Design and demonstration of a wireless sensor network platform for substation asset management

A key challenge for Distribution and Transmission System Operators relate to the retrofitting of monitoring systems to support asset management aligned with the continuity of service within the electrical network. The research within this paper demonstrates how a Smart System Integration approach, utilising a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), can provide a low cost and scalable sensor platform for in-situ sensing of SF6 within substations. In this paper we outline the design and manufacturing stages of an ultra-low power WSN. The WSN is evaluated within a High Voltage Laboratory and deployed within a 400kV substation. Results indicated that the system can reliably transmit data within a noise environment, recover when there is a mote failure without data loss, can operate on batteries for 1.5 years or 5yrs taking 1 SF6 density measurement every 60 seconds or 300 seconds respectively. The findings of this research demonstrated the advantageous features of WSNs, namely low cost, rapid deployment, reliable and secure data transfer, adaptive and scalable sensor platform.