Abstract
We present two configurations of an amplified fiber-optic-based corrosion sensor using the optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) technique as the interrogation method. The sensor system is multipoint, self-referenced, has no moving parts and can measure the corrosion rate several kilometers away from the OTDR equipment. The first OTDR monitoring system employs a remotely pumped in-line EDFA and it is used to evaluate the increase in system reach compared to a non-amplified configuration. The other amplified monitoring system uses an EDFA in booster configuration and we perform corrosion measurements and evaluations of system sensitivity to amplifier gain variations. Our experimental results obtained under controlled laboratory conditions show the advantages of the amplified system in terms of longer system reach with better spatial resolution, and also that the corrosion measurements obtained from our system are not sensitive to 3 dB gain variations.
Highlights
Sensors based on optical fibers are used to monitor various measurands such as temperature, pressure, corrosion, humidity, pollution, current, voltage, electric field, magnetic field and others [1,2,3]
This is the first report on the experimental characterization of amplified optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) systems for corrosion sensor applications, and the first to evaluate the sensitivity of the measurements to amplifier gain variations
We have presented experimental results for two configurations of an amplified OTDR system for multipoint corrosion sensors, one with the remotely pumped Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) placed among the sensor heads, in the fiber line, away from the OTDR equipment, and the other with the EDFA placed close to the OTDR equipment, in a booster configuration, before the sensor heads
Summary
Sensors based on optical fibers are used to monitor various measurands such as temperature, pressure, corrosion, humidity, pollution, current, voltage, electric field, magnetic field and others [1,2,3]. The optical fiber-based monitoring techniques have certain advantages, such as simplicity, versatility, safety, low weight and reliability. Martins-Filho et al have presented for the first time the concept and the experimental results of a fibre-optic-based corrosion sensor using the optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) technique as the interrogation method [5,10]. In this paper we present experimental results for two configurations of an amplified OTDR corrosion sensor system that employs an EDFA to achieve longer system reach. Our results show the advantages of the amplified system in terms of longer system reach with better spatial resolution To our knowledge, this is the first report on the experimental characterization of amplified OTDR systems for corrosion sensor applications, and the first to evaluate the sensitivity of the measurements to amplifier gain variations.
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