Energy harvest split core design elements for ease of installation, high performance, and long term reliability

• US 9,229,036 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sentient Technologies Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sentient Energy, Inc. (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kast, Michael, Knight, David P., Parsons, Mark A., Saxby, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Stephen G
• Application Number:
  US13/733,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/14 Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/186 using current transformers with a core consisting of two or more parts, e.g. clamp-on type G01R15/142 - G01R15/16 take precedence; tong testers G01R1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/085 in power transmission or distribution lines, e.g. overhead
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/305 with toroidal magnetic core
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/23 Corrosion protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/30 Constructions
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/28 Clamped connections, spring connections made by means of terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/002 Maintenance of line connectors, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of power line sensing devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, the power line sensors can include a split-core transformer. In some embodiments, a power line sensing device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network. The sensing devices can be configured to measure and monitor, among other things, current and electric-field on the conductors. Methods of installing, sealing, and protecting the split-core transformers of the power line sensors are also discussed.

Claims

1. A power line sensing device, comprising:

a split-core transformer comprising a first core half and a second core half, the split-core transformer configured to harvest energy from a power line conductor;

electronics configured to receive energy harvested from the split-core transformer to power the power line sensing device;

a reservoir disposed in a first core face of the first core half, the reservoir at least partially filled with a sealing material; and

a pin disposed on a second core face of the second core half, the pin sized and configured to fit inside the reservoir to release the sealing material when the split-core transformer is closed around the power line conductor.

2. The power line sensing device of claim 1 wherein the sealing material comprises a fluid, wax, or paste.

3. The power line sensing device of claim 1 the sealing material is configured to hermetically seal the first and second core halves of the split-core transformer.