I.

INTRODUCTION

To improve the reliability and reduce the cost of launcher systems, multiple sensors are installed and used for such systems. The current Ariane 5 uses over 500 wired electrical sensors for functional and telemetry purposes which requires a lot of effort in installation and testing in addition to the extra weight generated by the electrical cable harnesses solutions [1-5]. Wireless solutions have been proposed, however techniques to deliver power to the sensors and electromagnetic interference (EMI) is still a challenge [2]. Optical fibre sensing solutions overcome the requirement to deliver power and is immune to EMI [3-5].

Fig. 1 shows the different sections and stages of the Ariane 5 where in each section a different number of electrical sensors (e.g. surface/ambient temperature, strain, pressure, vibration) with different measurement specifications and ranges are required [6].

Fig. 1.

Diagram of Ariane 5 Sections [6]

This paper shows a Telemetry Subsystem (TMSS) Demonstrator that was developed under the ESA Future Launcher Proprietary Programme 2.2 (FLPP2.2) were a list of electrical sensors that are currently deployed on the ESC-A and ESP stages of the ARIANE5 were selected and tested with their counterpart optical sensors. The purpose of the system was to demonstrate that fibre optic sensing may be incorporated, and considered for next generation launchers for weight reduction, improving measurement coverage and reducing Assembly, Integration and Testing over traditional electrical systems.

I.

TMSS DEMONSTRATOR

The TMSS Demonstrator consists of the Curtis Wright CWC-AE COTS KAM-500 equipment which is considered as the Main Acquisition Unit (MAU) and the FAZ Technology COTS I4 fibre optic sensing platform [7] is considered as the Secondary Acquisition Unit (SAU) as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

TMSS Demonstrator Overview

The SAU acquires data from an array of optical Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, while the MAU data acquisition system acquires data from traditional electrical sensors. The SAU FAZ I4 interrogator has 4 optical channels allowing multiplexing of up to 30 FBG sensors per fibre and supporting up to 120 FBG sensors connected to 1 SAU unit all sampled simultaneously at 1 kHz. The MAU handles the data received by the SAU and relays the data to the spacecraft avionics system. The MAU manages the acquisition of the measurements from the secondary units via an Ethernet connection, and also provides power to the electrical sensors. The SAU unit is powered independently to the MAU. The SAU acquires the data from the optical FBG sensors and sends the raw wavelength data to the FAZ PC. The FAZ PC processes the wavelengths into actual sensor readings i.e. temperature, strain, and pressure. The FAZ PC then formats the data into UDP/IP packets and send the packets to the MAU over an Ethernet connection. Synchronisation between the MAU and the SAU is achieved by using a hardware generated sync signal (gate/clock). The MAU provides the SAU with a PPC (Pulse per Cycle) signal of 1 kHz, where the SAU synchronises the start of the sweep of the tunable laser, and also begins acquisition on the rising edge of the signal received from the PPC single from the MAU. Different types of measurements (temperature, pressure, strain) were carried out according to table 1 below showing the range, type of each measurement.

Table 1.

TMSS Demonstrator Measurement Matrix

	Electrical Sensors	Optical Sensor (FBG)	Measurement Parameters
Demonstrator (Sensor Type)	Electrical Sensor	Supplier	Sensor Technology	Fibre Optic sensor	Supplier	Testing Range	Sample rate	No. of Sensors
Surface Temperature	SP683/CPE	Atexis	PT100 RTD 3 wire	FBT-100-PK STS-01	Lakeshore Sylex	-70ºC to 180ºC	1kHz	2 Elec 2 Optical
Ambient Temperature	RP114-01	Auxitrol	PT100 RTD 3 wire	FBT-100-PK FBT-100-SS	Lakeshore Lakeshore	-70ºC to 180ºC	1kHz	1 Elec 2 Optical
Absolute Pressure	PDCR330-2633-05	DRUCK	Strain Gage, Thin Film	Pressure Sensor - P01	Sylex	5 bar	1kHz	1 Elec 1 Optical
Micro-strain	CEA-13-125UN-350 CEA-13-062UT-350	Vishay	Strain Gage, Thin Film	Strain Gauge - SG01	FBGS	±1,200 µstrain	1kHz	3 Elec 2 Optical

III.

TEMPERATURE TEST

The temperature test involved testing both ambient and surface temperature sensors. A total of seven sensors were tested, of which there were two electrical surface temperature sensors (SP683/CPE), and two optical surface temperature sensors (STS-01 and FBT-100-PK), which were all mounted to an aerospace graded aluminium plate (aluminium grade 2024 T4). The other three sensors were used for ambient temperature of which there were one electrical ambient sensor (RP114-01), and two optical ambient temperature sensors (FBT-100-PK and FBT-100-SS). The optical sensors (FBT-100-PK) were configured in series on the one fibre channel (one for ambient and one for surface). There were two other single ended optical sensors; one custom made Surface Temperature Sensor (STS-01) from Sylex, and one single ended optical ambient sensor from Lakeshore (FBT-100-SS). A comparison of ambient and surface sensing technologies was carried out for both optical and electrical sensors.

The test involved continuous acquisition during the temperature cycle from -70ºC to +180ºC and then back down to -70ºC. The chamber was controlled through Labview. It was programmed that when the internal thermostat in the temperature chamber settled to within 0.2ºC of the desired set temperature, and then the chamber dwelled for a period of 20 minutes. This was repeated in 10ºC increments over the entire temperature cycle -70ºC to +180ºC and then back down to -70ºC. The MAU continuously recorded over the full cycle at 1 kHz sample rate and low pass filtered the data over a 15 Hz signal bandwidth. The graph in Fig. 3 plots all the measurement points over the entire test, where the oven was cycled from -70ºC to 180ºC and back to -70ºC, with 10ºC steps.

Fig. 3.

Overall test graph of Surface and Ambient temperature sensors

The tests resulted in the optical and electrical sensors performing on par with each other, with all seven sensors recording an accuracy of <0.35%FS over the full temperature cycle -70ºC to +180ºC. The specifications of the optical and electrical sensors have a stated measurement accuracy of 0.2ºC. However, it was observed that the temperature chamber struggled to maintain the set temperature (temperature of oven deviated by 0.5ºC) as evident in the Fig. 4 showing a zoomed in plot of all the measurement points over a period of 40 minutes to demonstrate the response of the sensors at a set temperature -70ºC. It seems that both optical and electrical pick up the response of the temperature chamber as it continuously attempts to maintain the temperature set point, where the temperature chamber fluctuates at each temperature set point by ~0.2-0.5ºC.

Fig. 4.

Temperature Cycle Test zoomed in at -70ºC

This concludes the accuracy of measurement of the optical and electrical sensors was dependent on the fluctuation of temperature chamber control loop at each temperature set point.

The plot in Fig. 5 shows the difference in temperature sensor readings compared to that of the stable oven thermocouple measurement (within 0.2ºC for >20 minutes).

Fig. 5.

Temperature sensor readings difference to oven thermocouple

Within this experiment the optical sensors (FBT-100-PK) were configured in series on the one fibre channel (one for ambient and one for surface). There was also a single ended optical ambient sensor from Lakeshore (FBT-100-SS). All three sensors proved to produce the correct temperature readings over the full temperature cycle, thus concluding that there is no difference seen in measurement accuracy if the optical sensors are connected in series or as a single ended optical sensor. Also, within this experiment polynomial equations were used as opposed to sensor Look up Tables (LUT) to convert the wavelengths of the sensors to actual temperature values.

The Ambient Temperature Lakeshore FBT-100-SS and FBT-100-PK can be fit with two 2nd or 3rd order polynomials depending the level of accuracy required and the temperature range required. For example to cover the entire temperature range, a 5th order polynomial equation can be used to give a ±0.1ºC accuracy over the full temperature range -70ºC to +180ºC. However, if the required level of accuracy is reduced to ±1ºC over the temperature range than a 3rd order polynomial may be used. The Lakeshore optical sensors (FBT-100-PK) proved that the manufacturer’s calibration polynomial equation derived from the LUT stays within calibration after installation, thus ruling out the need for re-calibration after assembly and installation. The sensors also proved that there is no effect on the temperature measurements with induced strain. Therefore after all the temperature sensor tests, one may conclude that the Lakeshore optical sensors (FBT-100-PK) may be considered for the next generation launcher programme. The Lakeshore sensors form factor and weight is similar to that of the traditional electrical sensors.

IV.

PRESSURE TEST

The pressure test was set up to simultaneously measure the pressure of both the optical pressure sensor (P-01), and the electrical pressure sensor (Druck - PDCR330-2633-05) which is currently in use on the Ariane5 launchers. The absolute pressure range for this test is from 0 bar to 5 bar over the temperature range of -40ºC to +80ºC. A pressure controller (PACE 5000) was used to control the pressure output to the stainless steel tubing connected to both the optical sensor and electrical pressure sensor via a T-Bar connector. A CM2-B module is inserted into the back of the PACE 5000. A nitrogen tank (Technical grade N2, x10S) supplies the pressure to the PACE5000. A regulator is required between the Nitrogen tank and the PACE5000; to regulate the pressure from 200bar (Nitrogen tank pressure) down to the barometric pressure required as an input to the PACE5000. A vacuum pump (P4Z) is required to get from 1bar pressure down to 0 bar pressure. The PACE5000 internally controls the required output pressure through software (Labview). The output pressure is fed from the PACE5000 to a T-bar connector which has equal pressure at each end piece. The optical pressure sensor (P-01) is connected to one end of the T-bar and an electrical Druck - PDCR330-2633-05 sensor on the other end. Both the electrical pressure sensor (Druck - PDCR330-2633-05), and optical pressure sensor (P-01) were placed in the temperature chamber. The pressure controller was stepped through the pressure ranges 0 bar to 5 bar and back to 0 bar at each of the temperature set points; -40ºC, 0ºC, +40ºC, and +80ºC. The temperature chamber was set to dwell at the desired set point for 20 minutes once it was within 0.2ºC of the set point. The data was recorded by the KAM500 at sample rate of 1 kHz.

A plot of all the pressure cycles from 0 bar to 5 bar and back to 0 bar at all the temperature set points -40ºC, 0ºC, +40ºC, and +80ºC are shown in Fig. 6 below. At each set point the pressure cycle took 3.5 minutes (210 seconds) to complete. The plot shows an overlay of all the pressure measurements at the four temperature set points.

Fig. 6.

Pressure test results plot

Fig. 7 is a plot of the difference in pressure measurements to that of the high precision Druck5000 Pressure Controller for both optical and electrical sensors for each temperature set point. The tests concluded that the optical pressure sensors performed on par with the electrical pressure sensor for each temperature set point (-40ºC, 0ºC, 40ºC and +80ºC), where both sensor technologies measured a pressure accuracy of 1.2% FS (Full Scale).

Fig. 7.

Difference in pressure measurements to the Druck5000 Pressure Controller

Fig. 8 is a zoomed in version of the pressure cycle increasing from 1.5 bar to 2 bar and to 2.5 bar. The measurements in the plot below were taken when the oven was settled at -40ºC. The data was down sampled from 1 kHz to 10Hz.

Fig. 8.

Pressure test results plot increasing from 1.5bar>>2bar>>2.5bar @ -40°C

A temperature shock test was also carried out on the electrical and optical sensors by placing them in the temperature chamber and connecting them to the Druck pressure controller where the pressure was set to a constant 5 bar. The temperature chamber was set to 80ºC and allowed to settle for 20 minutes. Once the chamber temperature and the pressure sensors settled, the temperature chamber was set to 20ºC (rate of oven temperature change ~3ºC/minute). Fig. 9 below is a plot of the electrical (green) and optical (red) pressure measurements at 5 bar. The Optical Sylex Surface temperature sensor (blue) and electrical temperature sensor (purple) sensor are also recorded for this test and plotted on the graph.

Fig. 9.

Pressure Test with temperature shock plot

The optical pressure sensor has an internal temperature compensation sensor within the pressure sensor package. As shown in the graph, the temperature compensation sensor struggles to compensate correctly while temperature shock is applied. The pressure measurement of the optical pressure sensor measuring 5 bar at beginning of the experiment, when temperature shock is applied the optical pressure measurement drifts to 5.3 bar or 0.3 bar (6%FS) deviation, while the electrical pressure sensor stays within 0.01 bar throughout the experiment. The change in temperature from 80ºC down to 20ºC takes around 20 minutes. It should be noted that the response of both the ambient temperature (purple) and the surface temperature measurements (blue) shows difference between the two temperature sensors mainly due to the mass and thermal conductivity of the sensors. It can be considered that the pressure measurement drift during temperature shock may be due to the internal temperature compensation sensor inside the optical pressure sensor has a different thermal conductivity to that of the internal optical pressure sensor. Thus, a conclusion from this test would be to design an optical pressure sensor that has the same internal thermal conductivity for both internal optical sensors (temperature and pressure). Also an alternative design of an absolute pressure sensor using a differential FBG measurement technique was demonstrated recently and potentially can be used to replace the P-01 [8, 9]

V.

MICRO-STRAIN TEST

The micro-strain test was set up to demonstrate the use of fibre optic FBG sensors to measure micro-strain of a structure using micro-strain optical sensors (SG-01) and optical temperature sensors for temperature compensation (TC-Probe), and to compare to electrical micro-strain sensors (CEA-13-250UW-350), which are currently in use on the Ariane5 launcher. The electrical and optical sensors were glued to an aerospace graded aluminium flexor cantilever beam (aluminium grade 2024 T4), based on the manufacturer’s recommendations for mounting both electrical strain foil gauges, and optical sensors. The micro-strain range for this demonstration was cycled from 0 µstrain to 1,200 µstrain and back to 0 µstrain.

The optical sensor (FBG) on the top of the beam was placed in between the two electrical gages (Elec Gauge 1 and Elec Gauge 2) on the top of the beam. An average of these two gauges are taken which should equal the optical gauge (Optical Top). The test shows similar measurements for both the electrical and optical sensors. For negative micro-strain (on the bottom side of the beam) the optical and electrical sensors were mounted beside one another. The overall test showed minor differences in the two technologies. An optical temperature compensation probe was used to measure the change in temperature during the experiment where the temperature results were off-set from the micro-strain measurements before the packets were sent to the KAM500 module. The optical temperature compensation is necessary as a change in temperature by 1ºC, equates to a 10µstrain error of measurement, therefore the need for a temperature compensation probe is required for accurate µstrain measurements.

Fig. 10 shows a plot of the test results for the micro-strain test at room temperature (0 µstrain to 1,200 µstrain and back to 0 µstrain) showing both the optical and electrical sensors measure to within 1% FS (Full Scale) of measurement range ±1,200 µstrain.

Fig. 10.

Micro-strain test results plot

VI.

CONCLUSION

The TMSS demonstrator concluded that both optical sensors and the SAU I4 optical sensing platform combined with the electrical sensors and MAU KAM-500 electrical sensing platform are at a mature technology stage, easily configurable COTS product that provides low latency, deterministic data with simultaneous 1kHz sampling rate and accuracy of 0.35% F.S. for temperature and 1.2% F.S for micro-strain and pressure measurements. The proposed hybrid system can be potentially used for next generation launcher applications delivering weight reduction, improvement in measurement coverage and reduction in Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT).