Power line communication and power distribution parameter measurement system and method

• US 7,795,877 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Radtke, William O., Rayno, Andrew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baldridge, Benjamin M
• Application Number:
  US11/555,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 324/530
• US Class Current: 324/530
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16547 voltage or current in AC supplies switching for protection H02H; circuits for emergency power supply H02J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A power line communication device is provided that in one embodiment includes a parameter sensor device configured to measure a parameter of a power line, a modem configured to transmit parameter data over a power line, and a controller communicatively coupled to the current sensor device and modem. The parameter sensor device may include a current sensor device that includes a Rogowski coil. For measuring the current or other parameter of a higher voltage power line conductor, the parameter sensor device may be configured to provide data to the controller via a non-conductive communication link, such as via a wireless, fiber optic, or radio frequency transponder link. In addition, the parameter sensor device may include an isolated power source and receive power via a fiber optic conductor or inductively from the power line.

Claims

1. A power line communication device for providing information related to a un-insulated medium voltage power line carrying power with a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

a first current sensor device configured to be physically attached to the un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line;

said first current sensor device including a data interface, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a memory;

said first current sensor device including a processor in communication with said memory, said ADC and said data interface;

wherein said processor is programmed to receive data representing the measured current carried by the un-insulated medium voltage power line;

wherein said processor is programmed to store data of a plurality of current measurements in said memory;

wherein said processor is programmed to retrieve the plurality of measurements from memory and to cause said data interface to transmit the data representing the plurality of measurements in a single transmission;

a second device configured to be mounted to a utility pole and comprising;

a sensor interface configured to communicate with said data interface of said first current sensor device;

a modem configured to transmit data related to the measured current;

a controller communicatively coupled to said modem and said sensor interface and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory; and

wherein said first current sensor device is electrically isolated from said second device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first current sensor device includes a Rogowski coil that includes a first winding wound in a first direction and second winding wound in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said current sensor device includes a Rogowski coil that includes a first winding and a second winding comprising traces interwoven on a printed circuit board.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a voltage sensor device configured to measure a voltage of a power line and communicatively coupled to said controller.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said controller is configured to determine a power factor based on data from said first current sensor device and said voltage sensor device.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second current sensor device configured to measure the current carried by a low voltage power line.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said modem is further configured to transmit power usage data received by said second device from an electric utility meter.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said current sensor device and said second device are co-located at a utility pole.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said current sensor device includes an isolated power source for supplying operating power to one or more components of said current sensor device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said power source is configured to inductively draw power from the medium voltage power line.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said power source is configured to receive power for supplying the operating power via a fiber optic conductor.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said power source is configured to derive power from solar energy.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said current sensor device is configured to provide data to said second device via a wireless communication link.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said current sensor device provides data to said second device via transmissions that include a duty cycle less than 0.1.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said current sensor device provides data to said second device via transmissions that include a duty cycle less than 0.001.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said current sensor device provides data to said second device via transmissions that include a duty cycle less than 0.00001.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said data interface of said current sensor device includes a fiber optic transmitter.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said data interface of said current sensor device includes a wireless transmitter.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said

processor operates said first current sensor device in a reduced power state and in a second state that is not a reduced power state;

and

wherein said processor responds to a first input from a timer by transitioning operation of said current sensor device from said reduced power state to said second state.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said current sensor device further comprises:

a sensor;

an integrator circuit connected to said sensor; and

wherein said an analog-to-digital converter is directly connected to said integrator circuit.

21. A power line communication device for communicating over an un-insulated medium voltage power line carrying voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

a parameter sensor device configured to be physically attached to the un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure a parameter of the un-insulated medium voltage power line;

wherein said parameter sensor device comprises

a sensor;

an integrator circuit connected to said sensor; and

an analog-to-digital converter connected to said integrator circuit;

a modem configured to transmit data of the measured parameter;

a controller communicatively coupled to said sensor device and said modem;

said controller is programmed to receive data representing the measurement data from said analog-to-digital converter;

wherein said controller is programmed to store data of a plurality of measurements in a memory;

wherein said controller is programmed to retrieve the plurality of measurements from said memory and to cause said modem to transmit the data representing the plurality of measurements in a single transmission to a second device; and

wherein said parameter sensor device is electrically isolated from said the second device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a power supply configured to supply operating power to one or more components of said parameter sensor device and to receive power for supplying said operating power via a fiber optic conductor.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device is configured to provide data to said second device via a fiber optic conductor.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a power supply configured to supply operating power to one or more components of said parameter sensor device and to receive power for supplying said operating power via a fiber optic conductor.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a power supply configured to supply operating power to one or more components of said parameter sensor device and to inductively draw power from the medium voltage powerline.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device is configured to communicate with said second device via a wireless link.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a power supply configured to supply operating power to one or more components of said parameter sensor device and to inductively draw power from the medium voltage powerline.

28. The device of claim 21, wherein said second device includes a second modem configured to receive power usage data from an electric utility meter.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a Rogowski coil.

30. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a processor forming part of said controller and a timer;

wherein said processor operates said parameter sensor device in a reduced power state and in a second state that is not a reduced power state; and

wherein said processor responds to a first input from said timer by transitioning operation of said parameter sensor device from said reduced power state to said second state.

31. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device includes an isolated power source.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device provides data to said second device via transmissions that include a duty cycle less than 0.1.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein said parameter sensor device includes a Rogowski coil that includes traces on a printed circuit board.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein a plurality of the power line communication devices are configured to measure the current at substantially the same time.

35. A method of determining electrical parameter data of a power distribution system that includes an uninsulated medium voltage power line, comprising:

operating a current sensor device in a reduced power state;

initiating a timer;

upon an expiration of said timer, operating said current sensor device in a second state that is not a reduced power state;

while operating said current sensor device in said second state, measuring the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line with the current sensor device;

while operating said current sensor device in said second state, storing a plurality of current measurements in a memory;

while operating said current sensor device in said second state, transmitting data of the plurality current measurements stored in the memory in a single transmission to a communication device;

wherein the current sensor device is electrically isolated from the communication device; and

wirelessly transmitting data of the measured current with the communication device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said data of the measured current is provided to said communication device via a non-conductive communication link.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising measuring the voltage of a power line.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a power factor of the power carried by the un-insulated medium voltage power line.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting data of the measured voltage with the communication device.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving power usage data from an electric utility meter with the communication device; and

wirelessly transmitting the power usage data to a remote device.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein said current sensor device and said communication device are co-located at a utility pole.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing power to the current sensor device via an isolated power source.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein said current sensor device includes a Rogowski coil that includes a first winding wound in a first direction and second winding wound in a second direction;

and

wherein said first winding and said second winding each include traces on a printed circuit board.

44. The method according to claim 35, wherein said transmitting data of the plurality current measurements to a communication device with the current sensor device comprises wirelessly transmitting the data.

45. A power line communication device, comprising:

a current sensor device configured to be physically attached to an un-insulated medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the un-insulated medium voltage power line;

wherein said current sensor device includes a first wireless transceiver;

a second device comprising;

a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with said first wireless transceiver;

a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage of a low voltage power line;

a modem configured to transmit data related of the measured current;

a controller communicatively coupled to said modem, said voltage sensor, and said second wireless transceiver and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory;

wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said controller to cause said modem to transmit data of the measured current received from said current sensor device and voltage data received from said voltage sensor;

wherein said current sensor device is electrically isolated from said second device;

wherein said current sensor device is configured to store data of a plurality of current measurements in a memory and, subsequent to storing data of the plurality of measurements, transmit data of the plurality of current measurements to said second device in a single transmission; and

wherein said current sensor device and said second device are co-located at a utility pole.

46. The device of claim 45, further comprising

a second wireless transceiver forming part of said second device and configured to communication with said first wireless transceiver;

and

wherein said modem of said second device comprises a third wireless transceiver.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said controller to determine a power factor of the power of the un-insulated medium voltage power line.

48. The device of claim 45, wherein said current sensor device transmits data to said second device via transmissions that have a duty cycle less than 0.1.

49. The device of claim 45, wherein said second device further comprises a second modem configured to receive power usage data from one or more electric utility meters.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein said

program code includes a code segment executable to cause said controller to cause said modem to transmit power usage data received from the one or more electric utility meters.

51. The device of claim 45, wherein said current sensor device includes a timer and a processor;

wherein said processor operates said current sensor device in a reduced power state and in a second state that is not a reduced power state; and

wherein said processor responds to a first input from said timer by transitioning operation of said current sensor device from said reduced power state to said second state.

52. The device method of claim 51, wherein said current sensor device includes an isolated power source.

53. The device of claim 51, wherein said current sensor device transmits data to said second device via transmissions that have a duty cycle less than 0.1.

54. The device of claim 45, wherein said current sensor device includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a memory coupled to said ADC.

55. The device of claim 45, wherein said current sensor device comprises:

a sensor;

an integrator circuit connected to said sensor; and

an analog-to-digital converter connected to said integrator circuit.

56. A power line communication device for providing information related to a medium voltage power line carrying power with a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

a first current sensor device configured to be physically attached to the medium voltage power line and to measure the current of the medium voltage power line;

said first current sensor device including an isolated power source for supplying operating power to one or more components of said current sensor device;

wherein said power source is configured to inductively draw power from the medium voltage power line;

said first current sensor including a first wireless modem;

a second device comprising;

a second wireless modem configured to communicate with said first wireless modem;

a third modem configured to transmit data related to the measured current;

a controller communicatively coupled to said second wireless modem and said third modem and having a memory with executable program code stored in said memory;

wherein said first current sensor device and said second device are co-located at a utility pole; and

wherein said first current sensor device is configured to store data of a plurality of current measurements in a memory and, subsequent to storing data of the plurality of measurements, transmit data of the plurality of current measurements to said second device in a single transmission.

57. The device method according to claim 56, wherein said first current sensor device provides data to said second device via transmissions that having a duty cycle less than 0.1.