Distributed photonic instrumentation for smart grids

Photonic sensor networks possess the unique potential to provide the instrumentation infrastructure required in future smart grids by simultaneously addressing the issues of metrology and communications. In contrast to established optical CT/VT technology, recent developments at the University of Strathclyde in distributed point sensors for electrical and mechanical parameters demonstrate an enormous potential for realizing novel and effective monitoring and protection strategies for intelligent electrical networks and systems. In this paper, we review this technology and its capabilities, and describe recent work in power system monitoring and protection using hybrid electro-optical sensors. We show that wide-area visibility of multiple electrical and mechanical parameters from a single central location may be achieved using this technology, and discuss the implications for smart grid instrumentation

Optical fibre sensors - applications and potential

Fibre optic sensors have progressed considerably during the past few years and are now establishing their potential as very real contenders in the environmental, structural monitoring and industrial sensing areas. This paper will explore some examples of these emerging applications and analyse the benefits which optical fibre technology offers within these measurement sectors. We shall then continue to explore emerging prospects which offer new opportunities for future research and exploitation

Aircraft Lightning Electromagnetic Environment Measurement

This paper outlines a NASA project plan for demonstrating a prototype lightning strike measurement system that is suitable for installation onto research aircraft that already operate in thunderstorms. This work builds upon past data from the NASA F106, FAA CV-580, and Transall C-180 flight projects, SAE ARP5412, and the European ILDAS Program. The primary focus is to capture airframe current waveforms during attachment, but may also consider pre and post-attachment current, electric field, and radiated field phenomena. New sensor technologies are being developed for this system, including a fiber-optic Faraday polarization sensor that measures lightning current waveforms from DC to over several Megahertz, and has dynamic range covering hundreds-of-volts to tens-of-thousands-of-volts. A study of the electromagnetic emission spectrum of lightning (including radio wave, microwave, optical, X-Rays and Gamma-Rays), and a compilation of aircraft transfer-function data (including composite aircraft) are included, to aid in the development of other new lightning environment sensors, their placement on-board research aircraft, and triggering of the onboard instrumentation system. The instrumentation system will leverage recent advances in high-speed, high dynamic range, deep memory data acquisition equipment, and fiber-optic interconnect

Optical fiber sensors and sensing networks: overview of the main principles and applications

Optical fiber sensors present several advantages in relation to other types of sensors. These advantages are essentially related to the optical fiber properties, i.e., small, lightweight, resistant to high temperatures and pressure, electromagnetically passive, among others. Sensing is achieved by exploring the properties of light to obtain measurements of parameters, such as temperature, strain, or angular velocity. In addition, optical fiber sensors can be used to form an Optical Fiber Sensing Network (OFSN) allowing manufacturers to create versatile monitoring solutions with several applications, e.g., periodic monitoring along extensive distances (kilometers), in extreme or hazardous environments, inside structures and engines, in clothes, and for health monitoring and assistance. Most of the literature available on this subject focuses on a specific field of optical sensing applications and details their principles of operation. This paper presents a more broad overview, providing the reader with a literature review that describes the main principles of optical sensing and highlights the versatility, advantages, and different real-world applications of optical sensing. Moreover, it includes an overview and discussion of a less common architecture, where optical sensing and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are integrated to harness the benefits of both worlds.This work was supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020

Automated in situ observations of upper ocean biogeochemistry, bio-optics, and physics and their potential use for global studies

The processes controlling the flux of carbon in the upper ocean have dynamic ranges in space and time of at least nine orders of magnitude. These processes depend on a broad suite of inter-related biogeochemical, bio-optical, and physical variables. These variables should be sampled on scales matching the relevant phenomena. Traditional ship-based sampling, while critical for detailed and more comprehensive observations, can span only limited portions of these ranges because of logistical and financial constraints. Further, remote observations from satellite platforms enable broad horizontal coverage which is restricted to the upper few meters of the ocean. For these main reasons, automated subsurface measurement systems are important for the fulfillment of research goals related to the regional and global estimation and modeling of time varying biogeochemical fluxes. Within the past few years, new sensors and systems capable of autonomously measuring several of the critical variables have been developed. The platforms for deploying these systems now include moorings and drifters and it is likely that autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV's) will become available for use in the future. Each of these platforms satisfies particular sampling needs and can be used to complement both shipboard and satellite observations. In the present review, (1) sampling considerations will be summarized, (2) examples of data obtained from some of the existing automated in situ sampling systems will be highlighted, (3) future sensors and systems will be discussed, (4) data management issues for present and future automated systems will be considered, and (5) the status of near real-time data telemetry will be outlined. Finally, we wish to make it clear at the outset that the perspectives presented here are those of the authors and are not intended to represent those of the United States JGOFS program, the International JGOFS program, NOAA's C&GC program, or other global ocean programs

Radio-over-fibre technologies arising from the Building the future Optical Network in Europe (BONE) project

[EN] This study describes a wide range of salient radio-over-fibre system issues. Impulse radio and multiband ultra-wideband signal distribution over both single-mode fibre and multi-mode fibre (MMF) implementations are considered. Carrier frequencies ranging from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, up to 60 GHz, are featured, and the use of microring laser transmitters is discussed. A cost-performance comparative analysis of competing distributed antenna system topologies is presented, and a theoretical approach to understanding the factors underlying radio-over-MMF performance for within-building applications is discussed. Finally, techniques to minimise thermal impacts on performance are described and novel energy-efficient schemes are introduced. Overall, this study provides a snap-shot of research being undertaken by European institutes involved in the Building the future Optical Network in Europe (BONE) project.The work described in this paper was carried out with the support of the EU-FP7 Network of Excellence BONE project.Parker, M.; Walker, SD.; Llorente, R.; Morant, M.; Beltrán, M.; Möllers, I.; Jäger, D.... (2010). Radio-over-fibre technologies arising from the Building the future Optical Network in Europe (BONE) project. IET Optoelectronics. 4(6):247-259. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-opt.2009.0062S24725946http://www.ftthcouncil.euGomes, N. J., Morant, M., Alphones, A., Cabon, B., Mitchell, J. E., Lethien, C., … Iezekiel, S. (2009). Radio-over-fiber transport for the support of wireless broadband services [Invited]. Journal of Optical Networking, 8(2), 156. doi:10.1364/jon.8.000156Thakur, M. P., Quinlan, T. J., Bock, C., Walker, S. D., Toycan, M., Dudley, S. E. M., … Ben-Ezra, Y. (2009). 480-Mbps, Bi-Directional, Ultra-Wideband Radio-Over-Fiber Transmission Using a 1308/1564-nm Reflective Electro-Absorption Transducer and Commercially Available VCSELs. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 27(3), 266-272. doi:10.1109/jlt.2008.2005644ECMA-368 International Standard: ‘High rate ultra wideband PHY and MAC standard’, December 2008FCC 02-48: ‘Revision of part 15 of the commission's rules regarding ultra-wideband transmission systems’, April 2002ECC∕DEC∕(06)04: ‘On the harmonised conditions for devices using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in bands below 10.6 GHz’, March 2006ETSI EN 302 065 V1.1.1 (2008-02): ‘Electromagnetic compatibility and radio spectrum matters (ERM); ultra wideband (UWB) technologies for communication purposes; harmonized EN covering the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive’, February 2008WiMedia Alliance: Worldwide regulatory status [online]. 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IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 11(2), 266-268. doi:10.1109/68.740725Hartmann, P., Xin Qian, Wonfor, A., Penty, R. V., & White, I. H. (2005). 1-20 GHz Directly Modulated Radio over MMF Link. 2005 International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics. doi:10.1109/mwp.2005.203548Kanprachar, S., & Jacobs, I. (2003). Diversity coding for subcarrier multiplexing on multimode fibers. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 51(9), 1546-1553. doi:10.1109/tcomm.2003.816981Gasulla, I., & Capmany, J. (2006). Transfer function of multimode fiber links using an electric field propagation model: Application to Radio over Fibre Systems. Optics Express, 14(20), 9051. doi:10.1364/oe.14.009051Al-Raweshidy, H., and Komaki, S.: ‘Radio over fiber technologies for mobile communication networks’, (Artech House 2002)Sauer, M., Kobyakov, A., & George, J. (2007). Radio Over Fiber for Picocellular Network Architectures. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 25(11), 3301-3320. doi:10.1109/jlt.2007.906822Gomes, N. J., Nkansah, A., & Wake, D. (2008). Radio-Over-MMF Techniques—Part I: RF to Microwave Frequency Systems. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 26(15), 2388-2395. doi:10.1109/jlt.2008.925624Rajan, G., Semenova, Y., Pengfei Wang, & Farrell, G. (2009). Temperature-Induced Instabilities in Macro-Bend Fiber Based Wavelength Measurement Systems. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 27(10), 1355-1361. doi:10.1109/jlt.2009.2014081Montalvo, J., Vázquez, C., & Montero, D. S. (2006). CWDM self-referencing sensor network based on ring resonators in reflective configuration. Optics Express, 14(11), 4601. doi:10.1364/oe.14.00460