Development of a dual point humidity sensor using POF based on twisted fiber structure

Abstract

The humidity has often been measured through a single point sensor. Where, the humidity could be varied at different locations as well as depending on environmental conditions. The present paper developed the dual point humidity measuring sensor by using a polymer optical fiber (POF) based on a single illuminating fiber. The sensor’s basic structure is to twist two fibers and bend them at a certain radius. However, the dual point sensor is developed through the cascading of twisted micro bend (TMB-1 and TMB-2). The twisting of fibers couples the light from one fiber to another fiber through the side coupling method. An increase in the humidity level leads to a change in the reflective index, which helps to get variation in coupled light intensity. To measure the humidity, the dual point sensors are placed into the control humidity chamber at two random positions. The power reading variation is significantly linear when the humidity level increases from 30 to 80%. The sensor has a fast response of about 1 s and a recovery time of about 4 s. Furthermore, the chemical coating is applied to improve the sensor’s sensitivity. Between 30 and 80% range of humidity, the both sensors of dual point TMB-1 and TMB-2 have appropriate sensitivity and detection limits, which is about 680.8 nW/% and 763.9 nW/% and 1.37% and 1.98%, respectively. To measure the humidity at variable positions, the present dual points humidity sensor is well-stable, easy, and straightforward, which uses a less expensive method.