On-Ramp Wireless and GridSense have entered into a partnership to build an affordable monitoring system for distribution points.
The new monitoring system is the culmination of On-Ramp’s Ultra-Link Processing (ULP) system and the TransformerIQ platform from GridSense. The new system provides many advanced features such as asset monitoring, fault indication, issue alerts on power theft and drop in power quality. The ULP system is capable of supporting as many as 20,000 TransformerIQ monitors at each of the access points. This enables safe transfer of transformer data to the back office systems such as OMS and DMS and the provision of spare capacity that can be used to support other applications.
In addition to monitoring the transformer parameters, the system provides data such as current, voltage, fault indication, reactive and active power that has been accumulated etc. The value of System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) is improved by this system as it is equipped with features such as predictive maintenance, pro-active intervention in power failure and keeping track of lost transformer life and load profiles. More and more charging stations are being deployed due to the increase in electric vehicle usage; this in turn increases the demand for effective management of the distribution assets to manage the increase in load. The TransformerIQ from GridSense provides an easily deployable solution that can be seamlessly integrated into the existing power distribution networks. The pilot phase of this monitoring system is scheduled for the second quarter of 2011.