Fiber-Optic Current Transformer for the Over Current Protection Relay

A robust, accurate, broad-band, alternating current sensor using fiber-optics is being developed as a part of optical over current protection relay system. The sensor uses the Faraday effect in optical fiber and polarimetric measurements TC sense electrical current. The current sensing coil consists of a length of twisted optical fiber and Faraday rotator mirror to suppress the linear birefringence effect. Due to its single-ended closed path structure, it can not only be easily installed to the target with great isolation from other fields in the vicinity, but the sensitivity can be increased by using multiple turns. This paper reports on the theoretical backgrounds of the sensor design and the preliminary experimental results