Characterization of a differential fiber Bragg grating sensor for oil-water boundary detection

We investigate the operating characteristics of an oil-water boundary detector utilizing differential interrogation of fiber Bragg grating sensors. The system resolution is shown to be stable with respect to the choice of strain actuator and long-term temperature changes and changes in the initial strain on the fiber string. Fluid flow, particularly turbulent flow, is found to reduce system resolution significantly for the current system design. Improvements in the system design are required to minimize the effects of fluid flow and to accurately detect the presence of oil-water emulsions.