A High Spatial Resolution Multipoint Optical Fiber Temperature Sensor With an Interlaced Sheath—Design, Analysis, and Experimental Validation

This article presents design, analysis, and experimental validation of a novel multipoint optical fiber sensor (OFS) probe of high spatial resolution. The probe incorporates an innovative interlaced thermal conductor-insulator-conductor (CIC) architecture to mitigate effects of thermal smearing that often occurred with the sheath in existing probes. This design ensures minimal thermal resistance between the sensor elements and the measurement environment. The design is backed by a detailed thermal analysis and computer simulation. Three prototype probes are constructed and tested in realistic environments to validate the design concept and evaluate the probe performance in transient and steady-state conditions. The results have confirmed unequivocally the unique features of this design and superior performance in achieving high spatial resolution in simultaneous measurements of localized temperatures in nonuniformly distributed thermal fields.