Data fusion in distributed optical fiber strain and temperature sensors for pipeline

Abstract

Because of cross sensitivity of multiple parameters and unknown dynamic environments, the data fusion used in optic fiber sensors is important. This paper describes a new distributed sensing system, which is used to solve this coupling problem in distributed optical fiber strain and temperature sensors. The sensors consist of fiber Fabry-Perot interferometers, and there are two Fabry-Perot interferometers in each position needed to monitor, one is for strain and temperature sensing, and another is only for temperature. Correspondingly, those sensors are distributed along two optical fibers and an optical time-domain reflectometer(OTDR) with dual-wavelengths is used to determine the trouble location and reflectivity of sensors. Then a data fusion mathematic model is established and applied to provide the precise information about strain and temperature of pipeline. Through this system, monitoring of the deformations of pipeline can be realized.