Transient hydraulic pressure sensor based on single-hole-dual-core fiber Bragg grating

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Fiber Optic Sensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Transient hydraulic pressure monitoring is vital for petroleum and gas pipeline integrity.
• Existing sensing technologies face limitations in real-time, long-distance, and harsh environment applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel fiber-optic transient hydraulic pressure sensor for pipeline leak detection.
• To investigate the sensing characteristics and performance of the proposed sensor.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a fiber-optic transient hydraulic pressure sensor using single-hole-dual-core fiber Bragg grating (SHDC-FBG) via deep ultraviolet laser inscription.
• Modal field analysis and theoretical simulation of SHDC-FBG resonance wavelength.
• Experimental characterization of static and dynamic pressure sensing performance and comparison with conventional resistive sensors.

Main Results:

• Simulation results closely matched experimental data, confirming pressure-induced refractive index changes.
• The SHDC-FBG sensor demonstrated a sensitivity of -5.4 pm/MPa over a 0-20 MPa range.
• The sensor's performance in leak detection was comparable to conventional resistive pressure sensors.

Conclusions:

• The developed SHDC-FBG sensor is a viable and competitive technology for transient hydraulic pressure and pipeline leak detection.
• Its compact size, low cost, and electromagnetic immunity make it suitable for long-distance and harsh industrial environments.