Power Circuit

Conditioning
Monitoring

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 Why Use Power Circuit Condition Smart Grid Solutions
Monitoring? Sensa recognizes that operators have several major
• Continually provide contingency data enabling concerns in managing strategic power-cable circuits
effective asset protection used in grid networks, particularly long distance
interconnectors and submarine cable installations.
• Enables proactive asset management and Through its power circuit monitoring systems, Sensa
connection with utility SCADA systems offers smart solutions which can be tailored to integrate
• Measures temperature trends and identifies hot with a wide variety of utility network topologies. Smart
spot locations systems design enables real time data to be made
available in a timely manner, to the relevant parties.
• Provides dynamic data for real-time thermal rating
• Identifies third-party interference and associated A Full-Range Monitoring System
problems Sensa offers a range of fibre-optic sensing solutions
• Provides real time system operating data over that can make multiple high-resolution temperature
cable lifetime measurements over a long range. We have developed
technology to provide even more comprehensive
condition monitoring for power cables with the addition
of the distributed vibration sensing. Our solutions provide
reliable, accurate, and repeatable measurements,
all in real time.

Global Fibre Optic Sensing Solutions

Continuous and reliable operation of strategic power- Focused and experienced engineering and customer
cable circuits is extremely important. Every shutdown can support staff are strategically located to provide support
have a major impact on an operator’s customers, on its to our customers. We offer a complete range of
revenue and reputation. Early detection and resolution complementary services, including surveys to support
of problems is an important part of power circuit thermal investigations and rating studies, equipment
management. Detection of possible threats combined lease, remote interrogation data analysis, documentation,
with real time operating data enable operators to react special software solutions, upgrades, and training.
or intervene before power-cable damage or network
failure occurs.
Condition monitoring provides an operator with essential
information for contingency planning, managing loadings,
future maintenance, which in turn can impact long-term
investment.
Having the right data to hand, maintenance can
be scheduled in advance. Without the right data,
maintenance can become more reactionary and as such
the costs and inconvenience will typically be higher.
Sensa have been designing, manufacturing, and
supplying DTS systems to the power transmission and
distribution markets since 1991, and have a solid track
record with installations worldwide. Our solution-oriented
approach places emphasis on front end software for
a complete, high-quality solution. We work with our
customers from concept to commissioning to ensure
the required specifications are met for each project.

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Applications
Buried And Duct-Bank Cable • Manual digging, jack hammers, road cutting machinery Submarine Cables Renewable Energy
and excavators
Installations Submarine cable temperature monitoring using DTS Onshore and offshore wind farms, solar farms, and wave
• Ground movement from landslide, or earth tremors technology can help to ensure that a reliable connection and tidal energy systems all need a connection to the
The value of RTTR/DTS technology is widely
acknowledged in extra-high-voltage transmission circuits, is maintained and managed within a safe operating grid. They can rely on Sensa’s monitoring systems to
but its application to medium-voltage and distribution
Interconnectors envelope. The critical locations are often at the shore provide continuous data for active condition monitoring of
circuits, which are buried directly in the ground or pulled Interconnectors are increasingly being used to connect ends, where cables are installed in the tidal, shallow- their cable connections.
into duct banks, can be equally important. networks within and between countries. Sensa’s long- water regions, and at remote platforms where cables
In wind farm applications, the load on the cables will vary
range monitoring systems enable operators to manage leave the seabed via a J-tube and a riser.
These cables deliver the ultimate load to the consumer, substantially according to the season and under different
these vital connections effectively. Interconnectors can wind conditions. Sensa’s DVS monitoring system can
and in narrow power corridors, mutual heating can
be monitored up to 100 km by using equipment at each indicate adverse changes in the cable installation and
cause rating restrictions and premature failure. Sensa’s
end of the power cable along the circuit path. Data help to protect against third-party threats to:
LINEVIEW RTTR software can account for mutual heating
delivered over a link can be joined using Sensa Profile
from circuits in proximity and provide critical circuit rating • Anchor drag
Generator software to present a single, continuous
data in real time.
temperature profile. • Trawler net drag
Sensa can provide a range of distributed fibre-optic
temperature monitoring systems using multimode • Wave action (scouring)
and single mode optical fibre. For buried underground
power cables, Sensa’s DVS solution can provide cable
intervention detection from third party sources.

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Umbilicals For Remotely Operated Overhead Lines
Vehicles (ROV) A DTS incorporated into an optical phase conductor
Sensa can assist with monitoring the umbilical cables can monitor the temperature of the conductor. Cooling
used to control and power ROVs. The challenge is to and heating effects on the conductor caused by wind,
ensure that the umbilical cable does not overheat on rain, solar radiation, etc., can be observed and the
the cable winch or drum. This requires a DTS system hottest sections can be identified. The data can be used
that can make measurements across a rotary optical to support on-line rating calculations, and to identify
switch. Sensa has solutions for monitoring umbilical’s in crucial spans where sag or safety clearances might
this difficult environment, and our experienced team can be breached.
provide help.
Transformers
Cable Tunnels By incorporating fibre-optic sensors into transformer
When cables are installed in tunnels and ducts, there windings, temperature data can be used to monitor for
hot spots within the transformer and to provide ratings
is the risk of undetected fires occurring in remote,
inaccessible locations. based on safe operating temperatures. Alternatively,
a fibre-optic cable can be installed after the windings
Technology Portfolio
A sensor cable is typically installed along the power have been wound on the core, or fibre-optic point
cable and in the crown of the tunnel. The Sensa system Hyperion DTS DVS System
sensors can be placed at strategic locations.
monitors the ambient temperature in the tunnel or duct • 2 circuit Raman DTS measuring temperature on each • Real time vibration and acoustic monitoring system
and along the power cable. The data is sent to a SCADA Generators circuit up to 6km to locate and classify cable disturbances
system that provide appropriate signals to control the
ventilation or activate an alarm or extinguishing system. Generator stators can overheat, and this may lead to • Small form factor, low power unit for remote logging • Distance range of 40km per channel
In this application, Sensa’s Ultra monitoring system insulation failure if it is allowed to continue unaddressed.
offers the unique advantages of superior accuracy and By strategically positioning optical fibre around the stator Ultra DTS LINEVIEW RTTR Software
measurement redundancy in the event that an optical windings, the risk can be minimized using a distributed
monitoring system. • 12 channel multimode Raman system with 15km • Network scalable RTTR software including U/G cables,
fibre is damaged, as it can monitor loops using true range per channel OHLs & Substations
double-ended measurement.
Substations • High speed with variable spatial resolution • User configurable emergency and contingency
Owing to the inherent electromagnetic immunity of planning features
fibre‑optic sensors, Sensa systems can be used to ASE DTS
reliably monitor a range of assets in electrical substations, • Accurate Single Ended Raman DTS system up
TOPVIEW Alarm
including joints, switchgear, panels, and other electrical to 50km range per channel • Audit change log, detailed change reports and auto
equipment. backup to files and SQL server
• 4 channels with variable spatial resolution
• Multi-level Tag Groups for categorising and filtering
monitored tags and alarms
• Monitor and alarm results of calculation/expression

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TOPVIEW Software Solutions LINEVIEW Software Solutions
TOPVIEW Alarm Software TOPVIEW Features: LINEVIEW Real Time Thermal Rating LINEVIEW benefits:
Sensa provides a comprehensive alarm management and • Runs interactively or as a Windows Service LINEVIEW is a complete Real Time Thermal Rating • Steady, dynamic and short-circuit ratings
alarm notification software system for whatever data and system that includes underground cables, overhead
• Multi-level Tag Groups • Considers transmission line terrain and weather
events need to be monitored. Use TOPVIEW with DTS lines and substation equipment. It is easy to use and is
data and events, relational LINEVIEW databases, system • Ability to escalate alarms where no response with suitable for all geographic regions, operating conditions, • Forecast hourly values of line ampacity up to seven
performance and network ping response data. custom defined criteria and for all transmission and distribution line voltages. days in advance
Generate audible alarms, send e-mail notification, SMS/ • Audit change log, detailed change reports LINEVIEW has steady, dynamic, transient ampacity, • Generates synthetic weather data by real-time
text notification, voice call-out notification, and SNMP and weather forecast models that provides power line modelling
• Failover/redundancy for alarm engine and clients
traps. Plus, desktop and mobile apps to keep users ampacity out to seven days in advance. Weather data
• User configurable database of transmission lines,
connected to important RTTR data and events. • Performance & health monitoring may be input in a number of ways – by user input,
conductors, underground cables, substations,
• Configuration, Notification, and Recipient reports in real time from a weather service, or from the Internet.
TOPVIEW is easy to use, easy to manage, infinitely and weather stations
scalable. Connectivity to multiple DTS systems can be • Monitor and detect abnormal alarm activity LINEVIEW is an integrated line ampacity system
• Input real time meteorological data automatically
distributed throughout the utility network. (active alarm counts, frequency, flooding) comprising transmission line network database
from the web
with interface to Google maps. Includes, overhead
• Delay of alarm unless condition is active for a period conductors, underground cables, substations, • Input real time conductor temperature, line current
and weather station databases. and voltage from EMS, SCADA & PMU
LINEVIEW provides access to the data stored in • View transmission network and weather stations in
industry standard databases such as SQL, Oracle Google map including line ampacity and temperatures
and Microsoft ACCESS. of network elements

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 Project Management, Installation
& Commissioning
Project management teams draw on strengths from Dedicated installation teams are highly skilled in the
within the company to provide a single customer deployment of fibre optic sensors and commissioning of
interface throughout and beyond the installation our DTS systems and associated software applications.
and commissioning process.
Experience and an assured approach ensure
Proven management and organisational processes minimal disruption to operations throughout the
ensure project delivery to detailed specification utilising installation process.
method statement, risk assessments and QHSE
All installation and commissioning services are
requirements.
• View geographic location of all lines in the undertaken to required QHSE standards and can be
electrical network Our bespoke database system reinforces existing supported by our on-site or remote operators training
controls to manage workflow for project awards programs to ensure familiarity with the solution and
• View line Ampacity and conductor temperature of all sizes. software capabilities.
by clicking on a line
From the moment your contract is placed, Sensa’s The solution can be configured and integrated with
• View location of transmission line sites, critical span, Project management team ensures the smooth existing systems and an acceptance test will provide
and site data • LINEVIEW provides Ampacity of all transmissions lines progress of the works from PO to project hand over/ confirmation of communication with the SCADA system.
including transmission lines having both overhead lines acceptance test. Remote monitoring facilities can enable additional client
• View weather stations and weather data by clicking
and underground cables asset analysis and a remote diagnostics capability allows
on weather stations Each project is assigned a dedicated project engineer
• Underground Cable Dynamic Ratings includes duct limited reconfiguration and diagnostic adjustment to be
who will provide a single point of contact and manage
bank model and mutual heating from adjacent cable carried without the need for a site visit.
delivery of:
circuits in the same duct
• Field Acceptance Tests (FAT)
• Site Acceptance Tests (SAT)
• Field splicing
• Project documentation
• Site supervision

• Normal Ampacity for steady state

• Customer configurable Dynamic Ampacity for short
and long durations overload.
• Display Ampacity limiting site for each line
(critical section)

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Etudes et Productions Schlumberger
1, rue Henri Becquerel
92142 Clamart
France
Tel: +33 14 53 77 152
Email: sensa-power@slb.com
www.sensa.org

Sensa operates a policy of continuous product improvement and, therefore, reserves the right to change
specifications without notice. Images courtesy of Electroctech Enterprises LLC