Advanced corrosion monitoring for marine and civil infrastructure - bringing new technology closer to market
Lead Research Organisation:
City, University of London
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Mathematical Sci
Abstract
This 'follow-on' project builds upon the success of recent work undertaken by the applicants, particularly under the first round of the EPSRC Challenging Engineering Programme and, critically, takes that research forward towards industrial application and exploitation. The work continues the strong interdisciplinary partnership between Electrical Engineering at City University London (CUL) and Civil Engineering at Queen's University of Belfast (QUB), working together with their respective Technology Transfer Officers (TTOs) to take full advantage of the excellent relationship forged, including with the spin-out company, Sengenia, and the other industrial partners, Network Rail, Roads Services of Northern Ireland, Amey Plc and Collins Engineering. There is a clear focus of the proposal - to make the commercial potential of the research more evident, both to the market and to set a platform for generating sustainable interest from future funding organizations to create the right conditions for commercial exploitation of the technology. The key technical strength, underpinning the commercial potential and providing the capability, is the successful development (through the support from EPSRC EP/D030269/1, EP/D030196/1, EP/D009162/1, EP/F012829/1) of novel corrosion sensor systems for monitoring early signatures of concrete corrosion. This has enabled the creation of, for the first time to the knowledge of applicants, new, tailored, durable in-situ pH sensors which have a demonstrable capability to measure pH values higher than 12 and chloride sensors which have not just been able to measure free chloride concentrations (to a level as low as 20mM) but also been sustainable in the high alkaline environment experienced.The research undertaken to date has shown real promise to bridge currently identified market gaps by providing better monitoring solutions for both marine and civil infrastructures and thus to overcome current commercial limitations in the UK and beyond, especially in terms of the sensing range, sensitivity and durability. Several important technical and commercial challenges have been identified which are well attuned to the Follow-on funding agenda and the success of this proposal promises industry access to better data to allow more timely maintenance and cost saving - creating a successful commercial proposition, to the benefit of UK and global industry. It should be stressed that this application to the Follow-on Fund is targeted not simply at another year's work on sensors per se but is designed to make the ideas generated and the work done better suited to rapid commercial exploitation, to the benefit both of industry and academia. The approach taken is built on the support of and advice from both an SME and end users, to give a better understanding of decay and corrosion processes in the built environment.
Planned Impact
There will be a critical impact on the major beneficiaries of the research through the outcomes, as indicated below 1) The wider public in general. Impact will come from the success of the research through the potential for novel approaches for the early warning of marine and civil infrastructural failure. A significant impact would be avoiding the massive disruption to the public and the significant financial losses caused by collapsed infrastructure, in addition to enhancing public safety and confidence in infrastructure 2) The public sector and stakeholders. The success of this commercial feasibility study which has been based strongly on technical merit will not just provide the public sector and stakeholders with valuable early warning in relation to structural corrosion but also offer a significant cost savings in relation to the structural maintenance, repair and replacement of existing deteriorated infrastructure through the use of novel technologies and best practices. 3) The commercial private sector. Impact will be seen in UK industry being able to benefit from direct access to research outcomes of the feasibility studies carried out through the partnership developed both during the project period and subsequently. This will be followed up by subsequent commercial exploitation through appropriate license arrangements with patent owners 4) The UK Institutions involved. They will benefit both from the enhancement of their respective current research portfolios and potential joint ownership of the Intellectual Properties arising from the patent protection for the new technologies. This would allow for further financial benefits to both Universities should the commercial exploitation be successful 5) The investigators. An important impact on them will be from the experience gained in the coordination and management of this type of industrially-driven multidisciplinary research by working closely with industrial partners and Universities TTOs 6) The early career PDRAs and PhD students involved. Potentially the impact on them can be huge - they will gain significant experience by working with colleagues in different Universities and across different sectors, which could create a unique platform for them to develop new directions for their future careers
Organisations
- City, University of London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Sydney Water (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Industrial Microwave Systems Ltd (Collaboration)
- Brecknell Willis (Collaboration)
- Department for Infrastructure (Project Partner)
- Sengenia (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Amey Consulting (Project Partner)
- Network Rail (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Tong Sun (Principal Investigator) | |
Kenneth Grattan (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Alwis L
(2016)
Fibre Grating-based Sensor Design for Humidity Measurement in Chemically Harsh Environment
in Procedia Engineering
Alwis L
(2013)
Optical fibre-based sensor technology for humidity and moisture measurement: Review of recent progress
in Measurement
Alwis L
(2017)
Evaluation of the Durability and Performance of FBG-Based Sensors for Monitoring Moisture in an Aggressive Gaseous Waste Sewer Environment
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Alwis L
(2013)
Analysis of Polyimide-Coated Optical Fiber Long-Period Grating-Based Relative Humidity Sensor
in IEEE Sensors Journal
Bremer K
(2014)
Sewerage tunnel leakage detection using a fibre optic moisture-detecting sensor system
in Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
Javdani S
(2014)
Fiber Bragg Grating-Based System for 2-D Analysis of Vibrational Modes of a Steel Propeller Blade
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Javdani S
(2016)
Underwater Free-Vibration Analysis of Full-Scale Marine Propeller Using a Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Sensor System
in IEEE Sensors Journal
McCague C
(2014)
Novel Sensor Design Using Photonic Crystal Fibres for Monitoring the Onset of Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Structures
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
McPolin D
(2011)
Preliminary Development and Evaluation of Fiber-Optic Chemical Sensors
in Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Nguyen T
(2016)
Intrinsic Fiber Optic pH Sensor for Measurement of pH Values in the Range of 0.5-6
in IEEE Sensors Journal
Nguyen T
(2014)
Fluorescence based fibre optic pH sensor for the pH 10-13 range suitable for corrosion monitoring in concrete structures
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Raoufi N
(2014)
Optical sensor for pH monitoring using a layer-by-layer deposition technique emphasizing enhanced stability and re-usability
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Scott R
(2013)
Commissioning and Evaluation of a Fiber-Optic Sensor System for Bridge Monitoring
in IEEE Sensors Journal
Sun T
(2012)
Building Stone Condition Monitoring Using Specially Designed Compensated Optical Fiber Humidity Sensors
in IEEE Sensors Journal
Vidakovic M
(2016)
Fibre Bragg Grating-Based Cascaded Acoustic Sensors for Potential Marine Structural Condition Monitoring
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Vidakovic M
(2016)
Fibre Bragg Grating-Based Acoustic Sensor Array for Improved Condition Monitoring of Marine Lifting Surfaces
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Description | The key achievement of this project is to explore the commercial potential and refinement of a suite of chemical sensors developed through the previous EPSRC funded project for corrosion monitoring |
Exploitation Route | The findings have been patented and their exploitation for commercial potential is still on-going |
Sectors | Chemicals Construction |
Description | The innovation has been patented before being published. Negotiations with a couple of companies who have expressed interest in the commercial exploitation are still on-going. |
Description | BIS |
Amount | £700 (GBP) |
Funding ID | UK-China Innovation Forum |
Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2011 |
End | 09/2011 |
Description | EU CleanSky scheme |
Amount | € 598,963 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 607584 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2014 |
End | 05/2016 |
Description | EU FP7 programme |
Amount | € 477,058 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 12/2013 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | Industry funding |
Amount | £182,083 (GBP) |
Organisation | Brecknell Willis |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2014 |
End | 05/2016 |
Description | Sewer management |
Amount | $1,000,000 (AUD) |
Organisation | Sydney Water |
Sector | Public |
Country | Australia |
Start | 05/2017 |
End | 06/2018 |
Description | Standard grant |
Amount | £94,628 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J500781/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | Standard grant |
Amount | £320,725 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H018247/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2010 |
End | 06/2013 |
Description | Standard grant |
Amount | £88,042 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I006214/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2011 |
End | 05/2012 |
Description | UKIERI |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | British Council |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2015 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Water quality |
Amount | $700,000 (AUD) |
Organisation | Australian Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | Australia |
Start | 07/2017 |
End | 08/2020 |
Description | Innovative manufacturing |
Organisation | Industrial Microwave Systems Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Development of optical fibre sensors to be integrated into a microwave, which is used for low-carbon concrete curing, thus providing significant energy saving and low-carbon concrete manufacturing solutions. |
Collaborator Contribution | Working together with academics both at City and UCL, allowing for the creation of smart microwaves for low-carbon concrete manufacturing |
Impact | Journal and conference publications and new funding application is in the pipeline It is multi-disciplinary: involving physics, material sciences and engineering |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Railway pantograph condition monitoring |
Organisation | Brecknell Willis |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Contributions made by City: (i) development jointly with Brecknell Willis a suite of novel sensors which can monitor pantograph conditions when it is powered at 25kV and exposed to temperature variations; (ii) jointly set up the dynamic loading system at City; (iii) two patent applications filed; (iv) joint publications; (v) joint funding applications |
Collaborator Contribution | Contribution made by Brecknell Willis: (i) working together with City colleagues to develop sensors and integrate them into their pantographs; (ii) set up the test rig at City; (iii) providing various industrial test environment; (iv) providing vehicle tests opportunities; (v) providing cash and in-kind support |
Impact | The achievements made have been recognized by BW and City being finalists for both the IET Innovation Award 2015 and the Times Higher Education Award 2015 It is multi-disciplinary: involving photonics (physics), electrical and mechanical engineering |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Sewer corrosion monitoring |
Organisation | Sydney Water |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The collaboration between City University of London and Sydney Water enables the novel optical fibre humidity sensors developed at City to be deployed in sewers in Sydney for monitoring the rate of corrosion in concrete sewers for waste water management |
Collaborator Contribution | Contribution made by City: (i) Development of novel humidity sensors that are suitable for working in harsh conditions; (ii) software design to control the power consumption to enable continuous monitoring and data transmission powered by battery due to the lack of power supply in sewers; (iii) careful design and packaging of sensors to ensure the robustness and longevity of sensors working in highly acidic environment. Contribution by Sydney Water: (i) Working together with City colleagues for field implementation of novel sensors; (ii) investment of significant manpower time to undertake the joint work; (iii) supporting joint research funding application; (iv) providing cash support to speed up the field implementation process; (v) access to facilities and equipment at Sydney Water |
Impact | Australian NSW Water Awards 2017 Winner (http://www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/About_AWA/Awards/State_Awards/NSW.aspx) under the category of Research Innovation Award for 'Better management of sewers - exploiting photonics sensors research through its introduction to the water industry' It is multi-disciplinary: involving chemistry, physics and engineering |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | self-sensing motor drives |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of an all-in-one optical fibre sensor system to be integrated into both induction and permanent magnet motors for monitoring for enhanced energy efficiency and reliability |
Collaborator Contribution | (i) Providing novel motors allowing for the accommodation of a suite of optical fibre sensors to be integrated into both the stator and rotor for real-time measurement; (ii) providing manpower support for extensive loading tests at Nottingham |
Impact | journals and publications and joint funding application is in the pipeline it is multi-disciplinary: involving physics and power engineering |
Start Year | 2014 |
Title | OPTICAL MONITORING SYSTEM |
Description | A monitoring system (1) for an electric vehicle (11) that draws current from a conductor (13), the system (1) comprising: a plurality of sensor modules (31) distributed at spaced intervals throughout a conducting block (3) of a current collector (5), wherein the conducting block (3) contacts the conductor (13) in operation of the vehicle (11) and each said sensor module comprises an FBG (Fibre Bragg Grating) strain sensor (35) configured to output a first optical signal that varies in response to changes in strain and temperature of the conducting block (3) and a strain-isolated FBG temperature sensor (37) that is configured to output a second optical signal that varies in response to changes in temperature of the conducting block (3); an optical source (15) for illuminating each said sensor module (31); means (19) for optically coupling said optical source (15) to each said sensor module (31); and an optical signal interpretation module (17) configured to receive first and second optical signals from each said sensor module (31) via said optical coupling means (19), said optical signals being generated by said sensor modules (31) in response to illumination of said sensor modules (31) by said optical source (15), said interpretation module (17) being configured to capable of determining from said optical signals a temperature-independent strain measurement for each said sensor module (31). |
IP Reference | WO2014072436 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | Potential impact lies in the reduced failure of pantograph thus causing significant traffic disruption and cancellation of train operations |
Title | OPTICAL SENSOR |
Description | An optical sensor (1) for in-situ monitoring of chloride ion concentration in concrete structures, the sensor (1) comprising: a sensor body (3) that fluoresces when illuminated by light, the sensor body (3) being configured to exhibit a change in fluorescence when illuminated in the presence of chloride ions, and means (5) for optically coupling said sensor body to a source of illumination. A system (11) is also disclosed, along with methods of synthesising chloride sensitive polymerisable fluorescent dyes, and chloride sensitive polymerisable fluorescent dyes. |
IP Reference | WO2012098240 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | This will make an impact on the construction industry by providing an early warning for maintenance and for repair |
Title | OPTICAL SENSOR |
Description | An optical sensor (1) for pH monitoring in highly alkaline mediums, the sensor (1) comprising: a sensor body (3) that fluoresces when illuminated by light, the sensor body (3) being configured to exhibit a change in fluorescence in response to changing pH in highly alkaline mediums, the sensor further comprising means (5) for coupling the sensor body to a source of illumination. A system (11) is also disclosed, along with methods of synthesising pH sensitive polymerisable fluorescent coumarin dyes, and pH sensitive polymerisable fluorescent coumarin dyes. |
IP Reference | WO2012098242 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | This will make an impact on the construction industry by identifying corrosion problems at an early stage to save costing for maintenance and repair. |
Title | Sensing strain in an elongate reinforcing bar using an optical fibre sensor with integrated Bragg gratings |
Description | An apparatus and method for sensing axial strain in a reinforcement member of a reinforced concrete structure using at least one elongate light guide such as an optical fibre associated with said reinforcement member, said light guide including at least one integrated Bragg grating. Changes in axial strain applied to the reinforcement member can be detected by detecting a perturbation of frequency, amplitude, phase or polarization of light within the light guide. Preferably one or more optical fibres having a number of Bragg gratings are bonded into an elongate axial groove or slot formed in a side of a steel reinforcing bar or rod before it is embedded in a concrete or similar structure. The light guide may also be located within an axial bore within the reinforcement member. The apparatus may be used to determine cracks and other irregularities in the structure. The system may also be used for monitoring stress and strain in elongate reinforcing bars used as rock anchors. |
IP Reference | GB2439993 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2008 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | This will make an impact in the construction industry by providing an early warning of corrosion in order to minimize the cost for maintenance and for repair |
Company Name | Sengenia |
Description | Sengenia is a sensing solutions company that specializes in fiber optic sensing. They offer a range of Luna Technologies products, including Hyperion Interrogators and ODiSI Interrogators. |
Year Established | 2007 |
Impact | The company has been able to bridge the link between industry and the two academic organizations, City University London and Queen's University of Belfast, by promoting optical fibre sensor research at City to industry, in particular, to the construction sector. |
Website | http://www.sengenia.com |