Method and system for determining a network structure or layout of at least a part of an electricity transport network

• US 7,960,964 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuon Tecno B.V.
• Original Assignee: Nuon Tecno B.V.
• Inventors: Campfens, Franciscus G. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US12/065,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20090153129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66, 324/67, 324/326, 324/323
• US Class Current: 324/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/085 in power transmission or distribution lines, e.g. overhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

A method for determining a network structure or layout of at least a part of an electricity transport network, for instance a low voltage part of this network extending in a city, includes providing a test signal to the network at at least first network location; and verifying whether the test signal, which has been provided to the first network location, reaches at least a second network location, in particular utilizing at least one detector. An embodiment of the invention relates to a system for determining a network structure or layout of at least a part of an electricity transport network.

Claims

1. A method for determining a network structure or layout of at least a part of an electricity transport network, the network comprising a number of end-user locations being coupled via electricity transport cables to a plurality of transformer stations, the method comprising:

providing a test signal to the network at at least a first network location; and

verifying whether said test signal, which has been provided to the first network location, reaches at least a second network location, to determine which second network locations are connected to which first network locations thereby determining which end user locations are connected to which transformer stations of the electricity transport network, wherein said first network location or second network location is located in or near a transformer station of the network, while said second network location or first network location, respectively, is located in or near an end-user location.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second network location is located in or near an electricity meter that is configured to register the electricity consumption of an end-user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more detectors are provided at a plurality of second network locations to detect whether said test signal, provided to a first network location, reaches the second network locations via the network.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein results of test signal detections performed at said second network location are recorded, in a memory and/or in writing and/or cartographically, while said results are preferably utilized for recording which second network location is coupled, via the network, to which first network location.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said test signal is a low frequency signal with a frequency in the range of approximately 50 or 60 Hz to approximately 10 kHz.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said test signal is provided to one or more power conductors of said network using inductive and/or capacitive coupling.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said test signal is provided with information, said information being preferably made available, stored and/or represented during and/or after reception of said test signal.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said information relates to the first location network location where the respective test signal is provided to the network, while said information comprises data about identification information, a position and/or address information of this first location.

9. A method according claim 1, wherein said network part is provided with polyphase power conductors, comprising different cores configured to transport different phases, wherein:

one test signal is successively provided to different cores of the power conductors;

or

more test signals are provided simultaneously to different cores of the power conductors.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein different test signals of different frequencies and/or signals provided with different information, are provided to different first network locations.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said part of the electricity network is in use configured to supply electricity to end-users during provision of said test signal to this network part.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transformer station is configured to convert high voltage or medium voltage to low voltage.

13. A method according to claim 5, wherein the frequency is higher than 50 Hz and lower than 9 kHz.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electricity transport network is a low voltage part of a network extending in a city.

15. A system for determining a network structure or layout of at least a part of an electricity transport network, the network comprising a plurality of end-user locations being coupled via electricity transport cables to a number of transformer stations, the system comprising:

at least one transmitter configured to input at least one test signal to the network at or near at least first network location; and

at least one detector configured to detect the presence of said test signal at at least a second network location of the network so as to determine which end user locations are connected to which transformer stations of the electricity transport network.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter and/or detector are each of portable design.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter and detector are configured to utilize one or more low frequency test signals in the range of approximately 50 or 60 Hz to approximately 10 kHz.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter is configured to provide said test signal using inductive and/or capacitive coupling to one or more power conductors of said network.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein said detector is configured to receive said test signal using inductive and/or capacitive coupling from one or more power conductors of said network.

20. A system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter is configured to provide said test signal with information, while said detector is designed for making available, storing and/or representing said information during and/or after reception of said test signal.

21. Use of a system according to claim 15, for determining which end-user locations or transformer stations, are connected to which transformer stations or end-user locations, respectively, of the electricity transport network.

22. A system according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter is part of a distribution station, and wherein the detector is part of an electricity meter of an end-user.

23. A system according to claim 17, wherein the frequency is higher than 50 Hz and lower than 9 kHz.

24. A system according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter is part of an electricity meter of an end-user, and wherein the detector is part of a distribution station.

25. A system according to claim 15, wherein the electricity transport network is a low voltage part of a network extending in a city.