A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of power line sensing devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. The sensing devices can be configured to measure and monitor, among other things, current values and waveforms, phase voltage, conductor current, phase-to-phase voltage, conductor temperatures, ambient temperatures, vibration, wind speed and monitoring device system diagnostics. Methods of installing and protecting the system are also discussed.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure for solving the problem, disclosed is a stability-improved high voltage power line path exploration apparatus. The stability-improved high voltage power line path exploration apparatus for tracking a high voltage power line and determining a buried path and a connection configuration up to a final power source of a power distribution system, wherein the high voltage power line is connected to a primary winding of a distribution transformer to supply voltage and current, wherein the distribution transformer converts high voltage for distribution to low voltage in proportion to a ratio of a winding combination may include: an exploration current generator for generating a current pulse signal in inverse proportion to a winding ratio for detecting a magnetic field signal around the high voltage power line, in which the exploration current generator is connected to a secondary winding of the distribution transformer; a buried path probe for tracking the buried path and connection configuration of the high voltage power line by detecting the magnetic field signal which is generated around the high voltage power line when the current pulse signal flows through the high voltage power line; and a reverse current limiter for suppressing a generation of a reverse magnetic field generated by an external conductor of the high voltage power line, to improve a reception performance of the buried path probe.

A power metering device includes a tap unit including a clamp for engaging a coaxial cable and a probe for electrically coupling to a center conductor of the coaxial cable without damaging the center conductor. A power consumption meter and a power port are electrically connected to the probe. A power transformer is optionally connected between the probe and the power port. A housing surrounds the meter and transformer. The power port supplies power to a customer device, and the meter measures an amount of power passing through the power port. The power consumed by the customer device is reported by the meter to a modem within the housing. The modem may utilize the probe and the center conductor of the coaxial cable to send power consumption data to a service provider, so that an operator of the customer device may be billed and/or the customer device may be controlled to limit its power consumption. Further, the modem may transfer data between the customer device and the service provider.

A system for crosstalk cancelation for electricity metering in a power distribution network is provided. For example, a meter can be used to generate a set of measurement points by measuring electrical signals provided by a reference power device according to a set of source points. Based on the set of source points and the corresponding set of measurement points, a crosstalk cancelation function is derived and stored in the meter. When the meter is deployed at a geographical location and generates a measurement point by measuring the electrical signal on the power distribution network, the meter further applies the crosstalk cancelation function to the measurement point to generate a transformed measurement point. The meter calculates various characteristics of the power distribution network based on the transformed measurement points and transmits the calculated characteristics to a headend system.

The present disclosure provides for an electronic sensor for detecting a root of a plant in soil, the electronic sensor that includes a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil, a switch, a power supply, and a signal extractor. The switch is electrically coupled to the first conductor plate and is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode. The power supply is electrically coupled to the switch and is configured to provide an electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch. The signal extractor is electrically coupled to the switch and is configured to extract a signal response at the first conductor plate in the second mode of the switch. The present disclosure further provides a second conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil adjacent to and substantially parallel to the first conductor plate. The second conductor plate is electrically coupled to ground.

The present disclosure provides for an electronic sensor for detecting a root of a plant in soil, the electronic sensor that includes a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil, a switch, a power supply, and signal extractor. The switch is electrically coupled to the first conductor plate and is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode. The power supply is electrically coupled to the switch and is configured to provide an electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch. The signal extractor is electrically coupled to the switch and is configured to extract a signal response at the first conductor plate in the second mode of the switch. The present disclosure further provides a second conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil adjacent to and substantially parallel to the first conductor plate. The second conductor plate is electrically coupled to ground.

The invention relates to a method for cable condition monitoring of an electric cable. The method comprises inducing a test current in the electric cable, measuring a resulting current in a measurement point of the electric cable by measuring a magnetic nearfield of the electric cable, measuring a resulting voltage in the measurement point of the electric cable by measuring an electric nearfield of the cable, calculating an impedance of the electric cable based on the resulting current and the resulting voltage by a line resonance analysis system, and analysing the impedance by the line resonance analysis system establishing a condition of the electric cable. A coupler arrangement providing a non-galvanic connection to the cable is also disclosed.

An energy metering system includes a plurality of current sensors suitable to sense current levels in a respective power conductor and each of said plurality of current sensors providing a respective first signal indicating respective the current levels. The energy metering system includes a plurality of non-contact voltage sensors suitable to sense voltage levels in a respective power conductor and each of the plurality of non-contact voltage sensors providing a respective second signal indicating respective the voltage levels. The energy metering system includes a monitoring device that receives each of the respective first signals and receives each of the respective second signals, and the monitoring device provides an indication of whether a circuit breaker has tripped based upon a respective first signal corresponding with one of the power conductors and whether the second signal indicates an insubstantial voltage level for the corresponding one of the power conductors.

Contactless voltage transducer for measuring voltages between at least two conductors of an alternating voltage conductor system, the transducer including two or more capacitive current measurement units, each said capacitive current measurement unit comprising an electrode surrounding a passage for receiving therethrough a respective said conductor of the alternating voltage conductor system, an electrode shield surrounding the electrode, an electrode signal processing circuit portion connected to the electrode and electrode shield, configured to output an analog measurement signal, and a reference voltage signal generator connected to the electrode shield and configured to generate a reference voltage source signal, wherein the reference voltage signal generators of the two or more capacitive current measurement units are connected together at a common floating voltage connection point.

An energy metering system includes a plurality of current sensors suitable to sense current levels in a respective power conductor and each of said plurality of current sensors providing a respective first signal indicating respective the current levels. The energy metering system includes a plurality of non-contact voltage sensors suitable to sense voltage levels in a respective power conductor and each of the plurality of non-contact voltage sensors providing a respective second signal indicating respective the voltage levels. The energy metering system includes a monitoring device that receives each of the respective first signals and receives each of the respective second signals, and the monitoring device provides an indication of whether a circuit breaker has tripped based upon a respective first signal corresponding with one of the power conductors and whether the second signal indicates an insubstantial voltage level for the corresponding one of the power conductors.