DROPLET DETECTING METHOD AND DROPLET DETECTING SENSOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a droplet detecting method and a droplet detecting sensor which can recognize at once generation of droplets, in the case the possibility of generation of droplets due to local dew condensation of steam or the like exists. SOLUTION: An uneven surface of ground glass of a transparent detection body 12 is made a droplet detection surface 11, which is irradiated with a light by using a light emitting element 19 and an optical fiber 20 for light emission. A light reflected from the droplet detection surface 11 is received by using a photodetector 21 and an optical fiber 22 for light receiving. When droplets due to dew condensation attach to the droplet detection surface 11, a reflected light which cannot be received by the photodetector 21 when the surface 11 is dry is received by refraction and reflection on the droplet surface. As a result, generation of droplets can be detected at once as the result of output increase.