Temperature and force characterization of an optical sag sensor for overhead line monitoring

This paper reports on the temperature and force characterization of an optical sag sensor designed for overhead line (OHL) health monitoring in electrical power networks. The proposed sensor is based on the fiber Bragg grating technology for compatibility with a suite of photonic voltage and current sensors previously developed by the authors. The sensor response was validated experimentally by subjecting it to the force load at temperatures between 20 degrees C and 70 degrees C. The characterization results demonstrated in this paper show good agreement with the simulation results (within 7% full-scale output). The outcomes of the experimental investigation show that the OHL sensor will be a suitable addition to a suite of sensors for power grid monitoring, facilitating the implementation of OHL dynamic rating and health condition monitoring functions.