SISTEMA DE MONITORAMENTO COM INTERNET DAS COISAS DE TORRES ESTAIADAS DE LINHAS DE TRANSMISSÃO

Abstract

MONITORING SYSTEM WITH INTERNET OF THINGS FOR GUYED TOWERS OF TRANSMISSION LINES. The present invention, belonging to the field of electronics, more specifically computer science and telecommunications, refers to the physical structure and the method of sensing and monitoring the Guy Cables (5) that support the Guyed Towers (2) of an electric power Transmission Line (1), in order to take measures aimed at minimizing the risk of falls. The system consists of Modular Radios (7) with numerous sensors installed along the Guy Cables (5) that send the collected data to the Concentrator Radios (8) (also connected in a long-distance Internet of Things (IoT) Wi-SUN), which transfer the data to the Edge Router Radios (11).These transfer the data to the System Server (14) and to the Supervisory System (17) in order to provide the operator with real-time monitoring of the structural conditions of all Guyed Towers (2) and generate an alarm if any anomaly is detected.

Description

1 / 22 “INTERNET OF THINGS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR GUYED TRANSMISSION LINE TOWERS” Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention, belonging to the field of electronics, more specifically informatics and telecommunications, refers to the physical structure and the method of sensing and monitoring the guy wires that support the power transmission towers in order to eliminate the risk of accidents.

[0002] The remote and real-time assessment of the guy wires that support transmission towers and other related quantities aims to reduce the frequency of periodic inspections currently carried out by on-site technicians to detect the quality of these installations. Field of application and fundamentals of the invention

[0003] The growing demand for electricity and the large distances between generation and consumption centers brings about the continuous need for expansion of transmission lines (TLs).

[0004] In order to overcome long distances, increase transmission capacity and make transmission lines more reliable, efficient and economically viable, the use of increasingly higher electrical voltages is employed, also requiring greater heights.

[0005] Guyed towers are the most suitable and economical solution for reaching great heights and operating high load capacities, and are therefore increasingly used in high voltage (138 kV to 230 kV) and extra-high voltage (230 kV to 750 kV) power transmission lines. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 4 / 33 2 / 22 kV).

[0006] Numerous factors can interrupt the supply of electricity, and one of the main ones is the collapse of the towers that support the transmission lines. This type of failure is of great importance given the high amount of energy they transport and the long period of time for their restoration; causing enormous losses, both for electricity companies and end consumers. Therefore, knowledge of the mechanical conditions of these structures in the face of adverse conditions to which they are exposed, caused by inclement weather (strong wind, storm, scorching heat and cold, blizzard, etc.), is fundamental.

[0007] To assess the structures that support the transmission lines, transmission companies currently carry out periodic inspections; however, these are insufficient to detect hidden defects, and the revisit period makes the monitoring of defects and the discovery of causes vulnerable to the occurrence of failures due to uprooting or settlement of the tower foundations.

[0008] In this context, the present application describes a system for monitoring and analyzing mechanical stresses, movements and deformations in the guy wires of towers and other related quantities, aiming to replace the visual and / or image inspections currently carried out by on-site technicians.

[0009] The system consists of a set of Modular Radios, Devices and Electronic Sensors installed on the stays of the transmission line towers that transmit the collected information to Concentrator Radios installed in Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 5 / 33 3 / 22 each of the towers forming a Smart Mesh Network. The radio concentrators communicate wirelessly from tower to tower along the transmission line, sending the collected data to the Processing Center which then displays it on the Supervisory System installed in the Operations Center (OC) of the transmission company.

[0010] Given that the electrical environments near transmission lines are extremely polluted by electromagnetic induction and interference, the system uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology for communication between Modular Radios and Concentrator Radios on the same tower, and between Concentrator Radios along the line, in order to guarantee the reliability of the transmitted data.

[0011] At the substations where the transmission lines end, Edge Radio Routers are installed. These receive signals from the Radio Concentrators, which transmit them to the Processing Center. The System Server is located there and will locally process the collected data, display it, and monitor the system. At the system level, this information is transmitted via the internet to the Supervisory System installed in the Operations Center (OC) of the transmission company, which will then make it available to the Operator. Description of the state of the art

[0012] The characteristics of structures, for example, stability, tensile strength, thickness, deformation, vibration, and material quality, are affected by disasters and environmental factors. Guyed power transmission towers are an example of a structure that suffers from these effects. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 6 / 33 4 / 22 also has problems with the quality of its structure. Environmental factors such as wind, increased temperature, and loosening of cables result in the structure collapsing.

[0013] Structural health monitoring seeks to understand the behavior of buildings using techniques to detect damage to their structures. The data collected during monitoring are used in machine learning algorithms and other techniques to predict damage events in structures, resulting in preventive and corrective actions before catastrophic events occur. Sensors are examples of technologies used to acquire data on environmental variables for structural health monitoring.

[0014] In the literature, the variables analyzed for monitoring the health of structures include: temperature, wind direction and speed, acceleration, vibration and deformation, cable tension, inclination, magnetic field, and sound. The following studies related to and / or applied to guyed towers stand out in the academic and technical literature.

[0015] Temperature variation is strongly related to material deformation, structural displacements, projection length, and cable tension. In the article entitled “Monitoring and Analysis of the Thermal Effect on Tower Displacement in a Cable-Stayed Bridge”; Yang et al. (2018), the temperature distribution and temporal variability of tower displacement were studied. The cable-stayed bridge studied was the Anqing Bridge over the Yangtze River. The equipment used was GPS and a temperature sensor. The correlation of the variables was Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 7 / 33 5 / 22 analyzed to study the relationship between temperature and tower displacements and tower-beam distances. The results showed a strong linear relationship between temperature and quasi-static tower responses.

[0016] Wind direction and speed are important variables in structural health monitoring. The main impacts are structural vibration, aerodynamic force, pressure coefficient, and damping rates. In “Excitation Mechanism of Rain-Wind Induced Cable Vibration in a Wind Tunnel”; Jing et al. (2017), wind-induced vibration in bridge cables was studied in a cable-stayed bridge. The results showed that the oscillation is relatively coherent along the entire cable. The cable vibration, in turn, harmonizes the oscillation through the relative variation of wind direction and inertial force. In “Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridge under Construction”; Ma et al. (2019), aerodynamic characteristics or parameters, such as pressure distribution, static force coefficients, and aerodynamic allowance of a long-span cable-stayed bridge beam were investigated through measurements on the Su-tong cable-stayed bridge.Wind characteristics were measured using an anemometer. The results obtained in the study indicate that the pressure coefficients have positive values ​​and tend to vary with the wind angle of attack. The occurrence of vortex fall phenomena was observed through changes in the pressure coefficients. The integral scale of longitudinal turbulence can reach approximately thirty times the height of the beam.

[0017] The main aspects involved in Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 8 / 33 6 / 22 Acceleration in structural monitoring refers to the acceleration and displacement of structures. In “Structural Identification of Cable-Stayed Bridge Under Back-To-Back Typhoons by Wireless Vibration Monitoring”; Huynk, Kim, and Park A. (2016), the results indicate that increased wind speed led to greater bridge flexibility. In the same article, the structural identification of the Hwamyung cable-stayed bridge under the action of two consecutive typhoons was performed using responses captured by a monitoring system consisting of vibration sensors to measure tower acceleration. The dynamic responses of the cable-stayed bridge were measured using different wind speeds. The results indicated that increased wind speed led to greater bridge flexibility. In “Analysis of the Dynamic Response of a Long Span Bridge Using GPS / Accelerometer / Anemometer Under Typhoon Loading”; Han et al. (2016), the cable-stayed bridge used in the experiments was the Erqi bridge on the Yangtze River.The sensors used were GPS, accelerometer, and anemometer. The data obtained show high correlation properties between structural responses and wind speed. The results clearly showed that GPS can accurately measure quasi-static movements. Displacements reconstructed from the accelerometer can detect very small movements with amplitudes of a few millimeters, while measuring the static component is difficult. The results indicated that a reliable prediction of displacement and natural frequency can be obtained by the multi-sensor integration system.

[0018] Vibration and deformation interfere with Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 9 / 33 7 / 22 deformation of the structure, in the displacement of the structure and in the damping. In “Structural Change Monitoring of a Cable-stayed Bridge by Time-series Modeling of the Global Thermal Deformation Acquired by GPS”; Van and Nishio (2019), it is reported that changes in air temperature cause displacements in the time series with some cases of structural conditions, varying the boundary conditions and cable stresses. In “Structural Change Monitoring of a Cable-stayed Bridge by Time-series Modeling of the Global Thermal Deformation Acquired by GPS”; Xi et al. (2017), a vibration and deformation monitoring system for the Baishazhou cable-stayed bridge over the Yangtze River was proposed. The accuracy of the deformation monitoring was evaluated using reference points on the bridge, and the effect of vibration was also considered. The accuracy of the deformation monitoring was compared with GPS measurements.

[0019] Cable tension is a variable that measures its flexibility and can be measured by acceleration signals and deflections of the structure, as analyzed in “Measurement of the Real-time Deflection of Cable-stayed Bridge Based on Cable Tension Variations”; Huang et al. (2018). In this document, a method was proposed to measure the deflection of the He-dong cable-stayed bridge from the variation in cable tension. The experiments were performed using a GPS, tilt, and accelerometer. Real-time cable tension is calculated from acceleration signals and deflections of the beam anchor points. Monitoring the deflection of a tower is useful for evaluating the tower's behavior and performance. In “SHM of a Stayed Bridge During a Structural Failure, Case Study: The Rio Papaloapan Bridge”; Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 10 / 33 8 / 22 Carrión, Quintana, and Crespo (2017) identified two fractures and loosening of the cables on the Papaloapan River cable-stayed bridge. Information obtained from a monitoring system was used to analyze the bridge's structural integrity, quantify the impact of the failure on immediate preventive actions, and verify the effectiveness of rehabilitation in restoring the bridge's initial condition. The sensors used were an accelerometer and a thermometer. In the case analyzed, although the fracture had evolved over more than 20 years, it did not affect its resistance or structural behavior until the crack reached a critical size. The information obtained by the system was used to assess the severity of the failure and decide on preventive actions.

[0020] The inclination of structures indicates numerous structural changes and behavior analysis. The analysis of the dynamic behavior of the structure can provide information in the monitoring system to detect damage and assess the structural condition. According to "Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for a Cable Stayed Bridge under Typhoon"; Ju, Park and Kim (2015), inclination indicates changes in wind speed, tower and beam displacement, and dynamic deformation. In this document, the objective was to analyze the monitoring data of a cable-stayed bridge during a typhoon and present some strategies for bridge maintenance. The monitoring system consisted of an accelerometer, tilt sensor, and dynamic stress meter. The chosen cable-stayed bridge was the Jindo. During the typhoon, the changes and frequency of the following variables were observed: wind speed, tower and beam displacement, and dynamic deformation. The analysis Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 11 / 33 Reading 9 / 22 of the inclinometer indicated that the lateral tilt behavior was dominant under wind action.

[0021] Magnetic fields are important for monitoring structures, mainly for corrosion detection and vehicle counting. In “Detection of Inner Corrosion of Steel Construction Using Magnetic Resistance Sensor and Magnetic Spectroscopy Analysis”; Tsukada et al. (2016), a magnetic measurement system and an analysis method using magnetic spectroscopy for detecting internal corrosion in steel were proposed. The main techniques for detecting internal corrosion in steel are based on analyzing the cavity of the structure. Digitization using the phase of differential magnetic vectors suggests the possibility of high-speed image generation. The results of the work showed the detection of corrosion at a thickness of up to ~16 mm.

[0022] Corrosion arises from the exposure of steel structures to open environments or salts. Corrosion damage reduces the lifespan of steel structures and can pose a safety risk. The article “Unpowered Wireless Corrosion Sensor for Steel Reinforced Concrete”; Andriga et al. (2015) presents a prototype of a sensor developed to detect the appearance of corrosion in reinforced concrete using non-invasive techniques. The sensors are implanted in the concrete and are powered through the use of inductively coupled magnetic fields.

[0023] Sounds detected by microphones can detect events in structures and also send alerts. In “Systems and Methods for Monitoring Sound During an InBuilding Emergency”; Boyden et al. (2017), a Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 12 / 33 10 / 22 system for monitoring a building in which the telephones responsible for monitoring consist of one or more microphones, detectors responsible for identifying specific events and transmitting alert signals in their presence, and a control module to receive the activation signal from the detector.

[0024] This application relates to a stay monitoring system with functionalities different from those described in the prior art, aiming to solve the known technical problems pointed out in the references cited.

[0025] Searches conducted in the patent database of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) did not find any documents pertaining to the technical field of the present invention. Presentation of the problems of the state of the art.

[0026] Although academic and technical works in the state of the art present innovative specificities, they have been limited to specific aspects for monitoring and evaluating the health of different physical structures and not in a combined way as the system described does.

[0027] Another problem presented is that none of them addresses guyed towers for use in electric power transmission lines.

[0028] And finally, another problem presented is that in the searches carried out, no system was found capable of bringing together in a single point the health information of numerous structures. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 13 / 33 11 / 22 simultaneously, as with the hundreds of guyed towers along a transmission line.

[0029] In view of these problems and with the purpose of overcoming them, a new monitoring system for guyed towers was developed in this application, with modules of different technological characteristics, in addition to new functionalities that allow its use in power transmission lines and reliable communication.

[0030] In this way, the present invention provides a significant technological and safety advance in relation to the procedures currently adopted by transmission companies, contributing to increasing the reliability of transmission line operation and, consequently, reducing the risk of accidents. Objectives of the invention

[0031] The new and inventive system described herein uses electronic devices and sensors and new computational and digital telecommunications techniques to provide information for assessing the health of a transmission line, meeting seven objectives: i) analysis of the combination of distinct quantities for assessing the health of the foundation of the stays of transmission towers, the condition of the stays and meteorological conditions; ii) different topologies for measuring mechanical tension and movement in the stay cables, measurements by tensile load cells and with the use of accelerometers; iii) measurement platform with low energy consumption and powered by photovoltaic panels; iv) measurement platform robust to weather and electromagnetic interference (EMI); v) local communication between Modular Radios and Concentrator Radios via industrial IoT with Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 14 / 33 12 / 22 high reliability of communication, even in environments highly polluted by electrical noise and radio frequencies, common under transmission lines; vi) wireless communication system between the Concentrator Radios via Intelligent Mesh Networks for long distances (1 km), along the transmission lines in adverse weather and electromagnetic interference conditions; and vii) availability of the information collected and processed with the Supervisory System of the transmission company. Originality in measuring the tension of stay cables.

[0032] Load cells installed in series with stay cables generate installation difficulties and high costs. To solve this problem, a new technique was developed for determining tension using accelerometers, measuring the transverse accelerations of the cable as a function of time (vibration).

[0033] Steel cables and strands are characterized primarily by their ability to withstand only tensile forces and exhibit high transverse flexibility, especially in the case of cables. An important characteristic of cables is their property of exhibiting multiple harmonic natural frequencies when properly stretched. Therefore, it is possible to identify the natural frequencies of the cables and discard frequencies originating from excitations from the tower structure or other sources, since the latter do not vary significantly with changes in the tensile force applied to the cables, and do not exhibit the property of having natural responses with frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental, which is a typical property of... Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 15 / 33 13 / 22 cables.

[0034] From the theory of tensioned cables and strings rigidly fixed at their ends, it is known that the frequencies of the vibration modes vary mainly as a function of the applied tension and are multiples of the fundamental. This variation occurs due to the phenomenon known as Stress-stiffening, where the stiffness of the cable increases with increasing applied tension and, therefore, for a constant linear mass density, the result is an increase in the measured natural frequencies.

[0035] In the technical literature it is known that the natural vibration frequencies of a tensioned cable with fixed ends can be approximately calculated by the equation: 0.3027η IFn = ^0.718(Eq.1)where: n are the modes of the natural harmonic frequencies of the cable, T is the tensile force acting on the cable, μ is the linear mass density of the cable, and L is the usable length of the cable.

[0036] The set of voltage value pairs and their corresponding fundamental natural frequencies provides the tension / frequency calibration that can be obtained by regression, and, by using the coefficient that provides the tensions as a function of the fundamental natural frequencies of the cable, which can be discriminated from other frequencies that may be disturbing the system due to its equidistant spacing characteristic (harmonic frequencies), it is possible to estimate the tension in the cables by performing Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 16 / 33 14 / 22 vibration records only.

[0037] It is interesting to point out that the impulsive excitation used in tests to identify frequencies in the laboratory is unnecessary in field measurements, due to environmental excitations, particularly wind, which excites a wide range of frequencies. Summary of the invention - Functionalities

[0038] In order for the system to accurately assess the health of guyed towers, the main measurements taken along the guy cables are: - temperature measurement; - relative humidity measurement; - measurement of atmospheric pressure; - measuring the magnetic field; - Measuring tension in stay cables using load cells; - Measurement of stay vibration using an accelerometer; and - Measurement of stay positioning using a gyroscope.

[0039] Weather conditions throughout the LT are monitored via measurements of: - wind speed measured by anemometer; - wind direction measured by a directional wind meter; and - amount of rainfall measured by rain gauge.

[0040] Due to the intense electromagnetic interference environment, all types of communication over a transmission line can be affected. Therefore, to transmit information from the Modular Radios containing the sensors and installed alongside the guy wires, Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 17 / 33 For the 15 / 22 Radio Concentrators, and among the Radio Concentrators installed on the various towers, available and contemporary technologies are used, such as the SmartMesh technology adopted with the use of the Wi-SUN network, which, in addition to high noise immunity, also offers high security for the data transmitted.

[0041] Based on the IEEE 802.15.4e wireless standard, SmartMesh technology is an implementation of time-synchronized channel hopping (TSCH) for shared media networks, enabling robust and efficient wireless communication, primarily suitable for industrial environments.

[0042] With advanced network management and comprehensive security features offered by SmartMesh, connectivity between Modular Radios, Concentrator Radios, and Edge Router Radios is reliable, scalable, and efficient, resulting in lower power consumption and increased battery life and autonomy for the radios.

[0043] After processing the data collected from the transmission line (TL) on the System Server, installed in the Processing Center, it is sent via the internet to the Supervisory System, installed in the Operations Center (OC) of the transmission company, and via the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software provided to the Operator who monitors the entire TL remotely and in real time, and takes the necessary actions if any alarm indicates an anomaly in any cable of the TL towers. Description of the figures

[0044] The process according to the present Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 18 / 33 16 / 22 The invention is further explained by means of the attached drawings, in which:

[0045] Figure 1 shows the schematic of a transmission line.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a guyed power transmission tower.

[0047] Figure 3 shows the block diagram of the system platform installed on a guyed power transmission tower.

[0048] Figure 4 shows the general block diagram of the Radio system.

[0049] Modular.

[0050] Concentrator

[0051] Router

[0052] Figure . Figure . Edge. Figure 5 6 7 8 shows typical block diagram of natural frequencies in a guy cable as a function of tension. when an accelerometer is used to determine the acting traction force.

[0053] Figure 9 shows a visualization of the main screens of the monitoring system software. Detailed description of the invention

[0054] The IoT monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, as described in this application, can be better understood through the previously related and commented drawings.

[0055] In the diagram of Figure 1, the diagram of a Transmission Line (TL) can be visualized (1) Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 19 / 33 17 / 22 consisting of Guyed Towers (2) which are supported on the Ground (3) and are responsible for supporting the Transmission Line (TL) (1).

[0056] Transmission Lines (TL) (1) can be high voltage (138 kV to 230 kV) and extra high voltage (230 kV to 750 kV) and their lengths vary greatly, from a few hundred kilometers to more than 1000 km. The dimensions and geometry of the Guyed Towers (2) also vary, depending on the nominal electrical voltage of the TL, the current carrying capacity of the TL, the mechanical loads imposed by the cables and the geographical conditions in which they are located. Typically, in extra high voltage lines, the Guyed Towers (2) are found with a spacing of 500 m.

[0057] Figure 2 shows a Guyed Tower (2) for electrical power transmission. Figure 2a shows its front view where the Body of the Guyed Tower (4), the Guy Cables (5) which are normally four per Guyed Tower (2) and the Frame (6) where the electrical insulators that support the conductors and guard cables are attached can be seen.

[0058] Figure 2b shows a top view of a Guyed Tower (2) where you can see some of the system modules. The Modular Radios (7) installed close to each of the Guy Cables (5), the Radio Concentrator (8) which is installed in the Body of the Guyed Tower (4) and the imaginary line formed by the Perimeter of the Base of the Guys (9).

[0059] Figure 3 shows the block diagram of the system platform installed on the Body of the Guyed Tower (4) for electrical power transmission. The platform is composed of Modular Radios (7) which have some Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 20 / 33 18 / 22 sensors are installed close to the Guy Cables (5). The information from the sensors is sent via the Modular Radios (7) to the Concentrator Radio (8) installed in the Guyed Tower Body (4) via IoT (Wi-SUN), wireless communication.

[0060] The Radio Concentrator (8) also receives data from the Meteorological Station (10) via wired connections. The function of the Meteorological Station (10) is to collect some climatic data; it is normally installed on towers spaced every 20 km. However, this distance is defined by the transmission company based on the geographical and climatic region where the Transmission Line (1) is located.

[0061] Figure 4 shows the overall block diagram of the system. In it, one can visualize the Concentrator Radios (8) installed on each of the Guyed Towers (2) of the Transmission Line (1) which also communicate on an IoT network (Wi-SUN), so that the data collected by each of the Concentrator Radios (8) passes through the adjacent Concentrator Radios (8) (tower to tower) to the Edge Router Radios (11) installed on the towers at the ends of the Transmission Line (1).

[0062] The data collected by the two Edge Radio Routers (11) originate from all the Concentrator Radios (8) and are redundant, as they refer to the same information collected, but received through different routes. Their information is sent to the System Server (14) installed inside the Processing Center (13) located in the Substation (SE) (12) at one end of the Transmission Line (1). In the System Server (14) all the data from the sensors in the Cables Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 21 / 33 19 / 22 Stays (5) and from the Meteorological Stations (10) are stored and processed, and subsequently sent to the Supervisory System (17) installed in the Operations Center (OC) (16) of the transmission company.

[0063] Communication between the Radio Router of Edge (11), which is located in the same Substation (SE) (12) at the end as the Processing Center (13), and the System Server (14) is done via Wi-Fi or Ethernet (15) while the communication of the Edge Radio Router (11) located in the Substation (SE) (12) at the other end of the LT occurs via the Ethernet network (15). The communication of the System Server (14) with the Supervisory System (17) also occurs via the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network (15).

[0064] Figure 5 shows the block diagram of the Modular Radio (7). Inside it is the SmartMesh Transceiver (18) which, through the Internal Antenna (19), communicates with the Concentrator Radio (8) of the same platform installed on the same Guyed Tower (2); The CPU (20) receives data from the A / D Converter (21), whose analog inputs receive signals from the Temperature Sensor (25) measuring ambient temperature, the Relative Humidity Sensor (26) measuring relative air humidity, the Atmospheric Pressure Sensor (27), the Magnetometer (28) measuring the magnetic field induced in the Stay Cable (5), the Accelerometer (29) measuring vibration in the Stay Cable (5), the Gyroscope (30) measuring the movement of the Stay Cable (5), and the Tension Load Cell (31) (strain gauge sensor + Wheatstone bridge) measuring the tension force in the Stay Cable (5). The data received by the CPU (20) is stored in the Internal Memory (22) (which has a 200-hour autonomy) for storage. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 22 / 33 20 / 22 of the data from the sensors collected every 15 seconds and integrated every 1 minute.

[0065] Normally the variation of the sensor signals is very low, around mV, hence the need for these signals to undergo conditioning to increase the voltage. After the signal conditioning and digitization in the A / D Converter (21) the firmware (embedded software) makes the decisions on how to send the measured data to the Radio Concentrator (8).

[0066] The Modular Radio (7) is powered by Battery (23) which during periods of sunshine is charged by the Photovoltaic Panel (24). The range of the SmartMesh Transceiver (18) is 170 m.

[0067] Figure 6 shows the block diagram of the Concentrator Radio (8). Its internal (hardware) diagram is similar to that of the Modular Radio (7), but it has the SmartMesh Transceiver (32) and the SmartMesh Transceiver 2 (33), one with a range of 170 m for communication with the Modular Radios (7) and the other with a range of 1200 m for communication with the adjacent Concentrator Radios (8); this distance is sufficient to communicate with at least two distant towers to give credibility and reliability to the network. Its digital input receives data from the fully automated Meteorological Station (10), which has a Rain Gauge (34) that measures the amount of water from rainfall, an Anemometer (35) that measures wind speed, and a Wind Direction Meter (36), popularly known as a windsock, which indicates wind speed; the data from these measurements are collected every minute and integrated every 5 minutes. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 23 / 33 21 / 22

[0068] The Weather Stations (10) are installed spaced between the Guyed Towers (2), when they are not used on the towers the same Radio Concentrator (8) is used, but with different firmware.

[0069] Figure 7 shows the block diagram of the Edge Radio Router (11). Its internal diagram is similar to that of the Radio Concentrator (8): it has two transceivers, the SmartMesh Transceiver (37) which operates on the Wi-SUN network and the Wi-Fi Transceiver (38) which operates on the WiFi network that communicates with the System Server (14). Its analog and digital inputs are not used, however when installed in the Substation (SE) (12) at the opposite end of the Processing Center (13), it uses the Serial Ethernet Output (39) for connection to the System Server (14).

[0070] Figure 8 shows the typical graph of natural frequencies in a stay cable as a function of tension when using an Accelerometer (28) to determine the acting tension force. This algorithm implemented in the data processing of the System Server (14) makes it possible to replace the Tension Load Cells (30) with the Accelerometer (28) for measuring the tension force in the Stay Cables (5) using Equation (1).

[0071] Figure 9 shows the main screens of the Monitoring System Software installed on the Supervisory System (17).

[0072] Figure 9a shows the Data screen. Current (40), it presents the data measured on Cable Stay 1 (43) with the information (47): Strain Gauge [N], Accelerometer X [g], Accelerometer Y [g], Accelerometer Z [g], Gyroscope X [rad / s], Gyroscope Y [rad / s], Gyroscope Z Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, page 24 / 33 22 / 22 [rad / s], Pressure [mmHg], Temperature [°C], Humidity [%], Magnetometer [A / m] and Pressure [Pa]. Similarly, the values ​​for Stay Cable 2 (44), Stay Cable 3 (45) and Stay Cable 4 (46) are shown. At the bottom, Meteorological Data (48) with Meteorological Information (49) are shown: Accumulated Water (mm), Wind Speed ​​(km / h) and Wind Direction (°C) in relation to magnetic north. All the values ​​presented refer to the Stay Tower Number (50) and the climatic data of the Meteorological Station (10) corresponding to the selected Stay Tower (2).

[0073] Figure 9b shows the Historical Data screen (41). It displays a spreadsheet with all the measured data for the selected Cable-Stayed Tower Number (50).

[0074] Figure 9c shows the Alarm screen (42) with the list of Guyed Tower Numbers (50), the readings of the Tension Forces in Guy Cable 1 (43), Guy Cable 2 (44), Guy Cable 3 (45) and Guy Cable 4 (46). Abnormal tension forces appear in a striking flashing color, usually red.

[0075] It should be understood that the IoT monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, with physical structure and installation method similar to those described in the present invention, can be obtained differently to meet different needs, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 25 / 33

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. Internet of Things monitoring system for guyed towers (2) of transmission lines (1), to remotely and in real time monitor structural conditions of the Guyed Towers (2) of a Transmission Line (1), the system characterized by comprising: a Modular Radio measurement platform (7) with Temperature Sensor (25), Relative Humidity Sensor (26), Atmospheric Pressure Sensor (27), Magnetometer (28), Accelerometer (29), Gyroscope (30) and Traction Load Cell (31) installed next to each of the Guy Cables (5) of the Guyed Tower (2), which send data collected from sensors via a Wi-SUN Internet of Things (IoT) network to a Radio Concentrator (8) installed on the structure of the same Guyed Tower (2) which, in addition to receiving data from the Modular Radios (7), receives data from a Meteorological Station (10) originating from a Rain Gauge (34), an Anemometer (35) and a Wind Direction Meter (36);and the Wi-SUN IoT network being composed of Concentrator Radios (8) installed on each of the Guyed Towers (2) along the Transmission Line (1) and Edge Router Radios (11) installed on the Guyed Towers (2) at the ends of the Transmission Line (1) that receive the data collected by the Concentrator Radios (8) and send it via Wi-Fi or Ethernet network (15) to a System Server (14) installed inside a Processing Center (13) in a Substation, SE, (12) located at the end of the Transmission Line (1), where Petition 870210089135, of 09 / 27 / 2021, page. 26 / 33 2 / 4 are stored, processed and sent via Wi-Fi or Ethernet network (15) to a Supervisory System (17), located in an Operations Center (OC) (16) of a transmission company, where they are made available to an operator.; 2. Internet of Things monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, according to claim 1, characterized in that the Modular Radio (7) consists of a SmartMesh Transceiver (18) with a range of 170 m, an Internal Antenna (19), an A / D Converter (21) that receives analog signals from the sensors, a CPU (20), an Internal Memory (22) with an autonomy of 200 hours for storing data from the sensors collected every 15 seconds and integrated every 1 minute and sent via the Wi-SUN IoT network to the Radio Concentrator (8) and a Battery (23) that is charged by a Photovoltaic Panel (24).

3. Internet of Things monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, according to claim 2, characterized in that the Radio Concentrator (8) consists of a SmartMesh Transceiver (32) with a range of 170 m for communication with Modular Radios (7) via the IoT Wi SUN network, a SmartMesh Transceiver 2 (33) with a range of 1200 m for communication with adjacent Radio Concentrators (8) via another IoT Wi SUN network, the CPU (20) that receives digital data from the fully automated Weather Station (10), the Internal Memory (22) with an autonomy of 200 hours for storing data from sensors collected every 1 minute and climate data every 5 minutes, and the Battery (23) that is charged by a Photovoltaic Panel. Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 27 / 33 3 / 4 (24).

4. Internet of Things monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an Edge Radio Router (11) consisting of the SmartMesh Transceiver (38) operating on the Wi-SUN network with a range of 1200 m for communication with the Concentrator Radios (8), a Wi-Fi Transceiver (37) operating on the Wi-Fi network that communicates with the System Server (14) via the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network (15) communicates with the System Server (14), the CPU (20) that receives and forwards the received data, the Internal Memory (22) and the Battery (23) that is charged by the Photovoltaic Panel (24).

5. Internet of Things monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a Monitoring System Software installed on the Supervisory System (17) to provide in real time: Current Data (40) measured on each of the Guy Cables (5) of the selected Guyed Tower (2) and the Meteorological Station (10) relating to the selected Guyed Tower (5); Historical Data (41) of the selected Guyed Tower (2) with the data in a spreadsheet; Alarms (42) relating to the Guyed Towers (2) to indicate abnormality in Tension Forces on Guy Cable 1 (43), Guy Cable 2 (44), Guy Cable 3 (45) or Guy Cable 4 (46).

6. Internet of Things monitoring system for guyed transmission line towers, Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 28 / 33 4 / 4 according to claim 5, characterized in that it uses an algorithm that disregards the natural vibration frequencies of the Guyed Tower (2) and uses an Accelerometer (28) to measure the transverse acceleration in the Guy Cable (5) and determine the tensile force in the same, to replace the use of the Tension Load Cell (30). Petition 870210089135, dated 09 / 27 / 2021, p. 29 / 33

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