Current Sensing Using a Phase-Sensitive Optical Time Domain Reflectometer: Feasibility Study

Abstract

A novel method for distributed current sensing using an FBG-assisted Phase-OTDR with Mach-Zehnder Interferometer is proposed. The detrimental effect of the intrinsic linear birefringence of the sensing fiber is solved by calibration. An FBG pair is written at the two ends of the spun fiber coil to eliminate phase fading and increase the measurement accuracy. A simulation tool was developed to reveal the feasibility of the approach by investigating the impact of the detector noise as well as the effects of bending- and FBG-induced linear birefringence on the sensing performance.