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

In-sewer field-evaluation of an optical fibre-based condition monitoring system

A Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based monitoring system for continuous humidity and temperature measurement has been designed and evaluated experimentally in a sewer environment with high corrosion rates, humidity and the presence of gaseous hydrogen sulfide. The monitoring system has been designed specifically for field use, including packaging prepared for the harsh environment and the challenges of the operation. The system is battery powered and has hardware for controlling the interrogation equipment, power management, data logging and 4G connectivity. Results obtained show the long-term performance, over a 6-month period of non-stop monitoring of real-time data using the same probe. The data acquired was compared to the environmental data of temperature and precipitation for this period from the same location, which showed a good correlation between the expected and the measured data values. The data obtained point to the success of the optical fibre-based sensor system for monitoring in these harsh environments over long periods

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 333)

This bibliography lists 122 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System during January, 1990. Subject coverage includes: aerospace medicine and psychology, life support systems and controlled environments, safety equipment, exobiology and extraterrestrial life, and flight crew behavior and performance

Laser Technology and Applications 2012

The research and technical achievements in the area of lasers are summarized every three years by the National Symposium on Laser Technology held in the Baltic See Resort ś winoujście near Szczecin, Poland. The paper presents a review of the main symposium subjects tracks debated during this key national laser event in September 2012. There are shown development tendencies of laser materials and technologies and laser associated branches of optoelectronics in this country, including the efforts of academia, governmental institutes, research businesses and industry. The symposium work are divided to two branches: development of lasers and laser applications, where the laser systems operators and laser users present their achievements. Topical tracks of the meeting are presented, as well as the keynote and invited subjects delivered by key representatives of the laser industry. The STL 2012 was a jubilee meeting held for the Xth time

Index to 1984 NASA Tech Briefs, volume 9, numbers 1-4

Short announcements of new technology derived from the R&D activities of NASA are presented. These briefs emphasize information considered likely to be transferrable across industrial, regional, or disciplinary lines and are issued to encourage commercial application. This index for 1984 Tech B Briefs contains abstracts and four indexes: subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief Number. The following areas are covered: electronic components and circuits, electronic systems, physical sciences, materials, life sciences, mechanics, machinery, fabrication technology, and mathematics and information sciences

132 kV optical voltage sensor for wide area monitoring, protection and control applications

This paper reports on the design, construction and initial testing of a fiber-optic voltage sensor for applications in the field of wide area monitoring, protection and control of high voltage power networks. The 132-kV sensor prototype, combining a capacitive voltage divider (CVD) and an optical low voltage transducer (LVT), was evaluated through laboratory testing and its performance was assessed based on the accuracy requirements specified by the IEC standards for low-power passive voltage transformers. The preliminary results show that the device has the potential to comply with the requirements of the 0,2 class for metering devices, and the 3P and 0,5P classes for protective and multipurpose devices, respectively, as specified by IEC 61869-11. As the device is based on a fiber Bragg grating written in a standard, low-loss, single-mode telecommunication fiber, it has the potential to be deployed as part of a distributed network of sensors along the power network over a wide geographical area, enabling novel power system protection and control strategies

SciTech News Volume 71, No. 1 (2017)

Columns and Reports From the Editor 3 Division News Science-Technology Division 5 Chemistry Division 8 Engineering Division Aerospace Section of the Engineering Division 9 Architecture, Building Engineering, Construction and Design Section of the Engineering Division 11 Reviews Sci-Tech Book News Reviews 12 Advertisements IEEE

NASA SBIR abstracts of 1991 phase 1 projects

The objectives of 301 projects placed under contract by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are described. These projects were selected competitively from among proposals submitted to NASA in response to the 1991 SBIR Program Solicitation. The basic document consists of edited, non-proprietary abstracts of the winning proposals submitted by small businesses. The abstracts are presented under the 15 technical topics within which Phase 1 proposals were solicited. Each project was assigned a sequential identifying number from 001 to 301, in order of its appearance in the body of the report. Appendixes to provide additional information about the SBIR program and permit cross-reference of the 1991 Phase 1 projects by company name, location by state, principal investigator, NASA Field Center responsible for management of each project, and NASA contract number are included

Distributed current sensing technology for protection and fault location applications in HVDC networks

This paper presents a novel concept for a distributed current optical sensing network, suitable for protection and fault location applications in High Voltage Multi-terminal Direct Current (HV-MTDC) networks. By utilising hybrid Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG)-based voltage and current sensors, a network of current measuring devices can be realised which can be installed on an HV-MTDC network. Such distributed optical sensing network forms a basis for the proposed ‘single ended differential protection’ scheme. The sensing network is also a very powerful tool to implement a travelling-wave-based fault locator on hybrid transmission lines, including multiple segments of cables and overhead lines. The proposed approach facilitates a unique technical solution for both fast and discriminative DC protection, and accurate fault location, and thus, could significantly accelerate the practical feasibility of HV-MTDC grids. Transient simulation-based studies presented in the paper demonstrate that by adopting such sensing technology, stability, sensitivity, speed of operation and accuracy of the proposed (and potentially others) protection and fault location schemes can be enhanced. Fi- nally, the practical feasibility and performance of the current optical sensing system has been assessed through hardware- in-the-loop testing