Monitoring system for cold climate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352818-B2
Application number	US-201515743462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A method and system for operating fiber optic monitoring systems utilizing solar panels, batteries, and an interrogator system with associated electronics for operating in cold climates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating fiber optic monitoring systems in cold climates comprising:
a. deploying a heat pipe such that an upper portion of the heat pipe is deployed above ground surface and a lower portion of the heat pipe is deployed below the ground surface and through a frozen layer such that a lowermost portion of the lower portion is deployed at a depth at which the ground is unfrozen;
b. deploying the upper and lower portions of the heat pipe such that the upper portion terminates at a closed upper end and the lower portion terminates at a closed lower end that is substantially aligned with the closed upper end, and wherein the upper portion contacts heat sinks disposed in proximity to a fiber optic interrogator system and a battery system; and
c. wherein the heat pipe utilizes internal fluids chosen so that that the range of temperatures and pressures fall within the two-phase region of the fluid during winter conditions so that evaporation and condensation can occur.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a control function within the fiber interrogator system for operating the one or more interrogator units.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: providing a communication function within the fiber interrogator system for receiving commands from the control function and transmitting data collected by the one or more interrogator units.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
a. initiating a control program to perform the following:
i. activate one or more of the fiber optic interrogator units;
ii. allow the one or more interrogator units to reach a thermal equilibrium;
iii. initiate the measurement program in one or more interrogator units; and
iv. collect and transmit the measurement data externally.

5. A system for operating fiber optic monitoring systems in cold climates comprising:
a. a heat pipe including,
i. an upper portion deployed above ground surface and terminating in a closed upper end; and
ii. a lower portion deployed below the ground surface and through a frozen layer, wherein a closed lower end of the lower portion is deployed at a depth at which the ground is unfrozen;

b. a fiber optic interrogator system including electronics configured to collect measurement data, the fiber optic interrogator system positioned above the ground surface;
c. at least one solar panel oriented toward incoming sunlight for providing power to the fiber optic interrogator system;
d. a battery system for storing energy from the one or more solar panels and for powering the fiber optic interrogator system during inactive periods of the at least one solar panel; and
e. wherein the heat pipe contains and utilizes fluid chosen so that that the range of temperatures and pressures fall within the two-phase region of the fluid during winter conditions so that evaporation and condensation can occur, wherein the upper portion of the heat pipe contacts heat sinks disposed in proximity to the fiber optic interrogator system and the battery system.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a. one or more interrogator units contained within the fiber optic interrogator system;
b. a control unit for controlling the interrogator units; and
c. a communications unit to receive commands from the control unit and externally transmit data collected by the one or more interrogator units.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the heat sinks are disposed within at least one enclosure containing the fiber optic interrogator system and the battery system.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the interrogator units may be based on Raman scattering, Brillouin Scattering, Rayleigh back scattering, coherent Rayleigh backscattering, tunable or fixed laser or other light sources capable of measuring light back scattered from Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) and/or intrinsic Fabry-Perot cavities and/or extrinsic Fabry-Perot cavities and/or other interferometric sensors based on Michelson, Mach-Zehnder, Sagnac sensing principles.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the interrogator units may be electrical interrogation units or a mix between electrical and optical interrogation units.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Jaaskelainen Mikko

Classifications

• F24T10/40 Primary

  operated without external energy sources, e.g. using thermosiphonic circulation or heat pipes · CPC title

• H02S20/10

  Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24T10/30

  using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids · CPC title

• Y02E10/10

  Geothermal energy · CPC title

• H02S40/425

  using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation · CPC title