Tag: distributed sensing system

Distributed Sensing market and its growth forecast

According to the researchers, the distributed sensing market is predicted to reach more than $891 million by 2026. The distributed temperature sensing power cables and distributed acoustic sensing systems, as well as global environmental changes, are expected to increase the demand significantly. The modern advancements and developments connected with the light-sized fiber optic systems stimulate globally the distributed sensing market. Moreover, the growth of the distributed sensing market can also be explained by the government’s support for distributed temperature sensing technology.

Nowadays, there are many appliances of distributed sensing systems. There is an extensive need for monitoring continuous temperature changes within big territories and long distances, for example, in the oil sphere. The distributed temperature sensing systems are also applied in subsea areas. Distributed sensing can also help in providing security and productivity in different market sectors in the upcoming years. Moreover, fiber optic solutions are more often applied in fire detection processes.

In April the newly developed fiber optic system got a reward for the innovative approach and commercialization. The fiber optic system expands the coverage of distributed sensors. As a result, this innovation gives new possibilities in many fields such as energy, infrastructure, and environmental sectors. This fiber optic technology allows the collection of more precise data. That could lead to the improvement of sustainability, enhancing operational safety, and getting optimal costs for existing and new applications.

Distributed fiber optic sensors offer sensitivity 100 times greater than the usual ones. The higher sensitivity solves the emerging critical problem and challenges fast. That allows monitoring the situation continuously. This fiber optic technology also provides all the advantages such as carbon capture, improved geothermal systems, and dam integrity monitoring as well as subsea oil and gas wells.

In conclusion, distributed sensing systems are a very promising technology for many sectors. Thanks to the distributed sensors that are extremely sensitive to any slight changes, they can provide the most precise picture in comparison with other modern technologies.

Optromix is a fast-growing vendor of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) product line such as fiber Bragg grating sensors, for example, FBG strain sensors, FBG interrogators and multiplexers, Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) systems. The company creates and supplies a broad variety of fiber optic solutions for monitoring worldwide. If you are interested in structural health monitoring systems and want to learn more, please contact us at info@optromix.com

Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) measures moisture

Passive distributed temperature sensing (DTS) helps to improve the measurement of moisture content and temperature increase. The DTS technology has been already tested in China to prove the opportunities provided by this technique. Therefore, distributed temperature sensors are very promising for agriculture.

Several land conditions include bare soil, plastic mulch, plastic mulch covered with potatoes, and plastic much covered with maize. Land moisture plays a crucial role in influencing grain yield. Nevertheless, distributed temperature sensing is not suitable for the last type of land.

The thing is that several techniques allow for determining soil moisture content. Distributed sensing systems include point, ground, and regional types. Herewith, point fiber optic sensors consist of “oven-drying, neutron scattering, electrical impedance, time-domain reflectometry (TDR), frequency domain reflectometry (FDR), tensiometer, and thermal probe techniques.”

Conventional fiber sensors offer benefits of high precision and reliability but most of them are limited to a specific area. This is the main reason why it is difficult to determine accurately the overall ground moisture condition, especially in places where soil moisture distribution is discontinuous.

Thus, scientists have suggested applying distributed temperature sensing (DTS). DTS technology allows for estimating agricultural soil moisture, herewith, the distance of measurement can achieve several tens of kilometers. The operating principle of distributed temperature sensors is based on the heating of optical cables. When the temperature increases, the soil moisture can be estimated.

The DTS technology is not new and it quickly found the application in moisture measurement. According to this technique, it is possible to measure in situ soil moisture by employing analytical or semi-empirical models. Nevertheless, firstly it is necessary to calculate the thermal conductivity of the soil.

Compared to traditional techniques that have limitations, distributed temperature sensing allows for overcoming them. DTS estimates the temperature response of soil, therefore, measures soil moisture based on the data obtained by fiber optic sensors. Nonetheless, the proposed technique has several disadvantages.

Various weather conditions can influence the heat transfer way in the soil and the data obtained by distributed temperature sensors will be inaccurate. Additionally, boundary conditions and even time change periods also influence the precision. Finally, the standard algorithm is very difficult for application in practice.

Optromix is a DTS system manufacturer that provides top of the line distributed temperature sensing systems suitable for monitoring commerce networks. If you have any questions or would like to buy a DTS system, please contact us at info@optromix.com

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Distributed fiber optic sensors: common applications

Common communication channels apply fibers in fiber optic sensors where laser beam light passes along haul distances. These fiber sensors allow for determining, controlling, and measuring external parameters in a distributed format. Herewith, the optical fiber in a fiber optic system operates both as a distributed transducer and optical channel.

To be more precise, the fiber optic sensors measure various changes on specific parameters along with the transducer. Such factors as the dynamic range and the spatial resolution play a crucial role in distributed sensing but still have to be improved. The operating principle of fiber optic systems is based on “the incident light wave that produces acoustic waves through the electrostriction effect. It induces a periodic modulation of the refractive index of material that evokes a light-backscattering like a fiber Bragg grating of FBGs.”

It should be noted that a fiber sensor or sensing system is a tool that determines, measures physical or chemical parameters. Herewith, in the case of light use in such systems, this is a photonic or optical sensor. The fiber optic sensors, in turn, consist of optical fibers and the fiber optic technology around them.

Distributed fiber optic sensors detect and measure physical factors by Brillouin scattering of light in optical fibers. Brillouin scattering advances the development of precise distributed fiber optic systems. Additionally, these fiber sensors enable to measure specific variables.

Distributed sensing systems are very promising for structural health monitoring. The following parameters can be detected: strain and temperature, acoustic waves, and others. Moreover, these fiber optic sensors maintain severe environments and offer noise electromagnetic immunity, durability, and reliability.

The most common application of fiber sensors based on the Brillouin sensing technique includes laboratory implementation. Nevertheless, their applications are not limited to labs only. Distributed fiber optic sensors are widely used in such fields as:

The civil infrastructure where distributed sensing systems detects variables in bridges, railways, and land monitoring;
Bridges and monitoring where compact fiber sensors promote accurate diagnostic load test;
Geotechnical structures monitoring for measuring and controlling of the stress distribution;
Pipelines monitoring by distributed fiber optic sensors in real-time for early warning of liquid and gas pipes;
Monitoring of some materials and structures, for instance, competition yachts or experimental vehicles.

Optromix is a fast-growing vendor of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) product line such as fiber Bragg grating sensors, for example, fbg strain sensors, FBG interrogators and multiplexers, Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) systems. The company creates and supplies a broad variety of fiber optic solutions for monitoring worldwide. If you are interested in structural health monitoring systems and want to learn more, please contact us at info@optromix.com

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FBG sensors for temperature and pressure measurement

Nowadays fiber optic solutions play a crucial role in information technology. Fiber optic technology promotes the development of advanced fiber optic sensors. These fiber sensors offer numerous benefits that make them very attractive. The benefits include “durability, flexibility, biocompatibility, high sensitivity, and electromagnetic interference immunity.”

The applications of fiber optic sensors consist of numerous fields. They are widely used in medicine, environmental protection, industrial production, and structural health monitoring. Herewith, different types of fiber sensors allow for measuring various physical and chemical parameters. For instance, they sense temperature, acoustic, pressure, humidity, and others.

The production of distributed sensing systems requires different types of fibers. The following types are the most popular: photonic crystal, polarization-maintaining, double-core, sapphire optical fibers, etc. It should be noted that various fiber optic sensors use various measurement principles. Additionally, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) – the most popular measurement principle.

FBG sensors can also perform multi-parameter measurements to meet the practical demands of scientists. Thus, a team of researchers has demonstrated a cascaded multi-mode FBG sensor that performs the dual-parameter measurement. They apply optical fiber with several modes to create a distributed sensing system. Moreover, the FBG sensors measure the Brillouin frequency shift for temperature and strain sensing.

To be more precise, these FBG sensors have a hybrid structure (FBGs and FPI) with a nano-silica diaphragm on the tip. Besides, the total length of the fiber sensor is less than a human hair. These FBG sensors determine both environmental temperature and pressure. Therefore, such a fiber optic solution is highly promising in specific applications in severe environments.

Finally, the hybrid fiber optic sensor has been already produced and even tested. The distributed sensing system includes an FPI with a silica diaphragm. Also, fiber optic technology applies the femtosecond laser inscription technique and arc discharge methods. These FBG sensors demonstrate a high level of pressure and temperature sensitivity.

Additionally, the fiber optic sensor has an ultra-low level of cross sensitivities. “The temperature-induced error of the pressure measurement was –1.4286 kPa/ and ℃ pressure-induced error of the temperature measurement was ~0℃/MPa.” The mentioned-above benefits of FBG sensors make them perfect for numerous fields of applications.

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Fiber optic sensors for plant detection

A novel fiber optic technology developed by researchers from Singapore becomes the basis for a novel fiber sensor for plant detection. The fiber optic sensors perform both detection and real-time monitoring of arsenic levels in underground environments. Such monitoring by distributed sensing systems is very important because it shows the presence and quantity of the metal.

The operating principle of this fiber optic system is based on the plantation of fiber sensors into plant tissue. Thus, fiber optic technology allows for detecting arsenic as low as 0.2 parts per billion. Compact and low-cost electronics records data. To be more precise, the combination of fiber optic sensors and plants operate as a fully functional environmental detection system.

It should be noted that such fiber optic systems can be useful in environmental monitoring and agriculture. The thing is that arsenic is a widespread contaminant in most crops, so its detection is crucial for structural health monitoring. Additionally, it is dangerous for human health because it causes cardiovascular disease and even cancers.

It is possible to tune selectively these fiber optic sensors to detect particular arsenic quantities. Herewith, the nanotubes used in fiber sensors do not photobleach, therefore, they have stable emission over time. These fiber optic systems are safe for plants in which they are installed. The technology has been already tested and demonstrated great improvement in time- and equipment-intensive sampling techniques.

“The newly demonstrated technique benefits from the natural ability of plants to extract analytes from their roots and move them throughout their body.” The fiber optic sensor embedded in the living plant presents perfect operation. The researchers use a camera in the fiber optic system to obtain real-time imaging and analysis. Herewith, this fiber sensor can be controlled with compact low-cost electronics.

The tests have been already carried out on spinach and rice, as well as a species of fern. Some properties of fern species promote optimizing the fiber optic sensors to locate extremely low concentrations of arsenic. Compared to the novel fiber system, conventional sensors have a 10 ppb limit.

Thus, fiber optic technology enables the development of more resistant crops to toxic contaminants. The researchers claim that it is possible to transform any living plants into fiber sensors for arsenic detection. Now it is planned to create a compact, portable fiber optic system to control the fluorescence of the sensors within the plants. Finally, novel fiber optic sensors are highly reliable no only in labs but also under field conditions.

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DTS performs dam monitoring

Dams applied for hydropower, irrigation or mining play a crucial role in human life, herewith, they evoke significant human, economic, and environmental consequences when they fail. Nevertheless, distributed fiber optic sensing increases dam safety by offering early alerts of potential problems.

To be more precise, modern distributed sensing systems are considered to have high accuracy for monitoring promoting a continuous understanding of dam conditions, taking dam safety to a higher level. For instance, distributed temperature sensing (DTS technology) uses high spatial resolution temperature data from distributed temperature sensors to record tiny seepage flow changes and to estimate seepage rates in a dam structure.

It should be noted that seepage happens in most embankment and earth dams as the impounded water looks for the path of least resistance through the dam and its foundations. Therefore, excessive seepage presents a threat while high-tech sensing systems enable to detect and analyze subsurface processes and prevent erosion. Distributed fiber optic sensing is a promising technology that can be employed to control critical geophysical parameters, for instance, temperature and strain with a sub-meter resolution over several km.

Additionally, distributed sensing systems provide the benefits of cost-effective high spatial monitoring coverage. The thing is that optical fiber acts as the sensing system along the full length of the fiber optic cable allowing operators to obtain detailed data information along the entire dam. Distributed temperature sensors can catch tiny, localized changes in the seepage flow rates that would otherwise remain unnoticed. “They deliver temperature readings with the accuracy of point sensors with the indisputable benefit of fiber optics: the highest possible spatial coverage. ”

Moreover, the distributed temperature sensing does not need specialized optical fibers resulting in relatively low-cost installation. The thing is that measurements based on DTS systems provide data along the entire dam with high spatial resolution and high-temperature precision. Herewith, distributed temperature sensors have already been used in tailings dams. One of the main elements of the increasing number of permanent tools is the ever-increasing performance of the DTS systems. Modern fiber optic sensing systems achieve the world’s most accurate measurements, with sampling resolutions of 12cm (over 5km) and with temperature resolution as low as 0.01 C.

Finally, seepage detection used distributed temperature sensing is regarded as a crucial technology and has prominently improved the monitoring capabilities of dam operators. The application of optical fiber networks provides additional benefits like the ability of distributed sensing systems develops further.

Optromix is a fast-growing vendor of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) product line such as fiber Bragg grating sensors, FBG interrogators and multiplexers, Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) systems. The company creates and supplies a broad variety of fiber optic solutions for monitoring worldwide. If you are interested in temperature measurement systems and want to learn more, please contact us at info@optromix.com

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