DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Geomembrane barriers using integral fiber optics to monitor barrier integrity

Abstract

This invention provides a geomembrane or geotextile with embedded optical sensors that are used to monitor the status of containment site barriers. Fiber optic strands are used to form the sensors that can detect and monitor conditions at the sites such as breaches, slope creep, subsidence, leachate levels, fires, and types of materials present or leaking from the site. The strands are integral to the membrane or textile materials. The geosynthetic membrane is deployed at the site in a fashion similar to carpet laying. Edges of the membrane or textile are joined to form a liner and the ends of the membrane or textile become the connection zones for obtaining signals from the sensors. A connection interface with a control system to generate Optical Time Delay Response or other light signals for transmission to the optic fiber strands or sensors and also to receive reflected signals from the sensors is included in the system. Software to interpret the sensor signals can be used in the geosynthetic monitoring system. 6 figs.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
392638
Patent Number(s):
5567932
Application Number:
PAN: 8-509,850
Assignee:
Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 22 Oct 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 44 INSTRUMENTATION, INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS; SANITARY LANDFILLS; LINERS; DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS; DESIGN; MONITORING; OPTICAL FIBERS; LEAK DETECTORS; SLOPE STABILITY; GROUND SUBSIDENCE; FIRE DETECTORS; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; MEMBRANES

Citation Formats

Staller, G E, and Wemple, R P. Geomembrane barriers using integral fiber optics to monitor barrier integrity. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Staller, G E, & Wemple, R P. Geomembrane barriers using integral fiber optics to monitor barrier integrity. United States.
Staller, G E, and Wemple, R P. Tue . "Geomembrane barriers using integral fiber optics to monitor barrier integrity". United States.
@article{osti_392638,
title = {Geomembrane barriers using integral fiber optics to monitor barrier integrity},
author = {Staller, G E and Wemple, R P},
abstractNote = {This invention provides a geomembrane or geotextile with embedded optical sensors that are used to monitor the status of containment site barriers. Fiber optic strands are used to form the sensors that can detect and monitor conditions at the sites such as breaches, slope creep, subsidence, leachate levels, fires, and types of materials present or leaking from the site. The strands are integral to the membrane or textile materials. The geosynthetic membrane is deployed at the site in a fashion similar to carpet laying. Edges of the membrane or textile are joined to form a liner and the ends of the membrane or textile become the connection zones for obtaining signals from the sensors. A connection interface with a control system to generate Optical Time Delay Response or other light signals for transmission to the optic fiber strands or sensors and also to receive reflected signals from the sensors is included in the system. Software to interpret the sensor signals can be used in the geosynthetic monitoring system. 6 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}

Patent:
Search for the full text at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Note: You will be redirected to the USPTO site, which may require a pop-up blocker to be deactivated to view the patent. If so, you will need to manually turn off your browser's pop-up blocker, typically found within the browser settings. (See DOE Patents FAQs for more information.)

Save / Share: