A monitoring system includes one or more monitoring devices, positioned in sewer manholes, storm drains, etc., and a remote monitoring station that communicates wirelessly therewith. The monitoring device may be an integrated unit, including sensors, a two-way telemetry unit, a power supply, a processor, and supporting hardware, all located in an enclosed, waterproof housing. The monitoring device is placed within a manhole cavity to obtain depth (e.g., water level) measurements, images, and other data, and report the measurements back to the remote monitoring station, which analyzes the data and responds to alert messages when a dangerous water level is detected. An additional sensor may monitor the manhole cover for security purposes. A distributed mesh network of wireless nodes may be used to relay communications from the monitoring devices along alternative paths, through bridge nodes that may connect to a public wireless or cellular network.

Monitoring system and method

Systems and methods are disclosed for using 802.11 based wireless protocols in various energy management applications wherein a host controller uses various types of communication networks to distribute information to an on-premise processor that in turn uses 802.11 based wireless protocols to communicate with various types of end devices, such as utility meters. Various forms of communication are defined between the end device, the on-premise processor, and the energy management host for accomplishing power load control, including determining when to activate or deactivate a load, requesting permission to activate a load, reading usage data, activating or deactivating a meter, and determining rate schedules. A flexible scheme allows control to be shifted to be resident in various entities. The architecture is applicable not only for power load control, but other control type and metering devices.

Systems and methods for remote power management using 802.11 wireless protocols

A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means f sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. T system comprises a housing (10) with sensor for monitoring environmental prararreter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontrol (12) in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module (13), which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

A remote sensing and communication system

A monitoring device (1) for monitoring the electrical properties of a medium voltage overhead line (3) in a medium voltage network comprises three separate measurement sensors (2a, 2b, 2c), each being adapted for direct connection onto a medium voltage overhead line. Each of the measurement sensors has means to draw operating power from the medium voltage overhead line. The measurement sensors measured results may be combined for accurate measurement analysis.

Monitoring device for a medium voltage overhead line

Real-time power line rating may be provided. First, sensor data may be received corresponding to a conductor of a power line. The sensor data may provide real-time weather conditions for the conductor's environment. The sensor data may be received from a sensor device configured to collect the sensor data. The sensor data may correspond to the weather conditions at a location of the sensor device on the power line. Next, design limitations for the power line having the conductor may be received. The conductor of the power line may have a design ampacity based upon the design limitations and assumed weather conditions for the conductor's environment. Then a dynamic ampacity may be calculated for the power line based upon the received sensor data and the received design limitations for the power line. The power line may then be operated according to the calculated dynamic ampacity instead of the design ampacity.

Real-time power line rating

A method and a fault sensor device (1) which can detect and distinguish abnormal current and voltage events on an alternating current overhead and underground transmission line or distribution line (2). The fault sensor device (1) is contained in an elongated molded plastic housing (4). The fault sensor device (1) includes a current sensor (12) and a voltage sensor (14) connected in proximity to the transmission or distribution line (2) for monitoring current and voltage analog signals; an analog-to-digital converter (22) connected to the current and voltage sensors (12, 14) for sampling the current and voltage analog signals and producing corresponding digital signals; a processor (11) responsive to the digital signals for detecting an abnormal condition and distinguishing whether any of a plurality of types of faults has occurred; and a transmitter (3) for transmitting the fault information from the processor (11) to a remote location.

Fault sensor device with radio transceiver

A fault sensor suitable for use in a heterogenous power distribution system executes a stored program and causes sufficient information to be collected to distinguish a source of fault current as being from a public utility portion of the power distribution network or from a distributed generator. Short circuit current and magnetizing current are reliably distinguished based on differences in VI "signatures." In addition, the fault sensor periodically senses a condition of a battery of the fault sensor. When the condition of the battery indicates the battery power is low, the fault sensor sends a digital data signal including a low battery indication to a remote location. Subsequent to occurrence of a sustained power outage, the sensor detects that power has been restored and sends to a remote location a digital data signal including an indication that power has been restored. The sensor periodically measures peak line voltage and peak line current and reports peak values to the remote location.

Fault sensor suitable for use in heterogenous power distribution systems

A fault current sensor device (1) which can detect and distinguish abnormal current events such as momentary outage, sustained outage, normal overload, and inrush on an alternating current overhead or underground power transmission or distribution line (2). The sensing device (1) is attached to the power line (2) and, when a fault condition is detected, a Schmitt trigger (15) wakes up a microprocessor (11) from a sleep mode. The microprocessor distinguishes which one of the fault current conditions has occurred on the power line (2), and a transceiver (3) transmits an alarm signal to a designated ground station. The device (1) can be remotely programmed to alter its trigger or threshold level or time delay to reset the device (1) when a fault has occurred. When normal current levels return, the device can be reset by itself or remotely from the ground station. The fault sensor device is powered by capacitors (8) which are charged by photovoltaic cells (7) or a current transformer (18).

Rodger Mayeda

Papers

Fault sensor device with radio transceiver

Fault sensor suitable for use in heterogenous power distribution systems

Fault current sensor device with radio transceiver