A power stage includes a control device and a power transistor, the control device comprising a primary circuit comprising: a control module able to generate a control current, a primary circuit malfunction detector able to detect a malfunction, a pulse transformer comprising a primary winding connected to the primary circuit, comprising a secondary winding connected to the secondary circuit, magnetically coupled to the primary winding and able to generate, from the control current, an induced pulse current making it possible to drive the power transistor, a secondary circuit comprising: a power and fault detection controller able to detect a malfunction of the secondary circuit or of the power transistor, the power and fault detection controller being able to communicate the malfunction of the secondary circuit or of the power transistor to the primary circuit malfunction detector.

The invention relates to a method for networked monitoring of at least one transformer (5), wherein the following steps/stages are performed: receiving (110) an electromagnetic signal (210) by a monitoring component (20) at the active transformer (5), the signal (210) being specific to at least one transformer parameter of the transformer (5), carrying out a frequency evaluation (120) based on the received signal (210) by the monitoring component (20), outputting (130) monitoring information (240) about a result of the frequency evaluation (120) to a network (70) for transmission to a processing system (80) for evaluation (140) of the transformer parameter based on the monitoring information (240).

The invention relates to a method for networked monitoring of at least one transformer (5), wherein the following steps/stages are performed: receiving (110) an electromagnetic signal (210) by a monitoring component (20) at the active transformer (5), the signal (210) being specific to at least one transformer parameter of the transformer (5), carrying out a frequency evaluation (120) based on the received signal (210) by the monitoring component (20), outputting (130) monitoring information (240) about a result of the frequency evaluation (120) to a network (70) for transmission to a processing system (80) for evaluation (140) of the transformer parameter based on the monitoring information (240).

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for optimizing transformer exciting current and loss test results by dynamically managing core magnetic state. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes injecting a direct current (DC) offset voltage; adjusting at least one of a polarity and a magnitude of the DC offset voltage while monitoring a test current for one or more criteria; and bypassing a source of the DC offset voltage when the test current has satisfied the one or more criteria, whereby residual magnetism, if any, of a core of the transformer is minimized.

A tether control system for an inspection vehicle operable in a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The tether system includes a tether connected between the inspection vehicle and an electronic controller. A controllable buoyancy system associated with the tether is operable for moving the tether in a desired location. The controllable buoyancy system includes one or more floating bodies having a propulsion system and one or more buoyant elements having variable buoyancy capabilities.

A tether control system for an inspection vehicle operable in a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The tether system includes a tether connected between the inspection vehicle and an electronic controller. A controllable buoyancy system associated with the tether is operable for moving the tether in a desired location. The controllable buoyancy system includes one or more floating bodies having a propulsion system and one or more buoyant elements having variable buoyancy capabilities.

A system for distribution transformer monitoring may comprise a distribution transformer that includes a transformer fluid tank, a monitoring unit that includes a plurality of sensors, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the distribution transformer, and wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a fluid sensor that includes a sensor probe that extends out of the monitoring unit into the transformer fluid tank of the distribution transformer, and a communication unit coupled to the distribution transformer and communicatively coupled to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may further comprises a sensor module to receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors, a storage module to store the sensor data in an internal data storage device of the monitoring unit, an analysis module to analyze the sensor data to determine generated data, and a communication module to communicate the sensor data or the generated data to a remote computing device.

A system for distribution transformer monitoring may comprise a distribution transformer that includes a transformer fluid tank, a monitoring unit that includes a plurality of sensors, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the distribution transformer, and wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a fluid sensor that includes a sensor probe that extends out of the monitoring unit into the transformer fluid tank of the distribution transformer, and a communication unit coupled to the distribution transformer and communicatively coupled to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may further comprises a sensor module to receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors, a storage module to store the sensor data in an internal data storage device of the monitoring unit, an analysis module to analyze the sensor data to determine generated data, and a communication module to communicate the sensor data or the generated data to a remote computing device.

This disclosure relates to monitoring operational parameters of a distribution transformer and an associated surge arrester, and methods of retrofitting the distribution transformer with a transformer parameter monitoring (TPM) system. The TPM system can include a plurality of sensors. A subset of the plurality of sensors can be configured to monitor one or more physical properties of a distribution transformer, and another subset of the plurality of sensors can be configured to monitor a surge arrester associated with the distribution transformer. The TPM system can further include a controller that can be configured to receive captured sensor data from the plurality of sensors, and a communications interface that can be configured to communicate the captured sensor data to a remote system for evaluation thereof to determine one or more operational parameters of the distribution transformer and an amount of deterioration of the surge arrester.

This disclosure relates to monitoring operational parameters of a distribution transformer and an associated surge arrester, and methods of retrofitting the distribution transformer with a transformer parameter monitoring (TPM) system. The TPM system can include a plurality of sensors. A subset of the plurality of sensors can be configured to monitor one or more physical properties of a distribution transformer, and another subset of the plurality of sensors can be configured to monitor a surge arrester associated with the distribution transformer. The TPM system can further include a controller that can be configured to receive captured sensor data from the plurality of sensors, and a communications interface that can be configured to communicate the captured sensor data to a remote system for evaluation thereof to determine one or more operational parameters of the distribution transformer and an amount of deterioration of the surge arrester.