Non-intrusive cable fault detection and methods

• US 9,103,864 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Original Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Inventors: Ali, Mohamod, Bhuiyan, Rashed H., Dougal, Rogor, Alam, Md Nazmul
• Primary Examiner(s): Vazquez, Arleen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pothen, Feba
• Application Number:
  US13/177,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 324/543
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1272 of cable, line or wire insulation, e.g. using partial discharge measurements locating faults in cables G01R31/083
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a cable fault detection device is described. The device includes a conformal monopole structure and a ground plane structure. The ground plane structure is configured to be generally parallel to the cable longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A cable fault detection device comprising:

a monopole structure that is generally cylindrical, the monopole structure defining a slit that is parallel to an axis of the generally cylindrical monopole structure, the monopole structure having a first end and a second end, the slit passing from the first end to the second end, the slit being configured to allow the monopole structure to fit circumferentially around a cable having a longitudinal axis such that the cable axis is parallel to the axis of the generally cylindrical monopole structure and the cable extends beyond the first end and the second end of the monopole structure; and

a ground plane structure having a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the length of the ground plane structure is configured to be generally parallel to the cable longitudinal axis when the monopole structure is placed circumferentially around the cable; and

circuitry for generating a conformal surface wave step signal at the detection device, the signal upon generation, propagating along a surface of the cable or through a dielectric coating on the cable to detect the cable fault.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the monopole structure comprises copper.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane structure comprises copper.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane structure further comprises insulating material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane structure is located more than 1 mm away from the monopole structure.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to derive power from the cable.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the power source is an energy scavenging system.

8. A method of cable fault detection comprising:

placing a monopole structure of a cable fault detection device around a cable, the cable having a longitudinal axis, the monopole structure being generally cylindrical and defining a longitudinal axis and a slit that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the monopole structure, the slit being configured to allow the monopole structure to be placed around the cable such that the longitudinal axis of the cable is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical monopole structure, the device further comprising a ground plane structure, wherein the ground plane structure has a length, a width, and a thickness and the length of the ground plane structure is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable;

exciting a conformal surface wave step signal from the cable fault detection device and along a surface of the cable or through a dielectric coating on the cable;

reflecting the step signal off of a fault in the cable; and

analyzing the reflected step signal to detect the fault in the cable.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monopole structure comprises copper.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the ground plane structure comprises copper.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the ground plane structure further comprises insulating material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the ground plane structure is located more than 1 mm away from the monopole structure.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising a power source configured to derive power from the cable.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the power source is an energy scavenging system.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising a circuit configured to generate an ultra narrow pulse.