Distributed Optical Pressure and Temperature Sensors

• US 20090003759A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Boyd, Clark Davis
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/13
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35345 using Amplitude variations to detect the measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/3206 at discrete locations in the fibre, e.g. using Bragg scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 11/025 using a pressure-sensitive optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0092 Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. Such carrier can be a thick-walled capillary tube or other shapes. The carrier has a sealed hollow body with a side wall. The side wall is profiled at least one predetermined location to form a thin-walled section and at least one optical sensor is attached to said thin-walled section. As the thin-walled section flexes in response to a pressure difference across it, the pressure difference is sensed by the optical sensor. The carrier may also have a slot defined on its side wall to receive the optical fiber. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.

Claims

1. A carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon, said carrier comprises:

a sealed hollow body having a side wall, wherein the side wall is profiled at least one predetermined location to form a thin-walled section and wherein at least one optical sensor is attached to said thin-walled section, so that said thin-walled section flexes in response to a pressure difference across the thin-walled section and said pressure difference is sensed by said at least one optical sensor.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the sealed hollow body is a capillary tube.

3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the sealed hollow body comprises a spherical or cylindrical pressure vessel.

4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the side wall further comprises a slot defined thereon.

5. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the optical fiber is loosely disposed within said slot.

6. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the slot is defined on the thin-walled section.

7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the surface of the hollow body.

8. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the surface of the hollow body in a serpentine fashion.

9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the optical fiber is attached intermittently to the surface of the hollow body.

10. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber further comprises a temperature optical sensor proximate to the pressure optical sensor.

11. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure optical sensor is metallized.

12. The carrier of claim 1 having an interior space, wherein said interior space is segmented into a plurality of sealed spaces.