Power line management system

• US 10,041,968 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nulty, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HULS, NATALIE F
• Application Number:
  US15/294,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20170030943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/02 by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic massesG01P15/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0012 Contingency detection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00125 Transmission line or load transient problems, e.g. overvoltage, resonance or self-excitation of inductive loads H02J3/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Techniques comprising obtaining, using a sensor unit coupled to a power line in a power distribution system, at least one measurement of at least one inertial property of the power line; and detecting at least one condition of the power line at least in part by analyzing the at least one measurement. A sensor unit configured to be coupled to a power line in a power distribution system, the sensor unit comprising an inertial sensor configured to collect at least one measurement of at least one inertial property of the power line.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining, using a first sensor unit coupled to a first power line in a power distribution system, at least one first measurement of at least one inertial property of the first power line;

obtaining, using a second sensor unit different from the first sensor unit and coupled to a second power line different from the first power line, at least a second measurement of at least one inertial property of the second power line;

detecting a weather condition affecting multiple power lines in an area at least in part by correlating a first feature obtained from the at least one first measurement with a second feature obtained from the at least one second measurement;

scheduling maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition; and

,

performing maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the weather condition comprises:

generating the first feature from the at least one first measurement, the first feature indicating presence of sag in the first power line;

generating the second feature from the at least one second measurement, the second feature indicating presence of sag in the second power line; and

correlating the first feature with the second feature to infer that the weather condition is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the weather condition comprises:

generating the first feature from the at least one first measurement, the first feature indicating swinging, oscillation, galloping, twisting, and/or rotation of the first power line;

generating the second feature from the at least one second measurement, the second feature indicating swinging, oscillation, galloping, twisting, and/or rotation of the second power line; and

correlating the first feature with the second feature to infer that the weather condition is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one inertial property of the first power line comprises a property selected from the group consisting of velocity, acceleration, and inclination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first measurement of the at least one inertial property comprises a plurality of measurements of the at least one inertial property, and wherein the method further comprises generating the first feature at least in part by determining a rate of change of the at least one inertial property.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the first sensor unit, whether to transmit the at least one first measurement from the first sensor unit to another computing device; and

transmitting the at least one first measurement to the other computing device in response to determining that the at least one first measurement is to be transmitted.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the weather condition affecting multiple power lines in the area comprises determining that wind is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the weather condition affecting multiple power lines in the area comprises determining that snow and/or ice build-up is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition further comprises:

decoupling one or more of the multiple power lines from the power distribution system in response to detecting the weather condition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition further comprises:

performing advance preparations to facilitate repairs on one or more of the multiple power lines in the area being affected by the weather condition.