Towards the Development of a Photonic Current Sensor for HVDC Networks

This article introduces an innovative optical current sensor (OCS) that integrates photonic and piezoelectric technologies to facilitate the distributed measurement of current within High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) networks. The proposed sensor is designed to fit in an HVDC subsea cable splice to provide remote, distributed current measurement for enhanced monitoring and protection of HVDC power cable assets. The prototype transducer comprises a non-linear amplifier with an enhanced dynamic range to reduce the measurement errors that are dominated by the limitations of the sensor interrogation system at low input signal levels. The development and testing procedures were carried out within a controlled laboratory setting, adhering to the accuracy specifications stipulated by the IEC 61869–14 standard.