Method and apparatus for a remote electric power line conductor faulted circuit current, conductor temperature, conductor potential and conductor strain monitoring and alarm system.

摘要

An electric power line characteristic apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic conductor faulted circuit data logging of average nominal and maximum magnitudes of conductor current, voltage, temperature, and strain. Additionally an alarm is implemented to enunciate a faulted condition of the power line. Parametric data storage is provided for later retrieval by a remote exciter 3. The electric power line conductor faulted circuit monitoring system 2 uses transducers for conductor current 260, conductor temperature 270, conductor strain 280, and conductor potential 290 monitoring and data conversion. Further, the faulted circuit current monitoring system additionally illuminates a light emitting diode LED 250 on the device in response to exceeding pre-programmed limits of the stored data. The apparatus and method includes, from a remotely located exciter 3 apparatus using an antenna 5 to transmit a specific frequency and code key to an antenna 10 of an electric power line conductor faulted circuit monitoring system 2, for retrieval of current magnitude data, conductor temperature data, conductor strain data and power line potential data associated with the electric power line phase conductor. Further, the method and apparatus logs a date and time stamp of the faulted event or other strain, temperature, and loss of potential events for later retrieval. Additionally, the method and apparatus includes a programmable in-rush delay contained in memory 210 internal to the faulted circuit monitoring device 2 to allow a remotely programmable delay time from the exciter 3 before the faulted circuit monitor 2 responds to the instantaneous re-application of power to the phase conductors P1, P2, and P3 after a conductor fault. This programmable period of time for the current to settle to a nominal value constitutes an inrush delay time before the faulted circuit monitor responds to the current level flowing in the power line conductor. The method and apparatus includes a real time clock and calendar 230 internal to the faulted circuit monitor for placing an event date and time stamp in memory 210 of the occurrence of the fault. The apparatus and method further includes the step of, at the conductor fault current monitor 2, in response to a specific rf frequency and code key, transmitted by exciter 3 and antenna 5 a specific signal in response to convey data. The data are received at the exciter 3 and stored into the exciter memory 130 for later downloading to a host PC 4. The apparatus and method collects data from multiple faulted circuit monitors 2 in the exciter 3 and stores the data in the exciter memory 130 for downloading to a host pc 4. Power for the faulted circuit monitoring system 2 is derived from the power line 1 induced potential in the coil 340 and charge pump circuitry 320 and a “super capacitor” to store charge when power lines have no current flowing in them. Power for the faulted circuit monitoring system 3 is also derived by rectifying the received specific frequency in the receiver RX 310 to supply direct current to the charge pump 320. Thus the system does not necessarily require a battery 330 although one may be used in the faulted circuit monitor system. Finally, the apparatus and method include an LED 250 for visual indication of a fault condition to an observer on the ground.