Fiber optic liquid leak detection technique with an ultrasonic actuator and a fiber Bragg grating.

We present a technique for liquid leak detection in which ultrasonic and optical waves are introduced into a fiber simultaneously. The system is based on an ultrasonic technique using an ultrasonic actuator and a fiber Bragg grating receiver. A fiber-guided ultrasonic wave is utilized to stress the fiber Bragg grating, which is remote from the ultrasonic transmitter. When the traveling ultrasonic wave encounters a liquid, part of the wave will leak out from the fiber, which results in an ultrasonic strain decrease in the fiber Bragg grating. The ultrasonic wave and its attenuation are detected by the light variation of a narrowband laser source reflected and transmitted from the fiber Bragg grating, and the amplitude variation of the ultrasound can eventually be correlated with the fiber area coupled with the liquid.