Arrester Temperature Monitor

Abstract

An instrumented electric power arrester includes a temperature sensor, wireless transmitter, and a visual over-temperature indicator. A disk shaped module, a replacement varister block, or a dummy block containing the sensor/transmitter is placed between varister blocks inside the arrester housing. A strap-on module is attached to the outside of the arrester housing. The sensor/transmitter utilizes a harvesting power supply that draws electric power for the electronics from the power line protected by the arrester. An ambient temperature sensor may be utilized to enhance accuracy. The temperature sensor/transmitter typically sends arrester monitoring data wirelessly to an RTU or handheld unit located outside the arrester, which relays the monitoring data to an operations control center that scheduled replacement of the arrester based on the monitoring data. A surge counter keeps track of the number of equipment and lightening related temperature surges experienced by the arrester.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature sensor/transmitter for an electric power arrester configured for connection to an electric power line, comprising:
 a temperature sensor;   electronics including a processor, a memory, a wireless transmitter, a transmit capacitor, and an antenna; and   a harvesting power supply for supplying the electronics from electric power harvested from the electric power line.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 1 , further comprising a disk-shaped PC board carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement between varister blocks inside the arrester. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 1 , further comprising a varister block carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement inside the arrester. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 1 , further comprising a dummy block having a similar size to a varister block inside the arrester, carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement inside the arrester. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 1 , further comprising a tag-shaped substrate carrying the electronics and a strap configured for attaching the tag-shaped substrate to the outside of the arrester. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 1 , further configured to communicate with a visual indicator configured for attachment to the outside of the arrester. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 1 , further comprising a surge counter configured to count a number of temperature surges experienced by the arrester. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature sensor/transmitter of  claim 7 , wherein the surge counter is further configured to count a number of equipment related temperature surges and a number of lightening related temperature surges experienced by the arrester. 
     
     
         9 . An instrumented electric power arrester configured for connection to an electric power line, comprising:
 an electric power arrester; and   a temperature sensor/transmitter comprising:
 a temperature sensor, 
 electronics including a processor, a memory, a wireless transmitter, a transmit capacitor, and an antenna, and 
 a harvesting power supply for supplying the electronics from electric power harvested from the electric power line. 
   
     
     
         10 . The instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 9 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter further comprises a disk-shaped PC board carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement between varister blocks inside the arrester. 
     
     
         11 . The instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 9 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter further comprises a varister block carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement inside the arrester. 
     
     
         12 . The instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 9 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter further comprises a dummy block having a similar size to a varister block inside the arrester, carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement inside the arrester. 
     
     
         13 . The instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 9 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter further comprised a tag-shaped substrate carrying the electronics and a strap configured for attaching the tag-shaped substrate to the outside of the arrester. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 9 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter is further configured to communicate with a visual indicator configured for attachment to the outside of the arrester. 
     
     
         15 . The instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 9 , further comprising a surge counter configured to count a number of temperature surges experienced by the arrester. 
     
     
         16 . The instrumented electric power arrester of  claim 15 , wherein the surge counter is further configured to count a number of equipment related temperature surges and a number of lightening related temperature surges experienced by the arrester. 
     
     
         17 . An electric power operation and maintenance system, comprising:
 an instrumented electric power arrester configured for connection to an electric power line an electric power arrester, comprising:
 an electric power arrester, and 
 a temperature sensor/transmitter, comprising:
 a temperature sensor; 
 electronics including a processor, a memory, a wireless transmitter, a transmit capacitor, and an antenna; and 
 a harvesting power supply for supplying the electronics from electric power harvested from the electric power line; and 
 
   an operations control system located remotely from the instrumented electric power arrester configured to receive an over-temperature indication from the instrumented electric power arrester and schedule replacement the instrumented electric power arrester in response to the over-temperature indication.   
     
     
         18 . The electric power operation and maintenance system of  claim 17 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter further comprises a disk-shaped PC board carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement between varister blocks inside the arrester. 
     
     
         19 . The electric power operation and maintenance system of  claim 17 , wherein temperature sensor/transmitter further comprises a varister block carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement inside the arrester, a dummy block having a similar size to a varister block inside the arrester carrying the temperature sensor and the electronics configured for placement inside the arrester, or a tag-shaped substrate carrying the electronics and a strap configured for attaching the tag-shaped substrate to the outside of the arrester. 
     
     
         20 . The electric power operation and maintenance system of  claim 17 , further comprising a surge counter configured to count a number of temperature surges experienced by the arrester