Overhead power line monitoring method and sensors

A method for monitoring an overhead line in which an operating state of the overhead line is characterized through measurements, in order to keep the operating state of the overhead line in a permissible range depending on weather-related influences by regulating an energy supply into the overhead line, and to simultaneously maximize an energy utilization of the overhead line within the permissible range of the operating state, the method comprising:

• generating evaluable measured variables based on wind speeds (vi) at a plurality of measurement points (i=1 . . . n) along the overhead line, including converting wind energy at a measurement point (i) into a rotational movement of a rotor of a measuring transducer, wherein an angular velocity (ωi) of the rotational movement is proportional to a wind speed (vi), and
• converting the rotational movement into a periodic, local deformation of at least one fiber optic cable (3) running parallel to the overhead line at the measurement point (i), wherein a deformation frequency (fi) of the periodic, local deformation is proportional to the angular velocity (ωi) of the rotational movement;
• calculating the wind speeds (vi) at the plurality of measurement points by evaluating periodic changes in a signal attenuation, caused by the periodic, local deformation, in the at least one fiber optic cable (3) using proportionality factors between the wind speeds (vi) and the angular velocities (ωi) and between the angular velocities (ωi) and the deformation frequencies (fi);
• and
• assessing the operating state of the overhead line based on the wind speeds (vi).