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Novel, Low-Cost,
Non-Contact, High Accuracy Sensor for the Simultaneous, Reliable, Real-Time
Determination and Monitoring of HV Transmission Line Sag, Temperature, Current,
and Ampacity—
Mr. Steven J.
Syracuse,
Mr. Steven J.
Syracuse, Business Official, sjsyracuse@yahoo.com
DOE Grant No.
DE-FG02-05ER84159
Amount: $100,000
Demand
for electriciy has grown significantly faster than the transmission system's
capability to deliver it reliably. As a
result, the system is being operated in a manner for which it was not designed;
bottlenecks and congestion, blackouts, equipment damage, and system
disturbances are becoming widespread, and are occurring with ever increasing
frequency, duration, extent, and economic effect. The low-cost monitoring of congested circuits
would improve reliability, enhance transmission capacity, relieve congestion,
reduce costs to consumers, increase efficiency, and decrease operational
risks. However, existing real-time
monitoring and dynamic rating systems for transmission circuits have total
installed costs that significantly exceed $100,000, impeding the benefits of
these technologies. This project will
develop a simple, reliable, low cost, non-contact overhead transmission line
sensor that will monitor phase conductor sag, temperature, ampacity, and phase
current, in real-time, with high accuracy/resolution. Phase I will engineer, prototype,
mathematically model, deliver, and extensively field-test a low cost,
non-contact sensor for the above measurments. The characteristics, performance, and behavior
of the device will be compared to the underlying electromagnetic theory. Operating specifications, performance, and the
manufactured cost of the device will be determined. Also, a preliminary set of engineering and
operating specifications for a low-cost, reliable, readily scaleable wireless
sensor communications network will be developed.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new sensor should allow low-cost, real-time monitoring and allieviation of congested paths, and will enable widespread implementation of dynamic rating. The key benefits to the public will be an increased reliability of electric power delivery and supply, and reduced electricity prices.