Distributed Temperature Sensing: Review of Technology and Applications

TL;DR

This paper reviews the evolution, technologies, and diverse applications of distributed temperature sensing systems based on optical fibers, highlighting recent advancements and industry comparisons.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of DTS technologies, applications, standards, and manufacturers, summarizing recent developments and trends in the field.

Findings

Technological improvements have enhanced measurement accuracy and range.

DTS applications now include smart grids and power systems.

Multiple sensing principles like Rayleigh, Raman, and Brillouin are used.

Abstract

Distributed temperature sensors (DTS) measure temperatures by means of optical fibers. Those optoelectronic devices provide a continuous profile of the temperature distribution along the cable. Initiated in the 1980s, DTS systems have undergone significant improvements in the technology and the application scenario over the last decades. The main measuring principles are based on detecting the back-scattering of light, e.g., detecting via Rayleigh, Raman, Brillouin principles. The application domains span from traditional applications in the distributed temperature or strain sensing in the cables, to the latest smart grid initiative in the power systems, etc. In this paper, we present comparative reviews of the different DTS technologies, different applications, standard and upcoming, different manufacturers.