Transmission Line Weather Monitoring

Vaisala provides sensors and systems to monitor weather conditions along transmission lines. Whether it is lightning detection, high winds, or icing conditions, Vaisala offers products and services that help customers understand weather conditions and reduce power outages.
 

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    Overview
     

    Overview

    		 

    Transmission lines carry electricity above 110 kV across long distances while distribution lines gradually lower the voltage so that it can be used by consumers. These lines carry power across country borders and throughout our neighborhoods so that we can turn the lights on at night. We don’t think about it until the power goes out, but the same lines that carry power to our house are directly affected by weather conditions every day. From lightning to wind and ice, or even excessive heat, power companies need reliable weather data to efficiently manage their operations.

    Temperature, precipitation, barometric pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction are important measurements for transmission line weather monitoring. This data gives operators information about weather conditions at strategic locations along the lines. Whether it’s a full weather station or simply sensors located at points along the transmission lines, Vaisala offers weather data to meet the needs of electrical operations.

    Icing conditions also pose a threat to transmission lines, and a major ice storm can be a brutal experience for operations. Vaisala understands this scenario very well, and are experts in understanding extreme weather conditions. We have developed remote sensors specifically for monitoring these conditions, and they can be placed along transmission lines. These sensors allow operators to monitor temperature and condition so that they can be prepared and make the best decisions possible for their operations.
    Products
    • DSC111 Remote Surface State Sensor 
      • Provides an accurate reading of surface conditions, including water, ice and snow amounts and a high resolution value for grip level. Pole mounted roadside set-up eliminates the disruption caused by slot-cutting, making installation and maintenance relatively easy. Can be used as a stand alone system on bridge decks, in remote locations or as part of an existing ROSA weather station.
    • DST111 Remote Surface Temperature Sensor 
      • Measures surface temperature via emitted infrared radiation. Pole mounted roadside set-up eliminates the disruption caused by slot-cutting, making installation and maintenance relatively easy. Can be used as a stand alone system on bridge decks, in remote locations or as part of an existing ROSA weather station.
    • Vaisala Thunderstorm CG Enhanced Lightning Sensor LS7001 
      • The LS7001 is a compact, lightweight sensor that employs low frequency (LF) combined magnetic direction finding and time of-arrival technology which offers the highest detection efficiency and most accurate location for cloud-to-ground lightning strokes
    • Vaisala Total Lightning Processor™, TLP100 and TLP200 Series on Linux 
      • TLP processes real-time total lightning data from various sensor configurations. The new TLP introduces improvements to the patented Vaisala location algorithm and new propagation correction services yielding improved location accuracy in networks to 250m or better.
    • Vaisala Thunderstorm Warning System TWX300 
      • Vaisala TWX300 is an automated lightning threat identification and warning for airports and lightning-sensitive operations.
    • Vaisala HydroMet™ System MAWS301 
      • The Vaisala HydroMet™ System MAWS301 is a compact, robust and easy to use system providing quality controlled data both in meteorological and hydrological applications. Especially designed for unattended operations at remote sites requiring high reliability, low power consumption and extended back-up battery capacity.
    • Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT520 
      • The Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT520 measuring the six most essential weather parameters (wind speed and direction, liquid precipitation, barometric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity) in one fully integrated instrument with no moving parts. WXT520 replaces WXT510. Applications include weather stations, dense networks, buildings, golf courses, marinas, harbors, and hotels.
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