Utility Hazard Monitoring for Targeted Power Line Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing power line networks are inadequate in detecting and responding to hazards such as fires, strong winds, and environmental factors, leading to unnecessary power outages and increased burdens on customers during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) events.
Innovation Solution
A utility structure monitoring system equipped with sensors like laser sensors, cameras, thermocouples, and angle switches that detect hazards and generate alerts, enabling proactive de-energization of power lines and remote monitoring to prevent damage and quickly restore service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are implemented to prevent environmental damage to power lines, then public safety is improved, but power outages last for several days causing significant burden on customers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of hazards (vegetation proximity, structural anomalies, environmental threats) using sensors before they can cause damage to power lines. By identifying and addressing potential issues in advance, the system prevents the need for prolonged preventive power shutoffs, thus maintaining public safety while minimizing customer burden.
2Measurement precision
If manual inspections are conducted to detect hazards near power lines, then detection accuracy is improved, but response time is reduced due to manual processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual inspection mechanisms with automated sensor-based detection systems. Sensors continuously monitor for hazards such as vegetation encroachment, structural anomalies, and environmental threats, providing both high detection accuracy and immediate real-time alerts without the delays inherent in manual inspection processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor network provides continuous monitoring of power line environments, eliminating the intermittent nature of manual inspections. This continuous detection ensures hazards are identified immediately upon occurrence, maintaining both high detection accuracy and rapid response time through uninterrupted surveillance.
3Reliability
If proactive de-energization is implemented to prevent damage from environmental factors, then power line safety is improved, but unnecessary power outages occur increasing customer burden
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of actual hazards before they can cause damage, allowing for targeted preventive actions only where needed. This eliminates the need for blanket proactive de-energization of entire power line networks, thus maintaining power line safety while avoiding unnecessary power outages that disrupt customer service.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the duration and impact of power outages, enhances public safety, and minimizes the need for manual inspections by using real-time data to identify and address potential threats, thereby improving customer experience and reducing risks to life and property.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light receiving elements each configured to receive the light signal from a respective one of the one or more light emitting elements along a line of site
Implementation Method 2
the utility structure monitoring system is configured to generate an alert upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined limit using the one or more thermal cameras
Implementation Method 3
the one or more sensors includes one or more thermocouples. In some embodiments, the utility structure monitoring system is configured to generate an alert upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined limit using the one or more thermocouples
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes a system for monitoring and mitigating damage to electrical utility structures and the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the system includes fire boxes, arc sensors, angle switches, and disconnect switches configured to generate alert signals when a hazard is detected. In some embodiments, the system includes cameras configured to detect a hazard such as a fire or moving object. In some embodiments, the system includes light transmitters and light receivers positioned at a predetermined location away from power lines to detect objects that interrupt a line of site. In some embodiments, the system can electrically isolate a power line before a detected hazard impacts a power line.