Thermal powerline rating and clearance analysis using local thermal sensor

Abstract

A method for modeling of an overhead electrical conductor, includes: collecting 3-dimensional location data of the conductor; substantially simultaneous with said collecting, acquiring a thermal measurement of the conductor with a local thermal sensor; and generating a CAD model of the conductor using the collected 3-dimensional location data of the conductor and the thermal measurement of the conductor. The CAD model facilitates thermal line analysis of the conductor, thermal rating of a power line that includes the conductor, clearance analysis relative to the conductor, and vegetation management relative to the conductor. Apparatus for determining temperature of the overhead electrical conductor, includes: a local thermal sensor that acquires thermal measurements of the conductor; and a data processor that extracts thermal readings from the thermal measurement, and processes the thermal readings and remotely collected 3-dimensional location data of the conductor to determine the temperature of the conductor.

1 . A method for monitoring power flow of an overhead electrical conductor, comprising:
 collecting 3-dimensional location data of the conductor;   substantially simultaneous with said collecting, acquiring a thermal measurement of the conductor with a local thermal sensor;   generating a CAD model of the conductor using the collected 3-dimensional location data of the conductor and the thermal measurement of the conductor, and   using the CAD model to determine a power flow of the conductor.   
     
     
         2 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the CAD model to determine a power flow of the conductor further comprises determining a power flow capacity of the conductor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing access to at least one of (i) the determined power flow of the conductor and (ii) the determined power flow capacity of the conductor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the conductor is one of a plurality of conductors of a grid, and the method further comprises identifying one or more power flow congestion points of the grid. 
     
     
         24 . A method for monitoring energy flow of a conductor grid, comprising
 collecting 3-dimensional location data of one or more of a plurality of conductors of the conductor grid;   substantially simultaneous with said collecting, acquiring one or more corresponding thermal measurements of the one or more conductors with one or more corresponding local thermal sensors;   generating one or more CAD models of the one or more conductor using the collected 3-dimensional location data of the one or more conductors and the one or more corresponding thermal measurements of the one or more conductors, and   using the one or more CAD models to determine corresponding power flows of the one or more conductors.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein using the one or more CAD models to determine corresponding power flows of the one or more conductors further comprises determining corresponding power flow capacities of the one or more conductors. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising providing access to at least one of (i) the determined corresponding power flows of the one or more conductors and (ii) the determined corresponding power flow capacities of the one or more conductors. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprises identifying one or more power flow congestion points of the grid. 
     
     
         28 . A power flow monitoring control system, comprising:
 a remote location sensor configured to collect 3-dimensional location data of a conductor;   a local thermal sensor configured to acquire a thermal measurement of the conductor substantially simultaneous with the collection of the 3-dimensional location data; and   a data processor configured to:   (i) correlate the collected 3-dimensional location data of the conductor and the thermal measurement of the conductor to determine the temperature of the conductor at time of collection of the 3-dimensional location data of the conductor; and   (ii) use the CAD model to determine a power flow of the conductor.