Sensor Node to Improve Resiliency and Monitoring in Smart Grids: Taking the Lab to Field in Industry

Abstract

Sensors and data analytics have a tremendous potential to improve the resilience of the electricity system. Improving the analytics in a smart grid, and providing information to operators so that problems can be resolved quickly, may serve to improve the resiliency of the electricity system. Effective use of sensors and analytics will enable more timely a response, and more efficient use of personnel, specialty equipment, and site location specifics because of better information for deployment teams to address damage. Detection of physical characteristics such as vibration, ice build up, hot spots, aging and deterioration of assets/equipment, metal fatigue and other considerations could prevent disruptions. In cold climates, ice storms can cause outages, and extreme weather events are constantly a threat to electricity towers. A system was developed to collect information from sensors, as well as relevant analytics to detect abnormalities to address damage, and for operator visualizations screens.