CA2461424A1 - Optical differential pressure transducer utilizing a bellows and flexure system - Google Patents
Optical differential pressure transducer utilizing a bellows and flexure system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2461424A1 CA2461424A1 CA 2461424 CA2461424A CA2461424A1 CA 2461424 A1 CA2461424 A1 CA 2461424A1 CA 2461424 CA2461424 CA 2461424 CA 2461424 A CA2461424 A CA 2461424A CA 2461424 A1 CA2461424 A1 CA 2461424A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pressure
- sensor
- flexure
- optical sensor
- pressure sensor
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract 58
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims 35
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims 5
- 230000002277 temperature effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 abstract 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 abstract 2
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 abstract 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
- G01L1/00—Measuring force or stress, in general
- G01L1/24—Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations of optical properties of material when it is stressed, e.g. by photoelastic stress analysis using infrared, visible light, ultraviolet
- G01L1/242—Measuring force or stress, in general by measuring variations of optical properties of material when it is stressed, e.g. by photoelastic stress analysis using infrared, visible light, ultraviolet the material being an optical fibre
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
Abstract
A pressure transducer that uses a rhomboidal flexure to provide displacement amplification to an optical sensing element is disclosed. The transducer includes an optical sensor disposed between sides of the flexure. The top portion of the flexure connects to a displacement device, such as a bellows. A first pressure port provides a first pressure to the bellows. A second pressure, preferably greater than the first pressure, is ported into a housing containing the flexure, which tends to compress the bellows and pull apart or expand the flexure.
Such expansion pinches or compresses the optical sensing element between the sides of the flexure, and in particular stresses an optical sensing element containing a fiber Bragg grating.
Assessing the Bragg reflection wavelength of the grating allows the differential pressure to be determined, although the transducer can also be used to sense an absolute pressure. A
temperature compensation scheme, including the use of additional fiber Bragg gratings and thermal compensators axially positioned to counteract thermal effects of the optical sensing element, is also disclosed.
Such expansion pinches or compresses the optical sensing element between the sides of the flexure, and in particular stresses an optical sensing element containing a fiber Bragg grating.
Assessing the Bragg reflection wavelength of the grating allows the differential pressure to be determined, although the transducer can also be used to sense an absolute pressure. A
temperature compensation scheme, including the use of additional fiber Bragg gratings and thermal compensators axially positioned to counteract thermal effects of the optical sensing element, is also disclosed.
Claims (96)
1. A pressure sensor, comprising:
a flexure; and an optical sensor coupled to the flexure and having a first axis, wherein at least a portion of the optical sensor is deformable along the first axis, wherein the optical sensor is deformable by application of a force on the flexure perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the force is indicative of the pressure to be sensed.
a flexure; and an optical sensor coupled to the flexure and having a first axis, wherein at least a portion of the optical sensor is deformable along the first axis, wherein the optical sensor is deformable by application of a force on the flexure perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the force is indicative of the pressure to be sensed.
2. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a differential pressure, and wherein the force is indicative of the differential pressure.
3. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the flexure is rhomboid shaped.
4. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises a pressure sensitive FBG.
5. The pressure sensor of claim 4, wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensitive FBG.
6. The pressure sensor of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensitive FBG is not located at a deformable portion of the optical sensor.
7. The pressure sensor of claim 4, further comprising a temperature compensator block along the first axis between at least one end of the optical sensor and the flexure, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the optical sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the optical sensor.
8. The pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the flexure is affixed to the housing.
9. The pressure sensor of claim 8, wherein the housing is filled with a liquid.
10. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor has a narrowed portion surrounded by thicker portions.
11. The pressure sensor of claim 10, wherein a pressure sensitive FBG is located at the narrowed portion.
12. The pressure sensor of claim 11, wherein the optical sensor is deformable by virtue of engagement between the flexure and the thicker portions.
13. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor, is contained within the flexure.
14. The pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising a flexible compartment for providing the force on the flexure.
15. The pressure sensor of claim 14, wherein the flexible compartment comprises a bellows.
16. The pressure sensor of claim 14, wherein the flexible compartment contains a first pressure to be measured.
17. The pressure sensor of claim 14, wherein the flexure and the flexible compartment are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains a second pressure to be measured.
18. The pressure sensor of claim 14, wherein the flexure and the flexible compartment are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains a second pressure and the flexible compartment contains a first pressure, and wherein the force is indicative of the difference between the first and second pressures.
19. A pressure sensor, comprising:
an optical sensor contained within a flexible body and at least partially compressible by the body along a first axis; and a temperature compensator block between at least one end of the optical sensor and the body, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the optical sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the optical sensor.
an optical sensor contained within a flexible body and at least partially compressible by the body along a first axis; and a temperature compensator block between at least one end of the optical sensor and the body, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the optical sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the optical sensor.
20. The pressure sensor of claim 19, wherein the body is rhomboid shaped.
21. The pressure sensor of claim 19; wherein the optical sensor is compressed by the body by an application of a force on the body, wherein the force is indicative of a pressure being sensed.
22. The pressure of claim 21, wherein the force is applied perpendicularly to the first axis.
23. The pressure sensor of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor comprises a pressure sensitive FBG.
24. The pressure sensor of claim 23, wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensitive FBG.
25. The pressure sensor of claim 24, wherein the temperature sensitive FBG is not located at a compressible portion of the optical sensor.
26. The pressure sensor of claim 19, further comprising a housing, wherein the body is affixed to the housing.
27. The pressure sensor of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor has a narrowed portion surrounded by thicker portions.
28. The pressure sensor of claim 27, wherein a pressure sensitive FBG is located at the narrowed portion.
29. The pressure sensor of claim 28, wherein the optical sensor is compressible by virtue of engagement between the body and the thicker portions.
30. The pressure sensor of claim 19, further comprising a flexible compartment for providing a force on the flexure to compress the optical sensor, wherein the force is indicative of a pressure being sensed.
31. A pressure sensor, comprising:
a deformable flexure;
a sensor coupled to the flexure and having a first axis, wherein the sensor is at least partially deformable along the first axis as the flexure deforms; and a deformable compartment coupled to the flexure for deforming the flexure, wherein the deformable compartment deforms in accordance with the pressure being measured.
a deformable flexure;
a sensor coupled to the flexure and having a first axis, wherein the sensor is at least partially deformable along the first axis as the flexure deforms; and a deformable compartment coupled to the flexure for deforming the flexure, wherein the deformable compartment deforms in accordance with the pressure being measured.
32. The pressure sensor of claim 31, wherein the sensor senses a differential pressure, and wherein the deformation of the deformable compartment is indicative of the differential pressure.
33. The pressure sensor of claim 31, wherein the flexure is rhomboid shaped.
34. The pressure sensor of claim 31, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.
35. The pressure sensor of claim 34, wherein the optical sensor comprises a pressure sensitive FBG.
36. The pressure sensor of claim 35, wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensitive FBG.
37. The pressure sensor of claim 36, wherein the temperature sensitive FBG is not located at a deformable portion of the optical sensor.
38. The pressure sensor of claim 34, wherein the optical sensor has a narrowed portion surrounded by thicker portions.
39. The pressure sensor of claim 38, wherein a pressure sensitive FBG is located at the narrowed portion.
40. The pressure sensor of claim 39, wherein the optical sensor is deformable by virtue of engagement between the flexure and the thicker portions.
41. The pressure sensor of claim 31, further comprising a temperature compensator block along the first axis between at least one end of the sensor and the flexure, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the sensor.
42. The pressure sensor of claim 31, further comprising a housing, wherein the flexure is affixed to the housing.
43. The pressure sensor of claim 42, wherein the housing is filled with a liquid.
44. The pressure sensor of claim 31, wherein the sensor is contained within the flexure.
45. The pressure sensor of claim 31, wherein the deformable compartment comprises a bellows.
46. The pressure sensor of claim 45, wherein the bellows contains a first pressure.
47. The pressure sensor of claim 45, wherein the flexure and the bellows are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains a second pressure.
48. The pressure sensor of claim 45, wherein the flexure and the bellows are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains a second pressure and the bellows contains a first pressure, and wherein the deformation of the bellows is indicative of the difference between the first and second pressures.
49. A pressure sensor, comprising:
a deformable flexure;
a sensor coupled to the flexure and having a first axis, wherein the sensor is at least partially deformable along the first axis as the flexure deforms; and a flexible compartment coupled to the flexure, wherein an inside of the flexible compartment is exposable to a first pressure, and an outside of the flexible compartment is exposable to a second pressure, wherein the flexible compartment deforms the flexure in accordance with the difference between the first and second pressures.
a deformable flexure;
a sensor coupled to the flexure and having a first axis, wherein the sensor is at least partially deformable along the first axis as the flexure deforms; and a flexible compartment coupled to the flexure, wherein an inside of the flexible compartment is exposable to a first pressure, and an outside of the flexible compartment is exposable to a second pressure, wherein the flexible compartment deforms the flexure in accordance with the difference between the first and second pressures.
50. The pressure sensor of claim 49, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.
51. The pressure sensor of claim 50, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensitive FBG.
52. The pressure sensor of claim 51, wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensitive FBG.
53. The pressure sensor of claim 52, wherein the temperature sensitive FBG is not located at a deformable portion of the optical sensor.
54. The pressure sensor of claim 50, wherein the sensor has a narrowed portion surrounded by thicker portions.
55. The pressure sensor of claim 54, wherein a pressure sensitive FBG is located at the narrowed portion.
56. The pressure sensor of claim 55, wherein the optical sensor is deformable by virtue of engagement between the flexure and the thicker portions.
57. The pressure sensor of claim 49, further comprising a temperature compensator block along the first axis between at least one end of the sensor and the flexure, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the sensor.
58. The pressure sensor of claim 49, further comprising a housing, wherein the flexure and flexible compartment are affixed to the housing.
59. The pressure sensor of claim 58, wherein the housing is filled with a liquid.
60. The pressure sensor of claim 49, wherein the flexible compartment comprises a bellows.
61. The pressure sensor of claim 49, wherein the flexible compartment deforms the flexure along an axis perpendicular to the first axis.
62. A method for sensing a pressure using a optical sensor contained within a flexible body along a first axis, comprising placing a force indicative of the pressure being sensed on the body along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, thereby deforming the body and at least a portion of the optical sensor along the first axis.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the sensor senses a differential pressure, and wherein the force is indicative of the differential pressure.
64. The method of claim 62, wherein the flexible body is rhomboid shaped.
65. The method of claim 62, wherein the optical sensor comprises a pressure sensitive FBG.
66. The method of claim 65, wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensitive FBG.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein the temperature sensitive FBG is not located at a deformable portion of the optical sensor.
68. The method of claim 65, further comprising compensating for temperature effects by positioning a temperature compensator block along the first axis between at least one end of the optical sensor and the flexible body, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the optical sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the optical sensor.
69. The method of claim 62, wherein the flexible body is affixed within a housing.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the housing is filled with a liquid.
71. The method of claim 62, wherein the optical sensor has a narrowed portion surrounded by thicker portions.
72. The method of claim 71, wherein a pressure sensitive FBG is located at the narrowed portion.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein the optical sensor is deformed by virtue of engagement between the flexible body and the thicker portions.
74. The method of claim 62, wherein placing a force indicative of the pressure being sensed on the body comprises presenting the pressure to a flexible compartment coupled to the flexible body.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein the flexible compartment comprises a bellows.
76. The method of claim 74, wherein the flexible compartment contains a first pressure to be measured.
77. The method of claim 74, wherein the flexible body and the flexible compartment are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains a second pressure to be measured.
78. The method of claim 74, wherein the flexible body and the flexible compartment are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains a second pressure and the flexible compartment contains a first pressure, and wherein the force indicative of the pressure being sensed is indicative of the difference between the first and second pressures.
79. A method for measuring a differential pressure in an oil/gas well, comprising:
porting first and second pressures within the well to a pressure sensor coupled to a production pipe deployed in the well, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a flexure and a sensor coupled to the flexure along a first axis, wherein the sensor is deformable at least in part along the first axis by the flexure, deforming the flexure by application of a force on the flexure perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the force is indicative of the difference between the first and second pressures.
porting first and second pressures within the well to a pressure sensor coupled to a production pipe deployed in the well, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a flexure and a sensor coupled to the flexure along a first axis, wherein the sensor is deformable at least in part along the first axis by the flexure, deforming the flexure by application of a force on the flexure perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the force is indicative of the difference between the first and second pressures.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein the first and second pressures are located in the production pipe.
81. The method of claim 79, wherein the first and second pressures are created by a venturi.
82. The method of claim 79, wherein the flexure is rhomboid shaped.
83. The method of claim 79, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.
84. The method of claim 83, wherein the optical sensor comprises a pressure sensitive FBG.
85. The method of claim 84, wherein the optical sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensitive FBG.
86. The method of claim 85, wherein the temperature sensitive FBG is not located at a deformable portion of the optical sensor.
87. The method of claim 83, further comprising compensating for temperature effects by positioning a temperature compensator block along the first axis between at least one end of the optical sensor and the flexible body, wherein the temperature compensator thermally expands to compresses the optical sensor along the first axis to counteract thermal expansion of the optical sensor.
88. The method of claim 79, wherein the flexure is affixed within a housing.
89. The method of claim 88, wherein the housing is filled with a liquid.
90. The method of claim 83, wherein the optical sensor has a narrowed portion surrounded by thicker portions.
91. The method of claim 90, wherein a pressure sensitive FBG is located at the narrowed portion.
92. The method of claim 91, wherein the optical sensor is deformed by virtue of engagement between the flexible body and the thicker portions.
93. The method of claim 79, wherein the force is supplied by a flexible compartment coupled to the flexure.
94. The method of claim 93, wherein the flexible compartment comprises a bellows.
95. The method of claim 93, wherein an inside of the flexible compartment is coupled to the first pressure, and an outside of the flexible compartment is coupled to the second pressure.
96. The method of claim 95, wherein the flexure and the flexible compartment are housed in a housing, and wherein the housing contains the second pressure.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2461424 CA2461424C (en) | 2003-03-21 | 2004-03-19 | Optical differential pressure transducer utilizing a bellows and flexure system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10/393,557 | 2003-03-21 | ||
| CA 2461424 CA2461424C (en) | 2003-03-21 | 2004-03-19 | Optical differential pressure transducer utilizing a bellows and flexure system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2461424A1 true CA2461424A1 (en) | 2005-09-19 |
| CA2461424C CA2461424C (en) | 2011-06-21 |
Family
ID=35006102
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2461424 Expired - Fee Related CA2461424C (en) | 2003-03-21 | 2004-03-19 | Optical differential pressure transducer utilizing a bellows and flexure system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2461424C (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2010054359A (en) * | 2008-08-28 | 2010-03-11 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Optical fiber sensor |
| BE1023448B1 (en) * | 2016-02-17 | 2017-03-22 | Fluves Bvba | Sensor and method for measuring pressure or load |
-
2004
- 2004-03-19 CA CA 2461424 patent/CA2461424C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2010054359A (en) * | 2008-08-28 | 2010-03-11 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Optical fiber sensor |
| BE1023448B1 (en) * | 2016-02-17 | 2017-03-22 | Fluves Bvba | Sensor and method for measuring pressure or load |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2461424C (en) | 2011-06-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20170320 |