A method for monitoring the operating conditions of an
electric generator including the entire
stator core and all winding components for conditions of mechanical strain and temperature throughout the
machine by means of distributive
fiber optic sensors based on both Rayleigh back scattering techniques and Brillouin
frequency shift fiber optic sensor analysis both of which do not have the gaps and limitations associated with standard
fiber Bragg
grating fiber optic point sensors, by virtue of the fact that both Rayleigh and Brillouin scans and allow accurate strain and temperature determinations at all points along standard fiber optic cables of considerable length, approximately two kilometers in the case of the Brillouin, which effectively yields many tens of thousands of sensors throughout the entire standard fiber optic cable. Raman distributive
temperature sensing also has a limited application. Single mode and polarizing maintaining fibers can both be analyzed and read with any Rayleigh or Brillouin distributive
fiber optic sensor laser system allowing great flexibility in sensor spatial resolution, total sensed length, resolution and other factors not possible with conventional fiber Bragg gratings. A sealed fiber collection box located outside the
electric generator permits enhanced reliability and reconfiguration into any number of desirable fiber layouts necessary for specific static and dynamic measurements in an optimal manner.