Process, device and system for mapping transformers to meters and locating non-technical line losses

• US 20100231413A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: PRINCE, Chris, CONANT, Rob
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/22 Arrangements for detecting or reporting faults, outages or leaks
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/47 Methods for determining the topology or arrangement of meters in a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A process, device and system for mapping usage data from a plurality of utility usage nodes, such as electricity usage meters, to one or more utility distribution nodes, such as a transformer, in which utility usage data collected at a collection device from the plurality of utility usage nodes at predetermined intervals is received, and utility distribution data collected at the collection device from the utility distribution node at the predetermined intervals is likewise received. Aggregate usage data from one or more of the plurality of utility usage nodes is compared to distribution data from the utility distribution node during one or more of the same predetermined intervals to determine, using a computer, which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the utility distribution node

Claims

1. A process for mapping usage data from a plurality of utility usage nodes to at least one utility distribution node comprising:

collecting, at a collection device, utility usage data from the plurality of utility usage nodes at predetermined intervals;

collecting, at the collection device, utility distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node at the predetermined intervals; and

determining, using a computer, which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the at least one utility distribution node by comparing aggregate usage data from one or more of the plurality of utility usage nodes to distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during at least one same predetermined interval.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the plurality of utility usage nodes further comprise a plurality of utility usage nodes selected from a group consisting of a plurality of electricity usage nodes, a plurality of water usage nodes, and a plurality of gas usage nodes.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined intervals further comprise predetermined intervals of at least one minute.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined intervals further comprise predetermined intervals of up to one hour.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined intervals further comprise predetermined intervals of between at least one minute and up to one hour.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the plurality of utility usage nodes further comprise a plurality of electricity usage meters.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein collecting, at the collection device, the utility usage data from the plurality of utility usage nodes further comprises collecting, at the collection device, the utility usage data from the plurality of utility usage meters over a wireless network.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein collecting, at the collection device, the utility usage data from the plurality of utility usage nodes further comprises collecting, at the collection device, the utility usage data from the plurality of utility usage meters over a wired network.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein the plurality of utility usage meters are time synchronized with one another.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one utility distribution node further comprises at least one utility distribution node selected from a group consisting of at least one electricity distribution node, at least one water distribution node, and at least one gas distribution node.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one utility distribution node further comprises at least one transformer.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein said at least one transformer further comprises at least one transformer load meter.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein collecting, at the collection device, utility distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node further comprises collecting, at the collection device, load meter data from the at least one transformer load meter over a wireless network.

14. The process of claim 12, wherein collecting, at the collection device, utility distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node further comprises collecting, at the collection device, load meter data from the at least one transformer load meter over a wired network.

15. The process of claim 12, wherein the plurality of utility usage nodes further comprise a plurality of electricity usage meters that are time synchronized with one another and with the at least one transformer load meter.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one utility distribution node further comprises at least one of a substation bank, a circuit breaker, a line capacitor, a circuit recloser, or a circuit switch.

17. The process of claim 1, wherein determining which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the at least one utility distribution node further comprises determining that all of the plurality of utility usage nodes are connected to the at least one utility distribution node when utility usage according to the aggregate usage data from all of the plurality of utility usage nodes is substantially equal to utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

18. The process of claim 1, wherein determining which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the at least one utility distribution node further comprises determining that a condition of unallocated consumption exists for the at least one utility distribution node when utility usage according to the aggregate usage data from all of the plurality of utility usage nodes is less than the utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein determining that a condition of unallocated consumption exists further comprises determining that a non-technical line loss exists for the at least one utility distribution node when utility usage according to the aggregate usage data from all of the plurality of utility usage nodes is less than the utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein determining that a condition of unallocated consumption exists further comprises determining that at least one additional utility usage node is connected to the at least one utility distribution node when the utility usage according to the aggregate usage data from all of the plurality of utility usage nodes is less than the utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein determining that at least one additional utility usage node is connected to the at least one utility distribution node further comprises identifying the at least one additional node by comparing utility usage according to usage data from said at least one additional utility usage node to an amount by which the utility usage according to the aggregate usage data from the plurality of utility usage nodes is less than the utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

22. The process of claim 1, wherein determining which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the at least one utility distribution node further comprises determining that less than all of the plurality of utility usage nodes are connected to the at least one utility distribution node when utility usage according to the aggregate usage data from all of the plurality of utility usage nodes exceeds the utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein determining that less than all of the plurality of utility usage nodes are connected to the at least one utility distribution node further comprises identifying at least one of the plurality of utility usage nodes that is not connected to the at least one utility distribution node by comparing utility usage according to usage data from said at least one of the plurality of utility usage nodes to an amount by which utility according to the aggregate usage data from all of the plurality of utility usage nodes exceeds utility distribution according to the distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during the at least one same predetermined interval.

24. A machine for mapping usage data from a plurality of utility usage nodes to at least one utility distribution node comprising:

a microprocessor coupled to a memory, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to;

receive utility usage data collected, at a collection device, from the plurality of utility usage nodes at predetermined intervals;

receive utility distribution data collected, at the collection device, from the at least one utility distribution node at the predetermined intervals; and

determine which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the at least one utility distribution node by comparing aggregate usage data from one or more of the plurality of utility usage nodes to distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during at least one same predetermined interval.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored therein, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor to perform the following steps:

receiving utility usage data collected, at a collection device, from the plurality of utility usage nodes at predetermined intervals;

receiving utility distribution data collected, at the collection device, from the at least one utility distribution node at the predetermined intervals; and

determining which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the at least one utility distribution node by comparing aggregate usage data from one or more of the plurality of utility usage nodes to distribution data from the at least one utility distribution node during at least one same predetermined interval.