Directional Sensitivity of a MEMS-Based Fiber-Optic Extrinsic Fabry–Perot Ultrasonic Sensor for Partial Discharge Detection

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 18; no. 6; p. 1975
• Main Authors: Si, Wenrong, Fu, Chenzhao, Li, Delin, Li, Haoyong, Yuan, Peng, Yu, Yiting
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20.06.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: Acoustics; Fabry–Perot; fiber-optic sensors; Fourier transforms; Interferometry; Laboratories; Localization; Microelectromechanical systems; Optics; partial discharges; Photonics; Questioning; Sensors; Ultrasonic imaging; ultrasonic sensor; United States > US; China; fiber-optic sensors; Fabry–Perot; partial discharges; ultrasonic sensor
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s18061975

Extrinsic Fabry–Perot (FP) interferometric sensors are being intensively applied for partial discharge (PD) detection and localization. Previous research work has mainly focused on novel structures and materials to improve the sensitivity and linear response of these sensors. However, the directional response behavior of an FP ultrasonic sensor is also of particular importance in localizing the PD source, which is rarely considered. Here, the directional sensitivity of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based FP ultrasonic sensor with a 5-μm-thick micromechanical vibrating diaphragm is experimentally investigated. Ultrasonic signals from a discharge source with varying incident angles and linear distances are measured and analyzed. The results show that the sensor has a 5.90 dB amplitude fluctuation over a ±60° incident range and an exciting capability to detect weak PD signals from 3 m away due to its high signal–noise ratio. The findings are expected to optimize the configuration of a sensor array and accurately localize the PD source.