Power Line Maintenance Monitoring

• US 20120278011A1
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Southwire Company
• Inventors: Lancaster, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,205,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/57
• 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 distance between a first sag transceiver and a second sag transceiver comprising a first distance;

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

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

calculating a current location of a point on a span of conductor based upon the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance; and

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.

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

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

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

5. 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

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprising the first distance 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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprising the first distance 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.

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. A computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method for providing monitoring, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving data from at least one inclinometer disposed on a span of conductor;

determining a current angle of a section of the span of conductor associated with the inclinometer based upon the received data; and

calculating a sag of the span of conductor based upon the determined current angle of the section of the span of conductor and a previous angle of the section of the span of conductor.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein calculating the sag of the span of conductor comprises calculating at the inclinometer disposed on the span of conductor.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein calculating the sag of the span of conductor comprises calculating at a power line monitor.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising providing an alert when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein calculating the sag of the span of conductor based upon the determined current angle of the section of the span of conductor and the previous angle of the section of the span of conductor comprises calculating the sag wherein the previous angle of the section of the span of conductor provides a baseline reference for ground clearance for the span of conductor.

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

a power line monitor configured to collect data corresponding to at least one of the following;

a current location of a point on a span of conductor and a current angle of a section of the span of conductor; and

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

receive the collected data from the power line monitor,

calculate a sag of the span of conductor based upon at least one of the following;

the current location of the point on the span of conductor and the current angle of the section of the span of conductor, and

provide an alert when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

19. The system of claim 18, 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.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the power line monitor is configured to collect the data corresponding to the current angle of the section of the span of conductor from at least one inclinometer.