SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFERRING SCHEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LOAD POINTS AND SERVICE TRANSFORMERS

• US 20140361907A1
• Filed: 06/06/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dominion Enterprises (Landmark Media Enterprises LLC), TRC Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Power Tagging Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: BERNHEIM, Henrik F., HANSELL, Jerritt, MARTIN, Marcia Reid, BULLARD, Jason Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/47 Methods for determining the topology or arrangement of meters in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A system and method for identifying which of several candidate service transformers is powering a specific service point an electrical distribution grid are disclosed. An audio-frequency electrical signal, the detection signal, is injected onto the power line at the service point via a meter socket or electrical outlet. The Transmitter for the detection signal may be a portable device or it may be incorporated into an electrical meter. The audible or mechanical resonance caused in the service transformer by the detection signal is detected and recorded using an accelerometer or directional microphone in a Receiver. A variety of methods for fixing the Receiver at or in proximity to the service transformers are disclosed in order to adapt to variations in the siting and housing of service transformers. A variety of mechanisms and methods for collecting detection events are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for determining, in an electrical distribution grid, which of one or more candidate service transformers is supplying power to at least one load, as represented by a meter socket or electrical outlet, the system comprising:

a. at least one on-grid Transmitter configured to inject at least one detection signal when powered by the meter socket or electrical outlet of the at least one load;

b. at least one Receiver configured to detect resonant mechanical vibrations or sound caused by the locator signal in the candidate transformer supplying power to the specific Transmitter which is the source of the locator signal; and

c. a recording mechanism to record the pairing of load with transformer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the Transmitter is a portable unit configured to plug into the meter socket of a load in place of an electrical meter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the Transmitter is a component of an electrical meter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the Transmitter has access to a GPS signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording mechanism is manual.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording mechanism is a recording unit comprising at least a processor and computer-readable memory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording mechanism is a component of the Receiver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording mechanism is a component of the Transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording mechanism is a component of a mobile computing device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording unit includes at least one interface for uploading recorded events to another device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the Transmitter includes a mechanism for transmitting an event to the recording mechanism.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the Receiver includes a mechanism for transmitting an event to the recording mechanism.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the Receiver is configured to distinguish a detection signal from other signals and noise which may cause resonant vibrations in a transformer.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the Receiver is mounted at the service transformer without modifying the service transformer or its housing and without disrupting the normal operation of the service transformer or opening said housing.

14. A method for establishing that a service transformer is delivering electrical power to a load, comprising the steps of:

a. causing a Transmitter powered by a meter socket or outlet at the load to transmit at least one detection signal containing at least a locator pattern;

b. detecting the locator pattern using a Receiver at a service transformer;

c. recording at least the location of the Transmitter and the identity of the service transformer in a detection event record; and

d. incorporating the detection event record into a database.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising constructing the locator pattern as a known sequence of one or more pure tones, or as a sequence of one or more combinations of one or more tones transmitted simultaneously.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising including a timestamp in the detection signal.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising including the geospatial coordinates of the meter socket or outlet powering the Transmitter in the detection signal.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising including a unique identifier of the meter in the detection signal.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising including a serial number of the Transmitter in the detection signal.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording a unique identifier of the Receiver in the record of a detection event.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording additional data with the record of a detection event.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording the time at the receiver in the record of a detection event.