Apparatus and method for monitoring power and current flow

• US 20040263149A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genscape Intangible Holding, Inc. (Daily Mail & General Trust Plc)
• Original Assignee: Genscape, Inc. (Verisk Analytics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Staats, Preston Trent
• Granted Patent: US 6,956,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/126
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1331 Measuring real or reactive component, measuring apparent energy

Abstract

A method and system for remotely monitoring the magnitude and direction of net electrical power and current flow to or from a power generation facility over the transmission lines operably connected thereto allows for the estimation of the power output of that facility. The method includes detecting and measuring the magnetic field emanating from the monitored transmission line(s), and detecting a signal synchronized to the power system frequency, typically the electric field, emanating from the transmission lines. The method further includes evaluating, storing, and transmitting the data on the electromagnetic (EM) fields that are recorded.

Claims

1-62. -62. (cancelled)

63. A method for monitoring and estimating power output of a power generation facility with multiple transmission lines operably connected thereto, comprising the steps of:

placing at least one apparatus comprising a magnetic transducer and an electric transducer at a predetermined distance from each of the transmission lines in order to monitor each transmission line;

receiving electric and magnetic fields of each monitored transmission line with the apparatus associated with that transmission line;

processing said electric and magnetic fields to obtain information representative of magnitude and relative phase of said electric and magnetic fields;

determining power flow through each transmission line based on said information; and

estimating power output of the power generation facility based on the power flow through each transmission line.

64. The system as recited in claim 63, wherein the estimated power output of the power generation facility is transmitted to a remote end user.

65. A system for monitoring information relating to a transmission line of a power generation facility, comprising:

a central computing site; and

a monitor positioned at a location substantially remote to and at a predetermined distance from said transmission line, said monitor including

a magnetic transducer for sensing a magnetic field associated with said transmission line,

an electric transducer for sensing an electric field associated with said transmission line,

a processor for receiving signals from the magnetic and electric transducers and generating data representative of the magnitude and relative phase of the respective magnetic and electric fields, and

a means for transmitting said data to the central computing site.

66. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein data received by said central computing site is processed to determine a net flow of current through said transmission line.

67. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein information relating to the net flow of current through said transmission line is communicated to one or more end users.