Power line management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041968-B2
Application number	US-201615294545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Feb 14, 2012
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Techniques comprising obtaining, using a sensor unit coupled to a power line in a power distribution system, at least one measurement of at least one inertial property of the power line; and detecting at least one condition of the power line at least in part by analyzing the at least one measurement. A sensor unit configured to be coupled to a power line in a power distribution system, the sensor unit comprising an inertial sensor configured to collect at least one measurement of at least one inertial property of the power line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
obtaining, using a first sensor unit coupled to a first power line in a power distribution system, at least one first measurement of at least one inertial property of the first power line;
obtaining, using a second sensor unit different from the first sensor unit and coupled to a second power line different from the first power line, at least a second measurement of at least one inertial property of the second power line;
detecting a weather condition affecting multiple power lines in an area at least in part by correlating a first feature obtained from the at least one first measurement with a second feature obtained from the at least one second measurement;
scheduling maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition; and,
performing maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the weather condition comprises:
generating the first feature from the at least one first measurement, the first feature indicating presence of sag in the first power line;
generating the second feature from the at least one second measurement, the second feature indicating presence of sag in the second power line; and
correlating the first feature with the second feature to infer that the weather condition is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the weather condition comprises:
generating the first feature from the at least one first measurement, the first feature indicating swinging, oscillation, galloping, twisting, and/or rotation of the first power line;
generating the second feature from the at least one second measurement, the second feature indicating swinging, oscillation, galloping, twisting, and/or rotation of the second power line; and
correlating the first feature with the second feature to infer that the weather condition is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inertial property of the first power line comprises a property selected from the group consisting of velocity, acceleration, and inclination.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first measurement of the at least one inertial property comprises a plurality of measurements of the at least one inertial property, and wherein the method further comprises generating the first feature at least in part by determining a rate of change of the at least one inertial property.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the first sensor unit, whether to transmit the at least one first measurement from the first sensor unit to another computing device; and
transmitting the at least one first measurement to the other computing device in response to determining that the at least one first measurement is to be transmitted.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the weather condition affecting multiple power lines in the area comprises determining that wind is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the weather condition affecting multiple power lines in the area comprises determining that snow and/or ice build-up is affecting multiple power lines in the area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition further comprises:
decoupling one or more of the multiple power lines from the power distribution system in response to detecting the weather condition.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein scheduling maintenance on at least one of the multiple power lines in response to detecting the weather condition further comprises:
performing advance preparations to facilitate repairs on one or more of the multiple power lines in the area being affected by the weather condition.

Assignees

• Aclara Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nulty Gregory M

Classifications

• H02J2103/30

  Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks · CPC title

• H02J13/1323

  using optical fibres · CPC title

• H02J13/1311

  using the power network as support for the transmission · CPC title

• H02J13/12 Primary

  Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status · CPC title

• Y04S10/30

  State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge · CPC title