INFOTHERM PROJECT

Summary:

The measurement and control of temperature plays a key role in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal for a low-carbon energy system. Fibre-optic thermometry is an emerging technology that can improve the measurement of temperature in extreme environments for energy providers and the industry sector due to distributed sensing and immunity to electromagnetic fields. However, fibre optic thermometers exhibit cross sensitivities to other quantities (e.g. strain, vibration, humidity) and ageing effects that need to be investigated, quantified, and minimised to obtain traceable and reliable measurements.

Therefore, INFOTHERM aims to overcome the limitations that prevent the widespread use of fibre-optic thermometry by creating a dedicated European metrological infrastructure addressing research (e.g. measurement uncertainty), testing (e.g. industrial case studies), calibration (e.g. services and guides), and training (e.g. stakeholder workshop). APL will contribute to the project as a consulting expert in Distribute temperature sensing (DTS) technology as well as supplying developed DTS equipment to reach the objectives of INFOTHERM project.  

General objective:

The overall objective of the project is to develop an integrated European research, calibration, and testing infrastructure for traceable fibre-optic thermometry. This includes four stages: the metrological quantification of measurement uncertainties of existing fibre optic thermometers, development of enhanced techniques for traceable high-temperature measurements, case studies in key applications, and establishment of the metrology infrastructure.