Remote contamination sensing device for determining contamination on insulation of power lines and substations

• US 5,764,065 A
• Filed: 09/20/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JDR Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clyde N. Richards, Joseph D. Renowden
• Inventors: Renowden, Joseph D., Richards, Clyde N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solis, Jose M.
• Application Number:
  US08/716,694
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/647, 361/62, 324/551, 324/552, 324/519, 324/670, 364/492
• US Class Current: 324/551
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1245 of line insulators or spacers, e.g. ceramic overhead line cap insulators; of insulators in HV bushings

Abstract

A remote contamination sensing device for contamination on insulation of electric power lines and substations includes a data logger and a supporting structure to which a sensing capacitor with at least two conductors is attached such that the conductors are spaced apart and insulated from each other. A capacitance measuring device, for measuring capacitance data between the conductors, is connected to the data logger. A hygrometer, for measuring the relative humidity of the ambient air, is also connected to the data logger. A first temperature sensor, for measuring the ambient temperature, and a second temperature sensor, for measuring the surface temperature of the capacitance sensor, are connected to the data logger. The measured capacitance data, relative humidity data, ambient temperature data, and surface temperature data are stored in the data logger. A computer is provided for processing the capacitance data, relative humidity data, ambient temperature data, and surface temperature data to determine the level of contamination based on calibration data stored in the computer.

Claims

1. A remote contamination sensing device for contamination on insulation of electric power lines and substations;

said contamination sensing device comprising;

a data logger;

a supporting structure;

a sensing capacitor comprising at least two conductors attached to said supporting structure so as to be spaced apart and insulated from each other;

a capacitance measuring device, for measuring the capacitance between said conductors, connected to said data logger;

a hygrometer, for measuring the relative humidity of the ambient air, connected to said data logger;

a first temperature sensor, for measuring the ambient temperature, connected to said data logger;

a second temperature sensor, for measuring the surface temperature of said capacitance sensor, connected to said data logger;

said measured capacitance data, said measured relative humidity data, said measured ambient temperature data, and said measured surface temperature data stored in said data logger;

a computer for processing said capacitance data, said relative humidity data, said ambient temperature data, and said surface temperature data to determine the level of contamination based on calibration data stored in the computer.

2. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two conductors are insulated wires wound spirally about said supporting structure.

3. A sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two conductors are metal films deposited onto said support structure.

4. A method of remotely sensing contamination on insulation of electric power lines and substations;

said method comprising the steps of;

attaching a sensing capacitor to a supporting structure, said sensing capacitor comprising at least two conductors so as to be spaced apart and insulated from one another;

placing the supporting structure with the sensing capacitor proximate to the insulation to be monitored;

measuring the capacitance between said conductors and storing the measured capacitance data in a data logger;

measuring the relative humidity of the ambient air and storing the measured relative humidity data in the data logger;

measuring the ambient temperature and storing the measured ambient temperature data in the data logger;

measuring the surface temperature of the capacitance sensor of the supporting structure and storing the measured surface temperature data in the data logger;

processing the measured capacitance data, the measured relative humidity data, the measured ambient temperature data, and the measured surface temperature data in a computer to determine the level of contamination based on calibration data stored in the computer.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of attaching includes selecting insulated wires as said at least two conductors and spirally winding said insulated wires about said supporting structure.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of attaching includes depositing said at least two conductors in the form of metal films onto said support structure.