Cable monitoring
OSSCAD helps you to prepare your power grid for the future demands for Smart Grids and to allow an economic use of the existing cable systems with growing dynamical charges. Our software can calculate not only the "classic" determination of hotspots but also the load reserves in real time for each current load, in order to adjust and optimize the electrical load during operation of the cable system.

Requirements of modern power grids
The demands on power grids of the electrical utilities and grid operators are increasing. Business and politics demand more network security, transparency and improved infrastructure. Operators should invest, the cost pressure grows. Even a network that is exhausted to the limit must not fail - despite the high cable density, despite the difficult cable routes.
The topmost goal in the operation of energy networks is the supply security. The rapidly expanding share of renewable energies leads to an increase of feed-in points and thus to constantly increasing requirements.
Targets of the management of cable systems
- High system security and operational safety
- High disposability
- High system efficiency
- Proof of a regular grid operation in case of a damage
Advantages of cable monitoring systems
Our innovative and economic RTTR cable monitoring offers the following solutions:
- Localisation and visualisation of hotspots along the cable route
- Calculation of the current conductor temperature
- Determination of the load reserves for the purpose of load adaptation and load optimisation of the cable system

System components of the cable monitoring system
The cable monitoring system is assembled of a temperature measuring device (Distributed Temperature System - DTS), a RTTR calculation and visualization software, a current interface for reading-in the current data, an optical fibre as a spatially distributed temperature sensor as well as network interfaces for data communication.

Example showing the set-up of a cable monitoring system

Installation in a 19'' cabinet (example)
- Server with monitor, keyboard, RTTR calculation and visualisation software etc.
- DTS measuring device
- Current interface (e.g., according to IEC60870-5-104)
- Network interface (Ethernet)
- Accessories (USV, LWL case, Switch etc.)
The specifications of the system components are based on the project-specific requirements of the cable system.
RTTR (Real Time Thermal Rating) Software
The Real Time Thermal Rating (RTTR) software allows the calculation of conductor temperature and electrical load reserves for steady state (continuous load), dynamic operation and pulse load operation of the cable route.
The laying conditions of the cable system required for the RTTR calculation, such as the laying depth of the cable, thermal conductivities of the local cable environments, cable layout, grounding, etc., as well as the operating conditions, such as: operating voltage, operating frequency, maximum permissible conductor current of the power cable are stored and are available as system-specific module.
The RTTR software consists of two software modules.

VISCOM Power Cable
The VISCOM Power Cable Software (module 1) enables the user to visualize the current and temperature measuring data as well as the calculated RTTR data in an application-oriented way.

VISCOM Analyzer
The VISCOM Analyzer (module 2) is used for the representation of the local and temporary measuring data for longer periods. With this software, the data can be specifically analysed and compared. Besides, the period of the data to be looked for can be freely chosen.
Fibre glass as a spatially distributed temperature sensor
The DTS measuring device measures the fibre-optic back-scattered, temperature-dependent Raman light in form of an optical radar, enabling spatially resolved temperature measurement and a very long range with high accuracy. Due to the technical advantages of the optical fibre, it is particularly predestined for a use in power engineering.
Advantages of the fibre glass
- Immune to electromagnetic fields
- Failure-safe measurement
- Small dimensions
- Galvanic separation
- Passive sensor without wear


Installation of the optical fibre
When laying energy cables in line, the optical fibre can be integrated into a stainless-steel tube and installed in the shield area of the cable. Alternatively, a fibre optic sensor cable can be fixed to the sheath of the cable. In the triangular arrangement, the installation of the optical fibre sensor cable is preferred in the inner area of the three cables.
Our offer
- System integration
- Sales of system components
- RTTR modelling
- Turn-key delivery
Our service
- Project support
- Commissioning
- Training
- Maintenance and service
- Technical support
More information about cable monitoring
Get in touch with us
We are happy to give you more information
Any questions? Get in touch with us. Our employees are happy to give you more information.
+49 2204 / 84 – 2770
info@osscad.de
Customer area
OSSCAD Beteiligungen GmbH, Rheinisch Bergisches Technologie Zentrum (House 08), Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 75, 51429 Bergisch Gladbach, Germany