Optical Fiber Sensing in Smart Electrical Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies for nuclear reactors and industrial facilities face challenges in withstanding harsh environments and providing continuous, accurate measurements during normal and post-accident situations without increasing engineering complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
Integration of functionalized optical fibers within electrical cables to create a smart cable system that uses distributed fiber-sensing schemes like Rayleigh and Brillouin backscattering for multi-parameter measurements, including radiation detection, with high spatial resolution and stability at high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sensor technologies are deployed in nuclear reactors and industrial facilities, then measurement capability is provided, but the sensors fail to withstand harsh environments and maintain long-term stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electronic sensors with optical fiber-based sensing systems. Optical fibers use light propagation and optical properties (such as Brillouin scattering, Raman scattering, and fiber Bragg gratings) to detect temperature, strain, and radiation, eliminating the need for electronic components that fail in harsh nuclear environments. This substitution enables sensors to withstand high temperatures, radiation, and corrosive conditions while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite sensor systems that integrate multiple types of optical fibers with different functional properties within a single cable structure. This includes combining temperature-sensitive fibers, strain-sensitive fibers, and radiation-detection fibers, allowing the system to simultaneously measure multiple parameters and maintain reliability across diverse harsh conditions.
2Reliability
If sensor networks are deployed to provide continuous monitoring, then safety and efficiency are enhanced, but engineering complexity and cost significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multi-functional optical cable systems that simultaneously serve as electrical power transmission cables and sensor networks. The optical fibers are integrated within the same cable structure that contains electrical conductors, allowing a single infrastructure to provide both power delivery and distributed sensing for temperature, strain, and radiation, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of electrical cable infrastructure and sensor network deployment into a unified system. By embedding optical fiber sensing members within existing electrical cable sheaths and structures, the system eliminates the need for separate sensor installation processes, reducing engineering complexity while providing continuous monitoring capabilities.
3Area of stationary object
If distributed sensing is implemented across large distances, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic signal distribution systems with optical-based distributed sensing. Optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) and optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) techniques allow the entire length of the optical fiber to serve as the sensor, with measurement points distributed along the fiber length without requiring additional electronic components or signal conditioning at each location, thereby achieving large-area coverage with reduced complexity.
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
Enables continuous, cost-effective, and accurate sensing of parameters like radiation, temperature, and strain across large distances with reduced engineering complexity, utilizing existing electrical infrastructure, and maintaining stability in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
uses distributed fiber-sensing schemes like Rayleigh and Brillouin backscattering for multi-parameter measurements
Implementation Method 2
uses distributed fiber-sensing schemes like Rayleigh and Brillouin backscattering for multi-parameter measurements
Implementation Method 3
the functionalized optical fiber based sensor device is structured to exhibit a change in one or more optical properties in response to radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A cable device includes a sheath member, a number of electrical cables provided within the sheath member, and an optical fiber sensing member provided within the sheath member. The optical fiber sensing member includes a functionalized optical fiber based sensor device structured to exhibit a change in one or more optical properties in response to changes in a parameter of interest. Also, a method of sensing radiation includes introducing a source light into an optical fiber sensing member provided within a structure, wherein the optical fiber sensing member comprises a functionalized optical fiber based sensor device structured to exhibit a change in one or more optical properties in response to radiation, detecting sensing light generated in response to the source light, and determining a radiation level at a plurality of locations within the structure using the detected sensing light and a distributed sensing scheme.