The staff of the Student Design Bureau of RiM JSC, which consists of students from Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU), has developed a combined current and voltage sensor that compares favorably with its analogues in its characteristics.
RiM JSC and NSTU-NETI presented a revolutionary development for the energy industry — a digital combined current and voltage sensor for 6-10 kV networks, which uses a Rogovsky coil and a capacitive voltage divider as primary sensors, performs analog-to-digital signal conversion directly at a high-voltage conductor and transmits data on instantaneous values of currents and voltages digitally for future reference.
A combined current and voltage sensor is a universal device that is directly connected to a power line and transmits data in digital format via a fiber—optic interface. According to Stanislav Ponomarev, head of the Design Bureau of RiM JSC, this development is the only one in the country in terms of its characteristics. "The advantages are a current measurement range from 100 mA to 20,000 A without saturation effect, a commercial measurement accuracy class, and a noise—proof and galvanically isolated communication channel in the form of fiber-optic cables," he said.
But the most important thing is that the device fits in one hand and replaces bulky and heavy measuring systems. "The sensor makes it possible to replace bulky complexes with classic electromagnetic current and voltage transformers, the weight and dimensions of which exceed 400 kg and the dimensions of 1m x 1m x 1m. Such complexes require special supports for their installation, they are difficult to lift and mount. Our development consists of compact digital transformers that can be lifted with one hand and mounted even without breaking a high—voltage cable," emphasized Stanislav Ponomarev.
The combined current and voltage sensor became the flagship project of SKB RIM JSC, passed all the necessary pilot industrial inspections at facilities in the Novosibirsk region, certification tests by special organizations and managed to receive positive feedback from power engineers. But SKB will not stop at the achieved results; plans include the refinement and modernization of the device, as well as the development of new versions, which will involve students from three faculties: automation and computer engineering, radio engineering and electronics, and energy.
Earlier, SKB RIM JSC and NSTU-NETI developed software to optimize the process of data collection and transmission in energy monitoring systems. The program is designed to work on industrial routers. Its main advantages are that all elements of the system are connected to a single router-controller, which transmits data in an easy-to-monitor form, provides sorting flexibility and the ability to process an infinite number of signals.