Remote Detection of Decaying Wood electric Power Distribution Poles

9523456 Sirkis该提案描述了一种传感器系统的开发，该系统能够远程监控用于支持配电网络架空输电线路的木制电线杆的衰变进程。这应通过检测以下一种或多种化学/生物衰变指标来完成：(1)引起腐烂的真菌的存在和/或浓度，(2)引起腐烂的真菌代谢生长的最终产物，(3)支持真菌代谢生长所需的关键营养物质减少，(4)酶增加，(5)碳氮比降低，和/或(6)ph值降低。这些化学衰变指标的检测应通过开发一种多功能集成光学传感器系统来完成，该系统利用蚀刻在平面波导中的布拉格光栅。波导的一部分将使用布拉格光栅，其上层包层由化学物质制成。当结合发生时，波导的传播常数发生变化，导致布拉格波长发生相应的变化。将开发高灵敏度的基于干涉的解调方案来监测化学诱导的布拉格波长变化。位于同一波导上的高阶布拉格光栅将用于光学探测细胞结构，以监测pH值和/或指示目标代谢衰变副产物的荧光。我们提出的传感器技术提供(1)高电磁噪声抑制，(2)与光纤遥测兼容，使传感器数据可以与通信信号同时传输，从而使远程极点检测成为可能，(3)可复用性，使许多传感器可以制造到同一个平面波导中，许多平面波导可以沿着同一根光纤引线放置。(4)类似于微电子工业中使用的制造工艺，从而使传感器能够适应低成本的大规模生产。＊＊＊

9523456 Sirkis This proposal describes the development of a sensor system capable of remotely monitoring the progression of decay in wood utility poles used to support overhead transmission lines in power distribution networks. This shall be done by detecting one or more of the following chemical/biological metrics of decay: (1) presence and/or concentration of decay causing fungi, (2) end-products of metabolic growth of the decay causing fungi, (3) decrease in critical nutrients required to support fungi metabolic growth, (4) increase in enzymes, (5) decrease in the ratio of carbon to nitrogen, and/or (6) decrease in pH. Detection of these chemical metrics of decay shall be accomplished by developing a multifunctional integrated optic-based sensor system that utilizes Bragg gratings etched into planar waveguides. Part of the waveguide will utilize Bragg grating with an upper cladding fabricated from chemical species. As binding occurs, the propagation constant of the waveguide changes, resulting in corresponding changes in the Bragg wavelength. Highly sensitive interferometric-based demodulation schemes will be developed to monitor the chemically-induced changes in the Bragg wavelength. A higher order Bragg grating located on the same waveguide will be used aid optically probe the cellular structure in order to monitor pH and/or florescence indicative of the targeted metabolic by-products of decay. The sensor technology we propose offers (1) high rejection of electromagnetic noise, (2) compatibility with optical fiber telemetry so that sensor data can be transmitted simultaneously with communications signals thereby making possible remote pole inspection, (3) multiplexibility so that many sensors can be fabricated into the same planar waveguide, and many planar waveguides can be located along the same optical fiber lead, and (4) manufacturing processes similar to those used in the microelectrics industry thereby making possible sensors amenable to l ow cost mass production. ***