Using power infrastructures for wildfire detection
AssigneeCal Poly Corporation
InventorsMajid Poshtan, Joseph Callenes-Sloan
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Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for wildfire detection using power infrastructure are described. One or more aspects of the techniques described include determining (e.g., quantifying) the impact of wildfires on power structures and transmission line sensors. Determination of measurable changes in transmission line temperature and transmission line sag, that result from early onset fires, are used to detect heat events. Therefore, real-time monitoring of transmission line temperature and transmission line sag (e.g., using sensors that are already deployed in some power grid infrastructures) may efficiently detect the early onset of wildfires according to techniques described herein.
Claims13
A system for detecting radiated heat events proximate to a power line comprising:
- a first overhead electric transmission line sag sensor, wherein the first overhead electric transmission line sag sensor detects a degree to which a first overhead electric transmission line segment suspended between a first pair of electric transmission towers is sagging and generates a first overhead electric transmission line sag signal indicative of the degree to which the first overhead electric transmission line segment is sagging;
- a computing system comprising:
- first code segment configured to compare the first overhead electric transmission line sag signal with an expected overhead electric transmission line sag;
- a second code segment configured to determine an amount of sag deviation between the first overhead electric transmission line sag signal and the expected overhead electric transmission line sag, and determine a value of a sag variation resulting from sub-optimal power flow distinguished from other sources of sag by comparing adjacent sag detectors and pre-trained models;
- a third code segment configured to generate an alarm condition based on at least one determination, wherein the at least one determination includes determining that the amount of sag deviation is more than a prescribed non-zero amount;
- and
- an alarm output coupled to the computing system configured to generate an alarm signal in response to the alarm condition.
A method for detecting radiated heat events proximate to a power line comprising:
- detecting by a first overhead electric transmission line sag sensor of a degree to which a first overhead electric transmission line segment suspended between a first pair of electric transmission towers is sagging;
- generating by the first overhead electric transmission line sag sensor of a first overhead electric transmission line sag signal indicative of the degree to which the first overhead electric transmission line segment is sagging;
- comparing, by a computing system, of the first overhead electric transmission line sag signal with an expected overhead electric transmission line sag;
- determining, by the computing system, an amount of sag deviation between the first overhead electric transmission line sag signal and the expected overhead electric transmission line sag and a value of a sag variation resulting from sub-optimal power flow distinguished from other sources of sag by comparing adjacent sag detectors and pre-trained models;
- generating, by the computing system, of an alarm condition based on at least one determination, wherein the at least one determination includes determining that the amount of sag deviation is more than a prescribed non-zero amount;
- and
- in response to the generating of the alarm condition, generating an alarm signal by an alarm output coupled to the computing system in response to the alarm condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.