Reusable Fiber Optic Sleeve Leak Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic sleeve leak sensors are not reusable, fail to detect leaks reliably in dirty conditions, and are not adaptable to new fiber generations, leading to issues with reusability and accuracy under various environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A reusable sleeve leak sensor with a water-sensitive swelling body and an exchangeable slide that absorbs liquid or suspension, causing the optical waveguide to bend, allowing for precise detection of leaks through macrobending loss measurement, and is designed to operate in dirty conditions and with new fiber generations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water sensor with a swelling body is used to detect water ingress, then leak detection capability is improved, but the sensor cannot be reused and must be discarded after one use
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into separate components: a reusable housing with optical detection elements and a replaceable swelling body cartridge. This segmentation allows the housing to be reused while only the consumable swelling body is replaced, resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and reusability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the swelling body (consumable part) to be discarded after use while recovering and reusing the housing and optical components. This partial discarding approach maintains detection reliability through the reusable optical system while enabling cost-effective replacement of the water-sensitive element.
2Reliability
If multiple sensor types are used to detect water ingress, then detection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide-based detection system serves multiple functions: it detects water ingress through macrobending loss, works with various fiber optic cable types, and can detect different liquid compositions. This universal approach replaces multiple specialized sensors with a single multi-functional optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects water ingress by monitoring changes in optical transmission parameters (macrobending loss at specific wavelengths like 1625 nm) rather than using multiple physical sensor types. This parameter-based detection simplifies the device while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
3Measurement precision
If the swelling body directly contacts the optical waveguide, then detection precision is improved, but the fiber optic cable may break under maximum deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide acts as an intermediary element that transmits mechanical displacement from the swelling body to the detection system without requiring the swelling body to directly contact or excessively bend the fiber optic cable. The waveguide converts the swelling body's linear expansion into measurable optical signal changes while protecting the cable from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical contact between the swelling body and fiber optic cable with an optical field-based detection mechanism. The swelling body's expansion is detected through optical waveguide macrobending loss rather than direct cable bending, eliminating the risk of cable breakage while maintaining detection precision.
4Measurement precision
If the sensor is designed for high detection sensitivity, then leak detection accuracy is improved, but adaptability to new fiber generations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection system is designed to work with multiple fiber optic cable generations and types by using standard optical waveguide principles that are independent of specific fiber specifications. The system adapts to different fiber generations through software configuration of detection parameters rather than hardware changes, maintaining both precision and versatility.
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 reliable detection of leaks in dirty conditions and with new fiber generations, ensuring the sensor can be reused and adapted, maintaining accuracy across a wide range of environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an at least two-part, liquid- or suspension-absorbing, air-permeable housing with a lower housing part and an upper housing part
Implementation Method 2
the swelling body slide being translationally displaceable when the swelling body expands from a first position into at least a second position
Implementation Method 3
bending the optical waveguide so that the at least one support for the swelling body in the direction of displacement of the swelling body slide is provided on the side of the swelling body slide
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a sleeve leak sensor which consists of at least one water or sludge mixture-permeable housing with an air-permeable cover that can be clipped thereto for receiving and exchanging a swelling body slide and for receiving an IEC B1.1, B1.3, B6-a1, B6-a2 or B6-b2-type FO. The swelling body slide which reacts to water deforms the FO portion so as to have a diameter of 20 mm. The damping increase which occurs by bending said section can be measured by means of a measuring device arranged at the beginning or end of the cable.