Process, device and system for mapping transformers to meters and locating non-technical line losses

• US 9,189,822 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Conant, Rob, Prince, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierre, Peguy Jean
• Application Number:
  US13/656,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.01, 340/870.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/22 Arrangements for detecting or reporting faults, outages or leaks
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/47 Methods for determining the topology or arrangement of meters in a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A process, device and system for mapping usage data from a plurality of utility usage nodes, such as electricity usage meters, to one or more utility distribution nodes, such as a transformer, in which utility usage data collected at a collection device from the plurality of utility usage nodes at predetermined intervals is received, and utility distribution data collected at the collection device from the utility distribution node at the predetermined intervals is likewise received. Aggregate usage data from one or more of the plurality of utility usage nodes is compared to distribution data from the utility distribution node during one or more of the same predetermined intervals to determine, using a computer, which of the plurality of utility usage nodes is connected to the utility distribution node.

Claims

1. A process for monitoring power distribution comprising:

collecting, at a processor, utility usage data from a plurality of utility usage meters at predetermined time periods;

collecting, at the processor, utility distribution data from a first utility distribution point at the predetermined time periods;

determining, using the processor and geographic data indicating a location for each of the plurality of utility usage meters and a location of the first utility distribution point, a sub-set of the plurality of utility usage meters based on geographic proximity of each of the plurality of utility usage meters to the first utility distribution point; and

mapping, using the processor, to determine which utility usage meters of the sub-set of the plurality of utility usage meters are connected to the first utility distribution point by comparing aggregate usage data collected during a given one or more of the predetermined time periods from one or more of the utility usage meters of the sub-set of the plurality of utility usage meters to distribution data collected during the same given one or more of the predetermined time periods from the first utility distribution point.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time periods further comprise predetermined intervals of at least one minute.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time periods further comprise predetermined intervals of up to one hour.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time periods further comprise predetermined intervals of between at least one minute and up to one hour.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual usage meters further comprise a plurality of electricity usage meters.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the first distribution point is a transformer.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the second distribution point is a substation.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein collecting, at the processor, the usage data from the plurality of individual usage meters occurs over a wireless network.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein mapping by the process comprises:

aggregating by the processor load data for each of the mapped usage meters during the given one or more of the predetermined time periods;

comparing by the processor aggregated load data for each of the mapped utility usage meters to a power output from a second distribution point during the same given one or more of the predetermined time periods; and

determining by the processor if the aggregated load data is approximately equal to the power output.

10. The process according to claim 9, further comprising:

determining by the processor that the aggregated load data is less than the power output;

comparing by the processor the first distribution point data to the power output at the given one or more of the predetermined time periods; and

isolating a power loss to between the first distribution point and the mapped usage meters if it is determined by the processor that the first distribution load data is approximately equal to the power output.

11. The process according to claim 9, further including:

collecting, at the processor, first distribution point data for each of a first, second and third distribution phase of the first distribution point at the predetermined time periods; and

mapping, by the processor, to determine which of the plurality of individual usage meters is connected to each of the first, second and third distribution phases by comparing aggregate usage data collected during a given one or more of the predetermined time periods from one or more of the plurality of individual usage meters to distribution point load data collected during the same given one or more of the predetermined time periods for each of the first, second and third distribution phases.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising:

determine the aggregated load data is less than the power output;

compare the first distribution point data to the power output at the predetermined time period; and

indicate power loss is between the first distribution point and the mapped usage meters if it is determined by the processor that the first distribution load data is approximately equal to the power output.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored therein, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor to perform the following steps:

map each of a plurality of individual usage meters to one of a first, second and third distribution phase of a first distribution point using usage meter load data and first distribution point data;

aggregate load data for each of the mapped usage meters during a predetermined time period;

compare aggregated load data for each of the mapped usage meters to a power output from a second distribution point during the predetermined time period; and

determine if the aggregated load data is approximately equal to the power output.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising:

collect usage data from the plurality of individual usage meters at a given one or more predetermined time periods;

collect first distribution point data for each of the first, second and third distribution phases at the same given one or more predetermined time periods; and

determine, which of the plurality of individual usage meters is connected to each of the first, second and third distribution phases by comparing aggregate usage data from one or more of the plurality of individual usage meters to distribution point load data for each of the first, second and third distribution phases during at least one of the same given one or more predetermined time periods.

15. A process for monitoring power distribution comprising:

receiving by a processor individual usage meter load data collected during a plurality of predetermined time periods from multiple individual usage meters over a wireless network;

receiving by a processor distribution point data collected during the plurality of predetermined time periods from multiple distribution points; and

mapping by a processor each of the multiple individual usage meters to one of the multiple distribution points using the received individual usage meter load data and the distribution point data collected during the predetermined time periods.

16. The process according to claim 15, wherein mapping by the process comprises:

comparing aggregate individual usage meter data collected during a given one or more of the predetermined time periods from one or more of the multiple individual usage meters to distribution point load data collected during the same given one or more of the predetermined time periods for each of the multiple distribution points.

17. The process according to claim 15, wherein the multiple distribution points are transformers.