Phase Stability Control of Optical Fiber Partial Discharge Ultrasonic Sensing System

Sensors (Basel). 2022 Nov 4;22(21):8495. doi: 10.3390/s22218495.

Abstract

Optic fiber interferometers are highly sensitive ultrasonic sensors for partial discharge detection. However, low-frequency vibration and environmental noise will disturb the sensors in the field, and cause a phase fading suppression effect that reduces sensitivity. This paper analyzed the problems existing in the phase feedback control system based on PZT, and an improved scheme incorporating a high-frequency carrier phase demodulation is proposed. Based on an acousto-optic modulator, the proposed phase feedback control system overcomes the phase fading suppression effect. A test is carried out on an ultrasonic calibration platform and a transformer oil discharge platform. The test results show that the stability of the improved phase demodulation system has been significantly improved, and meets the requirements of field applications. Compared with the signal-to-noise ratio at the time of phase fading of the system before the improvement, the signal-to-noise ratio of the improved system is improved by 69 dB.

Keywords: acousto-optic modulator; partial discharge; phase fading; phase feedback control; ultrasonic detection of partial discharge.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by National Grid Hebei Electric Power Co., Ltd. science and technology project “Research and Application of key Technologies for Intelligent decision-making of Transformers (reactors) based on Optical Fiber Sensing”, grant number kj2021-017.