System and method for sensing one or more power lines

A power line sensor including a housing and a near field sensor. The housing is configured to couple to a power line. The near field sensor is configured to sense a leakage current on the power line.

FIELD

Embodiments relate to power line sensors.

SUMMARY

Power line events may be detected by sensing partial discharge, which may be a low leakage current from a primary through a path of least resistance to ground. Early detection of low leakage current may be used to correct and prevent power line events before they occur. Leakage current may be detected via ground based and/or aerial assessments. However, such assessments may be overly expensive and timely.

Thus, one embodiment provides a power line sensor including a housing and a near field sensor. The housing is configured to couple to a power line. The near field sensor is configured to sense a leakage current on the power line.

Another embodiment provides a method of determining a potential event of a power line. The method includes sensing, via a near field sensor, a leakage current on the power line. The method further includes determining, via an electronic processor, a potential event based on the leakage current on the power line.

Yet another embodiment provides a system for determining a potential event on a power line. The system includes a first line sensor, a second line sensor and an electronic processor. The first line sensor includes a first near field sensor configured to sense a first leakage current at a first location on the line. The second line sensor includes a second near field sensor configured to sense a second leakage current at a second location on the line. The electronic processor is configured to receive data corresponding to the first leakage current and the second leakage current, and determine a location of a potential event on the line based on the data.

Other aspects of the application will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the application are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the application is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The application is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

FIG.1illustrates a utility distribution system100according to some embodiments. In the illustrates embodiment, the system100includes one or more power lines105supported by one or more utility poles110. Although illustrated as being supported by utility poles110, in other embodiments, the power lines105may be underground and/or supported by other structures (for example, buildings). The system100may further include a line sensor115.

FIG.2is a block diagram of the line sensor (such as, but not limited to, a power line sensor)115according to some embodiments. The line sensor115may be configured to couple directly onto the line105and sense one or more characteristics of the line105. In some embodiments, the line sensor115is coupled to the line105by clamping around the line105.

In the illustrated embodiment, the line sensor115includes a power input205, a characteristic sensor210, a near field sensor215, and a transceiver220. In some embodiments, the line sensor115further includes an electronic processor and a memory. The electronic processor and/or memory may be configured to provide signal conditioning and/or detecting. The power input205may be configured to receive power from line105, convert the line power to a nominal power, and provide power to other components and/or modules of the line sensor115.

The characteristic sensor210may be configured to sense one or more characteristics of the line105. In some embodiment, the sensed characteristics include electrical characteristics, such as but not limited to, a line voltage and a line current. In some embodiments, the sensed characteristics include one or more temperatures, such as but not limited to, a line temperature and/or an ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the sensed characteristics include an inclination and/or an amount of line sagging, wind movement, electrical fields, power generation, and/or distribution and consumption of electricity.

The near field sensor215may be configured to detect a leakage current of line105. The leakage current of line105may be a leakage current from a primary of the line105through a path of least resistance to ground. In some embodiments, the near field sensor215detects the leakage current by sensing, a discharged, or partial discharge, radio frequency from line105. As illustrated, in some embodiments, the near field sensor215senses the discharged radio frequency via a near field antenna225.

In some embodiments, the near field sensor215is a conductive sensor. In some embodiments, the near field sensor215is an electromagnetic sensor. In such an embodiment, the near field sensor215may sense the leakage current via electromagnetic radiation sensing (or radiation sensing), radio frequency sensing, light sensing (for example, ultraviolet sensing, infrared sensing, etc.), and/or thermal sensing. In some embodiments, the near field sensor215is an acoustic sensor. In such an embodiment, the near field sensor215may sense the leakage current via audio sensing (for example, apparatus (such as, but not limited to audio sensors) and methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,440,472, hereby incorporated by reference) and/or ultrasonic sensing. In some embodiments, the near field sensor215is a gas sensor. In such an embodiment, the near field sensor215may sense the leakage current via ozone sensing and/or nitrous oxide sensing.

The transceiver220, along with a transceiver antenna230, may be configured to enable wireless communication to/from the line sensor115. In other embodiments, rather than a transceiver220and transceiver antenna230, the line sensor115may include separate transmitting and receiving components, for example, a transmitter, a transmitting antenna, a receiver, and a receiving antenna. In some embodiments, the transceiver220may be configured to enable wired communication to/from the line sensor115.

The line sensor115, via the transceiver220, may communicate with an external device235. In some embodiments, the line sensor115wirelessly communicates with the external device via a communication link240. In some embodiments, the communication link240, for example, a wide area network (WAN) (e.g., a transport control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) based network, a cellular network, such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (or Groupe Special Mobile (GSM)) network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, an Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3GSM network, a 4GSM network, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) network, a Digital advanced mobile phone system (AMPS) (IS-136/time division multiple access (TDMA)) network, or an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) network, etc.). In other embodiments, the communication link240is, for example, a local area network (LAN), a neighborhood area network (NAN), a home area network (HAN), or personal area network (PAN) employing any of a variety of communications protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc. Other wide area networks, such as land mobile radio (LMR), terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA), and digital mobile radio (DMR) may also be used. In some embodiments, the line sensor115uses one or more of the above communication protocols.

The external device235may be, but is not limited to, an external computer, one or more server(s), a smart telephone, a tablet, and/or a laptop. As illustrated, the external device235may be remote from the line sensor115. The external device235may include an electronic processor and a memory. In one embodiment of operation, the external device235receives data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the line105and/or the leakage current of the line105. The external device235then analyzes the data to detect potential events that may occur on the line105.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating a line sensing system300according to some embodiments. The system300may include one or more line sensors115a,115b,115ccoupled to the line105at various line portions305a,305b,305c. In some embodiments, the various line portions305may be located at equal distances from each other and/or varying distances from each other. Although only illustrated as including three line sensors, in other embodiments the system300may include four or more line sensors. Each sensor115a,115b,115cmay be communicatively coupled to the external device235, so that the external device235may receive data from each line sensor115a,115b,115c.

In one embodiment of operation, the external device235receives data corresponding to leakage current at one or more of the various portions305a,305b,305con line105corresponding to locations of the sensors115a,115b,115c. Based on the data from line sensors115a,115b,155c, the external device235may determine a potential event and/or extrapolate the location of a potential event on the line105. For example, a first leakage current detected by line sensor115ahaving a greater magnitude than a second leakage current detected by line sensor115bmay correspond to a potential event occurring between line sensors115a,115bin an area closer to line sensor115athan line sensor115b. The external device235may then output alerts and/or notification of the potential event and/or the location of the potential event on the line105.

FIG.4Aillustrates a line sensor400according to some embodiments. Line sensor400may include similar components and functionality as line sensor115, including signal conditioning and/or detecting. Similar to line sensor115, line sensor400may include a transceiver240configured to sense a leakage current of line105via near field sensing.

FIG.4Billustrates a line sensor405according to some embodiments. Line sensor405may include similar components and functionality as line sensor115, including signal conditioning and/or detecting. Line sensor405may include a current transformer (CT)410in addition to, or in lieu of, transceiver240. In some embodiments, CT410is a coil wound around a core (for example, a toroidal ferrite core). The line105may pass through the core of CT410. In one embodiment of operation, the CT410senses a leakage current and line sensor405performs signal conditioning and/or detection of the sensed leakage current. In some embodiments, CT410may receive power from line105, as well as sense a leakage current on line105.

FIG.4Cillustrates a line sensor415according to some embodiments. Line sensor415may include similar components and functionality as line sensor115, including signal conditioning and/or detecting. Line sensor415may include a first CT420and a second CT425. In some embodiments, first and second CTs420,425may be substantially similar to CT410. In one embodiment of operation, line sensor415may receive power via first CT420and supply the power to power input205, while the second CT425may be used to sense a leakage current on line105.

FIG.5illustrates an operation, or process,500according to some embodiments. Process500may be performed via line sensor115, external device235, line sensor400, and/or system300. A leakage current is sensed via a near field sensor (block505). A potential event is determined based on the sensed leakage current (block510).

Embodiments provide, among other things, a system and method for determining potential events on a power line. Various features and advantages of the application are set forth in the following claims.