Precise Localization of High-Voltage Breakdown Events using $\ddot{I}•$-Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry on an Optical Ground Wire

Abstract

We present $\ddot{I}•$-OTDR for detecting and localising full spark-gap breakdowns by analysing backscattered light phase and frequency-domain signatures during high-voltage discharges synchronised with oscilloscope-recorded events. Measuring sub-kHz confirms clear discharge signatures and acoustic reconstruction over long links with $\approx$ 10 m spatial resolution.

This work has been partially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the project HYPERCORE (#16KIS2098). We also acknowledge the Bilateral Project "DistraSignalSense" between the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, and Adtran Networks SE