Pipeline monitoring and leak detection using Loop integrated Mach Zehnder Interferometer optical fiber sensor

摘要

The Loop integrated Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (LMZI) optical fiber vibrational sensor was proposed to be implemented in pipeline monitoring and leak detection. The vibration sensing is based on power demodulation method using the torsion-sensitive LMZI sensor. In the 40 m steel pipeline field test, the LMZI sensor detected a significant leak-induced peak at similar to 100 Hz during leak at 2 bar water pressure, whereas an additional similar to 288 Hz peak was detected during leak at 3 bar water pressure. Both of the detected leak-induced frequencies were compared to the commercial accelerometer and showed good agreements with percentage errors of 0.4% and 2.64% at 2 bar and 3 bar respectively. The LMZI sensor is an alternative leak detection method which has great potential in replacing current conventional sensors in the future.