Optical voltage sensing for underground medium voltage wires
First Claim
1. An optical voltage sensor system, comprising:
- a splitter adapted to output multiple beams from a light received from a light source;
a plurality of optical voltage sensors;
each sensor receiving a beam of light from the splitter and comprising;
a light modulating member comprising a first end and a second end, the light modulating member changing a property of light passing through the member based on a voltage on the light modulating member, wherein the voltage is generated by an external voltage source having a plurality of phases, and wherein the sensor is capacitively coupled to a phase of the plurality of phases;
a conductive, reflective member disposed at the first end; and
a conductive member disposed at the second end of the light modulating member, wherein the light enters and exits the second end of the light modulating member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical voltage sensor for measuring voltage on an underground power line or for use in other scenarios in which access to a conductor is available through a blind hole. The optical voltage sensor includes a light modulating member, such as a Pockel'"'"'s crystal. A reflective, conductive member is positioned at one end of the light modulating member and another conductive member is positioned at an opposed end. A voltage capacitively coupled to the reflective conductive member induces a voltage across the light modulating member, thereby impacting the amount of modulation. A beam of light is directed through the crystal and reflected back out of the crystal, where the amount of modulating can be measured. The amount of modulation indicates a measured voltage, and can be transmitted to a monitoring station where processing can determine the status of the power grid or generate other results based on the measured voltage.
88 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An optical voltage sensor system, comprising:
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a splitter adapted to output multiple beams from a light received from a light source; a plurality of optical voltage sensors;
each sensor receiving a beam of light from the splitter and comprising;a light modulating member comprising a first end and a second end, the light modulating member changing a property of light passing through the member based on a voltage on the light modulating member, wherein the voltage is generated by an external voltage source having a plurality of phases, and wherein the sensor is capacitively coupled to a phase of the plurality of phases; a conductive, reflective member disposed at the first end; and a conductive member disposed at the second end of the light modulating member, wherein the light enters and exits the second end of the light modulating member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of measuring voltage on a multiphase underground power line, the method comprising:
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directing a beam of light through a splitter adapted to output multiple beams from a light received from a light source; directing a particular beam of the multiple beams through a light modulating member of an optical sensor, positioned to detect a phase of the multiphase underground power line coupled to the light modulating member, the light modulating member changing a property of light for the particular beam passing through the member based on the voltage; reflecting the particular beam of light; receiving the reflected particular beam of light; and determining an amount of modulation on the particular beam of light introduced within the light modulating member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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an underground power line having a plurality of phases and comprising a capacitive test access port; a plurality of optical voltage sensors, where at least one optical voltage sensor of the plurality of optical voltage sensors is disposed at least partially disposed within the test access port; where each of the plurality of optical voltage sensors is capacitively coupled to a phase of the plurality of phases; and the system further comprises a laser and a splitter adapted to direct a portion of a beam from the laser to each of the plurality of optical voltage sensors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 21, 22, 23)
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17. A system comprising:
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an underground power line comprising a capacitive test access port; and a sensor system at least partially disposed within the test access port, wherein the sensor system measures a phase change in a single beam of light reflected within a light modulating member of the sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification