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The miracle of optical fiber in extreme environments: How to resist high temperature and electromagnetic interference?
In the high-tech modern society, the importance of reliable sensing and monitoring systems to all walks of life is self-evident. As a data transmission medium, optical fiber has been increasingly widely used in the field of temperature monitoring. Especially in extreme environments, fiber optic temperature sensing technology demonstrates its unquestionable advantages. In addition to being able to withstand high temperatures, it can also effectively resist electromagnetic interference, making it an essential tool in industrial processes.
How distributed temperature sensing technology works
Distributed Temperature Sensing System (DTS) uses optical fiber as a linear sensor to achieve high-precision temperature measurement over long distances through optical technology. The working principle of these systems mainly relies on the Raman scattering effect. When light passes through an optical fiber, changes in heat affect the refractive index of the fiber, causing the light to scatter. The Raman scattering spectrum generated in this process can be used to calculate temperature changes.
The measurement distance can reach over 30 km, and the measurement accuracy can reach ±1 °C.
High temperature and electromagnetic interference resistance
Fiber optics are typically made of titanium-doped quartz (SiO2), a material that has good high-temperature resistance, with some systems operating at temperatures up to 700 °C. Additionally, fiber optics are naturally immune to electromagnetic interference, which makes them excel in a variety of industrial environments. Due to the sensitivity and accuracy of optical fiber, DTS is particularly suitable for high temperature environments such as the oil and gas industry or areas with strong mechanical vibration.
Structure and integration of fiber optic sensing systems
A complete temperature measurement system consists of a controller, a light source, a receiving unit, etc., while the optical fiber itself acts as a passive sensor without any action. These systems can be designed with extra-long optical fibers to increase the observation range without the need for special design for each sensing point, greatly reducing engineering costs and installation complexity.
Because the sensing cable has no moving parts and is designed to last more than 30 years, maintenance and operating costs are significantly lower than traditional sensors.
Security and Operations
When operating a fiber optic measurement system, consider laser safety requirements. Many systems use low-power lasers, which allows them to be operated without the need for a professional license. However, some systems must adhere to more stringent safety standards to ensure they can operate safely in potentially hazardous environments.
Practical Application Cases
DTS has a wide range of applications, including but not limited to oil and gas drilling monitoring, real-time monitoring of power cables, fire detection in tunnels, temperature monitoring in industrial environments, etc. In recent years, DTS has also begun to expand into the field of environmental monitoring, such as water source detection, temperature analysis of lakes and glaciers, etc.
As technology evolves, can we expect fiber optic sensing technology to be able to cope with more extreme environmental challenges in the future?
