Design of Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Networks

This study explores the effective use of a spectral area defined by a radiation source for multipoint measurements with fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. The capacity of the sensor network based on a wavelength multiplex is limited by the spectral work area of the used radiation source and by several other parameters, such as the spectral parameters of individual sensors, type of the measured quantity and measurement range, sensitivity coefficients, production tolerances, and protection zones among the measuring channels. This is why it is necessary to use this limited area in an “economical” manner. The initial part of this article explores modeling of sensor networks using Bragg gratings, an output of which is an analysis of the impact of individual parameters on the capacity of a sensor network. These models are then applied to the mathematical definition of the given network proposal formed by real sensors. At the end, the stated principles are verified by real measurements with a sensor network formed by five Bragg sensors. The study points to the necessity of paying close attention to the proposals of sensor networks with FBG for the purpose of the effective use of the given spectral work area, increasing capacity, and reducing the possibility of crosstalk when assessing the Bragg sensors.