Method and system for power line network fault detection and quality monitoring

• US 6,917,888 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arkados Incorporated (Iota Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arkados Incorporated (Iota Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walvis, Dirk, Logvinov, Oleg, Durfee, Lawrence F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/430,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 702/59, 702/61, 702/62, 702/185, 324/500, 324/512, 340/870.02, 361/68, 700/286, 700/291
• US Class Current: 702/59
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/088 Aspects of digital computing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/11 using pulse reflection methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

Fault detection and power network quality monitoring are performed for a power line network using power line communications (“PLC”) signal transceiving and data processing capabilities. Power line signals are continuously received and processed to obtain signal data representative of power line network operating conditions that are expressed in the received power line signals. The harmonic content and noise signature of the signal data are evaluated with reference to known fault signature data and power line network topology properties for detecting and identifying the location of an existing or anticipated fault in the power line network and assessing power transmission quality of the network.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a fault in an electric power distribution network comprising continuously receiving, at a power line communications (“

PLC”

) receiver, electric power line signals from the power network;

processing the received power line signals to obtain signal data representative of physical characteristics of the received power line signals; and

performing fault evaluation processing using the signal data and at least one of predetermined fault signature, high frequency, signal harmonics and network topology data to determine whether the signal data corresponds to an existing or anticipated fault in the power network;

transmitting onto the network, from a PLC transmitter during PLC silent periods, transmission fault event data signals;

processing reflection of the transmission fault event data signals received at the PLC receiver during the PLC silent periods to obtain received fault event data; and

wherein the fault evaluation processing further uses the received fault event data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission fault event data signals include at least one of time and frequency domain reflectometry signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal data includes at least one of frequency, amplitude, phase, polarity and electrical signature of the received power line signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fault evaluation processing generates location data corresponding to the location of the detected fault in the power network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fault evaluation processing generates location data corresponding to the location of the detected fault in the power network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fault evaluation processing uses the received TDR data to identify the location of the detected fault in the power network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmission TDR signals are wideband signals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fault evaluation processing generates power network quality data.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting power network channel quality data at the PLC receiver during PLC active periods; and

wherein the fault evaluation processing further uses the channel quality data.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting the signal data, on the power network using PLC data signals, to a PLC head end unit, wherein the PLC head end unit performs further processing on the signal data to detect an existing or anticipated fault, identify the location of a detected fault and provide a power network quality estimate.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting, on the power network using PLC data signals, to a PLC head end unit fault evaluation data results from the fault evaluation processing, wherein the fault evaluation data results identify a network element determined to be a cause of a detected fault, location of the network element causing the fault and power line quality estimate data.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting signals for use in the fault evaluation processing and performing the fault evaluation processing at a PLC transceiver.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the fault evaluation processing includes at least one of fault anticipation, fault detection, fault analysis, and fault location.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the fault evaluation processing utilizes signal data obtained from power line signals received at a single PLC node.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the fault evaluation processing utilizes signal data obtained from power line signals received at a plurality of nodes.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

communicating the signal data and data resulting from the fault evaluation processing at the plurality of the nodes to a selected node on the power network, wherein the selected node performs fault evaluation processing including network testing, fault location, fault anticipation, power quality measurements, and fault analysis.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing historical data related to network signatures and parameters.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the fault evaluation processing used the stored historical data to detect faults and anticipate events such as faults.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fault evaluation processing has an ability to learn network behavior and typical signatures and parameters.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fault evaluation processing includes process modeling functionalities that allow for a development of self-learning models capable of predicting system response and behavior based on the historical data.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

performing centralized fault evaluation processing at one of the nodes.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

performing the fault evaluation processing at at least two of the nodes.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the fault evaluation processing is performed by a separate entity having means of direct or indirect communication with all of the nodes.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the nodes performs functions of a data aggregation and a proxy for the other nodes.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein at least two of the nodes perform functions of a data aggregation and a proxy for the other nodes creating a multi-tiered system.