A Sensor for Multi-Point Temperature Monitoring in Underground Power Cables

Abstract

Underground electrical conductors, both medium-and high-voltage, play a crucial role in energy infrastructure. However, they present a maintenance challenge due to their difficult access. Unlike overhead installations, these cables remain hidden, making it harder to obtain key parameters, such as their temperature or structural condition, in a simple manner. Current temperature measurement methods, including fiber-optic-based systems (DTS and LTS), involve high costs that limit their feasibility in medium-voltage networks, where more economically accessible alternatives are required. This study introduces an alternative system for monitoring the temperature of underground cables using NTC thermistors. Its design allows for reducing the number of connection conductors for sensors to just four regardless of the number of measurement points. The implemented measurement technique is based on the sequential activation of sensors and the integration of the recorded current to achieve an accurate thermal assessment. The tests conducted validate that this proposal represents an efficient, cost-effective, and highly scalable solution for implementation in electrical distribution networks.