MONITORING ELECTRICAL ASSETS FOR FAULT AND EFFICIENCY CORRECTION
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a plurality of electrical assets defining an electrical infrastructure, the system comprising:
- a plurality of electrical asset monitors coupled to respective ones of the electrical assets, each monitor including a sensor coupled to the electrical asset for obtaining data corresponding to at least one of a voltage, current, and phase angle waveforms, a globally synchronized timer, a mesh network radio, a power supply, and a power storage device;
one or more gateways, each gateway including a gateway mesh network radio for communicating with the plurality of electrical asset monitors and a network interface for communicating with a central command center via a network distinct from the mesh network;
the central command center including a further network interface for communicating with the one or more gateways, a memory for storing a database of fault signatures, a second memory for storing the sensed data, and a processor for analyzing the sensed data to identify a probable fault type, a probable fault location, and a fault response; and
a mesh network for routing communications among the plurality of electrical asset monitors and the one or more gateways, whereby the mesh network coordinates efficient communication paths among the plurality of electrical asset monitors and the one or more gateways.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of monitoring a plurality of electrical assets comprise an electricity distribution infrastructure, including a plurality of electrical asset sensors coupled to the electrical assets for monitoring an operating condition of the electrical assets as well as any fault conditions. The sensors may include a current transformer for obtaining a current waveform, a GPS receiver for applying a synchronized time-stamp to the waveform data, and a mesh network radio for transmitting the time-stamped waveform data. Data from the plurality of sensors may be encrypted and transmitted over a mesh network to one or more gateways that are in communication with a central command processor. In response to an abnormal operating condition of any electrical asset, the central command processor may determine a probable fault location, a probable fault type, and a fault response.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a plurality of electrical assets defining an electrical infrastructure, the system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical asset monitors coupled to respective ones of the electrical assets, each monitor including a sensor coupled to the electrical asset for obtaining data corresponding to at least one of a voltage, current, and phase angle waveforms, a globally synchronized timer, a mesh network radio, a power supply, and a power storage device; one or more gateways, each gateway including a gateway mesh network radio for communicating with the plurality of electrical asset monitors and a network interface for communicating with a central command center via a network distinct from the mesh network; the central command center including a further network interface for communicating with the one or more gateways, a memory for storing a database of fault signatures, a second memory for storing the sensed data, and a processor for analyzing the sensed data to identify a probable fault type, a probable fault location, and a fault response; and a mesh network for routing communications among the plurality of electrical asset monitors and the one or more gateways, whereby the mesh network coordinates efficient communication paths among the plurality of electrical asset monitors and the one or more gateways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for monitoring a plurality of electrical assets defining an electrical infrastructure for pin pointing fault locations the system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical asset monitors coupled to respective ones of the electrical assets, each monitor including a sensor coupled to the electrical asset for obtaining data corresponding to at least ones of a voltage, current, or a phase angle waveform, a globally synchronized timer to time stamp the data, to measure time and to provide position information, a mesh network radio, a power supply, and a power storage device; one or more gateways, each gateway including a gateway mesh network radio for communicating with the plurality of electrical asset monitors and a network interface for communicating with a central command center via a network distinct from the mesh network; the central command center including a further network interface for communicating with the one or more gateways, a memory for storing a database of fault signatures, a second memory for storing the sensed data, a third memory for storing fixed asset information that includes at least one of cable type, cable propagation velocity, cable segment length, or asset type and asset electrical impedance, and a processor for analyzing the sensed data to identify a probable fault type, a probable fault location, and a fault response;
wherea system is configured to calculate a fault location from the globally synchronized times and at least one of respective arrival times of the fault signal from multiple ones of the plurality of electrical asset monitors, asset monitor position, fault signal propagation, and cable segment lengths.
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Specification