Abstract:
Disclosed is a fuel injector (110) for a gas turbine engine combustor that includes a fuel nozzle (126) for injecting fuel into the gas turbine engine combustor and a fiber optic microphone (140) operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for measuring acoustic pressure differentials within a combustion chamber (14) of the gas turbine engine combustor. The fiber optic microphone includes a fiber bundle having at least one light transmitting fiber and one light receiving fiber; and a dynamic pressure-sensing diaphragm operatively spaced apart from a sensing end of the fiber bundle. The diaphragm has a reflective surface and is formed from a material capable of withstanding temperatures associated with flame exposure. The diaphragm is adapted and configured for deflecting in response to acoustic pressure changes within the combustion chamber. The fuel injector can further include a mechanism for measuring the temperature of the diaphragm, so as to account for changes in the material properties of the diaphragm caused by temperature changes in the combustion chamber.