TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS450 VA Class Submarine, PEO Submarines, ACAT-1D

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative, compact, low cost, reliable, optical tank level sensing (OTLS) system for use aboard submarines and surface ships.

DESCRIPTION: The US Navy currently utilizes magnetic floats and switch assemblies to measure the fluid level of liquid in numerous tanks aboard various submarine and surface ship platforms. These tank level sensors are susceptible to a variety of failure modes due to mechanical deformation, cable and connector flooding, and biological fouling, and are very expensive to maintain and repair. Each installation requires a unique sensor configuration to accommodate variations in tank geometry, resulting in the need to inventory a large and diverse quantity of parts.

In light of this, there is a current need to develop a small, low power, low cost, and highly reliable means to measure the fluid level in submarine tanks. The sensing system should be easily installed and maintained, have the ability to withstand the shipboard environment, and provide tank level accuracy greater than 1% of full scale and operate over pressures ranging from 0 � 500 PSI and temperatures ranging from 0 � 50 �C. Optical sensors appear to have the necessary robustness and sensitivity to meet these requirements.

PHASE I: Investigate the state of the art in low cost optical tank level sensors/systems. Develop a concept design that includes the complete preliminary sensing system, including sensor technology, sensor processing, cabling and connectors, data display unit, and data telemetry. Show how the proposed sensing system concept will meet the operating requirements and will reduce the parts inventory needed to support diverse installation requirements.

PHASE II: Develop a complete sensing system prototype including sensor head, cabling and connectors, data processing and display, and data telemetry. Demonstrate the complete sensor system performance in both laboratory and in realistic environmental conditions.

PHASE III: Develop a full scale engineering prototype system and support installation for sea trials. Transition the design to full production.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This system could be used in a broad range of military and civilian maritime and aviation applications where monitoring fluid levels in seawater, potable water, fuel, and sanitation tanks are required.

REFERENCES:
1. W. N. MacPherson, M. J. Gander, J. S. Barton, J.D.C. Jones, C.L. Owen, A.J.Watson and R.M. Allen, "Blast-Pressure Measurement With A High-Bandwidth Fibre Optic Pressure Sensor", Meas. Sci. Technol. 11 (2000) 95-102.

2. W. J. Kessler, P.A. Mulhall, S.J. Davis, M.B. Frish and B.L. Upschulte, "Application of Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy for Process Analytical Technology (PAT)", IFPAC 2003 Conference, Scottsdale AZ, January 2003.

3. M.G. Allen, K.L. Carleton, S.J. Davis, W.J. Kessler, C.E. Otis, D. Palombo and D.M. Sonnenfroh, "Ultra-Sensitive Dual-Beam Absorption and Gain Spectroscopy: Applications for Near-IR and Visible Diode Laser Sensors", Appl. Opt. 34, 3240 (1995).

4. M.G. Allen, and W.J. Kessler, "Simultaneous Water Vapor Concentration and Temperature Measurements Using 1.31 um Diode Lasers", AiAA J. 34(3), pp. 483-488, (1996).

KEYWORDS: Optical Sensor; Tank Level; Fiber Optic; Submarine; Surface Ship

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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