Fiber bragg gratings in industrial sensing

The tutorial is based on technical experiences obtained during development and numerous practical industry deployments of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and sensor systems. Technical means will be analyzed, which make FBG to an attractive sensing solution: draw tower Bragg grating technology, sensor-specific fiber coatings, sensor packaging. Sensor system technologies are discussed, among them the fiber-optic, opto-electronic hardware and software concepts that transform low-cost polychromator read-out into robust as well as precise high-quality FBG interrogation. Technical FBG sensor implementations can show significant advantages against other sensor technologies, for instance in aerospace, transport, energy sector, and engineering. For such examples, the specific monitoring conditions are characterized, which ask in particular for application of fiber optic sensors. Reasons are discussed, how monitoring creates added value, e.g., by obtaining enhanced efficiency and availability of power generation, railway service, production processes, and other industrial benefits. Special focus is directed on a successfully launched actual application - monitoring and controlling the paper making process by FBG sensor assisted measurements of load and temperature profiles between rolls in paper mills - the NipVision® sensor system. The tutorial concludes with a review of opportunities and issues of FBG sensing technique, open for vibrant discussion: about basic limits, barriers necessary to overcome, and more about active technology trends, e.g., in extreme high and low temperature energetics.