EPRI developing electric industry applications.
Press Release Summary:
EPRI has a research effort aimed at fully understanding the potential and limitations of portable electronic device technology in utility workspace and impact these devices may have on workforce, efficiency, and how to adapt work processes to fully take advantage of these devices. Some apps in development at EPRI include iCV contact voltage detector, iPQ power quality analyzer, data visualization, phasing tool for distribution lines, and lift truck application.
Original Press Release:
EPRI Progress Regarding Development of Electric Industry Apps
Portable electronic devices (PED) such as smart phones and tablets are part of the evolution of applying technology in the workspace. First, these devices have the potential to be the next step in using more powerful, but smaller computing devices for managing and assessing asset performance in the field. However the off-the shelf integration of imaging and signal processing capabilities along with Bluetooth connection, Wi-Fi and cellular data technologies, and geographic information system can make these devices a portal for many data capture, monitoring, verification and analysis tasks. These technologies have the potential to replace most keyboard data input using device captured location, device identifiers and serial numbers, and measured values through the use of pointing, clicking, detecting and swiping.
Installed cameras could serve as a barcode scanner; the audio capability of these devices could be repurposed for recording and analyzing power signals and capturing vibration data. All this information would be not only stamped in time but also for location, just by pointing, clicking and swiping.
Applications already exist that capture all relevant information regarding consumer-oriented subjects in text, pictures and other multimedia forms. These data collection approaches could serve as a starting point and be applied in similar ways to various assets across the electric industry.
EPRI has a research effort aimed at fully understanding the potential and the limitations of PED technology in the utility workspace and the impact these devices may have on the workforce, efficiency and how to adapt work processes to fully take advantage of these devices.
Below is a summary of examples of the apps in development at EPRI.
Research Applications
iCV Analyzer Application
This is a contact voltage detector app that is used in concert with a wand which allows you to identify metal objects that may have become inadvertently energized. The iCV Analyzer app can be downloaded from iTunes. There is now interest from commercial manufacturers to manufacture and sell the add-on wand device for contact voltage detection. E-mailing datasets, user site info and GPS location features are included capabilities of this app.
iPQAnalyzer Application
This is a power quality analyzer that enables rapid identification of power line harmonics. The app interfaces with a wand device. Three key aspects about this app are:
Additionally, hardware designs and corresponding apps have been completed to demonstrate the feasibility of:
Photovoltaic panel monitoring via Bluetooth interface to smart phones (Android or Apple OS), tablet devices, and PCs.
This hardware device serves to show proof of concept that a generic DAS/Blue tooth device to monitor PV performance of current output, voltage output, temperature and sun irradiance and will acquire and stream data to a PC, smart phone, Android or Apple device, or a PC.
Transformer monitoring via Bluetooth to smart phones (Android or Apple OS), tablet devices and PCs.
Using the same generic hardware constructed for the PV monitor, the same current voltage and temperature are streamed to devices with Bluetooth capability. Other parameters are possible to monitor.
Multi-Channel Data acquisition devices for iPhones, iPads and iPods.
These multi channel devices serve as a proof of concept to allow a series of virtual devices to be realized. With a device of 8 ch and 200 ksps, a power quality analyzer with the performance of a multi-thousand dollar device can be implemented. This virtual platform would allow a multi meter app, oscope app, power quality analyzer app, and contact voltage detector app to be packaged together in one hardware platform.
Data Visualization Application
Using live camera images, real-time data and graphics are overlayed onto a live video image to present an augmented reality of assets such as power lines, conductors, transformers, switch-gear, sensors or other pole top hardware. As the device is pointed at an asset, the screen is then populated with historical and current performance information about those assets.
Phasing Tool Application
This tool will identify the phase a, b, or c on distribution lines. This could potentially help balance loads for utilities at a cost of 1/10th of today's cost to implement. Work was initiated and proof of concept started in 2011.
Other Information Apps include:
EPRI Lift Truck Application
This app compares the operation of electric, propane and diesel lift trucks and their operating costs. It has been available since Dec 2011 and has been downloaded more than 100 times in countries like Greece, Norway, UK, Iceland, South Africa, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Turkey, Spain, India, Singapore, and China.
Electric Fuel Charging Station Locator Application
This app was written to display charging stations for ANY alternate fuel on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod and map routes to them. This app also is capable of locating private as well as public "stations."
About EPRI
The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.
