Fault location detection system and method

• US 10,161,985 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eskom Holdings SOC Limited
• Original Assignee: Eskom Holdings SOC Limited
• Inventors: Higgins, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicely, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US14/913,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20160202307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/001 Measuring interference from external sources to, or emission from, the device under test, e.g. EMC, EMI, EMP or ESD testing measuring electromagnetic fields G01R29/08; circuits for generating HV pulses in dielectric strength testing G01R31/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location

Abstract

A fault location detection method includes detecting an EMI signal and analyzing the spectral content of the electrical signal to identify a fault. A location recorder records the location of the system when the EMI signals are detected and a processor analyses the EMI signals and records the location of the system to determine a location of the fault. A memory includes an aerial photograph of a geographic location within which faults are to be detected and wherein the processor overlays the position of the faults on the aerial photograph. In addition, a transparent intensity map is superimposed onto a satellite photo of a geographic location and this is displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A fault location detection system comprises:

an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) detection module including an RF antenna that detects EMI signals and converts the EMI signals into electrical signals;

a memory for data storage;

a motor for rotating the antenna wherein the motor rotates the antenna and EMI measurements are taken by the EMI detection module and converted to electrical signals, the motor then rotates the antenna to a next angle of interest and once again measurements are taken by the EMI detection module and converted to electrical signals, wherein the measurements are repeated for a plurality of different angles of interest;

an analyzing module for analyzing a spectral content of the electrical signals to identify a fault;

a movable housing in which the EMI detection module, the antenna, the memory and the motor are housed and which is moved from position to position in an area in which EMI measurements are taken;

a location recorder to record a location of the housing when the EMI signals are detected; and

a processor for using the analyzed signals and recorded location of the housing to determine a location of the fault.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the processor determines the GPS co-ordinates of the fault.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the memory includes an aerial photograph of a geographic location within which faults are to be detected and wherein the processor overlays the position of the fault on the aerial photograph.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the processer converts the Cartesian or pixel co-ordinates of the fault on the aerial photograph into the GPS co-ordinates of the fault.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the processor produces a transparent intensity map superimposed onto a satellite photo of a geographic location.

6. A system according to claim 5 further including a display via which the transparent intensity map superimposed onto a satellite photo of a geographic location is output to a user.

7. A fault location detection method, comprising:

using an antenna and an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) detection module to measure an EMI signal;

moving with a motor the antenna and EMI detection module from position to position in an area in which EMI measurements are taken;

taking a plurality of measurements at each position with the EMI detection module, wherein this procedure is repeated for a plurality of different angles of interest;

converting the EMI signals into electrical signals;

analyzing a spectral content of the electrical signals to identify a fault;

recording a location of the antenna and EMI detection module when the EMI signals are measured; and

using the analyzed EMI signals and recorded location of the antenna and EMI detection module to determine a location of the fault.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein GPS co-ordinates of the fault are determined.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein a memory includes an aerial photograph of a geographic location within which faults are to be detected and wherein the method includes overlaying the position of the fault on the aerial photograph.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the Cartesian or pixel co-ordinates of the fault are converted on the aerial photograph into the GPS co-ordinates of the fault.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein a transparent intensity map superimposed onto a satellite photo of a geographic location is produced.

12. A method according to claim 11 further including outputting to a user a display of the transparent intensity map superimposed onto a satellite photo of a geographic location is output to a user.