Measuring operational parameters at the guided surface waveguide probe

• US 10,559,866 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Wave LLC (Mad Energy)
• Original Assignee: Cpg Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Corum, James F., Corum, Kenneth L., Lougheed, Jr., Timothy J., Lomax, Jerry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Takaoka, Dean O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Alan
• Application Number:
  US15/909,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20180261902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0218 Very long range radars, e.g. surface wave radar, over-the-horizon or ionospheric propagation systems for meteorological use G01S13/95
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/18 built-up from several layers to increase operating surface, i.e. alternately conductive and dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/00 Coupling devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Disclosed is an exemplary guided surface waveguide probe. In one embodiment, the guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal elevated to a height above the lossy conducting medium; a support structure that supports the charge terminal; an internal coil that is supported within the support structure and is coupled to an excitation source; a conductive tube having a first end conductively coupled to the at least one section of internal coil, wherein a second end of the conductive tube extends vertically towards and is electrically coupled to the charge terminal; at least one sensor electrically coupled to the charge terminal or the internal coil, wherein the at least one sensor measures an operational parameter of the guided surface waveguide probe; and a non-conductive channel connected to the at least one sensor by which data associated with the operational parameter is communicated.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along a surface of a lossy conducting medium, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe comprises;

a charge terminal elevated to a height above the lossy conducting medium;

a support structure that supports the charge terminal;

at least one section of internal coil that is supported within the support structure and is coupled to an excitation source;

a conductive tube having a first end conductively coupled to the at least one section of internal coil, wherein a second end of the conductive tube extends vertically towards the charge terminal, wherein the at least one section of the internal coil is electrically coupled to the charge terminal via the conductive tube;

at least one sensor electrically coupled to the charge terminal or the internal coil, wherein the at least one sensor measures an operational parameter of the guided surface waveguide probe; and

a non-conductive channel connected to the at least one sensor and monitoring equipment of the guided surface waveguide probe by which data associated with the operational parameter is communicated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a Rogowski coil current sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive channel comprises a fiber optic cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fiber optic cable delivers a biasing signal to the at least one sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned at a point on the conductive tube underneath the charge terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned on a winding of the at least one section of the internal coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least two sensors, a first one of the at least two sensors being positioned at a point on the conductive tube underneath the charge terminal, a second one of the at least two sensors being positioned on a winding of the at least one section of the internal coil.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned in a region inside the charge terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a corona hood secured to a portion of the support structure, the corona hood comprising an annular canopy that tapers into a bottom portion of the conductive tube, the corona hood covering an end-most portion of the at least one section of the internal coil, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned underneath the corona hood.

10. A method comprising:

elevating a charge terminal of a guided surface waveguide probe to a height above a lossy conducting medium via a support structure of the guided surface waveguide probe;

supporting at least one section of internal coil within the support structure;

electrically coupling the at least one section of internal coil to an excitation source;

electrically coupling a conductive tube to the at least one section of internal coil at a first end, wherein the conductive tube extends vertically towards the charge terminal at a second end;

electrically coupling the conductive tube to the charge terminal;

electrically coupling at least one sensor to the charge terminal or the internal coil;

measuring, via the at least one sensor, an operational parameter of the guided surface waveguide probe; and

communicating data associated with the operational parameter over a non-conductive channel from the at least one sensor to monitoring equipment of the guided surface waveguide probe.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operational parameter comprises a current value, a voltage value, or an impedance value.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive channel comprises a fiber optic cable.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising delivering a biasing signal to the at least one sensor via the non-conductive channel.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning the at least one sensor at a point on the conductive tube underneath the charge terminal.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning the at least one sensor on a winding of the at least one section of the internal coil.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning the at least one sensor in a hollow region having reduced electric fields inside the charge terminal.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein a corona hood is secured to a portion of the support structure, the corona hood comprising an annular canopy that tapers into a bottom portion of the conductive tube, the corona hood covering an end-most portion of the at least one section of the internal coil, the method further comprising positioning the at least one sensor in a region of reduced electric fields underneath the corona hood.

18. An apparatus

a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along a surface of a lossy conducting medium, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe comprises:

a charge terminal elevated to a height above the lossy conducting medium, wherein the charge terminal comprises a hollow hemisphere portion that transitions into a hollow toroid portion;

a support structure that supports the charge terminal at an elevation;

at least one section of internal coil that is supported within the support structure and is coupled to an excitation source;

a conductive tube having a first end conductively coupled to the at least one section of internal coil, wherein a second end of the conductive tube extends vertically towards the charge terminal, wherein the at least one section of the internal coil is electrically coupled to the charge terminal via the conductive tube;

at least one sensor electrically coupled to the charge terminal or the internal coil, wherein the at least one sensor measures an operational parameter of the guided surface waveguide probe;

monitoring equipment configured to process data associated with the operational parameter measured by the at least one sensor; and

a non-conductive channel connected to the at least one sensor and the monitoring equipment by which the data associated with the operational parameter is communicated.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned within the charge terminal or underneath a corona hood connected to a bottom portion of the conductive tube.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one section of internal coil comprises at least one phasing coil that is coupled to the charge terminal, the apparatus further comprising a lumped element tank circuit coupled to the at least one phasing coil, wherein the lumped element tank circuit is coupled to a ground.