EP1299736A1

EP1299736A1 - Fiber-optic current sensor

Info

Publication number: EP1299736A1
Application number: EP01942947A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Klaus Bohnert
Original assignee: ABB Research Ltd Switzerland; ABB Research Ltd Sweden
Current assignee: ABB Research Ltd Switzerland; ABB Research Ltd Sweden
Priority date: 2000-07-10
Filing date: 2001-07-04
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Also published as: WO2002004963A1; CN1213305C; US20040101228A1; EP1174719A1; US7075286B2; JP2004503751A; CN1441907A; AU2001265738A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fiber-optic current sensor that is provided with a reflection interferometer (1, 10). In its fiber-optic feed line (2), said fiber-optic current sensor comprises a polarization-maintaining first fiber branch (20) for two forward propagating orthogonally polarized waves and a polarization-maintaining second fiber branch (20') for two backward propagating orthogonally polarized waves. Said fiber branches (20, 20') are interlinked via a coupler (8) provided in the sensor. The first fiber branch (20) is linked with a light source (4) and the second fiber branch (20') is linked with the detector (5). A phase-shift device (7) is functionally linked with at least one of the fiber branches (20, 20'), thereby allowing a quasi-static control of the phase shift of the waves. As a result, the phase-shift device does not have to meet such strict requirements as the phase modulators and signal processors that are generally used in conventional current sensors.

Description

Fiber optic current sensor

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The invention relates to a fiber optic current sensor with a reflection interferometer according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a method for setting an operating point in such a current sensor according to the preamble of patent claim 9 and a method for current measurement by means of such a current sensor according to the preamble of patent claim 13.

State of the art

A generic fiber optic current sensor is described in DE-A-4,224,190 and G. Frosio et al., "Reciprocal reflection interferometer for a fiber-optic Faraday current sensor", Applied Optics, Vol. 33, No. 25, page 6111 -6122 (1994), which has a coil-shaped, magneto-optically active sensor fiber which surrounds a current conductor, is mirrored at one end, and at the other end it is connected via a phase delay element to a polarization-maintaining optical feed fiber, via which yourself Lets light into or out of the sensor fiber. The feed fiber propagates optical waves that are orthogonally linearly polarized to one another. With the aid of a fiber-optic phase retarder, these are converted into two circularly polarized waves before entering the sensor coil, the two circularly polarized waves having an opposite direction of rotation. After passing through the sensor coil, the two circular waves are reflected at the end of the coil, whereby they run back through the coil with the polarity sense reversed.

If a current now flows through the current conductor, the magnetic field of the current causes a differential phase shift between the two circular optical waves. This effect is called the magneto-optical or Faraday effect. By passing through the coil twice, the waves accumulate a differential phase shift of ΔΦs = 4 V N I, where V is the Verdet constant of the fiber, N is the number of fiber turns in the coil and I is the current through the conductor.

The circular waves are converted back into orthogonal linearly polarized waves when they exit the coil in the phase retarder and are guided to a detection system via the feed fiber. The directions of polarization of the returning orthogonal waves are reversed compared to the forward-running waves. The phase shift caused by the current can be detected by causing the two reflected linearly polarized waves to interfere in a polarizer connected to the feed fiber.

In order to achieve a usable interference signal, the effective one

Working point of the interferometer in a linear range of a cos-shaped

Interference function. This is done by means of a modulation unit with a phase modulator, which birefringence in the supply tion fiber and thus a differential phase of the two waves changed. Since both forward and reverse waves pass through the same phase modulator, it must oscillate at a frequency adapted to the round trip time of the waves in order to non-reciprocally modulate the differential phase of the two interfering waves. Without the modulation unit, the phase difference between the two interfering waves would be zero.

The modulation frequency ideally corresponds to the inverse value of twice the circulation time of the light in the interferometer. The frequency of the modulation is typically in the range between 100 kHz and a few MHz and is determined, among other things, by the length of the fiber connection to the sensor fiber, that is to say the feed fiber.

The current-induced phase shift can be determined by suitable demodulation. The demodulation techniques are the same which are used for fiber-optic gyroscopes and which are described, for example, in RA Bergh et al, "An Overview of fiber-optic gyroscopes", J. Lightwave Technol. 2, 91'107 (1984) essentially between open-loop and closed-loop configurations.

In order for the fiber optic current sensor to be operational in practice, it needs good long-term stability. Unfortunately, simple modulation units, for example those with piezoelectric modulators, have a drift in their amplitude, for example as a result of temperature changes. The prior art therefore uses relatively expensive modulation units which are as stable as possible and which have integrated optical modulators or means for compensating for amplitude fluctuations. Such means are, for example, measuring means for determining the amplitude of the phase modulation in order to keep it constant by means of an additional control loop. These funds lead however, to a complicated structure of the sensor and thus increase the cost.

Presentation of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a fiber-optic current sensor in a reflection configuration which has good long-term stability without placing too high demands on the modulation unit, in particular on its evaluation electronics.

This object is achieved by a fiber-optic current sensor with the features of claim 1, a method for setting an operating point in such a current sensor with the features of claim 9 and a method for current measurement by means of such a current sensor with the features of claim 13.

In the current sensor according to the invention, forward and backward waves propagate on part of their route in two separate fiber segments, with at least one of these fiber segments being operatively connected to a means for phase shifting. The known phase modulators are suitable as such means. Thanks to the two segments, a back and forth wave was only influenced once by the same modulator. It is thus possible to use a quasi-static modulator to set the operating point in the

To push the quadrature point and also to compensate for non-current-induced fluctuations in the phase difference between two synchronized waves, for example caused by temperature changes. A modulator with a small frequency band, for example of approximately 5 Hz, is sufficient for this. Another advantage of the current sensor according to the invention is that the length of the polarization-maintaining fiber no longer has to be adapted to the modulation frequency, but can be selected arbitrarily. There is practically no lower limit for the length of the feed fiber, which in turn can save costs.

In a variant of the method according to the invention, not only temperature shifts and phase shifts induced by other influences are compensated quasi-statically, but also dynamic modulation is used, which takes place with a frequency corresponding to the alternating current to be measured. This can be done with the same modulator or with a second modulator. In the second case, the second modulator is preferably arranged in the other fiber branch.

Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 shows a fiber optic current sensor according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a graphic representation of an operating point setting in a quasi-static phase control; FIG. 3 shows a detector and a modulation unit of the current sensor according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention and

Figure 4 shows a detector of the current sensor according to the invention according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

FIG. 1 shows a fiber optic current sensor according to the invention with a reflection interferometer. A sensor fiber 1 is wound in a coil shape around a current conductor L. It preferably has a round core cross section and is preferably made of quartz glass. A first end of the sensor fiber 1 is connected to a fiber optic feed line 2. A second end is provided with a reflector 10. In general, the reflector 10 is formed by mirroring the second fiber end. The feed line 2 is at least partially birefringent and thus polarization-maintaining. It preferably has an elliptical core cross section to produce the birefringence. However, the use of a stress-induced birefringent fiber is possible. The connection of the feed line 2 to the sensor fiber 1 takes place via a phase delay element 3, a λ / 4 phase delay fiber segment preferably being used for this.

There is also a light source 4, the light of which is transmitted through the fibers. Particularly suitable as the light source are those with a small coherence length, in particular a superluminescent diode, a laser diode operated below the laser threshold, an LED or a broadband fiber light source. The sensor has a detector 5, which detects light propagated by the sensor fiber and brought to interference. This detector 5 is connected via detector signal lines 50 to a signal processor 6 which transmits the sensor signal via a sensor signal line 60 to evaluation electronics (not shown).

According to the invention, the feed line 2 has two polarization-maintaining fiber branches 20, 20 '. Fiber segments with an elliptical core are particularly suitable as fiber branches 20, 20 '. The fiber branches 20, 20 'have at least approximately the same optical length, that is to say they are the same within the coherence length of the light source 4. The optical path differences, which accumulate two modes or waves propagating in different fiber branches, are thus identical. The two fiber branches are connected in parallel and connected to one another in the region of their sensor-side ends via a polarization-maintaining coupler 8. In the preferred exemplary embodiment shown here, the coupler 8 is a fiber coupler with an elliptical core, its axes being arranged such that they lie parallel to the axes of the fiber branches 20, 20 '. However, it is also possible to use other types of couplers. The two fiber branches 20, 20 'are preferably connected to the coupler in such a way that the directions of the linear polarizations of the forward (branch 20) and the returning (branch 20') waves are mutually interchanged with respect to the fiber axes. An optical wave, which oscillates in the first branch 20 parallel to the long core axis, oscillates in the second branch 20 'parallel to the short axis and vice versa.

The first fiber branch, the feed branch 20, is operatively connected to the light source 4 at its other end. The second fiber branch, the detection branch 20 ', is operatively connected to the detector 5.

The feed branch 20 is connected to a polarizer 21 in the transition to the light source 4. The polarizer 21 is preferably directed such that its polarization directions lie at 45 ° to the main axes of the fiber branch 20. In this example, a fiber polarizer 21 is used, which over a 45 ° - Splice 21 'is connected to the feed branch 20, but the use of other polarizers is possible.

The fiber branches 20 also preferably have a decoherence element 22 of length 1. This decoherence element 22 generates a differential optical path difference in the forward-traveling waves propagating in the feed branch 20, which is longer than the coherence length of the light source 4. This prevents disruptive effects due to mode coupling in the means for phase shift 7,7 'described below. If a modulator is located in the branch 20 ', it is preferably arranged at least a distance of length 1 in front of the fiber end or the detector 5.

At least one of the two fiber branches 20, 20 'is operatively connected to a phase shift unit. The phase shift unit actually corresponds to the known phase modulation unit and essentially consists of the signal processor 6 described above and at least one phase modulator 7, 7 'connected to it via a modulation signal line 61. However, the at least one phase modulator 7, 7 'is not used in the known manner for modulating the phase difference, but rather serves as a means for the quasi-stationary phase shift. A piezo-electric modulator is preferably used as the phase modulator 7, part of the respective fiber branch 20, 20 'being wound around a piezo-electric body of the modulator 7. However, it is also possible to use other modulators, in particular an integrated-optical modulator, which is based on the electro-optical effect in a waveguide.

In a simplest embodiment, only one of the two fiber branches is

20, 20 'operatively connected to a phase modulator 7, the selection of the

Fiber branch is arbitrary. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, however, each fiber branch 20, 20 'is operatively connected to a phase modulator 7, 7'. The two phase modulators 7, 7 'are preferably connected to the same signal processor.

1 shows the polarizations of waves running back and forth in the current sensor according to the invention with narrow arrows. In addition, broad arrows indicate the direction of propagation of the waves. A forward-running optical wave, which is emitted by the light source 4, is linearly polarized in the polarizer 21 and is coupled via the 45 ° splice as two mutually orthogonal polarizations into the polarization-maintaining feed fiber 2, here in the feed branch 20. The two polarizations are also referred to below as two orthogonal linearly polarized waves. The decoherence element 22 of the feed fiber 2 has a coherence-damaging effect on the wave and generates in the two propagating orthogonal polarizations a differential optical path difference which is significantly longer than the coherence length of the light source 4. The length 1 of the decoherence element 21 must be chosen accordingly, where ΔL = 1 Δn _G should be met, with ΔL the path difference and Δn _G the group index difference which the two polarizations see.

The orthogonal polarizations of the forward-running wave pass through the area of influence of the first modulator 7 and pass through the coupler 8 and via a further polarization-maintaining fiber segment 23 of the feed line 2 to the phase delay element 3. Here, the orthogonally polarized waves are converted into two left and right circularly polarized waves, as shown in Figure 1. The circular waves pass through the sensor fiber 1, are reflected at the end of the coil 10, swap their polarization states, run back through the coil and are converted back into orthogonally linearly polarized waves in the λ / 4 retarder, the polarization of which is now perpendicular to the polarization of the corresponding waves Forward direction stands. The total differential phase difference of the leading and returning waves, in the event that the branches 20, 20 'have at least approximately the same optical length, is therefore zero at the fiber end on the detector side in the event that no current flows through the current conductor S and is not equal to zero, when a current flows. The returning waves are passed through the coupler 8 and the detector branch 20 ', brought to interference in the detector 5, and interference signals arising thereby are detected.

According to the invention, the differential phase of the orthogonal polarizations is checked by means of a quasi-stationary phase control and thus a suitable operating point is set. Such a quasi-stationary phase control is known from DA Jackson et al, "Elimination of drift in a single-mode optical fiber interferometer using a piezoelectrically stretched coiled fiber", Applied Optics, vol. 19, No. 17, 1980, where they is used in a fiber optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Quadrature point Q selected, that is, ΔΘ = ΔΘ _j + ΔΘ ₂ is chosen equal to * + mπ, where m is an integer. The setting of the operating point is shown in Figure 2. ΔΘ is the combined phase difference that the waves propagated by the current sensor have accumulated in the two separate fiber branches. ΔΘ, and ΔΘ ₂ are the

Phase differences in the two branches. In the event that the two fiber branches have the same optical length, in the de-energized state and owing to the reverse polarization, ΔΘ is equal to -ΔΘ ₂ .

In the sensor according to the invention, either phases of the orthogonal polarizations of the forward and / or the backward waves can be checked. According to the invention, the setting of the operating point, the control of the phase difference and the signal detection are carried out by dividing the forward and backward waves onto the two separate fiber branches 20, 20 '.

The detector 5 used for this and the modulation unit are described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3. The returning orthogonal, linearly polarized waves pass through the detection branch 20 'into the detector 5. This has a preferably polarization-insensitive beam splitter 51, which splits the light preferably in a ratio of 1: 1. Each of the two resulting pairs of orthogonal waves is brought to interference in a polarizer 52, which acts as an analyzer, and the resulting light I ₊ and I are each detected in a photodiode 53. The analyzers 52 are oriented at an angle of + 45 ° with respect to the fiber axes of the detection branch 20 ', specifically in such a way that their own transmission directions are perpendicular to one another. The following applies to the detected photodiode signals I ₊ and I_

I _± = I ₀ (l ± Kcos (ΔΦ + ΔΘ))

where I _{0 is} the light intensity in the quadrature point and K is the visibility of the interference fringes.

The difference between these two photodiode signals is formed in a subtraction element 62 of the signal processor 6 and fed to a quadrature control 64. This quadrature control 64 regulates the phase modulator (s) in such a way that the difference in the currentless state and without external influences is zero. In this case the quadrature point Q is reached. This regulation is carried out quasi-statically, that is, it is always regulated to the quadrature point, the voltage value in the event of any drift of the operating point or in the case of slow phase changes induced by external influences. shifts is adjusted. A quadrature control 64 with a small frequency bandwidth, for example of 5 Hz, is sufficient for this.

In a preferred variant of the method, however, the alternating phase modulation, which is caused by an alternating current to be measured in the current conductor S, is also additionally compensated. This requires a quadrature control with a larger bandwidth, for example of 100 Hz, which also compensates for the periodic fluctuations in the difference. This compensation is a dynamic, closed-loop control. In this case, the voltage generated by the ^" quadrature control and applied to the modulators 7, 7 'simultaneously serves as the output signal of the sensor.

It is possible that a single modulator is used for both quasi-static and dynamic control. In a preferred embodiment, however, there are two modulators 7, 7 ', one being used for the quasi-static and the other for the dynamic control.

If the current-induced phase modulation is not compensated, the signal processor also has an addition element 63 and a division element 65 for measuring the current flowing through the current conductor L. In the current-carrying state, the difference between the signals I ₊ I obtained at constant light intensity is proportional to the current. The sum of the two signals is proportional to the light intensity. By dividing the difference by the sum in the division element 65, the detection signal becomes 60

S = (l ₊ - I _) / (l ₊ + I_) = Ksin (ΔΦ) «KΔΦ, which is now independent of the light intensity I ₀ , but is proportional to the current I. FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the current sensor according to the invention, or its modulation unit. Here there are three at least approximately identical beam splitters 51, 51 ', 51 ". Each of the two reverse waves has thus experienced a reflection and a transmission in the beam splitters. This arrangement has the advantage that both waves have the same variations in the properties of the beam splitters experience which are caused by aging processes, temperature fluctuations and other external influences.

Thanks to the current sensor according to the invention, a detection signal can be obtained which is independent of the stability of the modulator and its modulation unit. Further variants of the above examples are possible. So instead of a coil-shaped sensor fiber, an integrated optical element can also be used as a coil-shaped optical sensor. The coil can consist of a single turn in the fiber optic as well as in the integrated optical design. Furthermore, a polarizing beam splitter can also be used instead of a polarization-insensitive beam splitter and the two analyzers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

conductor

Sensor fiber 0 reflector fiber optic feed line 0 first fiber branch 0 'second fiber branch 1 polarizer 2 delay loop 3 further polarization-maintaining fiber segment phase delay element light source detector 0 detector signal line 1 beam splitter 2 analyzer 3 photodiode signal processor 0 sensor signal line 1 modulation signal line 2 subtraction element 3 addition element 4 phase modulator control module

Claims

cLAIMS

1. Optical current sensor with a reflection interferometer, which has a fiber optic feed line (2) and a coil-shaped optical sensor (1), the sensor (1) being connected at a first end to the feed line (2) and at a second end to a reflector (10) is provided with at least one means for phase shifting (7, 7 ') a differential phase of two mutually orthogonally polarized optical waves propagating in the feed line and with a detector (5), characterized in that the feed line (2) maintains polarization has first fiber branch (20) for two forward-running mutually orthogonally polarized waves and a polarization-maintaining second fiber branch (20 ') for two backward-running mutually orthogonally polarized waves, the two fiber branches (20, 20') being connected to one another via a sensor-side coupler (8) and wherein the first fiber branch (20) with a light source (4) and the second fiber branch (20 ') are connected to the detector (5) and that the at least one phase shifting means (7) is operatively connected to one of these two fiber branches (20, 20').

2. Current sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the two fiber branches (20, 20 ') are connected with their fiber axes via the coupler (8) so that polarization directions of optical waves propagating in the two branches are mutually interchanged with respect to the fiber axes ,

3. Current sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the two fiber branches (20, 20 ') have at least approximately the same optical length.

4. Current sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one means for phase shifting (7) and the detector (5) are connected to a signal processor (6) which has a means (62, 64) for quadrature control and compensation of a quasi has static phase shift.

5. Current sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one means for phase shifting (7) and the detector (5) are connected to a signal processor (6) which has a means (62, 64) for compensating one of one to be measured Alternating current induced phase shift.

6. Current sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that two means for phase shifting (7,7 ') are present, each being assigned to a different fiber branch (20,20').

7. Current sensor according to claims 4-6, characterized in that both phase shifting means (7, 7 ') are connected to the same signal processor (6).

8. Current sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector (5) has three beam splitters (51, 51 ', 51 "), which are arranged in such a way that each of the reverse waves experiences reflection and transmission through the beam splitters.

9. A method for setting an operating point in an optical current sensor with a reflection interferometer according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the current sensor has two fiber branches (20, 20 '), characterized in that in one of the two fiber branches (20) running forward orthogonal to each other Propagate linearly polarized waves and backward, orthogonally linearly polarized waves in the other fiber branch (20 ') and that a shift of the phases of the waves propagating therein is regulated in at least one fiber branch (20,20').

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the working point is set quasi-statically to the quadrature point.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the operating point is set to the quadrature point and periodic phase shifts caused by the current to be measured are compensated.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the backward mutually orthogonally linearly polarized wave pair is divided into two wave pairs and each resulting wave pair is brought to interference in an analyzer, the transmission directions of the analyzers are at 90 ° to each other that two obtained Interference signals are detected, that a difference of the interference signals is formed and that the difference is regulated to zero.

13. A method for current measurement by means of an optical current sensor with a reflection configuration according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the current sensor has two fiber branches (20, 20 '), characterized in that that in one of the two fiber branches (20) forward orthogonally linearly polarized waves and in the other fiber branch (20 ') backward, orthogonally linearly polarized waves propagate that in at least one fiber branch (20,20') a difference in the phases of the propagating therein Waves is regulated that the backward mutually orthogonally linearly polarized wave pair is divided into two wave pairs and each resulting wave pair is brought to interference in an analyzer, the transmission directions of the analyzers being at 90 ° to each other, that two received interference signals are detected, that a sum and a difference in

Interference signals are formed and that the difference is divided by the sum in order to obtain a signal which is at least approximately proportional to the current to be measured.