6
Ubiquitous
Low-Cost Wireless Sensors for
Dr. Jeffrey A.
Brogan,
Mr. Richard J.
Gambino, Business Official, rgambino@mesoscribe.com
DOE Grant No.
DE-FG02-05ER84150
Amount: $99,959
The
operation and control of power lines is of strategic importance to the electric
utility sector and to the nation as a whole.
Power grids are complex networks of distribution cables, which are
fairly remotely located, and are also susceptible to environmental and man-made
events; therefore, their monitoring infrastructure must be reliable and
effective. Furthermore, when energy
demands reach near peak capacity, efficient delivery of electricity is
crucial. This project will develop power
line sensors and a passive wireless
sensor system to monitor the conductor current and conductor temperature of
electrical power lines. The sensors will
be low cost, able to survive harsh environments, and deployable without
interruption of power service. The state
of the sensor can be remotely interrogated and the conductor performance can be
continuously monitored. Phase I will
design and fabricate passive wireless sensors suitable for power-line
monitoring. The sensors will consist of
planar inductors and multi-layer capacitors to measure conductor current and
conductor temperature. Phase II will
involve magnetic and electric characterization, laboratory testing, signal
conditioning, and wireless radio frequency (RF) interrogation. Field testing
with a local utility will take place during Phase II.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The use of sensors to monitor transmission and distribution systems, with data efficiently retrieved on local system components, will increase reliability and power quality. The system should allow for the correction of problems in the transmission and distribution system before they occur, through continuous monitoring of system status.