Laser fluorosensor for oil spill detection – (FLUOSENSE)

Vidas Gulbinas
Institute of Physics, Vilnius, Lithuania

Uwe Joost
TriOS Optical Sensors, Oldenburg, Germany

Zenonas Kuprionis
Ekspla Ltd, Vilnius, Lithuania

Franck Ponthenier
EFS, Lyon, France

Rainer Reuter, Maria Manuela Reyes Reyes, Rainer Westphal
University of Oldenburg, Germany

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Rapid and reliable spill detection is an essential yet often overlooked part of oil spill prevention and response strategies. Early warning about a pollution event is important fin order to minimise the environmental and financial impacts.

The aim of this project is to develop a compact and cost-effective automated oil spill sensing tech-nology – laser fluorosensor – to provide for early detection and alarm of petroleum hydrocarbon leaks and spills. It is projected to have the following advantages:

• Oil-on-water detection from up to hundred of metres distance and automatic scanning of specified areas
• Thin oil layer detection at day and night and oil classification capabilities
• Automatic long-term operation, oil detection, and alarm
• Compact, low energy consumption, easy installation and running

Specific objectives also included:

• Development and leadership in the emerging oil spill/leak detection market
• Competitive price, about two-three times lower compared to existing laser fluorosensors
• Furthermore, reduction of oil pollution and economy of resources related to oil spill re-sponse actions

Results

The results of our investigation show that fluorescence signals from different sorts of oils and oil products can certainly be registered and discriminated from background even in full sunshine. The maximum distance at which the target can still be registered depends on the fluorosensor's height from the sea surface and on the oil type and film thickness. Preliminary investigations show there is a definite possibility to detect even thin oil films on sea surface from a 10 m high mast at dis-tances of about 100 m and possibly even larger. The excitation laser emission necessary for the reliable detection may be provided by a low-cost, compact diode pumped solid state laser. Fluo-rescence signals in arbitrary units from different heights and for different distances are given in the figure right. The graph shows that the inclination angle of laser beam excitation is the most limiting factor for scanning distance extension.

Potential exploitation by end users

The results obtained provide a solid background for successful project completion and further de-velopment of a commercial device. The laser fluorosensor to be developed within this project aims at two main application fields: spill/leak control and environmental monitoring. It is likely that cost considerations will compel us to market different fluorosensor systems designed for either “indus-trial” or “environmental” markets:

• The “industrial” fluorosensor will mostly be based on shore or on a stationary platform (in-stalled on masts, lighthouses, etc.) It may require an extended operational range, un-manned 24 h operation and the capability of working for long periods without maintenance. But oil species recognition features may turn out not so important for these users.
• The “environmental” application will require a ship-based system with a more complex me-chanical structure to dampen wave action and oil species recognition feature. However, the scanning range (it may be 30-50 metres from the ship) and maintenance requirements are not so critical in this case.
• The project will contribute to the development of new advanced practices in spill prevention.

Last Update: 2005-03-16