All Optical Tank Level Indicator System

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will combine optically-based measurements of pressure and the mature fiber optic networking technology used by the telecommunication and cable television industries to design and demonstrate an innovative All Optical Tank Level Indicator (TLI) System for VIRGINIA Class submarines and Navy fleet applications. Current TLI systems on submarines are expensive and time consuming to install and maintain due to their complicated design, large number of inventoried parts and their susceptibility to failure in the extreme and varied environments encountered within submarine tanks. PSI will evaluate two distinct optical pressure measurement techniques that may be coupled to a remotely located, ultra-sensitive, commercially available sensor control unit. The pressure measurements will be combined with tank engineering design data to determine the tank liquid level. One technique will be selected to for a distributed sensor system design that will be fabricated and tested during the Phase II program. The proposed innovative TLI system will be applicable to all tank sizes and geometries, reducing required part inventories and providing a robust, universal measurement solution. The proposed effort leverages PSI’s extensive and successful experience developing and delivering optically based sensor solutions for commercial and Navy Mil-Spec applications.