System for detecting a falling electric power conductor and related methods
AssigneeSan Diego Gas & Electric Company
InventorsWilliam O'Brien, Eric A. Udren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for detecting a falling power line in a power transmission or distribution system are described. Electrical measurements at various points in the power distribution system are used to detect changes in a power line indicating that the conductor has broken or become disconnected. Upon detection, control mechanisms are used to deenergize the conductor while the conductor is falling and/or before it contacts the ground.
Claims29
A system for detecting a falling conductor in a power transmission or distribution system comprising:
- a conductor carrying voltage,
- an electrical measurement device in electrical communication with the conductor to measure an electrical characteristic of the conductor at a location in the power transmission or distribution system to determine whether the measured electrical characteristic is indicative of the conductor separating from the power transmission or distribution system;
- a communication device to send a signature indicative of the falling conductor to a control device;
- and
- wherein the control device is programmed to send a signal to activate one or more switching devices to deenergize the falling conductor in a time before the conductor contacts a ground surface.
A method for detecting a falling conductor in a power distribution system, the method comprising:
- detecting a falling conductor based on an electrical signature measured at a location on the circuit experiencing the falling conductor;
- and
- transmitting the electrical signature or a status change signal indicative of a line break signal to one or more control devices in locations where they can deenergize the falling conductor before the falling conductor contacts a ground surface.
A system for detecting a problem conductor with an electrical measurement device on the circuit comprising:
- a sensor device to measure an electrical signature at a location in a power distribution system and to determine whether the measured electrical signature is below a predetermined threshold;
- a computing device to generate a status change signal based on the measured electrical signature being below the predetermined threshold;
- and
- a communication device to send the status change signal to a control device, which is located where it is able to disconnect the portion of the system for which the sensor device measures the signature.
A system for detecting a problem conductor with a voltage sensor on a circuit comprising:
- a voltage sensor device to measure a voltage at a location in a power distribution system and to generate a status change signal when the measured voltage is below a predetermined threshold voltage value;
- a communication device coupled to the voltage sensor device to at least one of receive and transmit the status change signal;
- and
- a controller to receive the status change signal from the communication device and to control one or more switching devices to disconnect power to a portion of the system of the problem conductor.
A control box for use in at least one of an electrical transmission system and a distribution system comprising:
- a housing having an enclosure and enclosing a plurality of electronic circuitries;
- a programmable processor located in the housing and programmed to:
- receive a status change signal from a communication device;
- evaluate whether the status change signal represents a problem conductor;
- and
- emit a disconnect signal to one or more switching devices to deenergize the affected portion of the system before a problem conductor contacts the ground;
- and
- one or more ports associated with the housing for connecting wires, cables, input devices, output devices, or combinations thereof.
A control box for use in at least one of an electrical transmission system and a distribution system comprising:
- a housing having an enclosure and enclosing a plurality of electronic circuitries;
- a programmable processor located in the housing and programmed to:
- perform (a) a comparison function of a signal from a first location at time one and a signal from the first location at time two or (b) a comparison function of a signal from a first location and a signal from a second location, the second location being in any direction with respect to the first location;
- evaluate changes at time one and time two or changes between the first location and the second location to determine if a problem conductor is present;
- and
- emit a disconnect signal to one or more switching devices to deenergize the affected portion of the system before a problem conductor contacts the ground;
- and
- one or more ports associated with the housing for connecting wires, cables, input devices, output devices, or combinations thereof.
A system comprising a first control box for monitoring signals and a second control box for controlling signals in at least one of an electrical transmission network and a distribution network, the system comprising:
- a first housing having an enclosure and enclosing a plurality of electronic circuitries;
- a programmable processor located in the first housing programmed to:
- receive a status change signal from a communication device;
- evaluate whether the status change signal represents a problem conductor;
- and
- emit an affirmative signal of a problem conductor;
- and
- one or more ports associated with the first housing for connecting wires, cables, input devices, output devices, or combinations thereof;
- and
- a second housing having an enclosure and enclosing a plurality of electronic circuitries;
- a programmable processor located in the second housing programmed to:
- receive an affirmative signal of a problem conductor;
- and
- emit a disconnect signal to one or more switching devices to deenergize the affected portion of the system before a problem conductor contacts the ground;
- and
- one or more ports associated with the second housing for connecting wires, cables, input devices, output devices, or combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.