SBIR Transformer Acoustics Pitch

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Technology Innovation (3500 characters)

Explain the core high-risk technical innovation to be researched and developed during a Phase I project. NSF must understand what research and development is required and how this technical innovation differs from and is significantly better than existing solutions. It may also be that the proposed innovation creates a new market. In this case, why will it be adopted? Describing features or benefits of the proposed technology is not sufficient.

Transformers make noise that is a direct reflection of the underlying magnetic flux. This magnetic flux is affected by both the underlying electricity and the transformer mechanics. The underlying electricity is affected by the upstream and downstream equipment that is on the grid.

All of these produce different, sometimes overlapping, electric signatures that become abundantly clear during harmonic analysis. Through the process of magnetostriction (whereby electric power is converted to mechanical, acoustic power), minor changes in the waveform because abundantly clear, and the electric waveform becomes audible; transformers thus function as loudspeakers for the electric grid.

The US Navy and the Intelligence Community already perform this kind of analysis in a limited capacity on sonar recordings from submarines. We are applying the same concepts to understand the ways in which actors on the grid (transformers, inverters, converters, and turbine generators) produce their own acoustic signatures.

While the Navy uses the process of detection, classification, and identification, we are introducing a new task of diagnosis. By analyzing a wide array of transformers, inverters, and converters under different stages of degradation, we can identify not just the type of equipment but what kind of problems it may have as well.

There is a small market for transformer monitoring, but there is no market yet for inverter or converter monitoring. Many independent power producers have asked for a way to identify faulty inverters, and many utilities have expressed frustration with faulty converters that produce anomalous harmonics that pollute their electricity. And for all three of these cases, monitoring and analysis requires high-voltage work and extensive safety procedures to install the equipment or figure out whether further investigation is required.

Acoustic analysis solves this problem by offering a non-invasive, passive, and extremely cheap alternative; the hardware has already been deployed to everyone's pockets: this works on a smartphone — accessibility is why this technology will be adopted.

Existing solutions for holistic transformer monitoring (Oktogrid, Magnefy) combine multiple sensors to assess the health of the transformer. These solutions cost $5-7k/transformer and feed copious amounts of data to SCADA systems. However, none of them attempt to identify — let alone diagnose — different equipment connected to the grid. While there exist solutions for personal homes to identify when different appliances are active, there is nothing that exists at the utility level for larger equipment.

Acoustic analysis is the form factor that focuses on accessibility and enables mass adoption; identification and diagnosis is the nascent technology that will open doors for entire industries of repair, enabling utilities to maximize grid capacity, maximize the lifespan of their assets, and minimize waste of unneeded electricity.

Technical Objectives and Challenges (3500 characters)

Clearly explain the specific research and development required to prove that the foundational technology works and address the associated challenges explicitly with a high level description of how each will be managed. This section must convey how the proposed work is technically innovative and demonstrate that you have an understanding of the core research and development tasks necessary to prove out the technical innovation.

 

Market Opportunity (1750 characters)

Explain the value of the technological innovation including the potential uses and those who will benefit (who is the customer) and demonstrate a high-level understanding of the competitive landscape and why this innovation has the potential to compete.

 

Company and Team (17500 characters)

Explain the team’s suitability to successfully execute the project based on the proposed innovation and approach to R&D. Provide information on plans to address gaps in the team.