Patents by Inventor Shankar V. Achanta

Shankar V. Achanta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11733276
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Richard M. Edge
  • Patent number: 11614498
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kei Hao, Shankar V. Achanta, Raymond W. Rice
  • Publication number: 20220344926
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Richard M. Edge
  • Patent number: 11424609
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Richard M. Edge
  • Patent number: 11397198
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond W. Rice, Benjamin T. Rowland, James Mobley, Shankar V. Achanta
  • Patent number: 11372045
    Abstract: Systems and methods to detect that a protective device is operating outside of a time inverse overcurrent tolerance region are described. For example, a central monitoring station may obtain a time inverse overcurrent tolerance region of a protective device on a power line. The central monitoring station may obtain a fault magnitude measurement and a fault duration measurement of a wireless line sensor on the power line. The central monitoring station may determine that the protective device is operating outside of the tolerance region based at least in part on the fault magnitude measurement and the fault duration measurement. The central monitoring station may provide a signal indicating that there is a potential issue with the protective device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar V. Achanta, Kei Hao
  • Patent number: 11289900
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mobley, Shankar V. Achanta, Raymond W. Rice
  • Patent number: 11143687
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of detecting discharge events on power lines. For example, a system may include an acoustic sensor that detects a sound wave emitted from a power line. The system may include a radio frequency (RF) sensor that detects a radio wave emitted from the power line. The system may include electrical sensor circuitry that detects an electrical parameter of power being delivered on the power line. The system may include a processor that determines that a discharge event has occurred based on the sound wave, the radio wave, and the electrical characteristic. The system may provide an output signal indicating that the partial discharge event has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle
  • Publication number: 20210231736
    Abstract: Systems and methods to detect that a protective device is operating outside of a time inverse overcurrent tolerance region are described. For example, a central monitoring station may obtain a time inverse overcurrent tolerance region of a protective device on a power line. The central monitoring station may obtain a fault magnitude measurement and a fault duration measurement of a wireless line sensor on the power line. The central monitoring station may determine that the protective device is operating outside of the tolerance region based at least in part on the fault magnitude measurement and the fault duration measurement. The central monitoring station may provide a signal indicating that there is a potential issue with the protective device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar V. Achanta, Kei Hao
  • Publication number: 20210203148
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Richard M. Edge
  • Patent number: 10978863
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Richard M. Edge
  • Publication number: 20210102985
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kei Hao, Shankar V. Achanta, Raymond W. Rice
  • Publication number: 20210091559
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mobley, Shankar V. Achanta, Raymond W. Rice
  • Publication number: 20210055332
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond W. Rice, Benjamin T. Rowland, James Mobley, Shankar V. Achanta
  • Patent number: 10775448
    Abstract: Electric power system phase detection systems and methods. One or more line mounted intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) measure voltage at various points of a power system. The measured voltage is timestamped with a reference signal and compared with a timestamped voltage at a location where a phase on each conductor of the power system is known. Pattern matching using the measured voltage may be used to determine the phase at locations where the phase is unknown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Shankar V. Achanta
  • Publication number: 20200225273
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of sag in a power line. In an embodiment, a monitoring device may include a distance sensor and an operating parameter sensor. A processor of the monitoring device may acquire, via the distance sensor, a first distance measurement. The processor may acquire, via the operating parameter sensor, a first operating parameter measurement. The processor may provide an output signal indicating that the power line is sagging when a combination of the first distance measurement and the first operating parameter measurement exceed a first combined distance-operating parameter threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Richard M. Edge
  • Publication number: 20200225274
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of detecting discharge events on power lines. For example, a system may include an acoustic sensor that detects a sound wave emitted from a power line. The system may include a radio frequency (RF) sensor that detects a radio wave emitted from the power line. The system may include electrical sensor circuitry that detects an electrical parameter of power being delivered on the power line. The system may include a processor that determines that a discharge event has occurred based on the sound wave, the radio wave, and the electrical characteristic. The system may provide an output signal indicating that the partial discharge event has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Manson, Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle
  • Patent number: 10649020
    Abstract: A conductor-mounted device (CMD) used to signal an intelligent electronic device (IED) of the existence of a fault on a portion of the electric power delivery system is described herein. The CMD may provide a heartbeat signal to the IED. The CMD may provide a fault signal to the IED. The CMD may be powered via a parasitic current draw on the conductor to which it is mounted. An IED may use a fault signal and/or LOC signal from a CMD to coordinate a high-impedance fault detection and/or downed line events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Shankar V. Achanta
  • Publication number: 20190383869
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes phase detection systems and methods. One or more line mounted intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) measure voltage at various points of a power system. The measured voltage is timestamped with a reference signal and compared with a timestamped voltage at a location where a phase on each conductor of the power system is known. Pattern matching may be used to determine the phase at locations where the phase is unknown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Shankar V. Achanta
  • Patent number: 10419064
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for one-way communications are disclosed. A system includes a transmitter, a first receiver, and a second receiver. A transmitter transmits one or more messages on one or more channels according to a predetermined, pseudo-random channel hopping protocol. The receivers receive said transmissions according to the order of the pseudo-random channel hopping protocol. Methods for re-syncing the one-way system in the event of a power loss or other event causing desynchronization. Default waiting channels are established for the receivers once a certain number of channel detection periods according to the one-way communication protocol result in no detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Miralem Cosic, Shankar V. Achanta, Raymond W. Rice, Chen Zhu, Bryson R. Bechtel