Innovations in non-intrusive load monitoring

Abstract

A non-intrusive load monitor (NILM) measures power at a central point in an electrical system to monitor the operation of many connected loads. Non-contact power meters sense the electromagnetic fields surrounding a cable and reconstruct the currents in each conductor. This thesis presents a novel calibration method for determining the relationship between fields and currents for a new meter by using an existing meter elsewhere within the distribution network. A complex software pipeline captures, processes, and stores NILM data. Analysis tools are often not directly available to operators of mission-critical systems. An analytical and graphical platform is developed that provides diagnostic and prognostic information about equipment in real time to maintainers of electromechanical systems.