Abstract
Faraday current sensors using a variety of sensing elements have been investigated extensively for their high sensitivity as well as other advantages [G.L. Lewis et al., Proc. IEE Conf. on The Reliability of Transmission and Distribution Equipment, 1995; Y.N. Ning et al., Optics Lett. 16 (1991); C.M.M. van den Tempel, Appl. Optics 32 (1993)]. Concurrently chromatic modulation techniques have been investigated at the University of Liverpool for use with optical fibre sensors of different types [N.A. Pilling, Ph.D. Thesis, 1992; M.M. Murphy, Ph.D. Thesis, 1991] including Faraday current sensing, for overcoming difficulties with non-referenced intensity modulation systems. In this contribution a brief discussion of the scope of chromatically based Faraday current sensing with particular regard to electric power transmission and distribution industries is given. A novel sensor based upon a Faraday glass block in combination with a BSO crystal in the sensing element is described. The sensor takes advantage of the natural gyrotropy of the BSO which conversely has been previously regarded as a disadvantage. The experimental results obtained indicate that this method offers a novel approach to improving system sensitivity. The extension of the approach from a simple bench top demonstrator to real power systems deployment is also discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 203-212 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Optics Communications |
| Volume | 145 |
| Issue number | 1-6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Current sensor
- Faraday rotation
- Optical activity
- Polychromatic modulation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering