Patent ID: 8941821
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: G01B,G01D,G01L

Abstract:
1. System for determining variations in the wall thickness of a pressurized pipe, comprising: an optical fiber including a plurality of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) along its length, and wherein said FBGs are secured over different discrete portions of said pipe; wherein at least one of said FBGs is located over a portion of said pipe expected to have negligible material loss and at least one of said FBGs is located over a portion of said pipe expected to have significant material loss, a mounting for securing the FBGs of the optical fiber over discrete portions of the exterior surface of the wall of the pressurized pipe such that strain in the discrete portions is transmitted to the FBGs; a light source and a light sensor coupled to the optical fiber, wherein the light sensor converts light reflected back from said FBGs into an electrical signal, and a digital processor that converts said electrical signal into a strain measurement and determines a wall thickness at least in part by comparing the strain measurements taken by FBGs located at the pipe portions expected to have significant material loss and FBGs located at the pipe portions expected to have negligible material loss.