4,876 research outputs found

    Monitoring and Fault Location Sensor Network for Underground Distribution Lines

    Get PDF
    One of the fundamental tasks of electric distribution utilities is guaranteeing a continuous supply of electricity to their customers. The primary distribution network is a critical part of these facilities because a fault in it could affect thousands of customers. However, the complexity of this network has been increased with the irruption of distributed generation, typical in a Smart Grid and which has significantly complicated some of the analyses, making it impossible to apply traditional techniques. This problem is intensified in underground lines where access is limited. As a possible solution, this paper proposes to make a deployment of a distributed sensor network along the power lines. This network proposes taking advantage of its distributed character to support new approaches of these analyses. In this sense, this paper describes the aquiculture of the proposed network (adapted to the power grid) based on nodes that use power line communication and energy harvesting techniques. In this sense, it also describes the implementation of a real prototype that has been used in some experiments to validate this technological adaptation. Additionally, beyond a simple use for monitoring, this paper also proposes the use of this approach to solve two typical distribution system operator problems, such as: fault location and failure forecasting in power cables.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Government of Spain project Sistema Inteligente Inalámbrico para Análisis y Monitorización de Líneas de Tensión Subterráneas en Smart Grids (SIIAM) TEC2013-40767-RMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Government of Spain, for the funding of the scholarship Formación de Profesorado Universitario 2016 (FPU 2016

    A novel inductive electromagnetic energy harvester for condition monitoring sensors

    Get PDF
    As the operation of electrical power networks becomes increasingly sophisticated, the role of condition monitoring is expanding. The burden of implementing additional condition monitoring will be eased if self-powered, fully autonomous sensors can be used to reduce installation and maintenance costs. Changing batteries is inconvenient and standard mains power is often not available where sensors are needed. Existing commercial inductive harvesters to power sensors must be fitted around high voltage transmission lines, which requires either a power outage or live line installation. In this paper, an alternative harvester is presented which can be installed at any location where there is sufficient magnetic field. Magnetic flux densities within a cable tunnel are considered, from which a suitable target is defined for the magnetic flux density range over which the harvester must provide power to the sensor. optimisation of output power per unit volume limits cost and allows placement of sensors in locations with restricted space. Coil parameters to achieve high output power per unit volume are discussed and experimental results are presented that demonstrate effective energy harvesting. A coil design for a typical cable tunnel is proposed

    Contactless measurement of electric current using magnetic sensors

    Get PDF
    We review recent advances in magnetic sensors for DC/AC current transducers, especially novel AMR sensors and integrated fluxgates, and we make critical comparison of their properties. Most contactless electric current transducers use magnetic cores to concentrate the flux generated by the measured current and to shield the sensor against external magnetic fields. In order to achieve this, the magnetic core should be massive. We present coreless current transducers which are lightweight, linear and free of hysteresis and remanence. We also show how to suppress their weak point: crosstalk from external currents and magnetic fields

    Energy harvesting methods for transmission lines: a comprehensive review

    Get PDF
    Humanity faces important challenges concerning the optimal use, security, and availability of energy systems, particularly electrical power systems and transmission lines. In this context, data-driven predictive maintenance plans make it possible to increase the safety, stability, reliability, and availability of electrical power systems. In contrast, strategies such as dynamic line rating (DLR) make it possible to optimize the use of power lines. However, these approaches require developing monitoring plans based on acquiring electrical data in real-time using different types of wireless sensors placed in strategic locations. Due to the specific conditions of the transmission lines, e.g., high electric and magnetic fields, this a challenging problem, aggravated by the harsh outdoor environments where power lines are built. Such sensors must also incorporate an energy harvesting (EH) unit that supplies the necessary electronics. Therefore, the EH unit plays a key role, so when designing such electronic systems, care must be taken to select the most suitable EH technology, which is currently evolving rapidly. This work reviews and analyzes the state-of-the-art technology for EH focused on transmission lines, as it is an area with enormous potential for expansion. In addition to recent advances, it also discusses the research needs and challenges that need to be addressed. Despite the importance of this topic, there is still much to investigate, as this area is still in its infancy. Although EH systems for transmission lines are reviewed, many other applications could potentially benefit from introducing wireless sensors with EH capabilities, such as power transformers, distribution switches, or low- and medium-voltage power lines, among others.This research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España, grant number PID2020-114240RB-I00 and by the Generalitat de Catalunya, grant number 2017 SGR 967.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

    Power supply based on inductive harvesting from structural currents

    Get PDF
    Monitoring infrastructure offers functional optimisation, lower maintenance cost, security, stability and data analysis benefits. Sensor nodes require some level of energy autonomy for reliable and cost-effective operation, and energy harvesting methods have been developed in the last two decades for this purpose. Here, a power supply that collects, stores and delivers regulated power from the stray magnetic field of currentcarrying structures is presented. In cm-scale structures the skin effect concentrates current at edges at frequencies even below 1 kHz. A coil-core inductive transducer is designed. A fluxfunnelling soft magnetic core shape is used, multiplying power density by the square of funnelling ratio. A power management circuit combining reactance cancellation, voltage doubling, rectification, super-capacitor storage and switched inductor voltage boosting and regulation is introduced. The power supply is characterised in house and on a full-size industrial setup, demonstrating a power reception density of 0.36 mW/cm3, 0.54 mW/cm3 and 0.73 mW/cm3 from a 25 A RMS structural current at 360 Hz, 500 Hz and 800 Hz respectively, corresponding to the frequency range of aircraft currents. The regulated output is tested under various loads and cold starting is demonstrated. The introduced method may enable power autonomy to wireless sensors deployed in current-carrying infrastructure

    Design And Implementation Of Electrical Transmission Line Monitoring And Controlling System

    Get PDF
    As the electric transmission line is spread widely at long distance location is become difficult to monitor, control the power supply in the transmission line. Physical inspection at every location and troubleshooting is not feasible. Same problem is still facing at traffic monitor and control units as every square which are currently controlled manually by operator. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) provides access over remote location with centralized monitoring and controlling on different channels so it can be utilized for electric transmission line monitoring. While the WSNs are capable of cost efficient monitoring over vast geo-locations, several technical challenges exist. To overcome these problems in regional areas proposed system is designed to monitor and control the electric transmission line using WSN. Here we are building a wireless node which can centrally monitor and controlled through base station or the wireless cluster head. A centralized server will be responsible to see the electric poll status and control the poll activities to enable or disable power in particular area. As it is not feasible to monitor the central server full time, So the proposed system is designed to have emergency alert system for remote user with the help of a GSM modem will be connected to the central server which will send the emergency alert SMS to administrator and user. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.150712

    Embedded intelligence for electrical network operation and control

    Get PDF
    Integrating multiple types of intelligent, mulitagent data analysis within a smart grid can pave the way for flexible, extensible, and robust solutions to power network management

    Continuous Monitoring of Transmission Lines Sag through Angular Measurements Performed with Wireless Sensors

    Get PDF
    High voltage transmission lines are crucial infrastructure that are demanded to supply an increasing request of electric energy. In the design and operations stages, sag represents a key parameter which must respect specific constraints. Therefore, sag continuous monitoring is becoming essential to guarantee the correct functioning of the line and to optimize the current flow. Different solutions have been proposed in literature, but they are still lacking efficiency and reliability to be used during operations. In this work, a simple and efficient method, based on conductor parabolic approximation, is developed and used to compute the sag through the measurement of the conductor slope in proximity of the span extremities. The angular measurements are obtained using wireless sensors equipped with MEMS accelerometers developed by authors and employed for HVTL conductor vibration monitoring. The proposed method and its implementation in the monitoring system was tested in a laboratory environment on a real conductor. The values of sag at different tensile loads have been obtained and compared to the measured ones, with satisfactory results according to the accelerometer resolution. The solution developed therefore represents a complete and innovative tool to be adopted in the field to monitor, in real time, both the sag and the level of vibration due to the wind action, allowing to increase the performance reliability of HVTL
    corecore