Zaphiro Technologies

Cutting-edge solutions for the smart management of electrical distribution grids.

The ambitious but necessary gas emission reduction goals set by many countries require significant investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrical grid infrastructure.

Zaphiro’s team has developed an innovative monitoring and automation system for the smart management of electrical distribution grids, called SynchroGuard. The goal is to support utilities in the transition from passive to proactive management of distribution grids, which is necessary to cope with increasing power generation and stricter regulatory requirements. Thanks to unique measurement devices and advanced data-processing algorithms, SynchroGuard provides real-time visibility of the grid status, enables safe integration of renewable energies and electric vehicles, and improves grid reliability by quickly reacting to electrical faults.

The main novelty of Zaphiro’s approach is the use of "synchrophasors" in distribution grids, which are very frequent and synchronized measurements of voltage and electric current, enabling several unique features, such as accurate fault location and the simplest installation on the market.

Even though the concept of synchrophasor exists already for niche applications in high-voltage transmission grids, we have exploited our unique expertise on smart grids to rethink and adapt synchrophasors to distribution grid management. We are currently rolling-out pilot projects with Swiss and Asian utilities, which represent the final product validation before the upcoming commercialization phase.

Offer

SynchroGuard

Description
Innovative monitoring and automation system for the smart management of electrical distribution grids.

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SynchroGuard increases grid efficiency and reliability by providing real-time visibility of the grid status, enabling safe integration of renewable energies and electric vehicles, and quickly reacting to electrical faults to minimize the impact of power outages. It consists of distributed sensors that measure the so-called "synchrophasors" and a central grid controller that collects all the measurements and performs real-time grid monitoring, automatic control of renewable energy generators, and smart fault management. In addition, we guarantee the simplest installation on the market, because we avoid the use of voltage sensors and we only use clamp-on current sensors, which are simple to install, cheap, and non-invasive. Synchrophasors are very frequent and time-synchronized measurements of voltage and electric current, which enable several benefits. Indeed, compared to competing solutions, SynchroGuard uses 3 times fewer devices on average, is capable of locating 4 times more faults, and enables non-invasive, cheaper and quicker installation. Our invention is protected by 2 pending patents consisting of the first synchrophasor estimation algorithm compliant with measurement and protection accuracy classes, and a very accurate and reliable fault location method.

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Available in
Worldwide

Categories of application
Affordable and clean energy

Sector of application
Energy distribution & management

Status
Implemented