D2-DAS technology: an opportunity to use fibre optics for asset monitoring and security applications in electric power utilities

Kwik, S. ; Abad, J.M. ; Martínez, R. ; Preciado, J. ; Sevillano, P. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Subías, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Electric Power Utilities (EPUs) have deployed a fibre optic infrastructure to support their telecommunications needs. DAS technology brings the opportunity to reuse this infrastructure by turning the fibres into distributed acoustic sensors. This paper will explore multiple monitoring and security applications of this technology in high voltage networks in Spain.
DAS techniques enable the digitalization of the physical asset management, and it is a lever towards a cost-effective maintenance.
Ongoing projects are testing these applications in Red Eléctrica de España facilities in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza and Aragon Photonics.
DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) is a technology based on C-OTDR (Coherent Optical Time Domain Reflectometry). It is based on the use of Rayleigh backscattering of coherent pulses traveling along the optical fibre.
This technology turns the fibre into a distributed sensor that, thanks to its high sensitivity, is capable of measuring mechanical and thermal stimuli originated from events happening in the vicinity of the fibre. Due to the low attenuation of the light pulses through the fibre and the pulse repetition rate, the technology can sense tens of kilometres at an acoustic rate with a single interrogator.
Using algorithms techniques based in artificial intelligence (A.I.), unsupervised machine learning, etc., events that occur along (and close to) the fibre path are detected, identified, and classified.
The final user gets notification alarms through different media (mail, SMS, etc.) and can handle the information at its discretion.
Some of the key aspects DAS solutions can provide to an EPU are 1) digitalization and improvement of the preventive detection (proactive), minimizing reactive maintenance interventions; 2) a continuous, online, and automatic supervision 24/7 of infrastructures and 3) take advantage of the EPUs existing fibre optic network, easing the implementation of this technology on the field.
Different projects are currently being carried out in the Spanish TSO in order to explore the different possibilities and applications of DAS technology in an EPU. The paper will focus on these applications, its expectations, and results:
Protection of underground infrastructures (both FO and power cables)
Applications in overhead lines
Protection of subsea infrastructures (both FO and power cables)
Asset perimeter security
Other potential applications
Chapter 1 describes the main motivations that have led to try this technology in the Spanish TSO. Chapter 2, instead, explains the main principles of DAS technology. The different methods used to process de data are explained in Chapter 3, whereas Chapter 4 describes the different applications and use cases of this technology in an Electric Power Utility.

Idioma: Inglés

Año: 2023

Publicado en: Cigre Science & engineering 27 (2023), D2.11053 [15 pp.]
ISSN: 2426-1335

Originalmente disponible en: Texto completo de la revista

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 1.1 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Q4) - Control and Systems Engineering (Q4) - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment (Q4) - Energy Engineering and Power Technology (Q4)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.348 - Control and Systems Engineering (Q3) - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment (Q3) - Energy Engineering and Power Technology (Q3) - Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Q3)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Física Aplicada (Dpto. Física Aplicada)