I. M. Nascimento

Novel optical current sensor for metering and protection in high power applications

ABSTRACT A clamp-on optical current sensor prototype for metering and protection applications in high power systems was developed and characterized. The system is based on the Faraday effect in a low birefringence, high Verdet constant, 8 cm long SF57 Schott glass prism. It was incorporated in a nylon casing suitable for clamp-on applications in the power line. The sensor operation was tested at 630 nm, 830 nm, and 1550 nm to access its applicability in remote interrogation via fiber links. Optimal operation at 830 nm is reported with a linear response up to 65.28kA, with 0.1 or 0.2 accuracy class considering a nominal currents of 1.2 and 0.3 kA (root mean square), respectively. Twelve calibrations procedures performed over six days showed an estimated maximum error of 11 m A. Preliminary measurements were made from 40 to 400 Hz. The sensor was exposed to transient signals less than 10 µs that demonstrated its use in protection applications.

Vibration and Magnetic Field Sensing Using a Long-Period Grating

A long-period grating (LPG) written on a standard single mode fiber is investigated as a fiber optic sensor for vibration and magnetic field sensing. It is demonstrated the high sensitivity of the device to applied curvature and the possibility to monitor vibration in a wide range of frequencies from 30 Hz to 2000 Hz. The system was tested using intensity-based interrogation scheme, providing a frequency discrimination of 913 mHz. The goal of these tests was to evaluate the sensor as a passive vibration monitor in the detection of changes in resonant vibration frequencies of support infrastructures can provide information on its degradation. Furthermore, taking advantage of the intrinsic sensitivity to micro strain, alternating magnetic fields were also measured using an intensity-based interrogation scheme by coupling a Terfenol-D magnetostrictive rod to a pre-strained LPG sensor, providing a resolution below 5.61

High refractive index and temperature sensitivity LPGs for high temperature operation

\mu \text{T}_{\mathrm {\mathbf {rms}}}/\surd

Fabrication of a spun elliptically birefringent photonic crystal fiber and its characterization as an electrical current sensor

Hz from 1.22 mTrms up to 2.53 mTrms.

LPG-based sensor for curvature and vibration

A fiber optic sensor for high sensitivity refractive index and temperature measurement able to withstand temperature up to 450 °C is reported. Two identical LPG gratings were fabricated, whereas one was coated with a high refractive index (~1.78) sol-gel thin film in order to increase its sensitivity to the external refractive index. The two sensors were characterized and compared in refractive index and temperature. Sensitivities of 1063 nm/RIU (1.338 – 1.348) and 260 pm/°C were achieved for refractive index and temperature, respectively.

Magnetic field measurement using a fiber laser sensor in ring arrangement

In this paper a spun elliptically birefringent photonic crystal fiber is fabricated and characterized. Its performance as a current sensor, using a polarimetric configuration, was tested and compared against single mode fiber at 633 nm. In particular the sensor sensitivity and linearity was investigated using fiber loops with different radius or number of turns around the conductor. The results obtained show that the spun fiber (40 rotation per meter) is able to suppress quite effectively the effects of the bend induced birefringence as compared to the standard fiber.

Erbium doped optical fiber lasers for magnetic field sensing

A long-period grating (LPG) written on a standard single mode fiber is investigated as a curvature and vibration sensor. It is demonstrated a high sensitivity to applied curvature and the possibility to monitor vibration in a wide range of frequencies from 30 Hz to 2000 Hz. The system was tested using an intensity based interrogation scheme with the LPG sensor operating in the curvature regime. Results have shown a reproducible frequency discrimination in the 30 Hz to 2000 Hz, with resolutions between 11 mHz and 913 mHz. Frequency retrieval could be performed independent of temperature up to 86 °C.

Intensity-Modulated Optical Fiber Sensor for AC Magnetic Field Detection

In this work an optical fiber laser with loop configuration was developed for magnetic field measurement. The transducer element is an FBG written in a HiBi fiber whose wavelength is modified using a magnetostrictive material that applies deformation in the presence of the magnetic field. The laser has a bandwidth of 450 MHz and operates in single polarization. A shift of 258.5 pm was observed in the laser operating wavelength for a magnetic field of 17.85 mT. Moreover, a maximum sensitivity of 14.72 pm/mT in the linear regime operation was achieved when increasing the magnetic field. The system provides a narrow emission line that is dependent on the magnetic field magnitude enabling high resolution interferometric measurement schemes. The laser response to AC magnetic fields was also characterized using a passive interferometer with higher sensitivity in the range of 8.32 to 17.93 mTRMS.

Fabrication and characterization of spun HiBi PCF fibers for current sensing applications

In this work two erbium doped optical fiber laser configurations for magnetic field measurement are implemented and compared. The first laser is set-up in a loop configuration and requires only a single FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating), acting as mirror. A second laser employs a simpler linear cavity configuration but requires two FBGs with spectral overlap to form the laser cavity. A bulk magnetostrictive material made of Terfenol-D is attached to the laser FBGs enabling modulation of its operation wavelength by the magnetic field. Moreover, a passive interferometer was developed to demodulate the AC magnetic field information where the corresponding demodulation algorithms were software based. Both configurations are tested and compared with the results showing different sensitivities and resolutions. Better performance was accomplished with the double FBGs linear cavity configuration with a resolution of 0.05 mTRMS in the range of 8 to 16 mTRMS. For the same range the loop configuration attained a resolution of 0.48 mTRMS.

Application of a photonic crystal fiber LPG for vibration monitoring

An erbium-doped (Er3+) fiber optic laser is proposed for sensing alternated magnetic fields by measuring the laser intensity modulation. The sensor is fabricated using two partially overlapped narrow-band fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and a section of doped fiber in a Fabry-Perot configuration. Laser power stability and bandwidth are studied while changing the overlap. A bulk rod of TbDyFe, a magnetostrictive material, is glued to both the FBGs and the laser wavelength and power are modulated according to the magnetic field. Acquisition and processing are done using virtual instrumentation. Results have shown the possibility of detecting 11.18 μTrms/√Hz for an alternating magnetic field of 4.17 mTrms.