FBG sensors have proven to be effective and useful during their implementations into different kinds of structures. They have become a necessary part of projects that aim to operate for long periods of time.
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Applications
There are various types of FBG sensors based on the parameters they monitor: temperature, strain, displacement, etc. They have a number of advantages that make them highly effective even in the most harsh environment. Compact size, fast response, immunity to electromagnetic interference and other factors usually play a critical role in many situations.
For example, fiber optic sensors are widely used for monitoring of long structures such as tunnels and pipelines. In addition to the ability of the remote control, they provide stable operation over a long period of time. Therefore, they don’t require any additional repairs.
The other advantage of fiber Bragg gratings is multiplexing. A single optical fiber can contain multiple FBGs at the same time. This fact makes it a cost-effective instrument even for large infrastructures. This is especially true when compared to techniques where each sensor is placed separately. Due to their size and weight, fiber optic sensors can be installed in most applications.
FBG Sensors for Strategic Buildings
FBG sensors are widely applied for structural health monitoring of various existing structures including critical facilities such as bridges, strategic buildings, etc. The main problem with this type of construction is related to the appearance of cracks. Cracks can cause many problems in the operation of the construction. They are dangerous because they can be invisible to specialists and unpredictable in terms of growth rate, both of size and speed. Unfortunately, there are a lot of examples where buildings have been ruined because of this, sometimes with tragic consequences.
When it comes to bridges in particular, real-time structural health monitoring is an effective tool for structural safety. Continuous monitoring is required for safety verification especially after extreme events.
Fiber Optic Sensors in Coal Mines
The other application field where fiber optic sensors are used is coal mining infrastructure. Electronic sensors can’t provide an effective structural health monitoring due to the extreme environment in coal mines. On the contrary, in most cases, FBG sensors are chosen for their ability to operate in harsh conditions such as darkness, vibration and for their immunity to electromagnetic interference. Coal mines are in need of a modern monitoring system for the fulfillment of the operating conditions of the tunnels and the transmission of the data to the control center. Structural health monitoring provides specialists with early warning of potential coal mine failures.
Fiber Bragg grating sensors build a safety control structure health monitoring system that accurately observes the processes. It can monitor various parameters but for the coal mines the most common sensors are FBG temperature sensors and FBG pressure sensors. Fiber optic sensors are embedded in the structure itself and function during the lifetime.
FBG sensors have gained increasing interest due to their ability to alert about any tiny or critical changes. The personnel can react to the alarm and prevent the possible disaster. And if it’s already happened, the fiber optic system can help in estimating the damage.
FBG sensors are used to monitor structures made of various materials, including concrete and metals. In particular, we are talking about structures that usually consist of metals such as aluminum, steel, copper, etc.
Concrete Constructions’ Main Issues
Reinforcement plays a major role in concrete structures. Its strength and durability can affect the appearance and growth of the cracks. One of the reasons for such a degradation is corrosion.
Corrosion occurs when a substance reacts with its surroundings, resulting in the material’s consumption or contamination by an environmental component. Corrosion can reduce the life and load-bearing capacity of a structure. Due to the chemical reactions caused by corrosion, it may change the reflection of the steel surface. The thicker the material, the more it will be subject to deformation. Here, structural health monitoring (SHM) delivers the results.
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an important tool used to monitor the occurrence of corrosion. It is effectively used in constructions to detect and prevent any possible damage. Early corrosion monitoring is essential. Corrosion is dangerous because it causes high costs to repair, and it takes some time to be discovered. In the most extreme cases it can bring the collapse of the complete structure.
Types of Corrosion Monitoring Devices
Today, there are a number of inspection technologies that have been developed specifically for the purpose of detecting damage to constructions. These methods include acoustic emissions, ground penetrating radar systems, electromagnetic techniques, etc. However, they all have their shortcomings including susceptibility to electromagnetic disturbance and lack of continuous structural health monitoring.
Fiber optic sensors are an effective solution for structural health monitoring. They provide real-time monitoring and low-cost techniques that monitor and control the corrosion appearance. There are a variety of fiber optic solutions available such as fiber Bragg grating sensors, FBG interrogators, distributed sensing systems, etc.
Corrosion conditions may vary due to their structure. Therefore, there is a need for a great number of point sensors. This is where distributed fiber optic sensors really come into their own.
Fiber Optic Sensing for Structural Health Monitoring
FBG sensors are used as instruments for corrosion detection. Like any standard sensor, fiber optic sensors are built into the structure to collect all the data and transmit it to the unit. They directly or indirectly measure vibration, displacement, humidity, temperature and chemical changes. FBG sensors are divided into several types due to the parameters they measure: displacements, strain, temperature, etc. By displaying this data, they are able to predict the occurrence of corrosion and its future consequences.
Here is a list of the major features of the FBG sensors:
Portability;
High accuracy;
Simplicity;
Long life;
Easy to integrate;
Electromagnetic interference and corrosion resistance;
Ability to operate in harsh environments, etc.
FBG sensors are particularly indispensable for monitoring corrosion in the hidden areas that are usually inaccessible to specialists. Their compact size allows for high accuracy and resolution. However, fiber optic sensors do not detect corrosion appearance directly but by estimating the material layer deposited on an optical fiber. That’s why they should be located close to the structure, in the same conditions.
FBG sensors have shown promising future in interaction with the concrete structures. This expands the horizon of their applications, including critical facilities and civil engineering.
Structural health monitoring has already found many applications in various industries and become a powerful instrument. Its purpose is measurement of the aircraft constructions’ conditions.
The real-time monitoring and review of the structure’s current state provides precise data about the state of the materials and the construction itself. The data received with the help of fiber optic technology can be applied whether by specialists that are responsible for flight safety while plane preparation or by pilots during the flights. Moreover, structural health monitoring is an up-to-date technique considering the increasing number of flying machines including drones.
Types of Structural Health Monitoring
A correctly customized SHM system tends to increase effective implementation, extend the service life of the equipment and reduce maintenance expenses.
There are two types of structural health monitoring that are applied in the design and operation of aircraft machines over many years: common structural condition monitoring that is responsible for damage determination and examination of the aircraft parts integrity, and load monitoring.
The monitoring of structure conditions and information about loads and damage location is proved to be extremely important, especially for the aerospace and aircraft industries. Usually, load monitoring is provided by measurement of the local deformations, and damage detection that is possible due to the acoustic signals of the distributed sensing systems.
FBG Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring in Aviation
To install structural health monitoring systems specialists carry out a range of calculations and estimations regarding FBGs and their integration into a process. Thanks to the factual flight data and a number of experiments, they have defined the vibration and load characteristics in aviation. This final information has been applied later for field projects.
Fiber Bragg grating sensors are particularly effective for monitoring and measurements of temperatures, pressures and strains. A variety of qualities make FBG sensors ideally suited for applications where the accuracy is important.
In addition to high accuracy, fiber Bragg grating sensors have compact sizes and light weight. These features apply both for cables and instrumentation. Moreover, they can be produced even smaller if the construction and clients require it. Therefore, FBG sensors have often been chosen as an appropriate monitoring instrument for the aviation industry as well as for various other spheres.
One more important advantage that specialists highly appreciate is the absolute explosion safety of the fiber optic sensors. This quality can provide safe engine operation even in conditions of laying cables along fuel tanks and lines.
Another issue that usually concerns aircraft specialists is susceptibility of metals to corrosion. To solve this, there is a need for monitoring of corrosion processes in real time. That’s why the development of specialized fiber optic sensors or corrosion sensor devices that are able to track its dynamics and transfer the data about it to the center plays a crucial role for aircraft construction.
Common Applications of the FBG Sensors
In aviation fiber optic sensors can be applied for measurement of different fundamental parameters that are necessary. Due to these numbers, there can be detected any appearing changes in construction. The standard FBG sensors measure temperature, pressure and strain. In aircraft engines, they can be applied in the hot and cold parts of the engine path. Fiber Bragg grating sensors for pressure and fuel consumption, vibration, and deformation at critical points can be used to evaluate their conditions even indirectly according to the deformations of the elements.
In addition to engine monitoring, FBG sensors are also applied to detect deformations of wings and fuselage parts, icing conditions, loads on the landing gear during takeoff and landing, etc. Structural health monitoring is proved to be essential, considering the wide range of details for airplanes that are made of polymer composites.
Fiber optic sensors may help specialists in detecting the problems during the flight that can be caused by difficult weather conditions. Moreover, they are able to highlight the existing problems during the creation of new aircraft or detect critical points under maneuvering modes. Both these applications are important and help in preventing huge catastrophes or at least will result in reducing their number.
All in all, structural health monitoring has made a great contribution into the aviation industry, just like in other spheres. FBG sensors are proven to be cost-effective and powerful instruments that can improve operation of modern aircraft and drones.
This fiber optic technology has become a modern and advanced approach that attends several functions: diagnostic and simultaneous monitoring.
Structural Health Monitoring Operation Principle
The continuous structural health monitoring gives an opportunity to accumulate data about an object’s state. Thanks to the information obtained, specialists can use it to predict possible damage in the future and extend the service life. And fiber optic solutions provide a whole system that consists of fiber optic sensors, data collecting and transmitting units, etc.
Implementation of the fiber optic system involves review of the design processes of structural elements, a change of the processes, etc. For normal operation, parameters should stay at the allowable ranges that were previously determined and recorded in the program by specialists.
In fact, the factors that can influence the structural condition can be divided into two categories:
Negative external factors that have a constant impact on the material. This includes high or low temperatures, humidity, etc.;
Force-majeure circumstances, such as floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, etc.
FBG Sensors for SHM Systems
Fiber optic sensors are proven to bring benefits to specialists as a part of the structural health monitoring system, including for civil construction. Compared to the electrical sensors, fiber optic sensors offer several advantages, including resistance to electromagnetic interference that is crucial in many applications.
Fiber optic technology can transmit data over several kilometers. Their other features such as long-term stability and reliability help them to function in severe environments. FBG sensors have been examined, for example, for implications in ice and snow. Fiber optic sensors are susceptible to the mechanical and chemical impacts of the concrete constructions. Despite that, they are mainly used in concrete environments for constructions such as bridges and dams. However, FBG sensors are able to effectively operate in such conditions for a considerable time.
Still scientists are going to design and experiment with fiber Bragg grating sensors further to find their limitations in new applications. Various types of fiber optic sensors were produced to provide measurements of diverse physical and chemical characteristics. Fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors are used for structural health monitoring of civil engineering structures, as it was mentioned above. In certain concrete based building structures there is a need for FBG strain sensors or FBG moisture sensors. From the other side, concrete structures are affected by formation of cracks and moisture ingress resulting in operation failure.
Fiber Optic Sensors for Sewage Tunnels
One of the fields where fiber optic sensors are used is a structural health monitoring system for sewage tunnels. The main reason for the sewage systems’ damages is excessive loading. It may be caused by constant physical effects like corrosion, penetration of plant roots, etc. The damage can be also caused by natural disasters such as landslides and floods. The consequences of all these impacts can greatly reduce the constructions’ operation life and lead to failures in operating.
That’s the reason why fiber Bragg grating sensors are essential in structural health monitoring systems. FBG sensors are able to constantly monitor and predict these events in advance. Thus, specialists have an opportunity to prevent great damage or at least minimize the economic losses.
Thanks to the fiber optic sensors that structural health monitoring includes, this technology is proved to be cost-effective in different applications. The modern approach provides quick and simple-in-use monitoring of various kinds of structures.
Multicore fiber optic sensors have found a range of applications in different fields. One of them is 3D shape sensing which has greatly risen in recent decades. Nowadays, 3D shape sensing can be produced for industrial necessities or for the area of research depending on the purposes of applications. Multicore fiber optic sensors have proved to be the most effective instruments for this technology in comparison with other methods. They are used particularly in the cases when there is a need for the most precise measurements and minimal invasive procedures.
What is 3D Shape Sensing?
Fiber optic 3D shape sensing is a fiber optic technology that applies a fiber optic cable for permanent monitoring of the objects’ 3D shape and position in real-time.
Shape sensing has a capability of finding and detecting all the deformation processes that take place at one or more locations along the fiber optic cable. This fiber optic technology can detect just one kind of deformations with certain types of fiber optic sensors or a range of deformations with the types of several distributed measurements.
Multicore optic fibers themselves have an ability to transmit the data at high speed. They also can be applied as fiber optic sensors, when they have fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in the cores. FBGs are reflective gratings that can filter specific wavelengths. Any changes of the form or position cause the wavelength changes.
As for the 3D shape sensing, there is a special way of fiber Bragg gratings’ inscription into multicore fibers. Firstly, they are spun while stretching. Then fiber Bragg gratings are written along the cores’ length. This technique makes it possible to identify the fiber’s rotation as well as three-dimensional changes.
The Most Common Advantages of the 3D Shape Sensing
Fiber optic sensors are proved to be effective in different technologies. They are especially suitable when there is a need for a complex measurement system. It usually involves the whole system with a number of fiber optic sensors and can provide the measurements of several characteristics simultaneously.
Moreover, FBG sensors have a range of other benefits in comparison with other traditional sensors. So, fiber optic sensors are:
highly sensitive to temperature and strain modifications that lead to the high levels of accuracy;
immune to external electromagnetic interference;
lightweight and small sized;
easy to attach and reliable;
corrosion resistance;
resistant to the harsh environmental conditions such as humidity, high temperatures, etc.
Due to their compact size, fiber optic sensors can be embedded in small devices and objects. Moreover, they can be implemented into distributed sensing systems so the FBG interrogator units can be installed at some other place and send all the data remotely without any wiring.
Fiber Optic Sensors Applications in 3D Shape Sensing
3D shape sensing technology has recommended itself as an effective and even preferable instrument.
This technology has a significant use in the structural health monitoring of different constructions such as buildings, bridges, etc. Besides, fiber optic sensors are produced for aircraft monitoring. Fiber optic solutions are also utilized for damage detection, deformation monitoring and structural fatigue life evaluation. Moreover, intelligent material deformation and intelligent robot posture monitoring are of the applications where fiber optic technology is used.
3D Shape Sensing in Medicine
As for the medicine and biomedical fields, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) as well as 3D shape sensing have got a special place. This technique has significantly decreased the healing and rehabilitation time and resulted in minimum functional and cosmetic damage to the body. Here are some examples where fiber optic sensors have proved to be an effective option:
FBG sensors have found a wide range of applications connected to cardiac activities and cardiovascular diseases. They are applied in artery pressure detection, intra-aortic balloon pumping, etc.
In surgery, they are applied as surgical instruments that, among all other options, help in visualization. If we are talking about laparoscopic or robotic surgery, the process of visualization has become more simple due to the fiber endoscopes.
Endourology is another field that uses shape sensing technology’s advantages. One of the endourological procedures is cystoscopy that means the treatment of bladder and tumors. Sensing technology makes the device navigation and localization process better. As a result, specialists can carry out operations faster and safer, therefore, conducting the procedures more effectively.
3D shape sensing was able to improve another medical field called colonoscopy. A common colonoscope coupled with the fiber optic technology makes the navigation better and allows preventing most challenges that specialists usually face. Due to the benefits of the fiber optic solutions, including shape reconstruction over the whole device, specialists can get the data about the procedure in real time. As a result, medical procedures become safer and more comfortable.
Epidural anesthesia is getting popular in difficult operations where pain management methods are required. The insertion procedure is conducted with a thin needle that makes it impossible to use most of the sensors due to their size. However, fiber optic sensors based on the distributed sensing principle are able to solve this problem. Specialists have conducted accurate calculations to provide a navigation system that is able to make the correct penetration into the tissue easier. So, it also helps the operators in determination whether the epidural space has been reached.
All in all, 3D shape sensing is a fiber optic technology that has found many applications and become an indispensable tool in medicine, for example, as needles and catheters. Fiber optic sensors, being cost-effective tools, are especially irresistible when there is a requirement in detecting small deformations.
Fiber optic sensors, in particular FBG temperature sensors, are relatively new technical applications in optoelectronics, fiber and integrated optics. The reason for their popularity is the optical signal itself. It simultaneously provides information about the change in phase, amplitude, wavelength and polarization in space and time.
Fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors are better suited for solving many issues than conventional sensors and measurement systems. For example, fiber optic sensors are applied for preventive diagnostics and forecasting of emergency situations. FBG sensors can be built into critical structures such as bridges, dams, ships, aircraft, power plants and other structures. By continuously monitoring the structural integrity of objects, fiber optic solutions prevent possible catastrophic failures and accidents.
FBG Temperature Sensors in Measurements of High Temperatures
The measurements of high temperatures, especially over 1000 °C, were always difficult to conduct in harsh environments. However, high temperatures are essential in a number of processes and widely applied in such fields as metallurgical industry, aerospace, and nuclear energy production. Due to the FBG temperature sensors, the problems with high pressures, temperatures and strong electromagnetic radiation that conventional temperature sensors used to have, were solved.
Here are some examples of fiber optic technology applications:
Distributed fiber optic sensors are proved to be effective for pipeline protection and safe operation of the deep underground wells;
In metallurgy, fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors measure the internal temperature of high-temperature boilers for monitoring of the combustion efficiency and enhancement the safety;
FBG temperature sensors monitor the combustion chambers and turbines of an aircraft. For example, scientists are working on the implementation of fiber optic sensors into an aircraft gas turbine engine. Its monitoring helps in the extension of durability and is difficult because the temperature and pressure rates are constantly changing. So to prevent all the emergency and undesirable situations, there is a need for a large amount of control and measuring equipment. Moreover, fiber optic sensors have to operate at temperatures of 400-1800 °C and provide data in real time.
Advantages of the FBG Sensors
Fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors have got close attention because of their inherent benefits in comparison with usual electronic sensors. Due to specialists’ continuous scientific work, sensors have built a reputation based on successful field projects.
Fiber optic sensors are capable of stable operation for a considerable period of time in harsh conditions. High temperatures and pressures, poisonous or corrosive environments negatively affect the measurement results. However, all these factors have little effect on the FBG sensors, especially in comparison with electrical sensors. Moreover, it is easier and cheaper to replace fiber optic sensors if necessary.
Considering all the above, FBG temperature sensors are able to provide the most accurate data despite bad environmental conditions.
Types of the High-Temperature Measurement Systems
There are different types of high-temperature measurement systems due to their installation and detection techniques. There are contact and non-contact measuring systems:
Contact temperature measurement systems include thermocouple sensors. Despite simplicity of use, they have a number of disadvantages such as poor corrosion resistance and exposure to electromagnetic interference. Moreover, high temperatures greatly shorten their service life. They are getting damaged and, as a result, provide inaccurate measurement rates.
Infrared thermography (IRT) as a non-contact temperature measurement excludes the direct contact between the equipment and high-temperature sections. However, it works only for the surface temperature measurements, so the internal structure can’t be measured.
The most common fiber optic sensors are fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and distributed temperature sensors. Due to the material of the fiber and laser inscription technique, the maximum temperature can be increased.
Fiber Bragg gratings are units that have found different applications, especially as they are effective in distributed sensing devices. FBG sensors are proved to be useful as fiber optic sensing instruments. They are able to provide high stability, multiplexing and other features that are widely produced in a number of industrial and scientific applications.
Distributed temperature sensors as a part of DTS systems measure temperature along the whole fiber optic cable. Their main goal is providing the most accurate temperature data in space and over a long distance. As a result, specialists get a distributed profile of the temperature conditions along the whole fiber optic cable.
All in all, the latest developments in fiber optic sensing have gotten a great amount of attention due to their capability of operating in environments with high temperatures. FBG temperature sensors can make up a continuous optic line that provides accurate and reliable data in real time that can be stored and compared with the previous data in the future.
Thanks to the fiber optic sensors, a number of fields and industries have found new approaches in safety and production processes. As a part of fiber optic technology, fiber Bragg grating sensors have proved to be an effective technique of monitoring and security insurance.
Fiber Optic Sensing Applications in Underground Mining
Underground extraction of the minerals continues to be a high-risk industry. This industry has become highly dangerous because of the permanent presence of difficult challenges. Such factors as dynamic changes, hidden defaults and seismic tremors can lead to disastrous consequences.
Due to the advancement of fiber optic technology, there is an opportunity of constant monitoring with the help of fiber optic sensing systems. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing has already demonstrated its abilities in other directions like for monitoring of the dams and bridges. For mining, the deployment of FBG sensors has become possible because of the properties they have such as high and long-term sustainability and high resistance to electromagnetic events.
This article presents the most common applications of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing in the coal industry.
Fiber Optic Sensors for Structural Safety of the Mines
Distributed sensing can be called a crucial component in the structural health monitoring of the underground mines. Previously, devices for the structural health construction monitoring couldn’t allow watching the data 24/7, and thus, respond quickly in such environmental conditions. However, today’s fiber optic monitoring systems make all this possible.
Due to the fiber Bragg grating sensors’ qualities, like reliability, they are able to constantly track the extractive activities. Moreover, thanks to their high level of sensitivity, there is a possibility to detect the slight modifications in equipment functioning and prevent severe damages at an early stage. So, fiber optic sensors are fit for mine structural monitoring as a proactive damage detection system and as one of the accident prevention strategies.
Therefore, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing is able to ensure the necessary level of safety in mines. It provides the estimation of the mines’ present environment when FBG sensors collect and transmit the data remotely.
Fiber Optic Sensing for Coal Dressing Chamber Bottom Plate
Apart from safety monitoring of the roof activity, there is an opportunity to monitor changes in the coal dressing chamber bottom plate with the fiber optic monitoring systems. However such monitoring has a range of aspects that should be taken into account.
Firstly, huge equipment occupies most of part of the chamber. During the coal production it produces vibrations that may influence the stability of the mine country rock. This fact should be considered while installing fiber optic technology.
Secondly, monitoring systems should be immune to electronic interference. That is a great benefit of the fiber optic sensing, especially for the chamber, where electromagnetic interference phenomenon is strong.
Thirdly, the system shouldn’t interfere with the operation of the equipment.
Fourthly, due to the constant production around the coal separation chamber it is complicated to get accurate information.
Nowadays, fiber Bragg grating sensors can not always be applied for monitoring of the coal dressing chamber bottom plate. Still, there are some challenges that specialists can face. The lack of space, chances of inaccurate data and other difficulties can make fiber optic sensors’ setup harder or even impossible. As well as wet environments, FBG sensors are often applied in heavy environmental conditions, and specialists got used to developing such projects.
Microseismic Monitoring System as Part of the Fiber Optic Technology
Microseismic monitoring technology is an important instrument designed to prevent any dangerous accidents with the help of seismic assessment and alert about any changes.
Fiber optic sensing has also been successfully applied as a microseismic monitoring system for coal mines. The sensors were suggested to use because of their significant advantages such as large dynamic range, high sensitivity, etc.
Due to the conducted experiments, fiber Bragg grating sensors were installed in the tunnels. During the field projects they have proved to be effective by providing all the data about dynamic activities in the mine accurately. Such level of accuracy is possible due to the fact that the microseismic data are tracked over the full length of the installed fiber optic cable. The interrogation system collects the data, provides the seismic interrogation and transfers the received data. It allows improving the dynamic range and installing more fiber optic sensors. Both these factors increase the positioning accuracy of seismic events.
All in all, monitoring with fiber optic sensors in combination with the automatic processing of data can bring major benefits to identification of any changes, malfunction of mine operation and damage prevention.
Nowadays, road safety has advanced to a new level with the use of fiber Bragg grating sensors. Due to its characteristics, fiber optic technology has become part of the other technologies. For example, FBG sensors are applied in WIM systems (or Weigh-In-Motion systems) for that purpose.
There are several types of WIM systems and one of them is based on fiber Bragg grating sensors. Such systems provide specialists with the most accurate and detailed data around the clock, monitoring traffic flow. They are able to detect the vehicles and in the meantime determine their weight during the regular traffic. The traffic monitoring in real time allows improving the enhancement of traffic management.
Moreover, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are used in WIM systems for the structural health monitoring, for example, of the bridges or rails.
What is Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) Technology?
Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems are based on technology that allows providing reliable weight measurements of the vehicles. The systems can be applied whether for specific road or rail vehicles such as trucks and trains, or for public applications like be set on the rail or road tracks to monitor the traffic. Weigh-in-motion systems built on fiber Bragg grating sensors measure the traffic flow and supply all the information from it. Thanks to the durability and quality of FBG sensors, the necessary data is provided using one of the most cost-effective methods.
The whole fiber optic system consists of a range of sensors and a roadside unit with all the data devices. According to the application purposes, there is an opportunity to add other fiber optic sensors to this weigh-in-motion system, for instance, temperature sensors. Moreover, to receive more data about the vehicles, it is possible to use cameras for license plate photos.
What Information do the Weigh-in-Motion Systems Provide?
Fiber optic sensors follow two basic physical principles. The first principle that belongs to fiber Bragg gratings is the diffraction changes under the deformations. The second one is the changes of the optical fibers and their characteristics under the influence of the deformation. Therefore, the WIM systems provide all the characteristics that fiber optic technology offers.
The reliable data on weight from fiber optic sensors give an understanding of the loading of heavy goods vehicles and traffic flow. FBG sensors will help in estimation, avoiding any inaccuracy in the future. This, in turn, will allow improving the goods transportation and infrastructure management.
Except for the usual weight parameters that fiber optic systems provide, there are other available options, such as date-time, speed and classes of vehicles. To efficiently operate, the fiber optic systems can be installed on the specific vehicle or placed by the road for the entire traffic flow monitoring.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Fiber Optic Sensors
As any technology based on fiber optic sensors, WIM systems possess all the features that FBG sensors have. Such characteristics as light weight, small size and insensitivity to the electromagnetic fields and weather conditions are really important in monitoring systems. Moreover, WIM systems have an ability to identify the underinflated or double tires in the traffic stream.
Weigh-in-motion systems help in providing very short response time in operations. However, there is a possibility of some inaccuracy of weighting, especially in motion. That’s why specialists are aiming at enhancing the same level of accuracy in motion as in static. And sometimes there is no use in enhancing the fiber Bragg grating sensors’ accuracy level, but increasing the number of sensors or making the automatic calibration processes better. There is a range of external factors that influence fiber optic sensors’ operation such as vehicle suspension, road roughness, etc. Moreover, they can influence the accuracy level in a bad way.
The most commonly agreed disadvantage is relatively high cost for electronic equipment. However, due to the long service life of fiber optic sensors, WIM systems seem to be a cost-effective technique by operating for at least 10 years.
Applications of the Weigh-in-Motion Systems
Fiber optic solutions are applied for many purposes as WIM systems. If it is needed, WIM unit can provide several data parameters at once. Usually, such data is applied in the following spheres:
Vehicle and traffic loading. As it was mentioned before, the information on the traffic flow helps in optimization and planning of the road network in the future. Or the researchers frequently apply it for carrying out the studies. However, there is another implementation that can be used for the already existing infrastructure – for example, for the review of the traffic flow over the road network and its future development with time.
Weight enforcement is aimed at complying with loading regulations. This will lead to the decline of the overloading numbers that have negative implications. These WIM systems based on the FBG principles provide the most effective instrument of weight enforcement.
WIM systems based on the FBGs can also be applied for industrial use like in logistic centers or at ports. They are most commonly needed in the weight check and defining of the trucks’ axle loads. All these measures are aimed at avoiding overloads and their possible future consequences of entering the road network.
WIM systems with fiber optic sensors for the railway industry are as well effective as DAS systems described in previous articles. The most common ways of application in this sphere are the total track loading and dynamic wheel loads. In practical terms, the provided data helps in design and maintenance of the rail tracks.
In the future WIM systems with fiber optic sensors will allow creating one of the base elements of the “Smart City” concept. The FBG sensors are able to provide the system that with different types of sensors will form a complex and reliable technology. Moreover, the improvement of the weigh-in-motion systems based on the fiber Bragg grating sensors will lead to the decrease of overloaded trucks on roads.
Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have already been applied in various applications and still arouse great production interest. They are commonly used in structural health monitoring for aerospace, civil engineering, oil & gas, etc.
As for the railway industry, fiber optic technology has made a substantial contribution to its development. It is anticipated that within a few years the number of goods that will be transported by railways will be increased, as well as the number of passengers. This, in turn, will lead to the growth of the axle load and trains’ faster speeds operating.
That’s why there is a great need for a full understanding of the rails’ structural and operating conditions as well as for providing safe and reliable operating conditions. So modern innovative technologies are required.
Fiber Optic Solutions for Monitoring Systems in the Railway Industry
In railways, common monitoring systems use strain gauge sensors. The sensors constantly measure resistance caused by the stress transmitted by the rail when the train runs through it. This fiber optic technology is already prominent due to its effectiveness. However, it still has several shortcomings. For example, it is expensive, huge and has difficulties in usage, in comparison with modern FBG sensors. Moreover, the most important disadvantage is that they can be affected by electromagnetic interference. FBG sensors are immune to the external interference such as electromagnetic interference, lightning and many other external disturbances.
Because of this, fiber Bragg grating sensors are getting more and more applications in high-speed railway networks. Applications are train weight estimation, measurement of train speed for real time, wheel imbalance detection, etc. It is clear from experiments that FBG sensors are more appropriate as railway monitoring systems compared to electrical ones.
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Characteristics
FBG sensors provide many crucial features for unique operational conditions in railways. In comparison with usual electrical sensors, fiber Bragg grating sensors have EMI/RFI immunity, multiplexing capability and can offer interrogation for long distances. In FBGs the data is wavelength-encoded, which makes the signals less susceptible to intensity fluctuations. Moreover, the fiber optic cable can be interrogated from either end, offering redundancy to FBG sensing networks. Plus, FBGs have a self-calibration capability. The strain and temperature measured findings is an absolute parameter. So there is no dependency on the measurement value and losses between the interrogation unit and the FBGs. To fabricate FBG sensors, FBGs are packaged and transformed into different types of transducers. That makes it possible to install them on the rail track fasteners, clips, bogie, train body, chassis, and axle boxes of a train to provide ongoing inspection for health checking.
In addition to that, FBG sensors can be interrogated at very high-speeds.
Providing reliable operational conditions, fiber optic designs can measure a wide range of other parameters such as inclination and acceleration through the modulation of light in reaction to the environment. Therefore, one FBG interrogator can work with a lot of FBG sensors to measure many options at the same time at different locations over the vast territory. The sensing signals can be read at distances more than 100 km away.
These features are especially useful for the railway industry because they allow simplifying the installations a lot and reducing costs.
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors in Field Projects
Over the past few years, specialists have safely held a number of field trial railway projects involving FBG sensors. For example, in 2007, about fifty FBG-based vibration sensors were installed along the East Rail Link that connects Hong Kong and Mainland China. Then fiber optic solutions were applied in metro lines of Hong Kong, part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Rail Link, and in Delhi Airport Metro Express Line.
In Hong Kong this fiber optic technology was applied on a passenger rail system as a structural health monitoring system. The FBG sensors were attached to the bottom of the carriages. The goal was temperature and strain measurement. The fiber optic system supplied all the necessary data including rail tracks’ and carriages’ deformation. The acquired information helped to assess the rates of the corrosion and bearing wear.
According to the results, due to FBG sensors, costs of maintenance were greatly reduced. Moreover, it helped to avoid or prevent problems at early stages due to the early detection of excessive vibrations. All these works showed that FBG sensors are superior in comparison with conventional sensors in many essential aspects.
Nowadays, fiber optic solutions are regarded as one the most cost-effective technology that helps in monitoring the condition and structural health of the carriages, tracks, and under frame equipment in railway systems. There are still some parameters that need to be improved, like the lack of proprietary and custom specifications. However, in the future major railway operators can apply modern FBG sensors, gaining more field experience.
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
Fiber optic sensing technology has proved to be an effective method in well and reservoir management. Fiber optic sensors constantly track temperature changes along the wells at specified intervals and collect all the data. This technique is also compliant with the other technologies such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).
What is Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage?
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (or SAGD) is an enhanced oil recovery drilling technique that helps in extracting heavy crude oil or bitumen from oil sands deposits. Mostly, the accustomed approaches in such cases are economically inefficient. Specialists may use it in particular cases when the production is difficult. With the help of the fiber optic technology this approach becomes more cost-effective.
How does Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage work?
In short, the SAGD system’s principle is heating the heavy oil or bitumen by the steam for further extraction. For that two horizontal wells are drilled at an angle of 90 degrees to a vertical bore well. In the wells, there are two pipes, one above the other for around 4-5 meters.
At the very beginning, the cold heavy oil is essentially immobile because of the high viscosity, and it needs to be warmed up to extract it. To do so, the steam is applied. It travels through the upper well into the reservoir and expends the heat in all directions of the formation, making a steam chamber. The heat warms the bitumen and reduces its viscosity. Then the bitumen flows downward into the production well and is pumped to the surface. Both processes are going at the same time.
Current Applications of the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage
Due to the growing level of oil consumption, the level of its development needs to be increased. Not the last role is played by the SAGD and fiber optic systems such as fiber optic sensors and fiber Bragg gratings.
Like any exploration, heavy oil production needs accurate analysis and planning, especially if there are other factors that make the production difficult. Such aspects as great depth, high temperature conditions, etc. are essential. All of these issues need to be considered. The low mobility and high viscosity make the oil producing complicated and lead to low recovery indexes. However, due to the SAGD and fiber optic technology, there is an opportunity to maximize the recovery indexes.
For SAGD technology, FBG sensors are usually applied in wells to track the steam as it moves along the wellbore. Due to the fiber optic sensors, there is an opportunity to see the data in real time. According to the achieved data, the velocity of the steam can be identified. Besides, temperature sensors can also define the speed of the heating. The accurate settings of the temperature, pressure and steam-injection rates can lead to the operational savings. All the information can be used to plan the further work of the production operations.
Fiber Optic Sensors in Downhole Monitoring
Fiber optic sensors have proved to be effective for various parameters’ monitoring in downhole applications. Most of all, distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is applied for these purposes. Distributed sensing has demonstrated good results. It has high recommendations in the oil industry. DTS can monitor well temperature all over the fiber optic cable.
Due to the modernly developed fiber optic designs and improvement of fiber optic sensing technology, a range of issues related to downhole production have been solved. However, the harsh environmental conditions in the downhole can still bring some problems to the fiber optic sensors.
The sensors still need to cope with hydrogen in the severe environmental conditions. It has a great impact on the optical fibers. Firstly, it can cause pressure and temperature errors. The appearing errors are connected to the hydrogen diffusion into the microstructure and to the changes of the refractive index when hydrogen penetrates into micro holes and fiberglass. So the hydrogen leads to the additional Bragg wavelength shift.
With this in mind, specialists are constantly developing fiber optic monitoring systems based on fiber Bragg grating technology.
Advantages and disadvantages of the SAGD
SAGD has played a crucial role in the rapid development of the oil resources. However, as everything, this method has some pros and cons that should be taken into account.
Most Common Disadvantages for SAGD technology
Firstly, as any other technology, SAGD has its restrictions. It is not well-suited for every production area with heavy oil. It has several aspects to be fulfilled, like homogeneous and relatively thick reservoirs.
Secondly, high water and fuel consumption. To work effectively, SAGD needs a large amount of water and natural gas. Both of them are used in the process of steam production. That’s why the energy consumption is high but worth it. When all these conditions are satisfied, SAGD technology can be used. Moreover, the specialists advise using deep water sources that are not appropriate for consumption or agricultural uses. In fact, the majority of deployments’ developers follow this recommendation for environmental protection.
Thirdly, some think that SAGD technology is an expensive tool for oil production. However, specialists consider this technology as a superior alternative to reduce the high expenses and at the same time increase productivity. The reason for the cost reduction is that less horizontal wells are required to be drilled.
Fourthly, concerns about an environmental effect of the steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) are still a topic of discussion. However, according to the statistics, over the last 20 years the environmental analysis is getting better. It is obvious that the production of the crude bitumen and oil cause environmental consequences, but due to the development of modern cleaner extraction technologies, the situation is improving.
The Main Advantages of the SAGD technology
The main benefit of the whole SAGD technology is the improved steam-oil ratio and high ultimate recovery. Besides, the DTS systems help in optimization of the oil and bitumen production.
The other SAGD advantage is the constant evolution. Every next project makes a great contribution and brings new ideas and experiences. Meanwhile, the diversity of newly developed methods leads to new approaches to different types of oil fields.
So there are other modified types of SAGD technique:
Shaft and Tunnel Access (SATAC);
Single Well SAGD (SW-SAGD);
Multi-drain SAGD;
Fast-SAGD;
Enhanced Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (ESAGD).
The SAGD was firstly implemented in Canada, where there are the largest reservoirs of crude bitumen. This allowed to advance the recovery factors in excess of 50%.
SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) well temperature monitoring provide:
Temperature profile control of injection and production wells;
Determination of inflow (injection) intervals of the fluid;
Determination of the fluid level in the well and perforation intervals;
Identification of issues in the well.
Plus, as any fiber optic technology, distributed temperature sensing for SAGD offers:
Maximum protection of the cable against chemical and physical effects;
Longer service life;
Convenience and speed of the installation;
Operations in the well without the extraction of the cable sensor.
The SAGD wells have implemented all the advantages of fiber optic sensing. FBG sensors offer real-time, precise temperature measurements along the fiber optic cable in the wellbore. Fiber optic solutions allowed us to monitor the objects that were unapproachable before. For example, fiber optic sensors with extended temperature range were applied in the oil wells for temperature control during oil production using SAGD technology.
Steam assisted gravity drainage is commonly believed to be applied for complex deployments. It aims to make the process simpler. And the fiber optic technology is good at helping it. However, the specialists should discuss and decide how fiber optic technology can fit into the development at the planning stage. Fiber optic solutions may simplify the production process.
