Hydrophone Sensor Calibration for Seismic Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic sensor streamers in marine geophysical surveys face challenges due to the use of multiple sensor types for pressure and particle motion measurement, leading to increased complexity and difficulty in isolating these components, with hydrophones experiencing noise from towing vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing multiple hydrophone sensor pairs with piezoelectric materials, arranged to measure pressure and particle motion simultaneously, with differential amplifiers and calibration circuits to separate and improve measurements, allowing for accurate detection of both components using the same sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate hydrophones and geophones are used to detect pressure and particle motion, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases and noise interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate hydrophone and geophone sensors into a single integrated sensor unit. The sensor housing contains both pressure-sensitive and motion-sensitive elements that share common structural components, including the diaphragm and housing structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the ability to detect both pressure and particle motion simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects both pressure variations (hydrophone function) and particle motion/acceleration (geophone function) using a single sensor assembly. The diaphragm serves dual purposes as both the pressure-sensing element and the motion-sensing mass, enabling one component to fulfill roles traditionally requiring separate devices.
2Measurement precision
If separate hydrophones and geophones are used, then measurement capability is improved, but noise interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and cancels acceleration noise from the pressure measurement signal. By measuring acceleration separately with the motion-sensitive element and knowing its relationship to pressure response, the system can mathematically remove the acceleration-induced noise component from the hydrophone output, leaving only the true pressure signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor structure acts as an intermediary that correlates the responses of both sensing elements. The housing and diaphragm structure serve as a mechanical coupling that allows the system to understand the relationship between pressure and acceleration effects, enabling noise cancellation through signal processing based on this correlated information.
3Measurement precision
If separate hydrophones and geophones are used, then measurement capability is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple sensor functions into a single modular unit, the patent reduces the number of separate components that require individual maintenance. The combined sensor can be replaced as one unit rather than requiring separate replacement and alignment of multiple discrete hydrophones and geophones, simplifying field maintenance procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the measurement process by allowing simultaneous detection and separation of pressure and acceleration components, reducing noise interference and improving data accuracy in seismic surveys.
Implementation Method 1
A system utilizes multiple hydrophone sensor pairs with piezoelectric materials, arranged to measure pressure and acceleration simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed relating to calibrating sensors configured to measure both pressure and acceleration. In various embodiments, a system detects a first voltage produce by a first piezoelectric material in a hydrophone when the hydrophone is exposed to an acceleration and detects a second voltage produced by a second piezoelectric material in the hydrophone when the hydrophone is exposed to the acceleration. The system, in some embodiments, compares the first voltage and the second voltage. Based on the comparing of the first and second voltages, in some embodiments, the system determines a resistance for a variable resistor coupled to one of the first and second piezoelectric materials.