Distributed temperature detection of transformer windings with externally applied distributed optical fiber

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Optical Sensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Power transformer winding overheating poses a significant risk to power system stability.
• Traditional point-type temperature measurements lack accuracy in identifying hotspot locations and temperature distribution.
• Accurate online monitoring is crucial for preventing catastrophic failures in high-power equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a distributed temperature measurement method for transformer windings using Raman scattering.
• To design and analyze a fiber composite winding model for improved temperature sensing.
• To evaluate the insulation performance and feasibility of the proposed method for online monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A fiber composite winding model was designed and simulated to assess electric field distribution and heat transfer in oil.
• The insulation performance of the fiber composite winding was investigated.
• A distributed optical fiber temperature measurement platform was constructed and tested.

Main Results:

• The developed distributed temperature detection system demonstrated high temperature sensing and positioning accuracy.
• Temperature measurement error was less than 1°C, and positioning accuracy error was within 1.2 m.
• The method proved capable of meeting transformer winding temperature measurement requirements.

Conclusions:

• The Raman scattering-based distributed temperature measurement offers a novel and effective approach for transformer winding monitoring.
• This technology provides a new method for online monitoring of high-power equipment, enhancing operational safety.
• The study validates the potential of fiber optic sensing for critical infrastructure diagnostics.