Author(s)

A. MacLean, C. Moran, W. Johnstone, B Culshaw, D. Marsh, V. Watson, G. Andrews

Abstract

We present a fibre-optic sensor for the detection and location of hydrocarbon fuel spills to a precision of ± 2 m over a total length that may realistically extend to 10 km. The sensor is non-electrical, requires only a low-power laser source and is therefore intrinsically safe. It has been designed such that liquid- swellable polymers transduce their swelling into a force on an optical fibre when activated. Interrogation of the sensor using standard Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) techniques provides the possibility of detecting and locating target hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals at multiple positions along the sensor length. Sensor response time after exposure to the hydrocarbon fuel is typ

Keywords