A Review of Fiber-Optic Sensing Technologies for Condition Monitoring of Power Equipment

Abstract

Fiber-optic sensing technologies provide promising solutions for condition monitoring of power equipment because of their immunity to electromagnetic interference, compact size, high sensitivity, and capability for multiplexed or distributed measurement. This paper reviews recent fiber-optic sensing techniques for power equipment monitoring and classifies them into three categories: Fiber Bragg Grating sensing, fiber-optic interferometric sensing, and Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing. Their sensing principles, representative applications, and practical characteristics are summarized. Current challenges related to multi-parameter cross-sensitivity, long-term stability, engineering deployment, and intelligent condition interpretation are further discussed. Finally, future research directions toward reliable multi-physical sensing, robust field deployment, and intelligent fault diagnosis are outlined. The comparison indicates that different fiber-optic sensing technologies exhibit complementary advantages for localized, high-sensitivity, and large-scale condition monitoring applications, providing insights into the development of reliable and intelligent fiber-optic sensing solutions for future power equipment monitoring.