Power line maintenance monitoring

• US 10,205,307 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Southwire Company
• Inventors: Lancaster, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Henson, Mischita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liao, Christine
• Application Number:
  US13/545,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20120278011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/02 for overhead lines or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/00 Systems supporting electrical power generation, transmission or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge

Abstract

Monitoring may be provided. First, data may be received comprising a current location of a point on a span of conductor or a current angle of a section of the span of conductor. Next, a sag may be calculated of the span of conductor based upon the current location of the point on the span of conductor and the current angle of the section of the span of conductor. An alert may then be provided when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

Claims

1. A method of providing monitoring, the method comprising:

receiving a first distance between a first sag transceiver and a second sag transceiver comprising a first distance, wherein receiving the first distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprises;

receiving a time stamped signal at the second transceiver from the first transceiver, the time stamped signal comprising a time stamp indicating a time when the time stamped signal left the first transceiver,

determining a time of receipt of the time stamped signal at the second transceiver, and

determining the first distance based on the time stamp on the received time stamped signal and the time of receipt of the time stamped signal;

receiving a second distance between the first sag transceiver and a third sag transceiver;

receiving a third distance between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver;

calculating a current location of a point on a span of conductor based upon the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance, wherein the first sag transceiver, the second sag transceiver, and the third sag transceiver are located on the span;

calculating a sag of the span of conductor based upon the calculated current location of the point on the span of conductor and a previous location of the point on the span of conductor, wherein calculating the sag comprises calculating a real-time sag;

determining a clearance between the span of conductor based on the calculated sag and a baseline data; and

providing an alert when the clearance is less than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is based on one or more safety codes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second distance between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprises determining the second distance based upon a signal transmitted between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the third distance between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprises determining the third distance based upon a signal transmitted between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the current location of the point comprises calculating the current location of the point being within the third sag transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprises receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver wherein the first sag transceiver is located on a first structure supporting a first end of the span.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprises receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver wherein the second sag transceiver is located on a second structure supporting a second end of the span.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second distance between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprises receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver located at the point on the span.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the current location of the point on the span of conductor comprises calculating at one of the following:

the first sag transceiver, the second sag transceiver, and the third sag transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the current location of the point on the span of conductor comprises calculating at a power line monitor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the alert when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the sag of the span of conductor based upon the calculated current location of the point on the span of conductor and the previous location of the point on the span of conductor comprises calculating the sag wherein the previous location of the point on the span of conductor provides a baseline reference for ground clearance for the span of conductor.

12. A system for providing monitoring, the system comprising:

a power line monitor configured to collect first data corresponding to the following;

a first distance between a first sag transceiver and a second sag transceiver comprising a first distance, wherein power line monitor being configured to collect the first distance comprises the power line monitor being configured to;

receive a time stamped signal at the second transceiver from the first transceiver, the time stamped signal comprising a time stamp indicating a time when the time stamped signal left the first transceiver, determine a time of receipt of the time stamped signal at the second transceiver, and determine the first distance based on the time stamp on the received time stamped signal and the time of receipt of the time stamped signal,

a second distance between the first sag transceiver and a third sag transceiver comprising a second distance, and

a third distance between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprising a third distance; and

a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system configured to;

receive a first data from the power line monitor,

calculate a current location of a point on a span of conductor based upon the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance received in the first data, wherein the first sag transceiver, the second sag transceiver, and the third sag transceiver are located on the span,

calculate a first real-time sag of the span of conductor based upon the current location of the point on the span of conductor,

provide an alert when the calculated first real-time sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span,

receive second data from the power line monitor,

recalculate the current location of the point based upon the second data,

calculate a second real-time sag for the span of conductor based upon the recalculated current location,

determine, based on the first real-time sag and the second real-time sag, that a real-time sag for the span of the conductor has increased,

determine whether the increase in the real-time sag for the span of the conductor is beyond that expected of an electrical load on the conductor,

determine, based on the determination that the increase in the real-time sag on the span of the conductor is beyond that expected of the electrical load, a probable cause for the increase in the real-time sag;

determine a clearance between the span of conductor based on the real-time sag and a baseline data; and

provide an alert when the clearance is less than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is based on one or more safety codes.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the power line monitor is configured to collect the data corresponding to the current location of the point on the span of conductor from a plurality of sag transceivers.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the power line monitor is configured to collect the data corresponding to a current angle of the section of the span of conductor from at least one inclinometer.