Fiber-optic sensing system for icing detection and

dynamic ampacity rating on overhead power lines

Andrey Vanyakin
Altex Technology
Rue de la Paix 6, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland
Tel. + 41 21 331 23 31, Fax + 41 21 312 23 84,
andrey.vanyakin@altex-technology.ch
www.altex-technology.ch

Abstract A novel solution for icing detection and dynamic rating

control on overhead power lines implementing fiber-optic powered
tension measurement is presented. System components, work logic
are described. Key distinctive advantages are underscored.
Reliability and line operational safety compliance requirements are
addressed. More than a year of testing site experience is described.
Near future test pilot on operating line is announced.

I. INTRODUCTION
HERE is a number of conditional monitoring solutions
designed to help electric utilities mitigate the effects of
environmental hazards like atmospheric icing on overhead
lines. Boosting transmission effectiveness by implementing
real-time dynamic ampacity rating is also of non-fading interest.
Various approaches to both of these problems are known and
implemented. Some solutions evolved to be commercially
available systems with operational records while other failed to
prove themselves reliable and/or feasible. Regardless the exact
technical implementation most of the remote conditional
monitoring systems struggle with two major challenges:
- to provide power supply for sensors on the line;
- to develop a reliable communication line between remote
sensor stations and data acquisition center.
Common techniques are the use of solar panels, batteries
and even line power takeoff coupled with wireless
communication systems to deliver measured data. These are
bound to inevitable structural sophistication of the system i.e.
more equipment on the line and a consequent higher fault risk,
which usually develops into additional maintenance costs. The
necessity to constrain wireless communication power
consumption results in data sampling rate restriction.
Effectiveness of wireless communication itself may depend
highly on line location which is a drawback given the remote
sensing is valuable the most in hard to reach areas.
Many existing and much more newly constructed
transmission lines are equipped with fiber optic cables. Aside
from the original data transfer purpose, optical fibers are
increasingly wide used in sensing applications due to certain
intrinsic effects and processes. This article describes a novel
sensing system that takes advantages brought by a cutting edge
fiber optic sensing technology compounded with expertise in

overhead line physics in order to deliver a single solution for

both icing detection and dynamic rating assessment.
II.
PROBLEM APPROACH
The key concept behind the proposed systems operation is
based on measuring conductor or groundwire tension at
attachment points on dead-end structures.
Several advantages can be reached by incorporating direct
tension measurements as it is an essential parameter for
transmission line conditional monitoring. Hazardous pre-fault
events like galloping or fallen trees can be registered by tension
measurement alone. Being combined with an accurate sagtension line model comprising conductor or groundwire
mechanical properties, line route and structures geometry,
LiDAR survey data of obstacles in lines ROW, tension and
ambient temperature readings will serve as inputs to calculate
equivalent ice thickness, sag and even clearance to obstacles.
(see Fig. 1)

Fig. 1 Systems operation concept described schematically.

When icing detection is the goal, measuring tension

ensures that actual present ice load impact on the
conductor/groundwire is observed. Tension also naturally
embodies integrated effect of temperature distribution along
heated conductor in span. That would benefit sag and clearance
calculations accuracy.
III.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Since the described system introduces fiber optic

technology to measure tension and ambient temperature at
transmission towers along the line it is composed of the
following components:

- a number of fiber optic tension sensors (FOTS) installed on

strain structures equipped with fiber optic junction boxes;
- at least one optical fiber from cable available exclusively
for monitoring purposes;
- measurement and data acquisition unit (MDAQ) installed
in substation premises;
- system server with software package running.
FOTSs are special load cells that are designed to be
mounted into strain insulator assemblies. FOTSs are compatible
with traditional transmission line parts and can be used with
conductors as well as with groundwires or optic cables of all
types. FOTSs are embedded in the insulated part of the
assembly, as close as possible to the structure (see Fig. 2).
Single line structure will usually have several FOTSs

by tuning MDAQ settings and designing an optimal signal route

in the first place. However, when it is still not enough, the
operating distance can be doubled by using two MDAQs at
opposite line ends. If several transmission lines that require
monitoring depart from the same substation they can be all
monitored by a single MDAQ residing at this substation.
Stationx@
Towerx

Station1
Tower5

SubstationB

SubstationA
MDAQ
Server

Operatingdistance65km
SubstationB

SubstationA
MDAQ#1

MDAQ#2

Server

Linelength180km

FOTS

SubstationM
...
...
...

SubstationA

SubstationB

MDAQ
Server

Operatingdistance65km
Fig. 4 Possible system setups and corresponding operating distances

ADSS cable to
junction box
Fig. 2 Fiber optic tension measurement sensor installed in a testing site strain
OPGW assembly

installed on it, forming a sensing station. One possible

collocation may include the lowest conductor and
groundwire/OPGW of both coming and departing sections (see
Fig. 3). Each FOTS is equipped with an ADSS cable in order to
be connected to the fiber optic junction box on transmission
tower. In the junction box all FOTS fibers are connected to the
fiber optic line leading to substation where MDAQ unit is
installed in a 19 deck.

Fig. 3. Sensor station example

Thus, the remote sensor interrogation route is formed (see

Fig.4). MDAQ is capable of interrogating sensor stations as
distant as 65 km from the substation (for the farthermost station).
The operating distance can be raised up to 80+ km in many cases

Systems software package core is designed to perform fast

raw measurements acquisition and processing. The end-user
interface is a web-based application in which measurement
results can be reviewed remotely and in real time using virtually
any device with access to the system through internet. The
interface can be enhanced with GIS-component to show the
transmission line route, surrounding objects and terrain, station
locations.
IV.

SENSING TECHNOLOGY

The FOTS is build around fiber optic sensing elements that

measure longitudinal force and ambient temperature. These
elements are known as fiber bragg gratings (FBG). FBGs are
widely used in a number of structural health monitoring
applications in transportation, civil, aerospace and other key
industries [1].
Fiber bragg grating is an optical element constructed within
a short segment of standard single mode fiber core that operates
as an narrow inline barrier filter that reflects particular
wavelengths of incident light and transmits all others (see Fig.
5)

WAVELENGTH

TRANSMITTED
SPECTRUM

FIBER
BRAGG
GRATING

REFLECTEDLIGHT
SPECTRUM
POWER

extra strength to the element because of the alloying agents.

Steel quality is first controlled at material procurement stage.
After the production run is complete, one sample is exposed to
rated tensile strength test to formalize the load-bearing
capability. Tests results show that FOTSs can bear at least 40%
more load than standard compatible transmission line parts.
FOTS is a rugged device, designed to operate outdoors in
everyday reality of overhead transmission line. Device contents
are securely protected with water sealed stainless steel enclosure
(see Fig. 7). ADSS cable output has protective features to
withstand tensile and compression loads.

POWER

POWER

INCIDENTLIGHT
SPECTRUM

WAVELENGTH

WAVELENGTH

Fig. 5. Fiber Bragg Grating operation principle

When the fiber containing FBG is experiencing strain

whether caused by mechanical load or temperature variation the
reflected wavelength shifts proportionally to fibers elongation
(see Fig. 6).

FIBER
BRAGG
GRATING

WAVELENGTH
STRAIN
REFLECTEDLIGHT
SPECTRUM

TRANSMITTED
SPECTRUM
POWER

POWER

INCIDENTLIGHT
SPECTRUM

WAVELENGTH

POWER

Fig. 7. FOTS with stainless steel enclosure. Lighter for scale. Different tensile
classes available.

WAVELENGTH

Fig. 6. Fiber Bragg Grating experiencing strain.

Such properties allow to use FBG as a highly sensitive and

accurate sensor which can measure temperature, strain or its
derivatives depending on packaging type and system structural
design.
With the introduced concept and sensing technology the
following unique advantages are reached:
- no power supply required for FOTS;
- cutting edge technology measurement accuracy and
repeatability;
- no need for unstable wireless communication, fiber optic
line is used;
- all equipment on the line is EMF immune;
- permanent remote measurement and data acquisition;
- no more maintenance costs than required by a regular FO
junction box.
V.

SAFETY AND TESTING

The described system is a result of more than two years of

intense R&D. All elements of the system were put through
numerous compliance and performance tests.
Considering the fact that FOTS is directly placed into strain
assembly the safety of its operation is addressed with extra
attention. Load bearing component of the sensor is made of
quality stainless steel, which, compared to ordinary steel, adds

Since the Fall of 2014 to Summer of 2015 the system was

installed on a testing site. The testing site comprised a single 106
m span of two dead-end structures with one conductor strung
and one FOTS installed in its strain assembly. The MDAQ was
installed in a building nearby and accessed remotely from the
office through internet (see Fig. 8,9).
The goal of this test was to validate all system elements
working together in an environment as close as possible to what
is to be encountered on a live line.
MDAQ
Weather
station

CONDUCTOR
SPECIMEN
FOTS

FO CABLE
JUNCTION BOX
Fig. 8 Testing site at a glance

effect of actual transient mechanical process captured by high

speed measurements.

FOTS

4x
FOTS

3x

3x
2x

2x
1x3,3kg

4x

ROPEMOVEDASIDE
TOLETVEHICLEPASS

0x

0x

FOTS

Throughout testing period the system operated in a

constant data acquisition mode providing amounts of tension
and ambient temperature measurements. Those were analyzed
together with reference readings obtained by an installed locally
Davis Vantage Pro 2 weather station and a mechanical
dynamometer in the same assembly as FOTS. Tension readings
of both FOTS and dynamometer showed good convergence with
less than 20 daN deviation. The accuracy of such comparison is
limited due to dynamometers capabilities. The readings were
also compared to an accurate span model created in PLS-CADD,
the leading transmission line modeling and design software
package, and the deviations with the FOTS were as low as 10
daN.
A short-term experiment was undertaken to demonstrate
how system reacts to tension change induced by ice load. A bag
was attached to the conductor in the mid span and identical
metal parts, 3.3 kg each, were used to load the conductor with
extra weight (see Fig. 10).
Conductor

0x

Fig. 11. Tension vs time plot of the ice load simulation experiment

Fig. 9. FOTS installed in strain assemly

FOTS

1x

3.3 kg

Rope

Bag

Fig. 10 Ice load simulation on a testing site

The resulting tension measurement plot is shown on Fig.

11. One can observe great repeatability and sub-dekanewton
sensitivity of system measurements. The oscillations that can be
seen after each step on the graph are not artificial noise but an

The year of testing ground experience proved to be a

success in a number of ways. First, all system elements operated
accordingly, the concept and system performance were verified.
Large data amounts were collected and analyzed. Second,
several lessons were learned and improvements made on the go
in many aspects of systems operation. These ensure that the
system is now ready for full-scale industrial application.
VI.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel sensing system is presented and described in

detail. Advantages of implemented approach and technology
such as power supply free sensors, EMF immunity, real-time
operation and fiber-optic connection were underscored. Safety
and sustainability features were addressed. Extensive testing
ground experience described. Near future plans are to deploy the
system on a live transmission line in an icing-prone area Winter
2015.
VII.
[1]

REFERENCES

A. Cusano, A. Cutolo, J. Albert, Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors:

Recent Advancements, Industrial Applications and Market
Exploitation, ISBN: 978-1-60805-343-8, Betham Science
Publishers, 2011.