Distributed temperature sensing

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Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) is a technology that uses fiber optic cables to measure temperature along the entire length of the fiber. It provides continuous, real-time temperature monitoring for industrial, environmental, and safety applications.

DTS systems use Raman scattering in optical fibers to measure temperature changes. The system sends laser pulses through the fiber, and light scatters back in two different wavelengths:

• Stokes signal: Temperature-dependent
• Anti-Stokes signal: Changes in intensity based on temperature variations

By analyzing these signals, the system can determine precise temperature values at different points along the fiber.

DTS is widely used in various industries, including:

• Oil & Gas Pipelines: Detecting leaks and monitoring pipeline integrity.
• Power Cables & Electrical Grids: Preventing overheating and failures.
• Fire Detection: Identifying early signs of fire in tunnels and large structures.
• Geothermal & Environmental Monitoring: Measuring temperature variations underground.
• Industrial Processes: Controlling temperature in chemical and manufacturing plants.

• Long-range temperature sensing (up to several kilometers).
• Continuous real-time monitoring along the entire fiber.
• Immune to electromagnetic interference, unlike electrical sensors.
• Uses existing fiber optic infrastructure, reducing installation costs.

DTS is part of a larger group of fiber optic sensing technologies, including:

• Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) – Uses fiber optics to detect sound and vibration.

• Hartog, A. (2017). An Introduction to Distributed Optical Fibre Sensing. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-138-03024-4.
• Fidan, U.; Gök, T. (2020). "Distributed Temperature Sensing for Fire Detection". Journal of Optical Sensors. 15: 101–110. doi:10.1016/j.opticsen.2020.05.007.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• "Distributed Temperature Sensing: Applications and Technologies". FOTAS. Retrieved 2025-03-14.