EP0218221A2

Apparatus for measuring the potential of a transmission conductor.

Abstract

Self contained radio transmitting state estimator modules are mounted on power conductors on both sides of power transformers in electrical substations and on power conductors at various places along electrical transmission lines. They are electrically isolated from ground and all other conductors. These modules are capable of measuring current, voltage, frequency and power factor (or the fourier components thereof) the temperature of the conductor, and the temperature of the ambient air. The modules transmit these parameters to local receivers. The receivers are connected by an appropriate data transmission link, to a power control center which allows determination of the state of the power system. Appropriate control signals are transmitted back to the electrical switchgear of the system to bring it to the appropriate optimum state. Direct local control may also be effected, for example, the prevention of overloading a transformer. A "donut" state estimator module comprises a novel hot stick operated hinge clamp and a novel voltage sensor which measures the current between an isolated capacitor plate and ground. The donut measures the fourier components of voltage and current over a number of cycles and transmits the components to the local receiver. The local receiver derives the desired electrical measurements such as voltage, current, power factor, power, and reactive power and transmits them to local or remote control stations. Up to 15 donut modules may transmit on a single channel to a single local receiver. Each transmits at intervals which are an integral number. The intervals between transmissions of all donuts do not have a common factor and the average interval is the desired transmission rate. Each donut uses the zero crossover of current of its conductor to establish its transmission interval. The system is self-calibrating using known reference signals within the donut module.

EP0218221A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 75

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 12 April 2004, 22.5 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
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15 claims: 8 independent, 7 dependent

  1. 1
    Means for measuring the potential of a high voltage power conductor comprising:(A) a metallic case adjacent to the conductor and in electrical contact therewith;(B) at least one metallic plate located in the surface of said metallic case;and (C) insulating material separating said plate from said case, the separation between them along the surface of said case being very much smaller than the size of said plate.
  2. 3
    An electrical power line state estimator module comprising:(A) a generally toroidal shaped housing mounted about the conductor, and (B) a potential sensor comprising a. a capacitor plate mounted to the outer surface of said housing, and b. low impedance current measuring means connected between the conductor and said capacitor plate.
  3. 5
    An electrical power line state estimator module for mounting to a power line conductor comprising:(A) a generally toroidal shaped metal housing;(B) hub and spoke means for mounting said housing about a line power conductor, and (C) a potential sensor comprising: a. means for electrically connecting said housing to said conductor, b. a voltage sensing plate mounted in the surface of said housing and insulated therefrom, and, c. means electrically connected between said plate and said housing for measuring the potential characteristic of said conductor.
  4. 6
    Apparatus for measuring at least the potential of a power line conductor characterised by:- a generally toroidal shaped housing removably attached to the conductor;means for electrically connecting the housing to the conductor;a metal capacitor plate mounted on the outer surface of the housing, the plate and the housing being separated by insulating material;and low impedance current measuring means electrically connected between the plate and the housing for measuring the potential of the conductor.
  5. 10
    Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the length and width of the plate are very large relative to the width of the separation between the plate and the housing.
  6. 11
    Apparatus for measuring the potential of a high voltage power conductor comprising:- a metallic case adjacent to said conductor and in electrical contact with said conductor;low impedance current measuring means connected between the plate and the case in electrical contact with the conductor whereby the measuring means shunts the second capacitor and the potential between the plate and ground is equal to the potential between the conductor and ground.
  7. 14
    Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the low impedance current measuring means provides an output voltage signal that is proportional to the current in the first equivalent capacitor.
  8. 15
    Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14, characterised in that the metallic case is generally toroidal in shape and is removably attached to the conductor.