Industrial Fluid Flow Measurement Using Optical Fiber Sensors: A Review

Optical fibers have been extensively employed for the development of sensors due to their compact size, immunity to electromagnetic interference, high sensitivity, and multiplexing capability. This work discusses various optical fiber flow meters developed in the past, which have great potential for industrial applications. The optical fiber flow sensors are classified on the basis of modulation in property of light viz. intensity, wavelength, frequency, or phase. This paper also includes a comparison of flowmeters, in terms of sensitivity and measurement range, utilizing different modulation techniques for operation apart from some limitations and future outlook.