High voltage conductor mounted line powered monitoring system

• US 5,029,101 A
• Filed: 05/19/1989
• Issued: 07/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roosevelt A. Fernandes
• Original Assignee: Roosevelt A. Fernandes
• Inventors: Fernandes, Roosevelt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARSONS, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/354,383
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 364/492, 364/493, 364/483, 364/481, 73/189, 73/579, 340/601, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 174/42
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/04 giving only separate indications of the variables measured

Abstract

A hot-stick mountable, line powered, EHV conductor mounted environmental monitoring apparatus. The sensor module contains sensors for monitoring solar insolation, wind speed, lightning flashes, ambient temperature, relative humidity and dew point, precipitation, conductor icing, acoustic corona detection and conductor vibration. The power line environmental monitoring sensor module is configured to be corona free and can be installed on or removed from an energized high voltage power conductor. Data commensurate with the measured parameters is communicated from the sensor module to a Central or Regional Power Dispatch Center via a Geosynchronous Orbiting Environmental satellite (GOES) or to a ground station in the vicinity of the sensor module.

Claims

1. A sensor module for monitoring wind speed and direction at a first location along a power corridor through which a high voltage electrical conductor extends, and for detecting wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said conductor said module comprising:

(a) housing means mountable to said conductor at said first location;

(b) a support member mounted on said housing means having a vertical axis;

(c) a plurality of discreet piezo-electric elements, each of which generates an electrical signal proportional to pressure exerted thereon, arranged in seperate segments about said vertical axis upon said support member, whereby each of said segments has a surface facing in a seperate, known, horizontal direction and generates an electrical signal having a value proportional to pressure exerted thereon by wind blowing from the direction in which the element faces;

(d) said housing means, support member and piezo-electric elements each having a configuration suitable for avoiding corona effects from said conductor;

(e) signal processing means for receiving said electrical signal values from each of said elements and selecting the highest of said values;

(f) means for detecting wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said conductor and for generating a further electrical signal having a value commensurate with the frequency of said vibrations; and

(g) signal transmitting means for transmitting to a second location, remote from said first location, RF signals indicative of said highest value and the one of said elements generating said highest value, thereby providing an indication of the wind speed and direction and of the frequency of said aeolian vibrations at said first location.

2. The sensor module of claim 1 wherein said support member is circular in cross section normal to said vertical axis.

3. The sensor module of claim 2 wherein said support member is substantially spherical.

4. The sensor module of claim 1 wherein said signal transmitting means comprises a GOES antenna and means for adjusting the azimuth and elevation thereof, mounted on said housing means.

5. A sensor module for monitoring the direction and velocity of wind closely adjacent to a high voltage electrical conductor, and for detecting wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said conductor, comprising in combination:

(a) housing means mountable to and removable from said conductor while the latter is in an energized state;

(b) sensor means mounted upon said housing means and operable to generate first and second electrical signals having values respectively commensurate with the direction and velocity of wind incident on a portion of said sensor means, and a third electrical signal having a value commensurate with the frequency of wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said conductor;

(c) said housing and sensor means each having a configuration suitable for avoiding corona effects from said conductor;

(d) means mounted upon said housing means for encoding and processing said first, second and third electrical signals for transmission as an RF signal;

(e) transmitting means including a hot stick directionally adjustable transmitting antenna mounted on said housing for transmitting said RF signal to a selected orbiting satellite; and

(f) power supply means mounted on said housing for operating said encoding and processing means and said transmitting means, said power supply means deriving power from said conductor.

6. The sensor module of claim 5 and further including an additional sensor means mounted upon said housing and operable to generate an additional electrical signal having a value commensurate with a corresponding physical parameter of said conductor, said additional signal being encoded, processed and transmitted by said encoding and processing means and said transmitting means.

7. A method of monitoring wind direction and velocity at selected locations along power corridors through which energized high voltage electrical power lines extend, and for detecting wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said lines said method comprising:

(a) mounting upon at least some of said energized power lines a plurality of sensor modules, at least one of said modules being mounted at each of said locations, each of said modules having a configuration suitable for avoiding corona effects from said lines and carrying sensor means for generating first, second and third electrical signals having values respectively commensurate with the direction and velocity of wind incident on said sensor means and the frequency of wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said lines;

(b) encoding and processing said electrical signals for transmission as RF signals;

(c) transmitting said RF signals via a hot stick directionally adjustable, satellite antenna from said modules to an orbiting satellite;

(d) relaying said RF signals from said satellite to an earth receiving station; and

(e) receiving and decoding said RF signals at said receioving station, thereby providing real-time data commensurate with wind direction and velocity and wind-induced aeolian vibrations of said lines at each of said locations.