DETECTING AND MAPPING POWER LINE LOSS

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and mapping power loss in a wired power network having at least one feeder node wired to a plurality of meter nodes by a plurality of power lines are described. In accordance with this inventive detecting and mapping scheme, a communication signal is sent from the feeder node to the plurality of meter nodes over the power lines, the communication signal is received at the meter nodes, and a signal representative of the received communication signal is transmitted from the meter nodes to a system controller.

Description: DETECTING AND MAPPING POWER LINE LOSS Background of the Invention The invention relates to detecting and mapping loss in an electrical power distribution net ork. The generation and distribution of electrical energy inherently involves a certain amount of D ower loss. In general, electrical power is supplied from the generation plant to a plurality αf customers over the distribution network. As a result of transmission some loss will occur. In the high voltage network, losses (e.g., resistive losses) are governed by the physical laws relating to the distribution of electrical power over a physical network and, therefore, are inherent losses and are not easy to eliminate. At other points on the distribution network other, no n- Inherent losses (e.g., losses caused by theft and equipment failure), on the other hand, may be substantially eliminated if sufficient resources are expended to address the problem. Among the obstacles impeding current efforts to reduce non-inherent losses are the problems associated with detecting power line toss and mapping (or deterrni dng the physical location) where the detected power line loss has occurred. Summary of the Invention The invention features systems and methods for detecting and mapping power loss in a wired power network having at least one feeder node wired to a plurality of meter nodes by a plurality of power lines. In accordance with this inventive detecting and mapping scheme, a communication signal is sent from the feeder node to the plurality of meter nodes over the power lines, the communication signal is received at the meter nodes, and a signal representative of the received communication signal is wirelessly transmitted from the meter nodes to a system controller. In a particular aspect, a system of the invention includes a signal injector constructed and arranged to send a communication signal from the feeder node to the plurality of meter nodes over the power lines, and a plurality of meters respectively located at the plurality of meter nodes, each of the meters including a receiver for receiving the communication signal and a transmitter for transrmtπng a signal representative of the received communication signal to a system controller Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The signal injector may be corώgurεα to send the commumcaαcn signal to the meter Godεs by modulating a supply voltage waveform earned by the power lines The signal lnjector preferably modulates the supply voltage waveform m a region of zero crossover The commumcation signal may be formed from a series of modulated supply voltage waveform cycles. The communication signal may contain an identifier corresponding to the location of the feeder node. The communication signal may contam a trigger for synchronizing the meter nodes. A meter may be provided to monitor the total power supplied to the meter nodes Tne ϋlurahty of meters may form a layer of a wireless network that further induces an intermediate node and the system controller. In another aspect of the invention, the power consumed at the meter nodes is measured and the sum of the consumed power measured at the meter nodes is compared with the total supplied poweτ measured at the feeder node In accordance w th this method, the change in power supplied from the feeder node may be computed, and one or more meters that have expenenced a change in load may be idenαfied The total cnange in load experienced by the one or more identified meters may be comoared with the corresponding computed change m power supplied to the meters from the feeder node Among the of the invention are the following The invention enables power network administrators to detect inaccurate meters and to identify meters which have been compromised or otherwise are not working properly The abdity to map power loss in a power distribution network mcreases the power distπbuuon efficiency of the system and provides other operational, strategic and external benefits Because the communication signal permeates the entire power distribution network, the invention accommodates future network changes without requiring the installation of additional feeder meters Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, including the drawings and the claims Rπr.f Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 A i s block diagram of a typical power distribution network. Fig. I B i s a block diagram of the medium and low voltage portions of the power d i str i but i on network of Fig. 1 A. Fi α 2 i s a block diagram of a wireless metering network. Fig. 3 A i s a d i agrammatic view of a power supply waveform and a modulat i on s i gnal Fig. 33 is a diagrammatic view of a power supply waveform modulated by a communication signal. Fig. 4A i s a circuit diagram of a signal injector and a feeder transformer. Fig 4B is a circuit diagram of the signal injector of Fig. 4A. F i ε 5 i s flow diagram of a method of detecting and mapping power l i ne loss. Detailed Description Referr i ng to Fig. 1 A, a power distribution network 10 includes a very h i gh voltage (VHV) network 12, a high voltage (HV) network 14, a medium voltage (MV) network 16, and a low voltage (LV) ne t work 18 In order to reduce resistive losses assoc i ated with the long ¬ d i stance transm i ss i on of electrical power, the power staϋon 20 suppl i es electπcal power to the network at a s i gn i ficantly higher voltage than that required by ±e end user. The voltage from the power stat i on i s reduced at a number of stages, the final stage is at the substat i on which i s conf i gured to reduce the voltage from typically about 1 1 kV to 415 volts, a voltage wh i ch is d i str i buted by the low vol t age network. LV network 18 includes a plural i t of low voltage customers wh i ch receive power from secondary substation 32 at a supply voltage of about 220-240 volts. The components of power distribution network 10 are interconnected by power lines. As shown i n Fig. IB, in one implementauom secondary substations 32 i nclude a plural i ty of feeders 40, 42, 44, 46 that extend from feeder nodes 39, 43 to form a pair of ring networks 48. 50 Feeder nodes 39. 43 may include respective meters (which may be constructed as described below m connect i on w i th the metering netw ork of Fig. 2) that are configured to measure the total power suppl i ed through feeder nodes 39, 43 and to transmit the measurement i nformat i on to a system controller A plurality of spurs 52. 54, 56. 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 extend from r i ng networks 48, 50 to prov i de power to LV network 18 and to other low voltage customers 68. Sw i tch po i nts 70, 72 are positioned at nodes to reconnect feeders or to connect to other transformers. A link point 74 may be used to couple rmg networks 48, 50. Referring back to Fig. 1 A, each of the customers 26, 30, 3 is coupled to power distribution network 10 at a terminal node which includes a meter that is configured to measure the amount of electrical consumed at the corresponding terminal node. As explained below, this measurement foπnaαon may be transmitted over a wireless metering network to a system controller which is configured to analyze the measurement information, prepare billing statements and monitor the operation of power distribution system 10. Referring to Fig. 2, in one embodiment, a mεtenng network 80 has at least three functional levels, a measurement level 82, a collecuon level 84, and a monitoring level 86. The measurement level 82 periodically measures a parameter (e.g., electricity usage (kilowatt- hours)) at each of the meter nodes. The collection level 84 analyzes the periodic measurements to generate a metered function of the parameter at each location. The metered function information could be the minimum, maximum or average value of the parameter o e a certain tune period. The monitoring level 86 controls the collection level 84 and receives the metered function information. The operator of metering network 80 determines how monitoring level 86 uses the metered function u formation Measurement level 82 includes meters or telemetry devices 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 which are configured to measure the parameter of interest and transmit the measurement to collection level 84 Although only six meters are shown, measurement level 82 may include thousands or even hundreds of thousands of meters. The meters are located as required for a particular apphcauon. For example, an electrical utility company could place one meter at each house m a residential neighborhood to measure electrical energy consumption. Each meter may have the same construction. Collection level 84 includes collectors 102, 104 which are located to receive transmissions from the meters. Each collector analyzes the periodic measurements by one or more meters to generate a metered function. For example, an electπcal utility company could configure the collectors to determine the electricity consumed each hour over the last twenty- four hours, the total amount of electricity consumed between 6 p.m. and 8 m. over the last month , and the time of peak electricity consumption in the previous day, at each house in a residential neighborhood. Monitor i ng level 86 includes a system controller (or monitoring s t a ti on) 106 which i s conf i gured to receive, store and manipulate the metered funcαons received from collection level 84 . The functions of monitoring level 86 depend upon the intended application for me t er i ng system 80. For example, an electπcal utility company could use monitoring level 86 to generate a billing for each house in a residential neighborhood a t the end of each month. Each meter 90-100 in metering level 82 includes a transmitter 107 for periodically sending meter measurements to collection level 84 by means of transmissions 108, which may be i n the form of any sor t of wireless signals (e.g., radio frequency , microwave, and infrared s i gnals). Each collector 102, 104 receives transmissions from one or more meters. For example , collec t or 102 may receive transmissions from meters 90-94 A collector may rece i ve transm i ssions from fifty to one thousand meters, more preferably two hundred to f i ve hundred meters. Each collector and its associated meters form a " cell ". Meters 90-100 may be " transmit only" devices; i.e., the meters are not able to receive transmissions from collectors 102, 104. Each meter 90-100 may have only enough processing power to perform measuremen t s and transmit the measurements to collection level 84. Al t hough only two collec t ors are shown, collection level 84 may include hundreds or thousands of collec t ors, depending upon the number of meters i n metering level 82. Collec t ors 102 , 104 communicate with system controller 106 in moni t or i ng level 86 by two- way w i red or wireless transmissions 110. Preferably, for wireless commun i cat i on , some or all of the collec t ors are positioned at elevated locations (e.g., placed on a telephone pole) to fac i l i tate the recep t ion of transmissions from meters 90-100 and system controller 106. As men t ioned above, the distribution of electrical power over power distribution ne t work 10 i nvolves both inheren t and non-inherent losses. Inherent losses may be reduced by proper network design and operation; but these losses cannot be eliminated. Certain non-inherent losses , such as losses resul t ing from equipment failure, may be reduced- but not el i minated - by proper selec t ion of ne t work equipment. Other non-inherent losses (e.g. , losses resulting from t heft) , however , may be reduced substantially if sufficient resources are deployed to address the problem. The inventive systems and methods described below may be used t o detec t and map power line losses that occur in power distribution network 10. The information provided by these systems and methods may be used to substantially reduce certain non-inherent power line losses in an efficient and cost-effective way. Referring to Figs. 2, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, in one embodiment, a signal injector 120 (e.g., an injection transformer) is constructed to send a communication signal from each of feeder nodes 39, 43 (Fig. IB) to the meters at meter nodes 90-100 over the power lines of power distribution network 10. Each of the meters receives the communication signal over the power lines with a receiver 122 and wirεlessly transmits a signal representative of the received communication signal to system controller 106 with transmitter 107. Signal injector 120 is implemented as a power line earner (PLC) transmitter which uses the existing power lines as a communication network. Signal injector 120 may be attached permanently to power distribution network; alternatively, signal injector 120 may be attached on an ad hoc basis. Signal mjector 120 is configured to send the communication signal over the power lines by modulating supply voltage waveform 124 (e.g., of the form E^ Sin(ωt)) near the zero crossover point 126. In particular, signal injector 120 distorts supply voltage waveform 124 in the region of zero crossover. In this way, a relatively high communication signal amplitude may be used without significant disturbance to the RMS (root mean square) value of the supply voltage. The disturbance of supply voltage waveform 124 is created using a thyristor 128 connected between each phase and neutral of the transformers 130 of secondary substations 32 Thyristor 128 is switched at a point 129 on voltage waveform 124 that is displaced by a switching angle θ (e.g., about 25°) before a zero crossing. As shown in Fig. 3B, the resulting current produces a depression 1 2 of the supply voltage waveform 124 at the point of common crossing (PCC), the value of which depends upon the relative impedances R_, L v R, and L,. The thyristor current is limited by DC (direct current) transients to about 10% of the peak prospective fault current, and turns off upon returning to zero as a result of the unidirectional characteristic of the thyristor. The line to neutral voltage at the transmitter terminals collapses to near zero for the duration of the current flow. The resulting supply voltage waveform 134 is described in percentage terms, where signal strength (S) is expressed as the percentage change of instantaneous voltage (δv) with respect to the normal sinusoidal waveform (v): δ x 100% Signals are received between line and neutral at any low voltage point supplied from the same secondary substation transformer 130. The communication signals are detected by integrating supply voltage waveform 1 4 during a small fixed period before each positive-going zero crossing. Tne amplitude of each integral is compared with that of the previous supply cycle in order to determine whether the difference exceeds a prε-set value (the receiver setting), in which case a communication signal is assumed to have been detected. Tne meters construct the communication signal message from a number of individual cycles, altered in a coded pattern which is produced by a code generator 136. The communication signal may be encoded with a tag which identifies the feeder to which meter 90 is connected. .As mentioned above, meters 90- 100 include receivers 122 which are configured to receive and decode the communication signals sent by signal injector 120. Ttiis identification information may be transmitted to system controller 106 and used for controlling the system load and synchronizing particular events (e.g., synchronized meter reading events). Referring to Fig. 5, in one embodiment, power line loss may be detected and mapped as follows. At a feeder node, the total power (P) supplied from the feeder node to the corresponding meter nodes is measured (step 1 0). At each of the corresponding meter nodes, the power consumed by the meter node is measured (step 142). The sum (∑) of the power measured at the meter nodes is computed (step 1 4). If P ≤ ∑ + Δ (step 146), where Δ is a preselected value that accounts for inherent losses and a certam amount of meter inaccuracy, the power line loss is within an acceptable limit and the detection cycle is repeated (step 140). If P > Σ + Δ (step 146), the power line loss may not be within acceptable limits. At this point, however, there is insufficient information to determine the cause of the power line loss. The power loss may be due tα normal operation reasons, inaccurate or faulty meter operation, or theft. To determine whether the loss was caused by improper meter operation, the accuracy of the meters is determined (step 148) by comparing the meter measurements transmitted to system controller 106 against the total power supplied through the corresponding feeder node over a period that includes a plurality of meter transmission periods 150. For example, each time the meter at the feeder node detects a change in the total power supplied to the meter nodes, system controller 106 identifies the meters which have measured a change load. If the sum of the reported meter load changes corresponds to the total power measured at the feeder node, the meters identified by system controller 106 are assumed to be accurate. In th i s case a value representative of the bulk loss (BL) may be computed as follows (step 152): BL = P - (Σ + Δ) If t he sum of the reported meter load changes does not correspond to the total power neas red a t t he feeder node, one or more of the identified meters may be inaccurate- Af t er a sutacient number of meter measurements have been compared against the feeder node measurements, system controller 106 may confirm the accuracy of each meter and comp i le l i sts of accura t e and in a ccura t e me t ers. Inaccurate meters may then be replaced. O t her embod i men t s are within the scope of the claims. For example , t he commun i cat i on s i gnal sen t over the power fines by signal mjector 120 may be used to t r i gger a spec i al me t er measurement or t o synchronize the meter measurements because the commun i canon s i gnal effcuvely permeates t he entire low voltage network connected to the feeder node. Th i s feature of t he in j ected communicanon signal may be used to eliminate the uncertamry caused by t i me j iπer and t o lock me t er measurements in real time. Such a communication s i gnal may replace a s i ngle mas t er clock , which may be a component of signal injector 120, for t he purpose ot t r i gger i ng a read even t across t he whole population of meters connected t o t he feeder node . S ti ll o t her embodiments are within the scope of the claims

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A system for detecting and mapping power loss in a wired power network having at least one feeder node wired to a plurality of meter nodes by a plurality of power lines, comprising: a signal injector constructed and arranged to send a communication signal from the feeder node to the plurality of meter nodes over the power lines; and a plurality of meters respectively located at the plurality of meter nodes, each of the meters including a receiver for receiving the communication signal and a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the received communication signal to a system controller. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal injector is configured to send the communication signal to the meter nodes by modulating a supply voltage waveform carried by the power lines . 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal injector modulates the supply voltage waveform in a region of zero cross-over. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication signal is formed from a series of modulated supply voltage waveform cycles. 5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the communication signal contains an identifier corresponding to the location of the feeder node. 6. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising a meter for monitoring the total power supplied to the meter nodes. 7. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the communication signal contains a trigger for synchronising the meter nodes. 8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of meters form a layer of a wireless network that further includes an intermediate node and the system controller. 9. A method for detecting and mapping power loss in a wired power network having at least one feeder node wired to a plurality of meter nodes by a plurality of power lines comprising: sending a communication signal from the feeder node to the plurality of meter nodes over the power lines; receiving the communication signal at the meter nodes; and transmitting a signal representative of the received communication signal from the meter nodes to a system controller. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication signal is sent by modulating a supply voltage waveform carried by the power lines . 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the supply voltage waveform is modulated in a region of zero cross-over. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication signal is formed from a series of modulated supply voltage waveform cycles. 13. The method of any of claims 9 to 12, further comprising measuring at the feeder node the total power supplied to the meter nodes. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising measuring the power consumed at the meter nodes, and comparing the sum of the consumed power measured at the meter nodes with the total supplied power measured at the feeder node . 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising computing the change in power supplied from the feeder node . 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising identifying one or more meters that have experienced a change in load. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising comparing a total change in load experienced by the one or more identified meters against the corresponding computer change in power supplied to the meters from the feeder node . 18. The method of any of claims 9 to 17, wherein the communication signal includes a trigger for synchronising the meter nodes. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting meter measurement signals from each of the meter nodes upon receipt of the synchronising trigger signal . 20. The method of any of claims 9 to 19, further comprising receiving signals transmitted by the meter nodes at an intermediate node, processing the received meter node signals, and transmitting a signal representative of the processed signals to the system controller.

Inventors: JONES ALAN J, SMITH MITCHELL D, JONES, ALAN, J., SMITH, MITCHELL, D.
Applicants: BCN DATA SYSTEMS LTD, JONES ALAN J, SMITH MITCHELL D, JONES, ALAN, J., SMITH, MITCHELL, D.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H02J4
IPC codes: H02J13