Systems and methods for distributed sensing of a powerline conductor

1. A system comprising:

a signal transmitter comprising:

a light signal generator that generates a light signal suitable for measuring light scattering of an optical fiber, wherein a fiber optic cable mechanically coupled to, and aligned with, a powerline conductor comprises the optical fiber; and

an optical coupler that couples the light signal onto the optical fiber at a first location along the fiber optic cable and the powerline conductor for propagation in the optical fiber in a first direction;

a signal receiver comprising a light signal receiver that receives, via the optical coupler, backscattered light at the first location along the fiber optic cable and the powerline conductor, wherein the backscattered light is produced by the light signal; and

an analysis subsystem that

monitors at least one characteristic of the backscattered light over time to detect a failure of the powerline conductor affecting the fiber optic cable along a portion of the powerline conductor extending from the first location in the first direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the signal transmitter further comprises:

a radio frequency generator that generates a first radio frequency electromagnetic signal; and

a first transducer that converts the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal to a first surface wave mode signal imposed onto the powerline conductor at the first location in the first direction toward a second location along the powerline conductor;

the signal receiver further comprises:

a second transducer located at the second location along the powerline conductor that converts the first surface wave mode signal into a second radio frequency electromagnetic signal; and

the analysis subsystem monitors a signal strength of the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

at least one of the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal or the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal comprises a transverse electromagnetic mode signal; and

the first surface wave mode signal comprises a transverse magnetic mode signal.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises:

a first device at the first location and comprising the radio frequency generator and the first transducer; and

a second device at the second location and comprising the second transducer.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:

at least one of the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal or the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal comprises a carrier frequency for a wireless local area network; and

the first device transmits data to the second device using the carrier frequency for the wireless local area network.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the analysis subsystem determines a received signal strength indication associated with the wireless local area network to monitor the signal strength of the second radio frequency electromagnetic signal.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first device further comprises:

a detection circuit that detects a characteristic of power carried on the powerline conductor; and

a communication timing circuit that causes the first surface wave mode signal to be imposed onto the powerline conductor according to a timing that is based on the characteristic of power carried on the powerline conductor.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the characteristic of power carried on the powerline conductor detected by the detection circuit comprises a zero-crossing of a voltage carried on the powerline conductor.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein:

the first device further comprises:

a third transducer that converts the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal to a second surface wave mode signal imposed onto the powerline conductor at the first location in a second direction opposite the first direction along the powerline conductor;

the system further comprises a third device that is located at a third location in the second direction from the first location and that comprises:

a fourth transducer that converts the second surface wave mode signal into a third radio frequency electromagnetic signal; and

the analysis subsystem monitors a signal strength of the third radio frequency electromagnetic signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the third location.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first device further comprises a radio frequency switch that directs the first radio frequency electromagnetic signal to at least one of:

the first transducer; or

the third transducer.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a clamping device that mechanically couples the fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor, wherein the clamping device comprises:

the light signal generator;

the optical coupler; and

the light signal receiver.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis subsystem also determines an approximate location of the failure of the powerline conductor affecting the fiber optic cable along the portion of the powerline conductor.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis subsystem comprises an optical time-domain reflectometry subsystem to detect the at least one characteristic of the backscattered light.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the backscattered light comprises a time delay between the generating of the light signal and the receiving of the backscattered light.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the backscattered light comprises a wavelength shift between the light signal and the backscattered light.

16. A method comprising:

generating a light signal suitable for measuring light scattering of an optical fiber, wherein a fiber optic cable mechanically coupled to, and aligned with, a powerline conductor comprises the optical fiber;

coupling the light signal onto the optical fiber at a first location along the fiber optic cable and the powerline conductor for propagation in the optical fiber in a first direction;

receiving backscattered light at the first location along the fiber optic cable and the powerline conductor, wherein the backscattered light is produced by the light signal; and

monitoring at least one characteristic of the backscattered light over time to detect a failure of the powerline conductor affecting the fiber optic cable along a portion of the powerline conductor extending from the first location in the first direction.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising

transmitting a surface wave mode signal imposed on the powerline conductor at the first location along the powerline conductor toward a second location along the powerline conductor;

receiving at least a portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal at the second location along the powerline conductor; and

monitoring at least one characteristic of the received surface wave mode signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location.

18. A method comprising:

installing at least one device onto a fiber optic cable mechanically coupled to, and aligned with, a powerline conductor, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises an optical fiber, and wherein the at least one device:

generates a light signal suitable for measuring light scattering of the optical fiber;

couples the light signal onto the optical fiber at a first location along the fiber optic cable and the powerline conductor for propagation in the optical fiber in a first direction; and

receives backscattered light at the first location along the fiber optic cable and the powerline conductor, wherein the backscattered light is produced by the light signal; and

providing an analysis subsystem, communicatively coupled to the at least one device, that

monitors at least one characteristic of the backscattered light over time to detect a failure of the powerline conductor affecting the fiber optic cable along a portion of the powerline conductor extending from the first location in the first direction.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the at least one device:

transmits a surface wave mode signal imposed on the powerline conductor at the first location along the powerline conductor toward a second location along the powerline conductor; and

receives at least a portion of the transmitted surface wave mode signal at the second location along the powerline conductor; and

the analysis subsystem monitors at least one characteristic of the received surface wave mode signal over time to determine whether a physical encroachment of the powerline conductor exists between the first location and the second location.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one cable clamp that mechanically couples the fiber optic cable to the powerline conductor comprises one or more of the at least one device.