Abstract: A fluid sensor cable assembly and method uses one or more conductive bodies extending along an elongated core body for conducting a heating current to heat the cable assembly. The one or more conductive bodies also are configured to conduct an interrogation signal and to conduct reflections of the interrogation signal. One or more optical fibers extend along the length of the core body and include temperature sensitive elements at different locations along the length of the core body. The temperature sensitive elements measure heat flux out of the cable assembly at the different locations subsequent to heating the cable assembly and communicate the heat flux to a computer acquisition system.

Abstract: A fluid sensor cable assembly and method uses one or more conductive bodies extending along an elongated core body for conducting a heating current to heat the cable assembly. The one or more conductive bodies also are configured to conduct an interrogation signal and to conduct reflections of the interrogation signal. One or more optical fibers extend along the length of the core body and include temperature sensitive elements at different locations along the length of the core body. The temperature sensitive elements measure heat flux out of the cable assembly at the different locations subsequent to heating the cable assembly and communicate the heat flux to a computer acquisition system.

Abstract: Optical-based apparatus and method for sensing parameters in connection with an asset, such as a pipeline, are provided. At least two sites in an optical fiber may include a respective fiber grating arranged to have a respective optical response in a wavelength spectrum having a distinguishing feature indicative of a value of a respective local parameter at a respective grating site. The two fiber gratings may be further arranged to form, in combination with a respective portion of the optical fiber which extends between the two sites, respective optical backscatter portions that when combined with one another are effective to sense an optical change in the fiber portion between the sites indicative of a value of a distributed parameter. This is a parameter modality different from a parameter modality of the respective local parameters at the respective grating sites.

Abstract: A system for sensing the position of a movable object includes a polarization maintaining fiber configured to receive light from a light source; an optical system configured to rotate an angle of polarization of the light by a first predetermined angle; a low birefringence fiber connected to the optical system at a first end and having a mirror connected to a second end configured to reflect the light and rotate the angle of polarization at a second predetermined angle, the second end being configured to overlap a magnetic field of the a magnet attached to the object. The angle of polarization is rotated to a third predetermined angle proportional to at least one of the strength of the magnetic field and an amount of the overlap. The optical system is configured to decompose the third predetermined angle into a first component and a second component. A detector is configured to detect a differential between the first and second components indicative of the amount of the overlap.

Abstract: A system for sensing the position of a movable object includes a polarization maintaining fiber configured to receive light from a light source; an optical system configured to rotate an angle of polarization of the light by a first predetermined angle; a low birefringence fiber connected to the optical system at a first end and having a mirror connected to a second end configured to reflect the light and rotate the angle of polarization at a second predetermined angle, the second end being configured to overlap a magnetic field of the a magnet attached to the object. The angle of polarization is rotated to a third predetermined angle proportional to at least one of the strength of the magnetic field and an amount of the overlap. The optical system is configured to decompose the third predetermined angle into a first component and a second component. A detector is configured to detect a differential between the first and second components indicative of the amount of the overlap.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a broadband light source that outputs a broadband light, an optical splitter that divides the broadband light into a plurality of divided light beams and a plurality of optical sensors, each optical sensor configured to receive a single one of the divided light beams and measure an electrical parameter of a conductor.

Abstract: A system for sensing the position of a movable object includes a polarization maintaining fiber configured to receive light from a light source; an optical system configured to rotate an angle of polarization of the light by a first predetermined angle; a low birefringence fiber connected to the optical system at a first end and having a mirror connected to a second end configured to reflect the light and rotate the angle of polarization at a second predetermined angle, the second end being configured to overlap a magnetic field of the a magnet attached to the object. The angle of polarization is rotated to a third predetermined angle proportional to at least one of the strength of the magnetic field and an amount of the overlap. The optical system is configured to decompose the third predetermined angle into a first component and a second component. A detector is configured to detect a differential between the first and second components indicative of the amount of the overlap.

Abstract: Optical-based apparatus and method for sensing parameters in connection with an asset, such as a pipeline, are provided. At least two sites in an optical fiber may include a respective fiber grating arranged to have a respective optical response in a wavelength spectrum having a distinguishing feature indicative of a value of a respective local parameter at a respective grating site. The two fiber gratings may be further arranged to form, in combination with a respective portion of the optical fiber which extends between the two sites, respective optical backscatter portions that when combined with one another are effective to sense an optical change in the fiber portion between the sites indicative of a value of a distributed parameter. This is a parameter modality different from a parameter modality of the respective local parameters at the respective grating sites.

Abstract: A system for analyzing gas concentrations in a gas mixture includes an array of semiconductor light sources which are configured to generate an electromagnetic radiation having a narrow bandwidth. A controller modulates the electromagnetic radiation at a modulating frequency to provide light pulses at an absorption wavelength of at least one target gas. The system also includes an acoustic resonant gas chamber to hold the gas mixture and configured to receive the light pulses and amplify acoustic signals emanating from the gas mixture. A processor determines a concentration of the target gas based on acoustic signals.

Abstract: An optical gamma thermometer includes a metal mass having a temperature proportional to a gamma flux within a core of a nuclear reactor, and an optical fiber cable for measuring the temperature of the heated metal mass. The temperature of the heated mass may be measured by using one or more fiber grating structures and/or by using scattering techniques, such as Raman, Brillouin, and the like. The optical gamma thermometer may be used in conjunction with a conventional reactor heat balance to calibrate the local power range monitors over their useful in-service life. The optical gamma thermometer occupies much less space within the in-core instrument tube and costs much less than the conventional gamma thermometer.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a broadband light source that outputs a broadband light, an optical splitter that divides the broadband light into a plurality of divided light beams and a plurality of optical sensors, each optical sensor configured to receive a single one of the divided light beams and measure an electrical parameter of a conductor.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable comprising: a core fiber comprising at least one Bragg grating region, an outer surface and a length; a fiber cladding in contact with the core fiber along the entire length of the core fiber, the fiber cladding having an outer surface and a length; a carbon layer disposed upon the outer surface of the fiber cladding along the entire length of the fiber cladding, the carbon layer comprising diamond-like carbon; a hydrogen ion absorption layer in contact with the carbon layer, the hydrogen ion absorption layer being disposed on the outer surface of the carbon layer; and an outer sleeve. Also provided in another aspect of the present invention, is a component for a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable.

Abstract: A fiber Bragg grating multi-point temperature sensing system comprises a fiber sensing cable package and a plurality of clamping devices distributed along an inner surface of a wall in a circumferential direction for securing the fiber sensing cable package. The fiber sensing cable package comprises a fiber Bragg grating based sensing cable comprising at least one optical fiber, a plurality of Bragg gratings inscribed in the optical fiber, and a fabric layer and a sheath tube surrounding the optical fiber. The multi-point fiber temperature sensing system comprises a light source for transmitting light to the Bragg gratings based sensing cable package, and a detector module receiving reflected signal. Each clamping device comprises a radiation tee and defines at least one mounting hole for securing the fiber sensing cable.

Abstract: A system for controlling a wind turbine is disclosed. A system includes a light source and a beam scanner to scan the light pulses over the wind turbine. The system further receives backscattered light pulses and subsequently, provides a signal corresponding to the light pulses. The system adjusts a threshold of the signal based on a normalized value of a detected peak value of the signal. The system associates a time of flight with each of the received backscattered light pulse. The system generates an image of the wind turbine based on the time of flight associated with the light pulses and subsequently, compares the generated image with at least one known image of the wind turbine. The system generates a health profile of the wind turbine based on the comparison and subsequently, change one or more parameters of the wind turbine based on the health profile.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable comprising: a core fiber comprising at least one Bragg grating region, an outer surface and a length; a fiber cladding in contact with the core fiber along the entire length of the core fiber, the fiber cladding having an outer surface and a length; a carbon layer disposed upon the outer surface of the fiber cladding along the entire length of the fiber cladding, the carbon layer comprising diamond-like carbon; a hydrogen ion absorption layer in contact with the carbon layer, the hydrogen ion absorption layer being disposed on the outer surface of the carbon layer; and an outer sleeve. Also provided in another aspect of the present invention, is a component for a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system employs at least one light source that operates to generate light having one or more desired wavelengths. A first optical fiber based sensor transparent to a desired light wavelength operates to sense a magnetic field emitted from a predetermined electrical conductor or a current flowing through the electrical conductor. A temperature sensor that may be another optical fiber based sensor operates to sense an operating temperature associated with the first optical fiber based sensor in response to the light generated by the light source. Signal-processing electronics adjust the sensed current to substantially compensate for temperature induced errors associated with the sensed current in response to the measured operational temperature of the fiber optic sensor.

Abstract: A fiber Bragg grating multi-point temperature sensing system comprises a fiber sensing cable package and a plurality of clamping devices distributed along an inner surface of a wall in a circumferential direction for securing the fiber sensing cable package. The fiber sensing cable package comprises a fiber Bragg grating based sensing cable comprising at least one optical fiber, a plurality of Bragg gratings inscribed in the optical fiber, and a fabric layer and a sheath tube surrounding the optical fiber. The multi-point fiber temperature sensing system comprises a light source for transmitting light to the Bragg gratings based sensing cable package, and a detector module receiving reflected signal. Each clamping device comprises a radiation tee and defines at least one mounting hole for securing the fiber sensing cable.

Abstract: A method for detecting an aerosol plume includes emitting a light beam from a light source, the light beam having at least one light pulse, wherein the light pulse having a pulse width of between about 10 picoseconds (ps) and about 75 nanoseconds (ns), detecting backscattered light produced by the at least one light pulse interacting with particles in the aerosol plume, determining a presence of the aerosol plume based on the detected backscattered light, and outputting a signal indicating the presence of the aerosol plume.

Abstract: A wind anemometer comprises a light source for transmitting pulsed light signals, a receiver for receiving backscattered signals from airborne particles for each pulse of the transmitted pulsed light signals, a detector for detecting the received backscattered signals, and a processor to determine location of the airborne particles with respect to the anemometer based on the detected backscattered signals. The processor estimates wind velocity using changes in location of the airborne particles over at least one time interval.

Abstract: An optical gamma thermometer includes a metal mass having a temperature proportional to a gamma flux within a core of a nuclear reactor, and an optical fiber cable for measuring the temperature of the heated metal mass. The temperature of the heated mass may be measured by using one or more fiber grating structures and/or by using scattering techniques, such as Raman, Brillouin, and the like. The optical gamma thermometer may be used in conjunction with a conventional reactor heat balance to calibrate the local power range monitors over their useful in-service life. The optical gamma thermometer occupies much less space within the in-core instrument tube and costs much less than the conventional gamma thermometer.