Recent progress in optical current sensing techniques

Abstract

This paper reviews recent developments in the field of current measurement which employ a wide range of optical and fiber optic techniques. Depending on the current sensing mechanisms involved and the sensing materials used, optical current sensors (OCSs) may be categorized into four main groups: (i) OCSs employing optical fiber as their sensing elements, (ii) OCSs using bulk glass to sense the current, (iii) OCSs using electro-optic hybrid sensing devices, and (iv) OCSs using magnetic field sensing devices. The operational modes of a variety of OCSs have been grouped and discussed, and several examples given. It can be seen that as a result of an intensive and wide ranging research effort using various approaches, substantial progress in the differing aspects of the optical current sensing techniques considered, such as the sensing material used, the configurations of sensing elements introduced, and the detection schemes adapted, has been achieved during the past years. An overall view of the field shows it to be as an active and exciting research area, highlighting several recently introduced and novel sensing materials and configurations which provide impressive results in this field of instrumentation. Examples of applications for the electric power industry are discussed more extensively.