Networked power line parameter analysis method and system

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining power line parameter of a system. Specifically, there is provided a system for determining comprising a networked device including a voltage perturbation circuit coupled to a voltage source and configured to perturb the waveform of the voltage source, and a voltage measurement circuit coupled to the voltage source and configured to transmit voltage measurements of the waveform over a network and a remote monitoring unit, coupled to the network, and configured to receive the voltage measurements over the network and to calculate an incident energy using the voltage measurements.

1 . A system for determining power line parameters comprising: 
 a networked device including a voltage perturbation circuit coupled to a voltage source and configured to perturb a waveform of the voltage source, and a voltage measurement circuit coupled to the voltage source and configured to transmit voltage measurements of the waveform over a network; and    a remote monitoring unit, coupled to the network, and configured to receive the voltage measurements over the network and to calculate an incident energy using the voltage measurements.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage measurement circuit is configured to transmit the voltage measurements to a network interface disposed in the device, wherein the network interface communicates with a network interface within the remote monitoring unit over the network.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to calculate an inductive component of the voltage source and a resistive component of the voltage source.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to determine a personal protective equipment level corresponding to the incident energy.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the personal protective equipment level to the device over the network and wherein the device comprises a display configured to indicate the personal protective equipment level.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a second networked deivce, the second device configured to transmit voltage measurements to the remote monitoring unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to calculate an incident energy for the second device.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage measurement circuit is coupled to a three phase power line.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the networked device comprises a motor control center.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a wireless network.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the networked device is configured to process the voltage measurements prior to transmitting the voltage measurements to the network.  
   
   
       11 . A method for determining power line parameters comprising: 
 measuring a first voltage of an ac waveform applied to an electrical line;    draining current from the line and measuring a second voltage of the ac waveform during a droop in voltage resulting from the current drain;    removing the current drain to cause a resonant ring in the voltage in the line;    measuring a parameter of the resonant ring;    transmitting the first voltage, the second voltage, and the parameter of the resonant ring across a network; and    computing the line impedance based upon the transmitted first and second voltages and the transmitted parameter of the resonant ring.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising computing an incident energy based on the line impedance.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising determining a PPE level and displaying a visual indication of the PPE level.  
   
   
       14 . A system for determining power line parameters comprising: 
 a first networked device including a voltage perturbation circuit and a voltage measurement circuit, wherein the first networked device is configured to transmit a power line parameter over a network; and    a second networked device coupled to the network and configured to receive signals representative of the power line parameter.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the power line parameter comprises power line impedance.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the power line parameter comprises incident energy.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the network is a wireless network.  
   
   
       18 . A system for determining power line parameters comprising: 
 a device configured to perturb an ac voltage waveform and measure a characteristic of the perturbed ac waveform; and    a remote triggering unit, remote from and coupled to the device, wherein the remote triggering unit is configured to initiate perturbation of the ac voltage waveform by the device.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising a processing circuit configured to calculate a line impedance based on the characteristic of the perturbed ac waveform.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising a processing circuit configured to calculate an incident energy based on the characteristic of the perturbed ac waveform.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the device is disposed within a motor control center.  
   
   
       22 . A system for determining power line parameters comprising: 
 a motor control center including a voltage perturbation circuit coupled to a voltage source of the motor control center and configured to perturb a waveform of the voltage source, and a voltage measurement circuit coupled to the voltage source and configured to transmit voltage measurements of the waveform over a network; and    a remote monitoring unit, coupled to the network, and configured to receive the voltage measurements over the network and to calculate an incident energy using the voltage measurements.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the remote monitoring unit is disposed within a control center.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the network is a wireless network.