Smart Grid: LumaSense Acquisition of Opsens Fiber Optic Sensing Technology Yields Better Transformer Reliability - Smart Grid News

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LumaSense Acquisition of Opsens Fiber Optic Sensing Technology Yields Better Transformer Reliability
By SGN Staff
Aug 17, 2010 - 1:49:23 PM

Temperature and gas sensing solutions provider LumaSense Technologies has acquired fiber optic sensing technology from Canada's Opsens Inc. The acquisition of Opsens' PowerSens temperature measurement technology gives LumaSense a broader fiber optics portfolio designed to help utilities and transformer manufacturers enhance transformer reliability, including distribution units. The fiber optic temperature technology is used to measure hot spots in transformer windings in large transformers as well as smaller units. The technology directly measures transformer winding temperatures instead of attempting to simulate or calculate them.

Quick Take: This looks like plus for Smart Grid asset management. It makes sense that the ability to directly measure temperatures with probes, as is the case with LumaSense technology, would be less prone to error than more conventional simulation or calculation methods.