Collaborative multisensor network architecture based on smart Web sensors for power quality applications

In this paper, the aim of the authors is to propose a multisensor network architecture for distributed power quality measurements, based on the use of low cost smart Web sensors and on a collaborative mobile agent mechanism that allow an easy remote access, for a generic user, to the measurement results. The network has a full decentralized processing architecture in which the sensors can collaborate in the signal analysis. A low cost smart Web sensor is also presented. It is mainly characterized by an architecture, both hardware and software, modular and adaptable to specific requirement that allows an easy integration into distributed measurement systems. Finally, in-field measurements, conducted on low voltage sub-networks, are reported for some of the main power quality disturbances.