Fibre optic/hydrogel probe for distributed chemical measurements

W. Craig Michie; Brian Culshaw; I. McKenzie; Chris Moran; Neil B. Graham; F. Santos; Peter T. Gardiner; Erik Bergqvist; B. Carlstrom

doi:10.1117/12.185022

14 September 1994 Fibre optic/hydrogel probe for distributed chemical measurements

W. Craig Michie, Brian Culshaw, I. McKenzie, Chris Moran, Neil B. Graham, F. Santos, Peter T. Gardiner, Erik Bergqvist, B. Carlstrom

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2360, Tenth International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.185022
Event: 10th Optical Fibre Sensors Conference, 1994, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

This paper reports on the basic design and preliminary evaluation of an entirely novel cable configuration which enables the detection of water, pH or similar variables as a function of position along the length of an optical fibre. This sensing capability is realised through a combination of Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) and a microbend transducer activated by chemically sensitive water swellable polymers (hydrogels). Experiments with a water sensor prototype have demonstrated the detection of wetted sections of less than 25 cm length in cables longer than 100 m and indicate that interrogation of sensors several kilometres long is possible. The present experiments have demonstrated the principal of measurement through the development of a distributed water detector. However the technique can be used to monitor various chemical parameters such as pH or ionic concentration by selecting the appropriate gel as the responsive medium.

Citation Download Citation

W. Craig Michie, Brian Culshaw, I. McKenzie, Chris Moran, Neil B. Graham, F. Santos, Peter T. Gardiner, Erik Bergqvist, and B. Carlstrom "Fibre optic/hydrogel probe for distributed chemical measurements", Proc. SPIE 2360, Tenth International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors, (14 September 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.185022

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