Expanding Measurement Range of Distributed Photonic Sensors for Holistic Power Grid Management (EMERGE)

随着英国向净零经济转型，电力系统的广域监控正变得越来越重要。为了防止停电，需要高性能的分布式传感器为电力系统的快速控制和保护提供足够的实时数据。此外，由于不稳定的负荷情景和新的天气极端条件，电网承受着前所未有的压力，因此需要对经常动态额定的电线和电缆进行广泛的状态监测。Synaptec的分布式光子传感技术是解决这一挑战的理想解决方案，因为它依靠电网预先安装的光纤，使用高性能的无源传感器提供经济高效的大片地理区域覆盖，而不需要建筑物、电源、通信基础设施或GPS信号。Synaptec的客户已经实施了新的控制或保护方案，其成本只有传统技术的一小部分。但是，该技术需要在传感器动态范围和精度方面进行重大升级，以便网络运营商--包括变电站内外的电路--普遍采用。虽然变电站外部的保护级测量足以实施混合或多端电路保护方案，但计量级或组合的测量/保护级传感器是必要的，以提供变电站外和站内测量的整体方法。我们估计，如果扩展动态范围的挑战能够得到解决，Synaptec解决方案的市场份额将增加10倍。因此，该项目将基于一种突破性的新概念-被动自动测距光子换能器-开发一种扩展范围传感器。这一概念已经获得了专利，早期的概念验证调查表明它取得了巨大的成功；然而，在将其转化为商业产品之前，这项技术还需要大量的开发。因此，由Synaptec、斯特拉斯克莱德大学和ITL组成的项目财团将设计并演示基于自动测距概念的TRL6-7分布式传感器系统。这项创新将涉及超低功耗电子产品，以提供传感器本地的无源自动测距功能，以及扩展范围的电流-电压感应转换器，以及在中央传感器询问器的固件内运行的算法，以检测远程范围变化并提供输出定标。该项目将提供一个技术演示，将使用Strathclyde的Ka级电流注入设施进行验证。该解决方案将在测量范围和精度方面与非传统光学仪器互感器竞争，同时提供前所未有的多路复用和地理覆盖水平，这是任何其他技术在这个价格点都无法实现的。该项目将显著受益，并加速英国向可持续能源经济的过渡。

Wide-area monitoring of the power system is becoming increasingly important as the UK is transitioning to a net-zero economy. To prevent blackouts, high-performance distributed sensors are required to provide sufficient real-time data for rapid control and protection of the power system. Moreover, extensive condition monitoring of often dynamically-rated power lines and cables is required as the grid undergoes unprecedented stresses due to the volatile loading scenarios and new weather extremes.Synaptec's distributed photonic sensing technology is an ideal solution to this challenge as it piggybacks on the grid pre-installed fibre and offers cost-effective coverage of large geographic areas using high-performance passive sensors, not requiring buildings, power supplies, communication infrastructure, or GPS signals. Synaptec's customers have implemented novel control or protection schemes with a fraction of the cost of conventional technologies.However, the technology requires a significant upgrade in terms of the sensor dynamic range and accuracy to be adopted universally by the network operators -- including circuits both outside and within the substation. While protection-grade measurements external to the substations are sufficient to implement hybrid or multi-ended circuit protection schemes, metering-grade or combined metering/protection-grade sensors are necessary to offer a holistic approach for extra- and intra-substation measurements. We estimate a 10-fold increase of the market share for Synaptec's solutions if the extended dynamic range challenge could be solved.Consequently, this project will develop an extend-range sensor based on a ground-breaking new concept of passively auto-ranging the photonic transducer. The concept has been patented and early proof-of-concept investigations indicate its great success; however, the technology requires significant development before it can be turned into a commercial offering.Therefore, the project consortium comprising Synaptec, University of Strathclyde and ITL will design and demonstrate a TRL6-7 distributed sensor system based on the auto-ranging concept. The innovation will involve ultra-low-power electronics to deliver passive auto-ranging functionality that is local to the sensors, together with extended-range current-to-voltage inductive converters, and an algorithm operating within the firmware of the central sensor interrogator to detect remote range changes and provide output scaling. The project will deliver a technology demonstrator that will be proven using Strathclyde's kA-level current injection facilities. The solution will compete on the measurement range and accuracy with nonconventional optical instrument transformers while offering an unprecedented level of multiplexing and geographical coverage, unachievable at this price point by any other technology. The project will significantly benefit and accelerate UK's transition to a sustainable energy economy.