Ice Accretion Detection on Power Lines Using Sag and Tension

The patent replaces indirect weather-based and model-based calculation methods with direct physical measurement using sensors. Specifically, it uses accelerometers to measure conductor vibration characteristics and strain gauges to measure mechanical tension, thereby directly determining sag without relying on uncertain weather data or models. This substitution of measurement methodology resolves the contradiction by providing both wide coverage and high precision simultaneously.

The patent introduces intermediate measurement parameters (conductor vibration frequency and mechanical tension) that serve as mediators between the physical state of the conductor and the sag calculation. By measuring these intermediate parameters through sensors and using them to calculate sag, the system achieves accurate measurements during icing conditions without being affected by the uncertainties of direct weather-based methods.

The patent merges multiple measurement functions into a single integrated monitoring system. It combines accelerometers for vibration measurement, strain gauges for tension measurement, and temperature sensors into one unified device that simultaneously measures multiple parameters needed for accurate sag calculation. This merging maintains device simplicity while significantly improving reliability during icing conditions by using multiple independent measurement channels.

The patent changes the measured parameters from solely temperature-based to include vibration frequency and mechanical tension. By measuring the fundamental vibration frequency of the conductor and combining it with tension data from strain gauges, the system can calculate sag accurately during icing conditions when temperature-based methods fail, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.