Validated PhotonPath’s product for DSOs
Background and Challenges
Effective monitoring of switchgear temperature is essential for maintaining grid stability and preventing failures caused by overheating.
Traditional sensing solutions, such as RF (radio frequency) and IR (infrared) thermometers, suffer from limitations including electromagnetic interference, signal loss, and accuracy issues.
These shortcomings have driven the need for an alternative, high-precision, and interference-resistant temperature sensing technology.
PhotonPath’s Integrated Photonic Solution: Spectre
PhotonPath’s solution provides superior accuracy and reliability in high-voltage environments. Unlike conventional electrical-based sensors, fiber optic sensors are immune to electromagnetic interference.
They can be placed directly on switchgear components such as bus bars and contact points without risk of signal degradation. This ensures consistent and precise temperature readings, crucial for condition-based maintenance and operational safety.
The solution’s key added value is the possibility of monitoring temperature in locations that are not possible using traditional electronic sensors.
For example, monitoring temperature inside Switchgears allows the System Controller to increase the current above nominal limits, given the availability of the live measurement of the most critical parameter: temperature. This way, the system can deliver more capacity with the same infrastructure.
Key Features and Benefits
- Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous temperature data acquisition enables early fault detection and predictive maintenance.
- Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference: Fiber optic sensors are unaffected by high-voltage switching noise, ensuring reliability in harsh environments.
- Enhanced Accuracy and Stability: PhotonPath’s integrated photonic approach delivers long-term stability with temperature accuracies approaching ± 1°C.
- Cost-Effective and Scalable: Compared to traditional solutions, fiber optic sensors provide a competitive cost structure while offering advanced monitoring capabilities.
- Seamless Integration: The sensors support all standard industrial communication protocols, enabling easy connectivity with existing customers’ systems.
Deployment within the DSO Lab
The test environment involves deploying PhotonPath’s solution across switchgear within Alliander’s laboratory. The simulation aims to capture detailed thermal performance data that will be transmitted in real time to the DSO’s control center for analysis and proactive decision-making.
The tests have assessed three key criteria:
- Data continuity: The system is required to maintain continuous measurement transmission without packet loss, delivering data at a rate of 1 sample per second continuously for 6 hours.
- Measurement accuracy: To ensure precise data capture, the system must demonstrate a maximum temperature measurement deviation of 2°C.
- Electrical stability: During the testing phase, the system should show no signs of electrical disturbances, affirming its operational stability under test conditions.
Spectre interrogator Unit Features
- Readout to up to 100 sensors
- Form Factor: 1 Rack Unit board
- 2x Ethernet Ports
- Immunity to high-voltage, high RF (radio frequency) microwave, and electromagnetic fields
- Standard industrial temperature transmitter with digital and analog outputs
- Calibrated temperature accuracy of ± 1°C
- Fast response time, contact or non-contact sensing
- Temperature support from -200°C to +700°C
Conclusions
PhotonPath is introducing a transformative technology for DSOs by leveraging integrated photonics for switchgear temperature monitoring.
The results of this pilot will pave the way for broader adoption of fiber optic sensing solutions in smart grid applications, ultimately enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of power distribution systems.
For more information, contact PhotonPath today at info@photon-path.com and discover how our advanced photonic solutions can elevate your performance.
