Opportunity

Monitoring the integrity of pipelines, power grids and other critical infrastructure remains a major challenge because existing sensor systems are costly, limited in range, and typically measure only a single parameter at a time. To address this need, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has developed a new type of distributed optical fiber sensor that can measure multiple parameters at once, including temperature, strain and vibration over long distances. The system combines two complementary sensing methods with a wavelength diversity approach to improve accuracy and reduce errors, delivering reliable measurements across 25 kilometers of fiber. A specialized optical interrogation enables multi-parameter monitoring and long-range performance. Unlike conventional systems that require separate fiber cables and interrogators for each type of measurement, this invention consolidates multiple sensing functions into a single platform, significantly lowering costs and complexity. Capturing several critical data streams simultaneously improves safety and decision-making for operators by providing a more complete picture of infrastructure conditions. This invention offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring energy infrastructure and is available for nonexclusive licensing and/or collaborative research.