Distributed Sensing Fiber Cable Accessory Wrap Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distributed sensing systems are ineffective in monitoring non-distributed cable accessories within cable circuits, such as splices, joints, and connectors, due to their design limitations and spatial resolution issues, leading to unreliable anomaly detection.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system incorporating a distributed sensing system with cable accessory wrap assemblies, where distributed sensing fibers are embedded or integrated into cable accessories to provide continuous, real-time measurements, enabling the identification of anomalies at these points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional distributed sensing systems are used to monitor cable circuits, then continuous real-time measurements along the cable length are achieved, but cable accessories (splices, joints, connectors) cannot be effectively monitored due to spatial resolution limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into two distinct components: distributed sensing fibers integrated into the cable itself for continuous monitoring, and discrete sensors attached to individual cable accessories for targeted monitoring. This segmentation allows each component to operate at its optimal resolution level, with discrete sensors providing the necessary spatial precision for accessory monitoring while the distributed fibers provide continuous cable monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
Discrete sensors act as intermediaries between the distributed sensing system and cable accessories. These sensors are attached to accessories and transmit local measurements back to the monitoring system, effectively bridging the gap between the distributed fiber optic sensing and the point-specific accessory conditions that require higher spatial resolution.
2Reliability
If distributed sensing fiber is wrapped around cable accessories to monitor them, then monitoring coverage is improved, but installation time increases and performance consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Discrete sensors are pre-configured and pre-assembled into compact units designed for rapid attachment to cable accessories. This preliminary preparation allows field technicians to quickly install monitoring on accessories without time-consuming fiber wrapping procedures, while still achieving comprehensive monitoring coverage through the distributed-sensor hybrid architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring function is extracted from the cable structure itself and placed onto separate, attachable sensor units that can be quickly applied to accessories. This extraction allows the sensing capability to be added to accessories independently of the cable installation process, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining monitoring coverage.
3Device complexity
If distributed sensing systems monitor only the cable, then system complexity remains low, but monitoring of cable accessories is insufficient leading to poor workmanship detection
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is designed with multi-functionality, where a single integrated platform can handle both distributed cable monitoring via fiber optics and discrete accessory monitoring via attached sensors. This universal system manages multiple sensing modalities through a common data acquisition and analysis architecture, achieving comprehensive monitoring without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed fiber optic sensing system and discrete sensor monitoring system are merged into a unified monitoring platform that processes data from both sources simultaneously. This combination allows the system to leverage the strengths of each approach—continuous cable monitoring and high-resolution accessory monitoring—while presenting a single integrated interface for operation and analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring system is disclosed herein that is configured to utilize a distributed sensing system to monitor both a cable and cable accessories included within a cable circuit. In various embodiments, the monitoring system may include a distributed sensing system and one or more cable accessory wrap assemblies. The distributed sensing system may include a distributed sensing fiber following (or integrated into) the cable and connected to a cable accessory wrap assembly for each of the one or more cable accessories in-line with cable. In various embodiments, each cable accessory wrap assembly may comprise a cable wrap embedded with a distributed sensing fiber. The distributing sensing fiber of a cable accessory wrap assembly may be configured to provide measurements to distributed sensing system indicating that an anomaly event occurred at a given cable accessory.