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At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Optical Fiber Sensor with a Hydrophobic Filter Layer for Monitoring Hydrogen under Humid Conditions

Real-time and remote monitoring of hydrogen concentration in underground hydrogen storage reservoirs is crucial to maintaining the integrity and safety of the storage facilities. High humidity in the underground deposits interferes with hydrogen sensors, introducing inaccuracy into the hydrogen sensing measurements. A hydrophobic filter layer over a hydrogen sensing layer on an optical fiber hydrogen sensor was devised to minimize the impact of the humidity on the sensor. The hydrogen sensor coated with a hydrophobic filter layer demonstrated a significant improvement in reliable hydrogen sensing under high humidity conditions (99% RH) without severe baseline drift and reduction of transmission intensity. Finally, the optical fiber hydrogen sensor revamped with the filter layer would enable the reliable measurement of hydrogen concentration under the humid conditions expected in subsurface hydrogen storage facilities.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multiscale modeling-enabled design of multifunctional composites

This study aims to create a comprehensive model that considers multiple scales and physics for predicting the electromechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced composites enhanced with barium titanate (BaTiO3). In our earlier work, we have demonstrated that depositing BaTiO3 microparticles of 200-nm-diameter, on fiber surfaces during fiber-reinforced composite fabrication enhances mechanical strength, passive self-sensing, and energy harvesting properties. The key is to carefully control the microparticle concentration to prevent agglomeration. Since the particles are micron-sized, understanding how agglomeration affects the composites' electromechanical properties is crucial for guiding such multifunctional materials’ design. This study introduces a micromechanics-based approach to explore the impact of microparticle dispersion on the bulk composites' electromechanical properties. Insights gained from this investigation are applied in experiments, enabling accurate predictions of mechanical and self-sensing responses in BaTiO3-enhanced fiber-reinforced composites. Micro-level findings from this computational approach can be integrated into larger continuum models to comprehensively capture the electromechanical behavior of the composite structures at bulk scale. The proposed model is validated by comparing predictions with experimental results, accounting for the nonlinear mechanical and electromechanical behaviors of constituent materials. Consequently, this computational model serves as a digital platform for efficiently designing multifunctional composites.

Gupta, Sumit↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental Investigation of Low-Frequency Distributed Acoustic Sensor Responses to Two Parallel Propagating Fractures

Low-frequency distributed acoustic sensing (LF-DAS) is a diagnostic tool for hydraulic fracture propagation with far-field monitoring using fiber optic sensors. LF-DAS senses strain rate variation caused by stress field change due to fracture propagation. Fiber optic sensors are installed in the monitoring wells in the vicinity of a fractured well. From the strain responses, fracture propagation can be evaluated. To understand subsurface conditions with multiple propagating fractures, a laboratory-scale hydraulic fracture experiment was performed simulating the LF-DAS response to fracture propagation with embedded distributed optical fiber strain sensors under these conditions. The experiment was performed using a transparent cube of epoxy with two parallel radial initial flaws centered in the cube. Fluid was injected into the sample to generate fractures along the initial flaws. The experiment used distributed high-definition fiber optic strain sensors with tight spatial resolutions. The sensors were embedded at two different locations on opposite sides of the initial flaws, serving as observation/monitoring locations. We also employed finite element modeling to numerically solve the linear elastic equations of equilibrium continuity and stress–strain relationships. The measured strains from the experiment were compared to simulation results from the finite element model. The experimentally derived strain and strain-rate waterfall plots from this study show the responses to both fractures propagating, while the fracture at the lower position took most of the fluid during the experiment. Interestingly, a fracture first began propagating from the upper flaw of the two flaws, but once the lower fracture was initiated, it grew much faster than the upper fracture. Both fibers were intercepted by the lower fracture, further verifying the strain signature as a fracture is approaching and intersecting an offset fiber.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization of Intrinsic Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors by In-core and Furnace Testing

Increased research and development in nuclear technology has raised the demand for novel sensors and instrumentation to meet data objectives, and survive in different conditions and environments, beyond conventional light water reactor (LWR) environments. Expediting the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies by developing, demonstrating, and qualifying advanced reactor fuel forms necessitates a deeper understanding of how irradiation affects fuels and materials' performance. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of fuels and materials performance, researchers require more specialized experiments and measurements. The demand for innovative sensors to support nuclear fuel development arises from the complexity of materials' behavior under irradiation and the challenges of deploying instrumentation in Material Test Reactors (MTRs) for irradiation tests. Additionally, measurements of material properties require integrated measurement systems to characterize thermal properties, mechanical properties, chemistry, and microstructure [1]. Among the potential measurement techniques, optical fiber-based sensors have been identified as potential sensors to measure different physical phenomena such as temperature, strain, pressure, and fluid level. Optical fiber sensors have the capability to provide multi-sensing and multiplexing instrumentation, allowing the measurement of different physical parameters within a single sensor configuration, and transmitting data collected at multiple locations through a single fiber. They offer immunity to electromagnetic interference, electrical passivity, compatibility with various sensing methodologies, and cost-effectiveness. Beyond their widespread use in telecommunications, silica fiber-based instruments are utilized in industrial applications, even at temperatures reaching 300?400°C, such as distributed temperature sensing in oil and gas recovery. The Department of Energy (DOE) is interested in using fiber optics to support fuel cycle development [2]. Fiber optics are an excellent candidate for harsh environment sensing, including sensing at very high temperatures (1900oC for sapphire optical fibers). Distributed fiber optic sensing has been deployed in other harsh environments like coal gasification plants [3]. Distributed strain sensing, which operates similarly to distributed temperature sensing, has been deployed to monitor underground mines and fibers have been imbedded in soil to monitor sink-hole development [4][5]. The application of fiber optic sensors to advanced reactor development is a promising area of research.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Distributed Acoustic Sensing to Estimate the Permeability

Optical fiber in a borehole can be interrogated with distributed acoustic sensors (DAS) to capture fracture displacements with the potential to map surrounding fracture networks. We designed a laboratory experiment to test the capability of DAS to determine borehole flow characteristics, and we show that for the first time DAS can be used to remotely estimate permeability. Optical fiber was wrapped around a bead filled pipe and the pressure drop and flow velocity were measured to directly calculate permeability. A machine learning model using statistical features from continuous DAS estimated the bulk permeability. Fluid interactions with the permeable material demonstrate insufficient resolution using DAS amplitude-based measurements for estimating pressure drop to infer permeability. Variations in the spectral domain relate DAS measurements to the pressure drop and provide consistent permeability estimates. Resolution with DAS is sufficient to estimate permeability and provides a reliable method to monitor at depth in borehole conditions.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

High-temperature stable FBGs fabricated by a point-by-point femtosecond laser inscription for multi-parameter sensing

A high-temperature resistant fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with pronounced cladding modes is fabricated using a simple, fast, and flexible point-by-point femtosecond laser inscription. Cladding modes of different orders exhibit various sensitivities to changes in refractive index of the surrounding medium and temperature, while the Bragg wavelength is only dependent on the ambient temperature. By combining the resonance of cladding modes and the Bragg resonance, measurement of variations of temperature and surrounding refractive index can be achieved. Survivability of the cladding modes and the core mode in the fabricated FBG at elevated temperatures up to 1000°C is demonstrated.

Zhu, Chen (ORCID:0000000232567330)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Highly cascaded first-order sapphire optical fiber Bragg gratings fabricated by a femtosecond laser

This Letter reports an innovative technique for fabricating large-scale, highly cascaded first-order sapphire optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) using a femtosecond laser-assisted point-by-point inscription method. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, this study successfully demonstrates a distributed array of 10 FBGs within highly multimode sapphire crystal fiber, made possible by employing a high-power laser technique to generate larger reflectors with a Gaussian intensity profile. These first-order FBGs offer advantages such as enhanced reflectivity, shorter fabrication time, and simplified spectral characteristics, making them easier to interpret compared with high-order FBGs. The FBGs’ resilience and effectiveness are analyzed by subjecting them to temperature tests, proving their capacity for accurate temperature monitoring up to 1500°C—a testament to their suitability for harsh environments. This novel approach broadens the scope for sensing and communication applications in sapphire fibers, particularly under challenging conditions. The novelty of our work lies in successfully overcoming the limitations of previous designs by integrating a cascade of 10 FBGs in sapphire fibers, thereby enhancing multiplexing capabilities, minimizing overlapping of FBG peaks, and ensuring reliable temperature monitoring in industries and applications with thermal gradients.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Rapid and Temporary Deployment of Fiber-Optic Arrays to Measure Surface Chemical Explosion Series with Distributed Acoustic Sensing

Rapid and temporary distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) deployments are crucial for accurately capturing the seismic wavefield following major events, such as earthquakes, or in anticipation of known events of interest, such as chemical explosions. We provide an overview of two DAS campaigns conducted in May and October 2024 to record the seismoacoustic waves generated by two series of surface chemical explosions in New Mexico, United States, involving 1- and 10-ton trinitrotoluene-equivalent charges. In both campaigns, we deployed approximately 2 km of fiber-optic cables in a dry riverbed, about 12 km east of the explosion sites. For the October campaign, seven geophones and two anemometers were collocated with the fiber. We describe the field deployments and present preliminary results from the recorded signals. Specifically, we cross analyze the data recorded in May and October, validate the DAS data with geophone measurements, and highlight the benefits of burying fibers to reduce wind noise and improve signal-to-noise ratios. This study demonstrates the potential of DAS to record the seismoacoustic waves generated by surface chemical explosions of varying sizes at distances of approximately 10 km from the source.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Embedding Fiber Optic Sensors in Stainless Steel using Spark Plasma Sintering for Structural Health Monitoring in Harsh Environments

Embedded fiber optic sensors such as fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) offer a unique route for distributed real-time in-situ imaging of various engineering parameters for numerous purposes. This study advanced the current sensor embedding approaches by exploring a spark plasma sintering (SPS)-assisted technology to embed FBGs in high-temperature structural materials and demonstrated the capability of temperature measurement. In this approach, single-mode FBGs were integrated into stainless steel (SS) 316L components using SPS, followed by the evaluation of the bonding quality between the FBGs and matrix, the optical attenuation of the fibers induced by embedding, and the sensing characters of the FBGs under temperature stimuli. The results demonstrated that superior bonding was achieved between the FBGs and highly-densified SS316L. Examination of the behavior of Bragg gratings validated signal fidelity after embedding. Real-time thermal imaging under temperature cycling using the FBGs demonstrated the effectiveness of the technique for smart materials manufacturing.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fiber-Based Distributed Hydrogen Measurement at High Temperatures

In this work, we discuss the implementation of evanescent field optical fiber sensors for distributed gas sensing of H2, focusing on results using a Ni / Gd-doped CeO2 nanocomposite sensing material for detection of low levels of H2 (0-4%) at 700 °C. This approach utilizes sensors prepared using a low-cost, wet chemical deposition process, in conjunction with a custom-built interrogator system leveraging optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR). Using a specially designed dual-gas flow reactor system, the sensor is tested by establishing a controlled equilibrium gradient of gas concentration. Initial results are shown using silica fiber, but provides a pathway for utilization with high temperature stable single crystal optical fiber for operation at higher temperatures and higher levels of H2 relevant for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operating conditions.

Wuenschell, Jeffrey↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optical Fiber H2 Sensor Operating in Harsh Environments of Subsurface H2 Storage Reservoirs

Monitoring hydrogen concentration in the subsurface storage reservoirs is vital to ensure the integrity and safety of the storage facilities. An optical fiber hydrogen sensor consisting of a palladium-based sensing layer and a protective polymer layer was developed and evaluated in simulated subsurface hydrogen storage conditions. The developed optical fiber hydrogen sensor has demonstrated successful sensing performance at ~80 °C, ~1,000 psi, and ~100% RH. In addition, the sensor was exposed to real subsurface microbial samples in the harsh environments to monitor microbially induced changes in hydrogen concentration. The sensor has shown stable H2 sensing responses in the replicated underground hydrogen storage conditions without deterioration or loss of H2 sensitivity in the presence of biological samples.

filter layer↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ultra-Long Distance BOTDA Sensor System Employing Hybrid Amplification and Advanced Noise Reduction Techniques

Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) sensor systems play a pivotal role in distributed sensing, which enables precise measurements of strain and temperature across extensive fiber lengths. This research offers a comprehensive strategy to extend the sensing range of BOTDA systems beyond tens of kilometers while maintaining high spatial resolutions. Such enhanced sensing is realized through the integration of distributed Raman amplification, inline amplification using erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA), and advanced noise reduction techniques. Optimizing Raman pump and probe wave profiles ensures the robustness of Brillouin scattering signals, effectively countering attenuation-induced losses. Additionally, enhancing weak Brillouin signals by strategically placing EDFAs at optimal fiber locations keeps sensor sensitivity high. Leveraging inherent redundancy in measured data as a function of frequency and fiber distance, the non-local means (NLM) filter removes noise while preserving essential physical information. In summary, this research has shown a holistic exploration of extending BOTDA’s distance sensing capabilities up to 150 km with spatial resolutions of 8 meters.

Bhatta, Hari↗
DOE OSTI2020

Geophysical monitoring using active seismic techniques at the Citronelle Alabama CO 2 storage demonstration site

Between August 2012 and September 2014, about 114,000 metric tonnes of CO 2 was captured from the coal-fired Plant Barry Power Station at Bucks Alabama and injected into the Paluxy Formation above the oil pool in the southeast unit of the Citronelle Oilfield. Various monitoring methods were deployed at land surface and in project wells to measure system performance, comply with permit requirements and test new and innovative monitoring tools. The monitoring program relied heavily on active seismic methods for subsurface imaging of geologic structure and time-lapse seismic techniques to track the CO 2 migration in the injection interval. Both conventional geophone/hydrophone and fiber-optic based Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) arrays were deployed and tested, allowing a side by side comparison of the equipment and techniques. Geophysical imaging of the subsurface was successful using DAS in the offset vertical seismic profile (OVSP) survey configuration. A high resolution OVSP image of the subsurface was obtained in 2014 with DAS, which exceeded project expectations in comparison to a lower resolution image obtained in 2012 using a conventional 80-level geophone array. A time-lapse image of the redistribution of CO 2 after injection ended in September 2014 was obtained with two DAS OVSP surveys from June 2014 and December 2015, thus successfully demonstrating its proof-of-concept. Unfortunately, a pre-injection baseline survey with DAS, which was in its initial stage of technology development in 2012, did not have sufficient quality for use, making it difficult to interpret the acquired DAS time-lapse difference. Additional research in this area has since demonstrated the utility of time-lapse DAS OVSP. DAS data were also acquired during a cross-well seismic survey conducted in 2014. Unfortunately, the DAS technique was not success in the cross-well survey configuration because the system noise level was too high in the crosswell frequency output range (100–1200 Hz) of the piezoelectric source (increasing by a factor of ten compared to VSP frequency band). Additionally, the cross-well geometry causes sub-horizontal (broadside) incidence on the vertical DAS fiber cable, which is known to be problematic. Current research is focused on improving the DAS cable response to broadside acoustic energy. Time-lapse seismic surveys using commercially available conventional arrays were also acquired. In contrast to the DAS acquired data, the cross-well seismic results obtained with the conventional array was highly successful and clearly showed the CO 2 remained in zone at the end of injection. Time-lapse differencing of the OSVP surveys acquired with the conventional arrays proved to be inconclusive. Finally, changes in wellbore conditions between surveys and unavoidable changes in equipment (the array used for the baseline survey was retired) affected data quality, making it difficult to interpret the OVSP results.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Joint Geophysical and Numerical Insights of the Coupled Thermal‐Hydro‐Mechanical Processes During Heating in Salt

Abstract Salt offers an optimal medium for the permanent isolation of heat‐producing radioactive waste due to its impermeability, high thermal conductivity, and ability to close fractures through creep. A thorough understanding of the thermal‐hydrological‐mechanical (THM) processes, encompassing brine migration, is fundamental for secure radioactive waste disposal within salt formations. At the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), we conducted joint in situ geophysical monitoring experiments during active heating to investigate brine migration near excavations. This experiment incorporated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) alongside high‐resolution fiber‐optic‐based distributed temperature sensing within a controlled heating experiment. Additionally, discrete element model (DEM) based numerical simulations were conducted to simulate THM processes during heating, providing a more mechanistic understanding of the coupled processes leading to the observed changes in geophysical measurements. During heating, resistivity shifts near the heater were reasonably explained by temperature effects. However, in more distant, cooler regions, the resistivity decrease exceeded predictions based solely on temperature. DEM simulations highlighted brine migration, propelled by pore pressure gradients, as the likely primary factor contributing to the additional resistivity decline beyond temperature effects. The comparison between the predicted ERT responses and observations was much improved when considering the effects of brine migration based on the DEM simulations. These geophysical and simulation findings shed light on brine migration in response to salt heating, enhancing our understanding of the coupled THM processes in salt for safe radioactive waste disposal.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Information integrated glass module fabricated by integrated additive and subtractive manufacturing

In this Letter, we report a novel integrated additive and subtractive manufacturing (IASM) method to fabricate an information integrated glass module. After a certain number of glass layers are 3D printed and sintered by direct C O 2 laser irradiation, a microchannel will be fabricated on top of the printed glass by integrated picosecond laser, for intrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometer (IFPI) optical fiber sensor embedment. Then, the glass 3D printing process continues for the realization of bonding between optical fiber and printed glass. Temperature sensing up to 1000°C was demonstrated using the fabricated information integrated module. In addition, the long-term stability of the glass module at 1000°C was conducted. Enhanced sensor structure robustness and harsh temperature sensing capability make this glass module attractive for harsh environment structural health monitoring.

Zhang, Qi (ORCID:0000000268655981)↗