Synaptec Distributed Electrical Sensing

Passive fibre-optic sensing for wide-area grid protection and monitoring.

Overview

Synaptec distributed electrical sensing is a completely passive way to measure current, voltage and temperature along power networks, using optical fibre that is often already installed with the lines and cables. Raptronics supplies Synaptec to utilities and network operators who need measurements in places where installing conventional instrumentation is impractical.

Conventional measurement points need a power supply, a communications link and usually some civil works at every location. Along a long line or cable route, that adds up quickly, so most networks are only measured at the substations at each end. Synaptec sensors need none of those things at the measurement location.

The sensors can be placed at many points up to 60 km from the substation, feeding wide-area protection, cable condition monitoring and analytics for digital substations.

Specifications

Sensing principle
Passive, optical fibre based
Measurands
Current, voltage and temperature
Distance from substation
Up to 60 km
Power at sensor location
None required
Data network at sensor location
None required

Types

  • Current sensing

    Measuring current at points along a line or cable allows faults to be located to a specific section and supports protection schemes that compare current at several points.

  • Voltage sensing

    Voltage measurements away from the substation give operators a clearer picture of the network, which supports protection and analytics.

  • Temperature sensing

    Temperature measurements along cable routes and at joints support condition monitoring and help operators understand how hard an asset is really working.

Applications

  • Wide-area protection

    Protection schemes that use measurements from many points along a circuit, for example on mixed overhead and underground lines where conventional schemes struggle to tell which section has faulted.

  • Cable & line monitoring

    Monitoring long cable and line routes for condition, loading and faults without building powered measurement stations along the route.

  • Digital substations

    Bringing measurements from beyond the substation fence into digital substation systems and analytics.

Applicable standards

We carry the applicable standards for your voltage class. Please reach out with your inquiries for more details.

Lead time

We offer very competitive lead times. Reach out and share your forecast with us in advance, and we can guarantee your requested lead time is met.

Frequently asked questions

Do Synaptec sensors need a power supply at the measurement point?

No. The sensing is completely passive. There is no power supply, data network or civil works needed at the measurement location.

How far from the substation can sensors be placed?

Sensors can be placed at many points up to 60 km from the substation.

What problems is distributed sensing best suited to?

Locating and protecting faults on long or mixed overhead and underground circuits, monitoring cable condition, and bringing measurements from outside the substation into protection and analytics.

Who supplies Synaptec?

Raptronics supplies Synaptec as the manufacturers' representative, supporting application review, quotation and project coordination.

How does distributed sensing help on mixed overhead and underground circuits?

On a circuit that changes between overhead line and underground cable, a fault in the cable section often needs a different response from a fault on the overhead section, such as blocking auto-reclose. Measurements at the transition points let the protection tell the two apart quickly, without relying only on what can be seen from the substations at each end.

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