Power transmission tower mounted series injection transformer

• US 10,199,150 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Wires Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smart Wires Inc.
• Inventors: Carrow, Joe, Farahani, Ali, Inam, Haroon, Munguia, David, Iyer, Amrit, Das, Debrup, Kelley, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Tsz
• Application Number:
  US15/157,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20170169928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 336200, 336232, 336229
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/12 wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is ac G05F1/625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/06 Mounting, supporting or suspending transformers, reactors or choke coils not being of the signal type
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/42 Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors, or choke coils circuits for controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P13/00; impedance networks H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/1814 wherein al least one reactive element is actively controlled by a bridge converter, e.g. unified power flow controllers [UPFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/10 Flexible AC transmission systems [FACTS]

Abstract

The power transmission tower mounted series injection transformer (TMIT) injects impedance and/or voltage on a transmission tower power line. A tension bearing tower uses vertical and horizontal insulators to support and stabilize the TMIT. The TMIT can be much heavier than a transformer device clamped to the high-voltage transmission line. The TMIT is connected in series with the tension bearing tower'"'"'s jumper allowing it to use a multi-turn transformer. By operating at the line voltage potential, the TMIT does not require the large bushings and oil drums used by sub-station injection transformers.

Claims

1. For use in a high voltage power distribution system, apparatus comprising:

a series injection transformer having a multi-turn primary winding having first and second ends;

the series injection transformer being suspended from a tower of the high voltage power distribution system and not by a high voltage line or high voltage line segment of the high voltage power distribution system suspended by the tower;

an end of first and second high voltage line segments being connected to the suspension tower through first and second strain insulators, respectively; and

first and second jumpers, a first end of each of the first and second jumpers being connected to a respective one of the ends of the first and second high voltage line segments;

the second end of each of the first and second jumpers each being connected to a respective end of the multi-turn primary winding.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series injection transformer is suspended from a tower of the high voltage power distribution system, the tower being a dead-end tower.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the dead-end tower comprises a suspension tower that has been converted to a dead-end tower.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the series injection transformer is suspended from a tower of the high voltage power distribution system by a suspension insulator.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a horizontal post insulator coupled to the tower and stabilizing the position of the series injection transformer to prevent or limit high wind movement of the series injection transformer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series injection transformer operates at a potential of the high voltage line segments.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series injection transformer has a non-gapped transformer core of high permittivity material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series injection transformer comprises an active impedance injection module.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series injection transformer comprises an active impedance injection module within a housing.

10. For use in a high voltage power distribution system, apparatus comprising:

an active impedance injection module within a housing, the active injection module having a series injection transformer with a multi-turn primary winding having first and second ends;

the active impedance injection module being suspended from a tower of the high voltage power distribution system and not by a high voltage line or high voltage line segment of the high voltage power distribution system suspended by the tower;

an end of first and second high voltage line segments being connected to the tower through first and second strain insulators, respectively; and

first and second jumpers, a first end of each of the first and second jumpers being connected to a respective of one of the ends of the first and second high voltage line segments;

the second end of each of the first and second jumpers each being connected to a respective end of the primary winding.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tower is a dead-end tower.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the dead-end tower comprises a suspension tower that has been converted to a dead-end tower.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the active impedance injection module is suspended from a tower of the high voltage power distribution system by a suspension insulator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a horizontal post insulator coupled between the tower and apparatus and stabilizing the position of the apparatus to prevent or limit high wind movement of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the active impedance injection module operates at a potential of the high voltage line segments.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the series injection transformer is a non-gapped series injection transformer.

17. In a high voltage power distribution system, apparatus comprising:

a plurality of active impedance injection modules, each active injection module having a series injection transformer with a multi-turn primary winding having first and second ends;

each active impedance injection module being suspended from a respective tower of the high voltage power distribution system by a suspension insulator and not by a high voltage line or high voltage line segment of the high voltage power distribution system suspended by the tower; and

at each tower having an active impedance injection module;

a high voltage line of the high voltage power distribution system being cut into high voltage line segments;

an end of the respective first and second high voltage line segments being connected to the respective suspension tower through first and second strain insulators, respectively; and

first and second jumpers at each tower having an active impedance injection module, a first end of each of the respective first and second jumpers being connected to a respective of one of the ends of the first and second high voltage line segments;

the second end of each of the first and second jumpers being connected to a respective end of the respective primary winding.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising, at each tower having an active impedance injection module, a horizontal post insulator coupled between the tower and stabilizing the active impedance injection module to prevent or limit high wind movement of the respective active impedance injection module.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each tower of the high voltage power distribution system is a dead-end tower.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the dead-end tower comprises a suspension tower that has been converted to a dead-end tower.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the active impedance injection module operates at a potential of the high voltage line segments.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the series injection transformer is a non-gapped series injection transformer.