Multi-parameter fiber optic sensor for use in harsh environments

• US 5,892,860 A
• Filed: 01/21/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy, Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Cidra Sarl (Nordic Cultural & Educational Foundation)
• Inventors: Maron, Robert J., Kersey, Alan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T.H.
• Application Number:
  US08/786,704
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 385/37, 385/15, 385/13, 385/10, 385/38, 356/345, 356/347
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35383 using multiple sensor devices using multiplexing techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 5/52 with electrical conversion means for final indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 11/02 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/093 by photoelectric pick-up

Abstract

A sensor capable of measuring a number of physical parameters in a harsh environment includes a plurality of intrinsic fiber optic sensor elements formed within a core of an optical fiber, the optical fiber being disposed within a capillary tube made of a high strength, corrosion resistant material. The sensor is located at a distal end of the capillary tube, and the capillary tube is mounted in a monitoring location, such as mounted to the casing of an electrically submersible pump (ESP), such that the sensor can be utilized to measure physical parameters, including static and dynamic pressure, temperature, acceleration and acoustic signals, at the monitoring location. Each sensor is constructed such that a reference element, such as a rigid element, isolates a reference location in the optical fiber from mechanically induced strain. A Bragg grating sensing element is positioned with respect to the reference element, and responsive to an optical signal and to a strain associated with a respective measurand field for providing an optical sensing signal related to a magnitude of the respective measurand field.

Claims

1. A multi-parameter sensor for sensing at least one of a plurality of measurand fields in an environment, comprising:

a tubularly enclosed optical fiber having a reference means in contact with a reference location in said optical fiber for isolating said reference location in said optical fiber from mechanically induced strain; and

Bragg grating sensing means, positioned with respect to said reference means, responsive to an optical signal and to a strain associated with a respective measurand field for providing an optical sensing signal related to a magnitude of said respective measurand field.

2. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

displacement means, spaced apart from said reference location, for placing an axial force on said optical fiber; and

wherein said Bragg grating sensing means is positioned within said optical fiber between said reference location and said displacement means; and

wherein said optical fiber is responsive to said axial force for providing said respective strain in said Bragg grating sensing means.

3. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 2:

wherein said displacement means includes a diaphragm, spaced apart from said reference means, responsive to pressure in the environment for moving a measurement distance;

wherein said optical fiber extends between said diaphragm and said reference means and said Bragg grating sensing means is positioned in said optical fiber between said diaphragm and said reference means;

said optical fiber being responsive to said measurement distance for providing said strain in said Bragg grating sensing means; and

wherein said respective measurand field is a pressure gradient field.

4. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 3, wherein said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

5. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 4, further comprising resiliently deformable means positioned within said capillary tube between said diaphragm and said rigid element, said optical fiber passing through said resiliently deformable means.

6. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 2:

wherein said displacement means includes;

resiliently deformable means mounted to said reference means; and

a proof mass, mounted to said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said optical fiber is mounted between said reference means and said proof mass, and said Bragg grating sensing means is positioned within said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said proof mass is responsive to an acceleration force in the environment for providing a vibration force, and wherein said resiliently deformable means is responsive to said vibration force for providing said respective strain in said Bragg grating sensing means; and

said Bragg grating sensing means being responsive said optical signal and said respective strain for providing said optical sensing signal.

7. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 6, wherein said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

8. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 2, wherein said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

9. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating sensing means is located within said reference means at said reference location, and wherein said respective measurand field is a temperature field.

10. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 9, wherein said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

11. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating sensing means includes a plurality of Bragg grating sensors each located within a respective reference means at a respective reference location, and wherein said respective measurand field is a temperature gradient field.

12. A multi-parameter sensor for sensing a plurality of measurand fields in an environment, comprising:

a tubularly enclosed optical fiber having at least one reference means in contact with a respective reference location in said optical fiber for isolating said respective reference location in said optical fiber from mechanically induced strain; and

a plurality of Bragg grating sensing means, each positioned with respect to a respective reference means, each responsive to an optical signal and to a strain associated with a respective measurand field for providing a respective optical sensing signal related to a magnitude of said respective measurand field.

13. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 12, wherein a first one of said Bragg grating sensing means is located within a first one of said reference means for providing a first optical sensing signal related to a magnitude of a first measurand field which is a temperature gradient field.

14. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least one displacement means, spaced apart from a second reference means positioned at a second reference location, for placing an axial force on said optical fiber; and

wherein at least one additional Bragg grating sensing means is positioned within said optical fiber between said second reference location and said at least one displacement means; and

wherein said optical fiber is responsive to said axial force for straining said at least one additional Bragg grating sensing means.

15. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 14, wherein said at least one displacement means includes a diaphragm, spaced apart from said second reference means, responsive to pressure in the environment for moving a measurement distance;

wherein said optical fiber extends between said diaphragm and one side of said second reference means and said at least one additional Bragg grating sensing means includes a second Bragg grating sensing means positioned in said optical fiber between said diaphragm and said second reference means;

said optical fiber being responsive to said measurement distance for straining said second Bragg grating sensing means.

16. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 15:

wherein said at least one displacement means further includes;

resiliently deformable means mounted to another side of said second reference means; and

a proof mass, mounted to said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said optical fiber is mounted between said second reference means and said proof mass, and wherein said at least one additional Bragg grating sensing means further includes a third Bragg grating sensing means positioned within said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said proof mass is responsive to an acceleration force in the environment for providing a vibration force, and wherein said resiliently deformable means is responsive to said vibration force for straining said third Bragg grating sensing means.

17. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 16, wherein each said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

18. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 14:

wherein said at least one displacement means includes;

resiliently deformable means mounted to said second reference means; and

a proof mass, mounted to said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said optical fiber is mounted between said second reference means and said proof mass, and said at least one additional Bragg grating sensing means is positioned within said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said proof mass is responsive to an acceleration force in the environment for providing a vibration force, and wherein said resiliently deformable means is responsive to said vibration force for straining said at least one additional Bragg grating sensing means.

19. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 18, wherein each said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

20. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 12, further comprising:

at least one displacement means, spaced apart from said at least one reference means, for placing an axial force on said optical fiber; and

wherein at least one Bragg grating sensing means is positioned within said optical fiber between said at least one reference means and said at least one displacement means; and

wherein said optical fiber is responsive to said axial force for straining said at least one Bragg grating sensing means.

21. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 20, wherein said at least one displacement means includes a diaphragm, spaced apart from said at least one reference means, responsive to pressure in the environment for moving a measurement distance;

wherein said optical fiber extends between said diaphragm and one side of said at least one reference means and said at least one Bragg grating sensing means includes a first Bragg grating sensing means positioned in said optical fiber between said diaphragm and said at least one reference means;

said optical fiber being responsive to said measurement distance for straining said first Bragg grating sensing means.

22. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 21,

wherein said at least one displacement means further includes:

resiliently deformable means mounted to another side of said at least one reference means; and

a proof mass, mounted to said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said optical fiber is mounted between said at least one reference means and said proof mass, and wherein said at least one Bragg grating sensing means further includes a second Bragg grating sensing means positioned within said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said proof mass is responsive to an acceleration force in the environment for providing a vibration force, and wherein said resiliently deformable means is responsive to said vibration force for straining said second Bragg grating sensing means.

23. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 22, wherein each said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

24. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 20:

wherein said at least one displacement means includes;

resiliently deformable means mounted to said at least one reference means; and

a proof mass, mounted to said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said optical fiber is mounted between said at least one reference means and said proof mass, and said at least one Bragg grating sensing means is positioned within said resiliently deformable means;

wherein said proof mass is responsive to an acceleration force in the environment for providing a vibration force, and wherein said resiliently deformable means is responsive to said vibration force for straining said at least one Bragg grating sensing means.

25. A multi-parameter sensor according to claim 24, wherein each said reference means includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube forming said tubularly enclosed optical fiber.

26. A sensor for sensing at least one of a plurality of measurand fields in an environment, comprising:

an optical fiber having a reference device in contact with a reference location in said optical fiber for isolating said reference location in said optical fiber from mechanically induced strain; and

a Bragg grating formed within said optical fiber and positioned with respect to said reference device, said Bragg grating being responsive to an optical signal and to a strain associated with a respective measurand field for providing an optical sensing signal related to a magnitude of said respective measurand field.

27. A sensor according to claim 26, further comprising:

a displacement device, spaced apart from said reference location, for placing an axial force on said optical fiber; and

wherein said Bragg grating is positioned between said reference location and said displacement device; and

wherein said optical fiber is responsive to said axial force for providing said respective strain in said Bragg grating.

28. A sensor according to claim 27:

wherein said displacement device includes a diaphragm, spaced apart from said reference device, responsive to pressure in the environment for moving a measurement distance;

wherein said optical fiber extends between said diaphragm and said reference device and said Bragg grating is positioned between said diaphragm and said reference device;

said optical fiber being responsive to said measurement distance for providing said strain in said Bragg grating; and

wherein said respective measurand field is a pressure gradient field.

29. A sensor according to claim 28, wherein said reference device includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube surrounding said optical fiber.

30. A sensor according to claim 29, further comprising a resiliently deformable element positioned within said capillary tube between said diaphragm and said rigid element, said optical fiber passing through said resiliently deformable element.

31. A sensor according to claim 27:

wherein said displacement device includes;

a resiliently deformable element mounted to said reference device; and

a proof mass, mounted to said resiliently deformable element;

wherein said optical fiber is mounted between said reference device and said proof mass, and said Bragg grating is positioned within said resiliently deformable element;

wherein said proof mass is responsive to an acceleration force in the environment for providing a vibration force, and wherein said resiliently deformable element is responsive to said vibration force for providing said respective strain in said Bragg grating; and

said Bragg grating being responsive said optical signal and said respective strain for providing said optical sensing signal.

32. A sensor according to claim 31, wherein said reference device includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube surrounding said optical fiber.

33. A sensor according to claim 27, wherein said reference device includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube surrounding said optical fiber.

34. A sensor according to claim 26, wherein said Bragg grating is located within said reference device at said reference location, and wherein said respective measurand field is a temperature field.

35. A sensor according to claim 34, wherein said reference device includes a rigid element attached between said optical fiber and a capillary tube surrounding said optical fiber.

36. A sensor according to claim 26, further comprising at least one additional Bragg grating, each Bragg grating being located within a respective reference device at a respective reference location, and wherein said respective measurand field is a temperature gradient field.