3D Printing Technique-Improved Phase-Sensitive OTDR for Breakdown Discharge Detection of Gas-Insulated Switchgear

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) breakdown discharge detection system based on improved phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) assisted by 3D-printed sensing elements. The sensing element is manufactured by a material with a high Poisson ratio for enhancement of the sensitivity of φ-OTDR to the acoustic emission detection during the breakdown discharge process. In our experiment, seven 3D-printed sensing elements incorporating with optical fibers are attached tightly onto the shell of the GIS, which are monitored by φ-OTDR to localize and detect the acoustic emission signal resulted from the breakdown discharge. Ultimately, thanks to the phase demodulation, acoustic signals induced by the breakdown discharge process can be captured and recovered. Furthermore, the time delay analysis of detected signals acquired by different sensing elements on the GIS breakdown discharge unit is able to distinguish the location of the insulation failure part in the GIS unit. It suggests that the φ-OTDR incorporated with 3D printing technology shows the advantage of robustness in GIS breakdown discharge monitoring and detection.