Sensus Spectrum, LLC

Sensus Usa, Inc.

Andrew Dudding

Michael Ray Brown

Marc L Reed

William R Mazza, Jr

Jared Rude

Michael Brown

A system that detects temperature and current events in a power grid is provided. The system includes a magnetic field sensor associated with an electric meter, a first temperature sensor associated with the electric meter, a plurality of bus bars connected to the electric meter and at least one temperature sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars. The system detects a magnetic field and compares the detected magnetic field to an expected magnetic field threshold or magnetic field threshold range to provide a magnetic field comparison result and the system detects a plurality of temperatures and compares the detected plurality of temperatures to expected temperature thresholds or temperature threshold ranges to provide a temperature comparison result. The system determines if a notification should be sent based on the magnetic field comparison result and/or the temperature comparison result.

Systems for detecting temperature and current events in a power grid and related methods

A system that detects temperature and current events in a power grid is provided. The system includes at least one sensor associated with an electric meter; a plurality of bus bars connected to the electric meter; at least one temperature sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars; and at least one current sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars. The system detects a plurality of temperatures and/or currents and compares the detected plurality of temperatures and/or currents to expected thresholds or threshold ranges for temperatures and/or currents in the system to provide a comparison result and determines if a notification related to temperature and/or current events in the system should be sent based on the comparison result.

A method for identifying report triggering events in a power grid to improve stability in the power grid is provided. Energy flow information in the power grid is measured and report triggering events during a predetermined period of time are identified. The report triggering events include at least a predetermined number of load flow transitions where energy flows back from a load associated with the power grid to the power grid during the predetermined period of time and/or exceeding a threshold of time where an energy flow phase angle between voltage and current remains at or near 90 or 270 degrees indicating pure volt-ampere reactive (VAR) operation during the predetermined period of time. A report associated with each of the identified report triggering events is generated and includes a location indicating where the report triggering event occurred in the power grid. The reports are transmitted.

Methods, systems and computer program products for reducing instability in the power grid

An electricity meter includes a power line interface circuit configured to generate measurements of parameters for at least two electricity transmission paths. The meter also includes a balance determination circuit configured to generate at least one balance metric that indicates a balance between the electricity transmission paths from the generated measurements. The meter further includes a communications circuit configured to transmit balance information to an external recipient responsive to the at least one balance metric.

Meter apparatus and methods using load balance metrics

A method and apparatus that monitors and controls an operation of an electricity meter. A potential failure condition of an electrical connection between an electricity meter and a meter socket in an electrical line that provides power from a power supply to an electrical load through the electricity meter, is detected. A correction time may be determined based on a temperature in a vicinity of and a current through the electrical connection, and may indicate an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection will occur. The method determines whether the electricity meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time or the information used to detect the potential failure condition of the electrical connection. The method may provide either, or both, notification of the imminent failure condition and disconnection of power to the electrical load by operating a disconnection switch.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Andrew Dudding