Method and apparatus for a remote electric power line conductor faulted circuit current, conductor temperature, conductor potential and conductor strain monitoring and alarm system

• US 7,187,275 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marmon Utility, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCollough, Norman D Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US10/904,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2839 using signal generators, power supplies or circuit analysers G01R31/2879 takes precedence; multimeters G01R15/12, network analysers G01R27/28

Abstract

An electric power line characteristic monitoring method that allows automatic conductor circuit fault data logging of average nominal and maximum magnitudes of conductor current, voltage, temperature and strain. Additionally, an alarm is implemented to enunciate a faulted condition on the power line. Parametric data storage is provided for later retrieval by a remote exciter. The parametric data is retrieved from the exciter through the transmission of a specific frequency and code key that activates the exciter.

Claims

1. A method for determining a nominal and maximum current flow in an electric power line conductor under faulted circuit conditions, conductor temperature, conductor strain, and conductor line potential, the method comprising:

(a) in a field environment, applying a specific frequency activation signal and code key from an exciter positioned proximate to the a faulted circuit monitoring apparatus located on the power line conductor;

(b) activating said faulted circuit monitoring apparatus by way of said specific frequency activation signal and code key;

(c) at the exciter, detecting a data signal from the faulted circuit monitoring apparatus, the data produced by modulating a specific frequency faulted circuit monitor in response to measured current, temperature, line potential and strain parameters;

(d) at the exciter, receiving the parametric data from the data signal;

(e) associating the faulted circuit current magnitude, temperature, strain and potential with the conductor phase information for the faulted circuit monitor apparatus;

(f) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) for all power line phase conductors on an electric power line;

(g) and storing the parametric data and phase conductor information in the memory of the exciter for downloading to a host pc.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a specific activation signal comprises applying an un-modulated signal having a specific frequency chosen to resonate with an rf detection circuit of the faulted circuit monitor.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein applying a specific frequency activation signal comprises applying a specific frequency or two distinct frequencies close to one another.

4. The method of claim 1 where in the fault current response time of the faulted circuit monitor is slowed to allow for “

inrush”

conditions on the power line.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein slowing the faulted circuit monitor to allow for “

inrush”

conditions on the electric power lines comprises sending a delay time value to the faulted circuit monitor from the exciter.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of the faulted circuit monitoring apparatus ignoring the current magnitude for a delay period of time after restoration of current power on the power line conductor, said time being set by a data signal sent from the exciter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a specific activation signal comprises positioning the exciter apparatus near the faulted circuit monitor to actuate the faulted circuit monitor with the specific frequency signal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a specific code key pattern of binary data are transmitted from the exciter by modulation of the rf signal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the faulted circuit monitor apparatus responds to only a match with the exciter transmitted code key.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a data signal from the faulted circuit monitor comprises:

Detecting faulted circuit current magnitude, conductor temperature, conductor strain, and conductor potential information from the faulted circuit monitor data signal.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the data signal from the faulted circuit monitor comprises:

Detecting an impedance modulation of a radiated rf field of the exciter; and

decoding the data as the impedance modulation by operation of the faulted circuit monitor.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising sequentially associating detected identification information with respective power line conductor phases.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of downloading the faulted circuit monitor data and communicating the data over a hard wire link, a wireless link, or a network to a host pc.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein communicating data comprises:

establishing a temporary connection between the exciter and the host pc;

conveying the data from the exciter to the host pc over the temporary connection;

and breaking the temporary connection.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said faulted circuit monitoring apparatus is powered by said specific frequency activation signal.