Dissertation
Electromagnetic Sensors for Measurements on Electric Power Transmission Lines
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/3477
Abstract
The emergence of smart grid technology requires changes in the infrastructure of the electric power system. One of these changes is the addition of sensors to the transmission portion of the power system in order to determine useful information about the system such as line sag and direction of power flow. Unfortunately, there are a number of inhibitors to incorporating these additional sensors. These include issues of initial cost and/or maintenance. Therefore, what is needed (especially in sparsely inhabited areas) is new sensors that are inexpensive to manufacture, do not compromise safety, can be installed without taking transmission lines out of service and require low levels of maintenance.
The focus of this dissertation is on electromagnetic (EM) field sensors, a novel type of sensor that can be used for monitoring the state of power lines. These sensors do not require contact with the power lines; rather they utilize electric and magnetic field coupling. Important states (such as voltage, current and phase sequence) and geometric parameters (e.g., line sag) of the power lines can be monitored based on inherent correlations between those variables and the electromagnetic fields produced by the power lines. While similar sensors have been available for many years, the unique feature of the sensors discussed here is that they utilize the relative phase of the EM fields in the vicinity of the line to provide significantly better sensitivity than has been previously available. In addition, they are inexpensive, easy to install with live working techniques and require only a low level of maintenance.
Three types of sensors, point probes, and perpendicular and parallel distributed sensors will be studied using basic reciprocity theory and developed to the point of application. Several field experiments were conducted for validation. Finally, potential applications of the sensors for monitoring power lines are explored.
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Details
- Title
- Electromagnetic Sensors for Measurements on Electric Power Transmission Lines
- Creators
- Zhi Li
- Contributors
- Robert G. Olsen (Advisor)Patrick D. Pedrow (Committee Member)Mani V. Venkatasubramanian (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 189
- Identifiers
- 99900581752001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation