temperature changes need to be considered.
 Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6019 60191W-4

Ba nd widthn (m ) Wa ) ve lngh t(m

Re d flction r(Bm po ) w
Acknowledgments: This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation under Grant 60572018,
by the Doctoral Programme Foundation of Institution of Higher Education under Grant 20020055036, by the Tianjin
Development Project of Science and Technology under Grant 05YFGPG04900, by the Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic
Information Technical Science, Ministry of Education under Grant 2003-21 China.

REFERENCES
1. B. W. Northway, N. H. Hancock, and T. Cong-Tran, Meas. Sci. Technol. 6, 85 (1995).
2. F. N. Toth, G. C. M. Meijer, and M. van-der-Lee, in Proceedings of the Conference on Precision Electromagnetic
Measurements (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Piscataway, N.J., 1996), pp. 356.
3. V.E. Sakharov, S.A. Kuznetsov, B.D. Zaitsev, I.E. Kuznetsova, and S.G. Joshi, “Liquid level sensor using ultrasonic
Lamb waves,” Ultrasonics 41, 319–322 (2003).
4. K. Iwamoto and I. Kamata, “Liquid-level sensor with optical fibers,” App. Opt. 31, 51-54 (1992).
5. A. Wang, M. F. Gunter, K. A. Murphy and R. O. Claus, “Fiber-optic liquid level sensor,” Sensors and Actuators A 35,
161–164(1992).
6. R. M. A. Azzam, "Light-reflection liquid-level sensor," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 29, 113-115 (1980).
7. K. Spenner, M. D. Singh, H. Schulte, and H. J. Boehnel, "Experimental investigations on fiber optic liquid level
sensors and refractometers," in Proceedings of the First International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors
(Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, 1983), pp. 96-99.
8. D. A. Jackson, "High precision remote liquid level measurement using a combination of optical radar and optical
fibres," in Proceedings of the First International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors (Institution of Electrical
Engineers, London, 1983), pp. 100-103.
9. K. Iwamoto and I. Kamata, “Liquid-level sensor with optical fibers,” Appl. Opt. 31, 51–54(1992).
10. C. Vázquez, A.B. Gonzalo, S. Vargas, and J. Montalvo, “Multi-sensor system using plastic optical fibers for
intrinsically safe level measurements,” Sensors and Actuators A 116, 22–32 (2004).
11. P. Raatikainen, I. Kassamakov, R. Kakanakov, and M. Luukkala, “Fiber-optic liquid-level sensor,” Sensors and
Actuators A 58, 93–97 (1997).
12. S. Khaliq, S. W. James, and R. P. Tatam, “Fiber-optic liquid-level sensor using a long-period grating,” Opt. Lett. 26,
1224–1226 (2001).
13. S. F. Knowles, B. E. Jones, S. Purdy, and C.M. France, “Multiple microbending optical-fibre sensors for
measurement of fuel quantity in aircraft fuel tanks,” Sensors and Actuators A .68, 230–323 (1998).
14. C. N. Yang, S. P. Chen, and G. G. Yang, “Fiber optic liquid level sensor under cryogenic environment,” Sensors and
Actuators A 94, 69–75 (2001).
15. H. Golnabi, “Design and operation of a fiber optic sensor for liquid level detection,” Opt. and Lasers in Eng. 41,
801–812 (2004).
16. T. Guo, Q. D. Zhao, L. F. Xue, G. L. Huang, S. Y. Gao, Y. Yan, L. M. Zhao, L. H. Liu, “Temperature-independent
fiber Bragg grating micro-displacement sensor,” in Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Advanced
Laser Technologies Sep. 2005, pp. 147.

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6019 60191W-5