Design Of An Optical Fiber System For Distribution Utilization During Emergency Situation

• Main Author: Ahmed Ibrahim Bin Ahmed
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Power Over Fiber; Multimode Fiber; Wavelength

Electricity is conventionally distributed using copper-based cable. However, due to the deployment of Internet of Things (IoTs) sensor nodes and other requirements such as during occurrences of natural disaster, copper-based cable may be proven to be incapable in transmitting or distributing power efficiently in a cost-effective manner. Therefore, this research project aims at demonstrating a power distribution system over an optical fiber network in the short-haul distance. Fiber optic power distribution system consists of three main components which are the optical transmitter, fiber optic cable, and an optical receiver. The optical transmitter module converts electrical power to optical power; the fiber optic cable carries the optical power from the optical transmitter to the optical receiver; and the optical receiver reconverts the optical power to electrical power. In this work, a 980nm laser diode with 1W maximum output power was used as an electrical to optical conversion module. Moreover, a 300m multimode fiber optic cable was used to transmit light from the transmitter to the receiver. Lastly, a photovoltaic power converter acted as an optical to electrical conversion module. The maximum efficiency obtained for the full system was 12% at 450mA of laser driving current. The obtained results clearly demonstrated that as the laser driving current increases from 50mA to 450mA, the overall efficiency of the system increases. The prototype was successfully designed with a low power output; all the important parameters that affect the efficiency of power over fiber technology are identified and the design considerations were stated and considered. This prototype can be utilized to power up IoT devices. Moreover, this technology can be implemented as a backup supply where there is physical damage or limitation of the power system during the natural disasters which lead to a power cut