Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for a wireless radio repeater for integration in an electric power distribution system. Such a system may include an electrical measurement device and a wireless radio repeater. The electrical measurement device may be installed on a power line of an electric power distribution system, obtain an electrical measurement of the power line of the electric power distribution system, and transmit a wireless message indicating the electrical measurement. The wireless radio repeater may receive the wireless message from the electrical measurement device and re-transmit the wireless message to a control system of the electric power distribution system or to another wireless radio repeater to assist in sending the wireless message to the control system of the electric power distribution system.

Abstract: A wireless radio repeater includes an antenna configured to receive a message associated with an electric power delivery system. The wireless radio repeater also includes circuitry configured to receive electrical measurement data, identify a condition of the electric power delivery system based on the electrical measurement data, and cause the antenna to re-transmit the message received via the antenna in response to identifying the condition based on the electrical measurement data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wireless neutral current sensor (WNCS) for monitoring a neutral cable of a capacitor bank. The WNCS may include a power storage device that provides power to allow the WNCS to send a test signal to a capacitor bank controller (CBC) of the capacitor bank to confirm operation of the WNCS during commissioning. The WNCS may include processing and communication circuitry that, during operation, detects an electrical characteristic on the neutral cable. The processing and communication circuitry may provide a message indicating the electrical characteristic to the CBC.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided to control an electrical component of an electric power distribution system with an intelligent electronic device using electrical measurements from a wireless electrical measurement device located away from the electrical component. One such system includes a capacitor bank on a lateral of an electric power distribution system, a first set of one or more wireless electrical measurement devices that obtain one or more electrical measurements of a first feeder of the electric power distribution system, and a capacitor bank controller. The capacitor bank controller may use the one or more electrical measurements of the first feeder to control the capacitor bank on the lateral.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitor bank controller that automatically determines the size of a capacitor bank using wireless current sensors. The capacitor bank controller determines a first capacitor bank size estimate using voltage and current measurements from when the capacitor bank is open and when the capacitor bank is closed a first time. The capacitor bank controller determines a second capacitor bank size estimate by using voltage measurements and current measurements from when the capacitor bank is open and when the capacitor bank is closed a second time. The capacitor bank controller determines a filtered capacitor bank size estimate based on the first capacitor bank estimate and the second capacitor bank estimate and controls operation of the capacitor bank based on the filtered capacitor bank size estimate.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for measuring electrical parameters in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a system may include a line-mounted wireless current sensor comprising a current monitoring subsystem to generate a current measurement of an alternating current flow through an electrical conductor. The line-mounted wireless current sensor may harvest power from the electrical conductor. A processing subsystem may generate a message comprising the current measurement, and the message may be transmitted at a synchronization point using a wireless communication subsystem. An intelligent electronic device (IED) may receive the message. The IED may further generate a voltage and generate a phasor based on the current measurement and the voltage measurement. A control action subsystem may implement a control action (e.g., selectively connecting or disconnecting a capacitor bank) based on the phasor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for a wireless radio repeater for integration in an electric power distribution system. Such a system may include an electrical measurement device and a wireless radio repeater. The electrical measurement device may be installed on a power line of an electric power distribution system, obtain an electrical measurement of the power line of the electric power distribution system, and transmit a wireless message indicating the electrical measurement. The wireless radio repeater may receive the wireless message from the electrical measurement device and re-transmit the wireless message to a control system of the electric power distribution system or to another wireless radio repeater to assist in sending the wireless message to the control system of the electric power distribution system.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to detection of a broken conductor in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a broken conductor detector may be configured to be mounted to an electrical conductor and may comprise a communication subsystem configured to transmit a signal configured to indicate that the conductor is broken. A sensor may determine a plurality of vectors. A processing subsystem may be configured to receive the plurality of vectors from the sensor and to identify when the vector is outside of a range defined by a threshold value. The processing subsystem may determine that the conductor is falling based on the plurality of vectors remaining outside of the threshold for a period of time determined by the timer subsystem. A signal may be transmitted by the communication subsystem to indicate that the conductor is falling.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a line-powered current measurement system to mount to an electrical conductor and related methods. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a current transformer to electrically couple to an electrical conductor and to generate a secondary current proportional to a primary current in the conductor. A power harvesting subsystem may harvest power from the secondary current in a first configuration. A switching subsystem may transition the line-powered current measurement device between the first configuration and a second configuration, in which a current measurement subsystem generates a measurement of the secondary current. The switching subsystem may provide the secondary current to the power harvesting subsystem in the first configuration and may bypasses the power harvesting subsystem in the second configuration. A communication subsystem may transmit the measurement of the secondary current to a receiver device.

Abstract: A line-mounted device is used to provide power system signals to a device for detecting a fault and calculating a fault location using a traveling wave launched thereby. Current at the line-mounted device is used to separate incident and reflected traveling waves at a terminal. Times and polarities of traveling waves passing the line-mounted device and the terminal are compared to determine if the fault is located between the terminal and line-mounted device or at a location beyond the terminal or line-mounted device. Voltage of the traveling wave may be calculated using currents from the line-mounted device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to powering distributed sensors used to monitor electrical and/or environmental conditions and to powering other equipment associated with electric power systems. In one embodiment, a system may be used to mount a sensor in proximity to a reference conductor. An electric field power conversion subsystem may generate a usable electric potential from an electric field created by the electric power system and existing between the reference conductor and another conductor (e.g., another phase conductor, a ground conductor). The sensor powered by the usable electric potential may provide a measurement of a condition associated with the electric power system. A communication subsystem powered by the usable electric potential may communicate the measurement of the condition to a monitoring system.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for monitoring and protecting an electric power system. In one embodiment, a system may comprise line-mounted wireless current transformers to measure at least one parameter of an alternating current (AC), receive a synchronization signal at which to measure the AC, and send a message comprising the measured AC. The system may also comprise an intelligent electronic device (IED) to send the synchronization signal to and receive the messages from the line-mount wireless current transformers, determine whether a high-impedance fault (HiZ) exists between the line-mounted wireless current transformers, and implement a control action based on the existence of the HiZ fault.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided to control an electrical component of an electric power distribution system with an intelligent electronic device using electrical measurements from a wireless electrical measurement device located away from the electrical component. One such system includes a capacitor bank on a lateral of an electric power distribution system, a first set of one or more wireless electrical measurement devices that obtain one or more electrical measurements of a first feeder of the electric power distribution system, and a capacitor bank controller. The capacitor bank controller may use the one or more electrical measurements of the first feeder to control the capacitor bank on the lateral.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wireless neutral current sensor (WNCS) for monitoring a neutral cable of a capacitor bank. The WNCS may include a power storage device that provides power to allow the WNCS to send a test signal to a capacitor bank controller (CBC) of the capacitor bank to confirm operation of the WNCS during commissioning. The WNCS may include processing and communication circuitry that, during operation, detects an electrical characteristic on the neutral cable. The processing and communication circuitry may provide a message indicating the electrical characteristic to the CBC.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for monitoring and protecting an electric power system. In one embodiment, a system may comprise line-mounted wireless current transformers to measure at least one parameter of an alternating current (AC), receive a synchronization signal at which to measure the AC, and send a message comprising the measured AC. The system may also comprise an intelligent electronic device (IED) to send the synchronization signal to and receive the messages from the line-mount wireless current transformers, determine whether a high-impedance fault (HiZ) exists between the line-mounted wireless current transformers, and implement a control action based on the existence of the HiZ fault.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a line-powered current measurement system to mount to an electrical conductor and related methods. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a current transformer to electrically couple to an electrical conductor and to generate a secondary current proportional to a primary current in the conductor. A power harvesting subsystem may harvest power from the secondary current in a first configuration. A switching subsystem may transition the line-powered current measurement device between the first configuration and a second configuration, in which a current measurement subsystem generates a measurement of the secondary current. The switching subsystem may provide the secondary current to the power harvesting subsystem in the first configuration and may bypasses the power harvesting subsystem in the second configuration. A communication subsystem may transmit the measurement of the secondary current to a receiver device.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to detection of a broken conductor in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a broken conductor detector may be configured to be mounted to an electrical conductor and may comprise a communication subsystem configured to transmit a signal configured to indicate that the conductor is broken. A sensor may determine a plurality of vectors. A processing subsystem may be configured to receive the plurality of vectors from the sensor and to identify when the vector is outside of a range defined by a threshold value. The processing subsystem may determine that the conductor is falling based on the plurality of vectors remaining outside of the threshold for a period of time determined by the timer subsystem. A signal may be transmitted by the communication subsystem to indicate that the conductor is falling.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for retrofitting data collection systems in an electrical power system. In one embodiment, a retrofit system includes a wireless current sensor. The wireless current sensor includes a current monitoring subsystem to generate a digitized representation of a current measurement of an alternating current signal in an electrical conductor, a power harvesting subsystem to harvest power from the electrical conductor, and a first wireless communication subsystem to transmit the digitized representation of the current measurement. An analog-to-digital converter includes at least one analog input in electrical communication with a voltage signal associated with the electrical conductor and a digital output to generate a digitized representation of the voltage signal. An intelligent electronic device in communication with a second wireless communication subsystem and the ADC may provide the digitized representations to a main processor.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for measuring electrical parameters in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a system may include a line-mounted wireless current sensor comprising a current monitoring subsystem to generate a current measurement of an alternating current flow through an electrical conductor. The line-mounted wireless current sensor may harvest power from the electrical conductor. A processing subsystem may generate a message comprising the current measurement, and the message may be transmitted at a synchronization point using a wireless communication subsystem. An intelligent electronic device (IED) may receive the message. The IED may further generate a voltage and generate a phasor based on the current measurement and the voltage measurement. A control action subsystem may implement a control action (e.g., selectively connecting or disconnecting a capacitor bank) based on the phasor.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for low-power optical transceivers. In one embodiment, a low-power optical transceiver may include a microcontroller, an optical receiver, and an optical transmitter in communication with and controlled by the microcontroller. The optical receiver may include a photodetector configured to receive a first optical representation of a first signal to be received and to generate an electrical representation of the first signal. An amplifier may amplify the electrical representation of the first signal, and an output in electrical communication with the amplifier may generate an electrical output. The optical transmitter may include a laser diode configured to generate a second optical representation of a second signal to be transmitted. The microcontroller may be configured to control an output power of the laser diode.