Arrester performance monitoring and maintenance system

A monitored electric power lightning arrester system, comprising a lightning arrester comprising:

• an arrester insulator housing;
• a plurality of varister disks disposed around an inner core inside the insulator housing;
• a voltage sensor disposed adjacent to the insulator housing;
• a current sensor disposed around the inner core within the insulator housing;
• a remote transmission unit (RTU);
• one or more communication links transmitting an arrester voltage measurement from the voltage sensor, and an arrester current measurement from the current sensor, to the RTU;
• an operations control center;
• a communication link transmitting the arrester voltage measurement and the arrester current measurement, or a parameter based on the arrester voltage and current measurements from the RTU to the operations control center;
• wherein the RTU further comprises a processor operative for:
• computing a measured arrester impedance based on the arrester current and arrester voltage measurements,
• comparing the measured arrester impedance to a nominal or historical arrester impedance;
• transmitting the arrester current and arrester voltage measurements, the measured arrester impedance, or a parameter based on the arrester voltage and current measurements to the operations control center;
• wherein the RTU or the operations control center determining that the arrester is faltering based on the comparison of the measured arrester impedance to the nominal or historical arrester impedance;
• wherein the RTU or the operations control center placing an order for replacement of the arrester based on the determination that the arrester is faltering.

A monitored electric power lightning arrester system comprising a lightning arrester electrically connected to a distribution transformer including a transformer located inside a transformer canister, a high voltage busing, and low voltage tap, comprising:

• a jumper connecting a power line from the high voltage bushing to a high voltage end of the lightning arrester;
• a current sensor connected to a low voltage end of the arrester;
• a voltage sensor signal tap connected to a voltage sensor connected to a winding of the transformer;
• a remote transmission unit (RTU);
• one or more communication links transmitting an arrester voltage measurement from the voltage sensor, and an arrester current measurement from the current sensor, to the RTU;
• an operations control center;
• a communication link transmitting the arrester voltage measurement and the arrester current measurement, or a parameter based on the arrester voltage and current measurements from the RTU to the operations control center;
• wherein the RTU further comprises a processor operative for:
• computing a measured arrester impedance based on the arrester current and arrester voltage measurements,
• comparing the measured arrester impedance to a nominal or historical arrester impedance;
• transmitting the arrester current and arrester voltage measurements, the measured arrester impedance, or a parameter based on the arrester voltage and current measurements to the operations control center;
• wherein the RTU or the operations control center determining that the arrester is faltering based on the comparison of the measured arrester impedance to the nominal or historical arrester impedance;
• wherein the RTU or the operations control center placing an order for replacement of the arrester based on the determination that the arrester is faltering.