AP Sensing’s New 5th Generation Distributed Acoustic Sensing Series
The launch of AP Sensing’s fifth generation DAS system builds upon our leading measurement capabilities with the superiority of unique 2P Squared technology. With 35 years of experience and thousands of systems installed worldwide, AP Sensing is the leading supplier of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) systems for use in critical safety applications. This new generation of our DAS technology has been developed based on an improved understanding of the needs of our customers. Its unique system architecture not only achieves the world’s leading measurement range for true phase-based systems without requiring amplification, but also results in enhanced usability, reduced signal artifacts such as fading, and improved measurement performance. These proven system capabilities are all encompassed within a compact and portable system design that can operate even in harsh environmental conditions.
Performance
Improved performance is always expected from a new generation of products. However, AP Sensing’s decades of experience tell us that performance in the field is just as important as in the lab. Therefore, the fifth generation DAS was specially focused on a design that allows optimized, application-specific data processing. This flexible design creates new possibilities for detection algorithms based on artificial intelligence, allowing the rapid adaptation of the DAS system to the environment and applications. The result: faster commissioning time and a measurement performance that balances detection sensitivity (probability of detection) and detection reliability (reduced false and nuisance alarm rate).
AP Sensing's next generation DAS provides different operating modes that lead to improved, more accurate results specific to the application and environment. Extraneous acoustic signals are ignored and thus the reliability of the detection of various events is significantly increased. The standard DAS and Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) modes provide the end user with more information regarding their asset than other basic DAS units. The performance of the fifth generation DAS comes with a 75 % reduction in the noise floor from the fourth generation and an improved pulse rate that doubles both the resolvable acoustic frequency and the distortion-free acoustic amplitude. The new system also includes increased data storage expansion options made possible with the 10 GbE connectivity available as standard.
Reliability
Many applications for DAS today require robustness, durability, and high tolerance to different environmental conditions. Our engineers developed AP Sensing’s fifth generation DAS with these requirements in mind. A significantly higher integration level leads not only to a doubled lifetime, but also to an extended standard operating temperature range. Power consumption has also been reduced by over 30%, so the system can be optionally installed in low voltage environments. All these features enable the use of our systems even in remote and less controlled environments. Like all AP Sensing measurement systems, our new generation also meets state-of-the-art security standards.
Ease of Use
Efficient and situation-adapted operation of a complex measuring system is not only the basis for cost-effective commissioning, but also the key to easy integration.
New intelligent commissioning features enable a reduced setup time and aid in the system’s extremely low false alarm rate. The optional API feature set provides the customer with the capability to develop project-specific software applications, while an intelligent self-diagnosis tool improves troubleshooting and ensures smooth system operation.
AP Sensing’s latest DAS has a lightweight and integrable design that supports portability for service requirements. The system can be incorporated into mobile racks and due to the compact (< 420 mm) design, the new system is also suitable for swivel / swing frames. Thanks to both unidirectional and bidirectional interface options, the DAS system can be flexibly integrated into third party software or custom cloud-based solutions.