Distribution line fault detector and communications module

• US 20020089802A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Beckwith
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Beckwith
• Inventors: Beckwith, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,753,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/63
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/042 combined with means for locating the fault locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/16 for capacitors for synchronous capacitors H02H7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/1821 using shunt compensators H02J3/1807, H02J3/1878 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/22 Flexible AC transmission systems [FACTS] or power factor or reactive power compensating or correcting units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment

Abstract

A device comprising a fault detector and communications module. The communications module can transmit and receive information and data via a commercial two-way wireless system, which may include two-way paging technology. The inventive device is capable of measuring imbalance currents in a remote capacitor bank, and if the imbalance current exceeds a set threshold the inventive device communicates this information, and/or other information, to an electric utility control center. The communications module is mounted using a standard utility meter socket, thereby allowing the communications module and an associated adaptive capacitor control to be stacked and mounted on the same meter socket to provide an integral unit. A two-way infrared communication port is also provided.

Claims

1. A control and communication device for communicating with a three phase electric power line communications center via a two-way wireless communications means, said device comprising

a) capacitor bank switching controls;

b) a two-way communications module for use with said capacitor bank switching controls for enabling communication via said two-way wireless communication means; and

c) program means in said module for responding to requests received from said center for information from, and operations of, said capacitor banks switching controls.

2. A device as in claim 1 including a current imbalance sensing device for obtaining information as to the operation and status of said capacitor banks.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said sensing device comprises a collar or toroidal core.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said two-way wireless communications module comprises a two-way paging module.

5. A control and communication device for communicating between a capacitor bank and a electric power control center wherein said capacitor bank is connected to three-phase distribution lines, said device comprising

a) a two-way wireless communications module including a microprocessor for communicating with said center;

b) electrical leads connecting a capacitor bank switching control and a microprocessor interface board;

c) current sensing means; and

d) microprocessor program means responsive to said sensing means for selectively enabling said two-way wireless communications module to transmit to said center information from, and data of operations, of said capacitor bank switching control.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein

a) a toroidal core or collar is connected to sense the imbalance in current flowing in the distribution lines;

and

b) said program means sets thresholds for initiating action in response to said imbalance of current.

11. A device as in claim 5 wherein

a) a current transformer collar is connected to sense the imbalance in current flowing in the distribution lines;

and

b) said program means sets thresholds for initiating action in response to said imbalance of current.

13. A method as in claim 12 further including the steps of

a) assigning a location identification o said capacitor banks modules;

and

b) sending said identification with the message transmitted.

14. A method as in claim 12 further including the step of

a) obtaining data from said capacitor switching controls by using infra red ports on said autoadaptive capacitor controls and said communications module.

15. A method as in claim 12 further including the step of communicating with said capacitor switching control using infrared communication from hand-held devices.

16. A method as in claim 12 further including the steps of

a) sensing imbalance current from line to neutral;

b) comparing said imbalance current to a pre-set threshold, and

c) if said threshold is exceeded, sending data and location identification information using said two-way messaging system,

whereby information may be used to dispatch maintenance personnel to the capacitor bank location.

7. A control and communication device for communicating between a capacitor bank and a electric power control center wherein said capacitor bank is connected to three-phase distribution lines, said device comprising

a) an adaptive capacitor control for monitoring and controlling a capacitor bank;

b) a two-way wireless communications module including an microprocessor interface board and a two-way messaging board for communicating with said center;

c) a meter socket;

d) a two-way communications means connecting a capacitor bank switching control and said microprocessor interface board;

e) a current sensing mean;

f) said autoadaptive capacitor control selectively operating in conjunction with said interface board to interrelate with said capacitor bank switching control; and

g) microprocessor program means responsive to said sensing means for activating said two-way wireless communications module to transmit information to said center of information from, and operations of, said capacitor bank switching control.

8. A device as in claim 7 further including

a) a five blade meter socket;

b) said autoadaptive capacitor control comprising a Beckwith Electric Co. M-2501A control having a four blade connector;

c.) an integral housing formed of said adaptive capacitor control stacked onto said communications module and said communications module stacked on said meter socket wherein said communications module has mating blades at one end thereof which mate with said meter socket and blades on the other end which mate with the four blade socket of the autoadaptive capacitor; and

c) said microprocessor interface board operating selectively either independently of, or in combination with said M-2501A adaptive capacitor control.

9. A device as in claim 7 further including an infrared communication port.

10. A device as in claim 7 wherein said two-way messaging board comprises Motorola, Inc. ReFlex (TM) two-way paging technology.

12. A method of operating switching controls for three phase electric power distribution line capacitors consisting of the steps of:

a) receiving requests for data by receivers of wireless two-way messaging modules;

b) obtaining said requested data from said capacitor switching controls; and

c) replying to said requests using transmitters of said two-way messaging modules.