MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A measurement system may be enabled to detect properties within an enclosure based on information detected using optical fiber sensors. The measurement system may include an enclosure having at least one wall with an inside surface and an outside surface; at least one silica-based optical fiber comprising at least one functional optical fiber core and at least one cladding layer; at least one optical fiber interrogation member; at least one transducer arranged to output energy; a controller; and a processing element configured to communicate with the optical fiber interrogator and the controller. The silica-based optical fiber is associated with a wall of the enclosure. The controller is configured to control the optical fiber interrogator and the transducer. The processing element is configured to process information from the optical fiber interrogation member.

Claims

1. A measurement system comprising: an enclosure having at least one enclosure wall with an inside surface and an outside surface; at least one silica-based optical fiber comprising at least one functional optical fiber core and at least one cladding layer; at least one optical fiber interrogation member; at least one transducer arranged to output energy; a controller; and a processing element arranged to communicate with the optical fiber interrogator and the controller; wherein the silica-based optical fiber is associated with a wall of the enclosure; wherein the controller is configured to control the optical fiber interrogator; wherein the controller is further configured to control the transducer; and wherein the processing element is configured to process information from the optical fiber interrogation member.

2. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the silica-based optical fiber diameter is between 50 m and 250 m.

3. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the silica-based optical fiber comprises at least one coating layer.

4. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber measurement system comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: an optical grating; a Fiber Bragg Grating; distributed acoustic sensing instrumentation; distributed vibration sensing instrumentation; or artificial intelligence implementation configured to allow the measurement system to learn from experience.

5. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the silica-based optical fiber is one selected from the group consisting of: single core optical fiber; single mode optical fiber; multimode optical fiber; or multicore optical fiber.

6. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the silica-based optical fiber is located in at least one location selected from the group consisting of: adjacent the outside surface of the enclosure wall; adjacent the inside surface of the enclosure wall; between the inside surface of the enclosure wall and the outside surface of the enclosure wall; or within a cavity of the enclosure.

7. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is located in at least one location selected from the group consisting of: adjacent the outside surface of the enclosure wall; adjacent the inside surface of the enclosure wall; between the inside surface of the enclosure wall and the outside surface of the enclosure wall; or within a cavity of the enclosure.

8. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one probe of known properties.

9. The measurement system according to claim 8, wherein the probe is configured to move within the enclosure.

10. The measurement system according to claim 8, wherein the probe is a passive probe or an active probe.

11. The measurement system according to claim 8, wherein the probe is used for calibration of the system.

12. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control a process in which the enclosure is part.

13. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is one selected from the group consisting of: acoustic, vibration, electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, optical, or mechanical.

14. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the processing element is configured to calculate at least one selected from the group consisting of: flow rate, flow velocity, volume fraction, filling level, filling rate, emptying rate, mixing rate, uniformity, distribution, position, movement of enclosure contents, state of matter of enclosure contents, chemical reaction speed, chemical reaction rate, start of a process, cessation of a process, failure, creep, distortion, break of materials, rupture of materials, bubbling, fizzing, outgassing, or leaks.

15. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is composed of material comprising at least in-part one selected from the group consisting of: metal, plastic, rubber, ceramic, mineral, geomaterial, organic matter, polymer, or composite material.

16. An optical fiber package configured to be used within a measurement system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Specific examples will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a measurement system in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a measurement system from FIG. 1 comprising different optical fiber arrangements.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a measurement system from FIG. 1 comprising a probe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Presently available technology provides for the incorporation of sensors within a pipeline or conduit, wherein sensors used comprise optical fibers. Examples of such systems are disclosed in GB 2,399,412 A and WO 2012/114067 A1, and are primarily used to detect vibration or acoustic energy changes related to fluid flow.

[0047] Problems with the currently available technology include a lack of sensitivity, robustness and detection over long distances.

[0048] It is therefore desirable to provide a measurement system that circumvents the failures of the current technology by providing a system with improved sensitivity, improved robustness to harsh applications, and improved performance over long distances.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, one possible application of the present disclosure is shown. As can be seen the measurement system 10 comprises an enclosure 12 and an optical fiber 14 positioned adjacent the enclosure 10. The optical fiber 14 is arranged to provide and receive optical signals from the optical fiber interrogation member 16. A transducer 18 is located at the wall of the enclosure 12. The system further comprises a controller 20 enabled to control the optical fiber interrogation member 16 and/or the transducer 18. The processing element 22 is arranged to provide instructions to the controller 20 and to interpret signals received by the optical fiber interrogation member 16.

[0050] The measurement system according to FIG. 1 calculates flow measurements, where the enclosure is a type of pipe or flow tank. In this case, the enclosure can have two openings, one to let fluids in and the other to let fluids out of the enclosure. This can be particularly useful for measurement in multi-phase flows where there is a mixture of fluids, for example: water, oil and/or gas. The movement of the different fluids can generate vibration and/or small pressure fluctuations that could be detected as acoustic signals. The movement of gas bubbles could generate these signals, which are optionally detected by the system. The transducer 18 is used to generate signals that are reflected, refracted and/or scattered by the interface between fluids. The properties of the reflection, refraction and/or scattering of the signals is dependent upon the properties within the pipe, for instance the fluid flow rate, or the presence of debris. These properties affect the scattering characteristics of the optical fiber 14 and this is detected by the optical fiber interrogation member 16 and interpreted by the processing element 22. The change in the backscatter of the optical fiber 14 detected by the optical fiber interrogation member 16 is used to infer changes in the internal properties by the processing element 22. Depending upon the changes to the properties detected, these changes may cause the processing element 22 to instruct the controller 20 to control a change in the process to which the system is linked. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1, the controller 20 may be instructed to change the level of flow of fluid to the enclosure 12 which takes the form of a pipe.

[0051] The capabilities of the system can depend upon the arrangement of the optical fibers associated with the walls of the enclosure. FIG. 2 shows examples of different arrangements of the optical fiber of the system. The examples of optical fiber arrangements shown are dense wrap 24, sparse wrap 26, round coil 28, longitudinal elongated coil 30, transverse elongated coil 32, longitudinal ripple 34, transverse ripple 36, ripple wrap 38. The different optical fiber arrangements may optionally be connected to others by continuation of the optical fiber. FIG. 2 also illustrates the use of transducer 18 at the wall of the enclosure. Transducers 18 is used to generate signals detected through their effect on the scattering of light signals within the optical fiber arrangements 24 to 38.

[0052] In optional examples, a probe may be used during operation and/or calibration of the system. An example of such an example is shown in FIG. 3. In this example, the probe 40 comprises a material of known properties and is introduced to the enclosure. Transducers 18 are used to emit signals that are to be detected and interpreted by the system. Interaction of the signals with the probe 40 causes a change in the signals detected by the system when compared to the signals detected without probe 40 present. The changes may be used to calibrate the system in order to improve detection of the desired materials and/or properties. Optionally probe 40 may be moved within the enclosure in order to simulate movement of the desired material within the enclosure. Such movement may be controlled, in order to calibrate the system to detect speed or positioning of a desired material. The probe 40 may be placed, held, or moved using a support 42.

[0053] Such smart enclosures could take the form of smart pipes that could be used in pipelines, processing plants or even in oil and/or gas wells. This would find applications related to oil and/or gas, power, nuclear, processing plants and/or equipment.

[0054] It will be appreciated that the above described examples are given by way of example only and that various modifications thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims. For example, other possible applications include the monitoring of rooms, flats, houses and/or buildings, wherein the enclosure comprises a room or building. The system may be used within hospitals, nursing homes or any location were vulnerable people are housed, either by disability or by age, such as the very old and the very young people. In locations where patients or residents are vulnerable, it would be desirable to have an alarm system that detects unusual activities such as a person having a fall, shouting for help, someone struggling to open a door, something dropping on the floor or even the lack of usual activities. The system would be able to provide information of the location of an anomalous event and the nature of the event so that timely and correct assistance can be provided.