Research and development of the smart telemonitor system for power cable tunnel

In China, the length of power cable tunnel exceeds 13,500 km and more than 80% of power cable lines rated voltage from 110 kV up to 500 kV were installed in the tunnel. Research and development of the smart telemonitor system for controlling and managing power cable tunnel in real time is emergency and necessary because the HV and EHV cable lines are so important for main power network. The smart telemonitor system, which has been put into operation in Beijing Power Corporation since 2007, was integrated in Command Center, and it has four representative characters, i.e. information or data transmission, command exchange and intelligent telecontrol in real time as well as grade interactive management. This smart system is designed for monitoring and controlling status of the power cable tunnel in real time based on sensors, cameras, optic-fiber and computer. The tunnel status includes cable surface temperature, air temperature of tunnel or fire or smoke, concentration of harmful gas, ground water level, cable partial discharge, manhole covers, person entering, lighting and ventilating, etc.. The principle and framework of this smart telemonitor system are described and discussed in this paper and its functions may be extended and improved continuously according to new requirements.