Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for confirming a tornado event has contacted a ground surface and for generating a path prediction. Upon receipt of power outage alarms from metering devices, the Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI) application can generate cluster areas based on the location of the metering devices. The AMI application can compare a cluster area to a tornado pattern to determine if the cluster area has experienced a tornado event. The AMI application can determine a speed and a direction of the tornado event based on the location and a time stamp of a power outage associated with the metering devices in the cluster areas.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for optimizing how operators of facilities view and monitor data on displays via an operations console. A display hierarchy may be employed to facilitate access by an operator to relevant information concerning plant operations. Information may be classified and rendered on a display. An operator may navigate between the displays via interacting with a navigation menu located on a display.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for confirming a tornado event has contacted the ground surface and generating a path prediction. Upon receipt of power outage alarms from metering devices, the Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI) application can generate cluster areas based on the location of the metering devices. The AMI application can compare cluster area to a tornado pattern to determine if the cluster area has experienced a tornado. AMI application can determine a speed and a direction of the tornado event based on the location and a time stamp associated with the metering devices in the cluster areas.

Abstract: An embodiment of an electric meter socket testing system features a plurality of tester line terminals adapted to connect with line terminals of an electric meter socket; a plurality of tester load terminals adapted to connect with load terminals of the electric meter socket; and a test module adapted to control input of voltage from the line terminals to the load terminals; and an indication interface configured to output whether the electric meter socket is determined to be safe for connecting an electric meter. Accordingly, the test module may further be adapted to check for a short circuit in an electrical distribution wiring network coupled to the line terminals in at least one diagnostic procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for calculating a downstream load in a power distribution network. A power distribution network may comprise smart meters capable of communicating readings describing power consumed by a customer to a monitoring computing device. A downstream load may be determined by the monitoring computing device for a point in the power distribution network using an average power determined for devices downstream from the point in the power distribution network. The average power for the devices downstream may be determined utilizing the readings received from the smart meters.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are directed to a mislinked meter system that identifies utility meters mislinked to a distribution transformer in a data store. Utility meters reporting voltages that vary more than other meters linked to the same distribution transformer in the data store may be physically linked to a different distribution transformer. To compare meter voltages, the mislinked meter system generates normal meter errors for the utility meters and a normal transformer error for some or all of the utility meters linked to the same distribution transformer. The normal meter error and transformer error represent the amount the voltages of a utility meter varies from the voltages of the other utility meters associated with the distribution transformer. The more the meter errors vary when compared to the transformer error, the more likely a utility meter is mislinked to the wrong distribution transformer in the data store.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are directed to a meter alert system that provides surveillance of meters and other components of a utility system. The meter alert system obtains, via a user interface, specification of one or more meter conditions among a list of meter conditions. The meter alert system generates a rule for a utility metering device according to the meter conditions, wherein the rule is associated with a utility metering device identifier of the utility metering device. The meter system executes the rule, wherein an execution of the rule generates an alert in response to at least one of the first meter condition being satisfied or the second meter condition being satisfied. The meter alert system transmits a notification message in response to the alert being generated.

Abstract: A coal feed system to feed pulverized low rank coals containing up to 25 wt % moisture to gasifiers operating up to 1000 psig pressure is described. The system includes gas distributor and collector gas permeable pipes imbedded in the lock vessel. Different methods of operation of the feed system are disclosed to minimize feed problems associated with bridging and packing of the pulverized coal. The method of maintaining the feed system and feeder device exit pressures using gas addition or extraction with the pressure control device is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for locating utility metering devices. Utility metering devices are those that are lost or stolen and that are facilitating unauthorized utility service access. Many AMI and/or AMR deployments lack the ability to remotely deactivate a meter. Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure can generate a zone of interest in which an unauthorized utility metering device is located, and the unauthorized utility metering device can be subsequently located within the zone of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating data synchronization in a utility computing environment. A data synchronization application can monitor source systems in such an environment and generate periodic change sets that correspond to data that has changed in the various source systems. Destination systems can subscribe to change sets and receive the appropriate change sets by monitoring flags that the data synchronization application can set. Various classes of change sets that correspond to data within a particular change set can also be generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for visualization of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployments are disclosed. A status associated with communications towers or metering devices in an AMI deployment can be monitored based on alarms generated by a metering vendor system or based on thresholds specified in the AMI operations database. A user interface can be generated that allows the AMI deployment to be visualized, with status indicators associated with statuses overlaid on a map. The user interface can further facilitate visualization of progress of tasks associated with AMI operations.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for locating utility metering devices. Utility metering devices that are lost or stolen and that are facilitating unauthorized utility service access. Many AMI and/or AMR deployments lack the ability to remotely deactivate a meter. Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure can generate a zone of interest in which an unauthorized utility metering device is located, and the unauthorized utility metering device can be subsequently located within the zone of interest.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for autotensioning conductors of transmission lines. In one embodiment, among others, an autotensioner system includes tensioning assemblies coupled between a structure and corresponding conductors and a tension controller that controls a tensioning assembly to adjust a tension of the corresponding conductor to within a predefined tolerance of a corresponding tension setpoint. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving a current conductor tension for each of multiple conductors and adjusting the conductor tension of one of the conductors by remotely controlling a corresponding tensioning assembly. The adjustment may be based at least in part upon the current conductor tensions and a tension setpoint.

Abstract: The improvements proposed in this invention provide a reliable apparatus and method to gasify low rank coals in a class of pressurized circulating fluidized bed reactors termed “transport gasifier.” The embodiments overcome a number of operability and reliability problems with existing gasifiers. The systems and methods address issues related to distribution of gasification agent without the use of internals, management of heat release to avoid any agglomeration and clinker formation, specific design of bends to withstand the highly erosive environment due to high solid particles circulation rates, design of a standpipe cyclone to withstand high temperature gasification environment, compact design of seal-leg that can handle high mass solids flux, design of nozzles that eliminate plugging, uniform aeration of large diameter Standpipe, oxidant injection at the cyclone exits to effectively modulate gasifier exit temperature and reduction in overall height of the gasifier with a modified non-mechanical valve.

Abstract: A coal feed system to feed pulverized low rank coals containing up to 25 wt % moisture to gasifiers operating up to 1000 psig pressure is described. The system includes gas distributor and collector gas permeable pipes imbedded in the lock vessel. Different methods of operation of the feed system are disclosed to minimize feed problems associated with bridging and packing of the pulverized coal. The method of maintaining the feed system and feeder device exit pressures using gas addition or extraction with the pressure control device is also described.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for monitoring and analysis of electrical components. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining raw radio frequency (RF) component data associated with an electrical component, cross-correlating the raw RF component data with a synchronized pseudo-random sequence (PRS) signal injected into the electrical component to determine a correlated impulse response, and determining a condition of the electrical component based at least in part upon the correlated impulse response. In another embodiment, a system includes a signal injection system coupled to an electrical component. The signal injection system injects a synchronized PRS signal into the electrical component. A data capture device obtains raw RF component data synchronized with the PRS signal through a RF antenna. A data analysis device cross-correlates the raw RF component data with the PRS signal to determine characteristics associated with the electrical component.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for transmission evaluation. In one embodiment, among others, a method includes evaluating a plurality of contingencies to generate a plurality of contingency results, where at least one of the contingency results includes an overload condition. The evaluation is based at least in part upon a case associated with a transmission network. The method further includes sorting the plurality of contingency results based upon corresponding overload-contingency pairs and determining a potential remediation solution to the overload condition based at least in part upon the overload-contingency pair. In another embodiment, a system includes a transmission evaluation application executed in a computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for elevating a user account by granting administrator permissions to workstations of network users. One embodiment of such a method comprises receiving authorization to provide a user temporary membership to an administrators group for a defined period of time; sending instructions to a workstation of the user to register as a member to the administrators group of the workstation; and in response to the membership having expired, sending instructions to remove the user as a member of the administrators group on the workstation.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for autotensioning conductors of transmission lines. In one embodiment, among others, an autotensioner system includes tensioning assemblies coupled between a structure and corresponding conductors and a tension controller that controls a tensioning assembly to adjust a tension of the corresponding conductor to within a predefined tolerance of a corresponding tension setpoint. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving a current conductor tension for each of multiple conductors and adjusting the conductor tension of one of the conductors by remotely controlling a corresponding tensioning assembly. The adjustment may be based at least in part upon the current conductor tensions and a tension setpoint.

Abstract: An embodiment of an electric meter socket testing system features a plurality of tester line terminals adapted to connect with line terminals of an electric meter socket; a plurality of tester load terminals adapted to connect with load terminals of the electric meter socket; and a test module adapted to control input of voltage from the line terminals to the load terminals; and an indication interface configured to output whether the electric meter socket is determined to be safe for connecting an electric meter. Accordingly, the test module may further be adapted to check for a short circuit in an electrical distribution wiring network coupled to the line terminals in at least one diagnostic procedure.