Using LoRaWAN technology to enhance remote power network monitoring

Future power networks will require much greater levels of machine-to-machine interaction to enable smart grid applications, and ultimately increase the efficiency of the power network. Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technology enables the deployment of many new IoT solutions in areas such as controlling and monitoring assets, environmental sensing and location tracking. In this paper, a prototype low-cost LPWAN module is developed to be retrofitted to existing Fault Passage Indicators, creating a automatic remote detection and location system for medium voltage faults, reducing the time to find faults from hours to minutes. This prototype device was then tested on a physical 11kV overhead line network, where the device demonstrated it was robust and suitable for mass deployment on a live network. The finalised prototype module costs roughly 5% of a single FPI unit, and additionally features the ability to remotely reconfigure FPI making installation and maintenance more convenient.