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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
SNOW/ ICE CLEANER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2021/002812
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
This invention is related to a system which can obtain energy sufficient to operate small devices practically from power transmission and /or distribution lines and a snow/ ice cleaner which enables to prevent formation of snow/ ice and to clean snow/ice.

Inventors:
İŞEN MUSTAFA KEMAL (TR)
Application Number:
PCT/TR2019/050519
Publication Date:
January 07, 2021
Filing Date:
July 02, 2019
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
BLINK ENERGY INC (US)
International Classes:
H02G7/16
Foreign References:
US6660934B12003-12-09
CN105449615A2016-03-30
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
YALCINER, Ugur G. (YALCINER PATENT & CONSULTING LTD.) (TR)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A system which can obtain energy sufficient to operate small devices practically from power transmission and/or distribution lines and a snow/ice cleaner (A) which enables to prevent formation of snow/ice and to clean snow/ice characterized by comprising;

• A spherical shaped outer box (1) that can be separated into two one being the outer box top part (1.1) and the outer box bottom part (1.2),

• Splitcore transformers (2) where the current that passes through the power transmission and/or distribution line also passes through,

• A charge circuit (7),

• A bridge type full rectifier circuit (7.2) which rectifies the current passing through the power transmission and/or distribution line,

• Capacitors (7.1) which the current passing through the power transmission and /or distribution line and which is located on the charge circuit is rectified by the bridge type full wave rectifier circuit (7.2),

• A microcontroller circuit (6),

• A safety circuit (11) which prevents the super capacitors (7.1) from reaching a high voltage level by measuring voltage at certain periods of time,

• Temperature and humidity sensors (9) which continuously measures the temperature and humidity information of the environment,

• A sensor card (8) to which the sensors are coupled to,

• A locking module (4) which enables the system to be locked onto the power transmission and/or distribution line,

• A motor drive circuit (12) which activates the data received from the temperature and humidity sensors (9) after said data is interpreted by the microcontroller circuit (6),

• A motor (5) which activates the motor drive circuit (12) and enables the system to provide vibration,

• A load that has been attached to the body of the motor (5) in order to receive a short term strong vibration force from the motor (5),

• A communication module which enables the snow/ice cleaners to communicate with themselves and the center,

• A warning led (10) which becomes activated when the system is operating.

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2. A snow/ice cleaner according to claim 1, characterized by the motor (5) being a motor without a brush.

3. A snow/ice cleaner (A) according to claim 1, characterized by the load connected to the motor (5) being 60gr.

4. A snow/ice cleaner (A) according to claim 1, characterized by the core of the splitcore transformer (2) being wound with 400 turns of winding.

5. A snow/ice cleaner (A) according to claim 1, characterized by the core of the splitcore transformer (2) being made of a nickel iron alloy (mu-metal).

6. A snow/ice cleaner (A) according to claim 1, characterized by the system being activated by the microcontroller (6) when the temperature falls below 6°C and the relative humidity rises above 80%.

7. A snow/ice cleaner (A) according to claim 1, characterized by data transfer being submitted to the center by means of a routing, using a long distance (LoRa network) network.

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Description:
SNOW/ICE CLEANER

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention is related to a system which can obtain energy sufficient to operate small devices practically from power transmission and/or distribution lines and a snow/ice cleaner which enables to prevent formation of snow/ice and to clean snow/ice.

Known State of the Art (Prior Art)

Power transmission and distribution lines are lines that enable to transfer electricity to the end user which is obtained in a planned and controlled manner from power plants.

In the winter months, snow/ice is formed depending on climate conditions on AG (Low voltage 0-lkV), OG (Medium voltage l-35kV) and High voltage (35-145kV) lines. High humidity in the air and snow that has accumulated following snowfall onto the voltage lines turns into a layer of ice when the temperatures fall and a load is imposed on voltage lines. This load that has been imposed may damage voltage lines and they may even break away. Therefore in extreme climate conditions repairing of voltage lines is very difficult and people and businesses suffer from power outages.

Some of the technologies used for solving the ice load problem in power transmission and distribution lines are heating the lines for a temporary period of time by transmitting DC current, to apply radiofrequency to the lines, cleaning the line with a cleaning robot, shaking the line with a stick carried by a helicopter, flame spraying with a drone. These methods provide heat on power transmission and distribution lines and they try to make it difficult for snow to accumulate on said lines.

In the process of transmitting DC current to the Power Line, the energy transmission of the line is cut off for a short period of time and current is passed through by means of an accumulator and energy transmission is re-enabled. This method leads to power cut offs and it

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) cannot be used on all lines. Moreover as it heats up all of the wire, it is not an efficient method.

In the radiofrequency method high radio frequency applied to the line and the ice on the wire is heated and melted. However this method is expensive and therefore it is not a preferred method.

In the known state of the art, systems which clean wires with a robot which moves on the lines is provided. These systems are both complicated and expensive and they cannot be applied to all lines, as the robot needs to jump over poles.

The patent document numbered RU2375801 Cl is available in the known state of the art. The invention in said patent document, is dependent on the principle of melting the accumulated ice on the lines with a current. The line is isolated externally and the invention is dependent on the principle of melting the ice by heating the wire.

Another patent document of the state of the art is the patent document numbered CN101242086 (A). The invention of the patent document is dependent on the principle of melting the ice and heating the line by using an effective current of the line by forming a cycle by means of the thyristors available on the line.

Another patent document of the state of the art is the patent document numbered RU2212744 (C2). In the invention of said patent document, it is aimed for the vertical ice load and horizontal wind load detection of the line to be carried out via sensors of a device that has been positioned on the connection points of the insulator.

Brief Description of the Invention and its Aims.

This invention is related to a system which can obtain energy sufficient to operate small devices practically from power transmission and/or distribution lines and a snow/ice cleaner which enables to prevent formation of snow/ice and to clean snow/ice.

The following is aimed in developing said snow/ice cleaner;

• Cleaning of snow/ice without damaging the power transmission and/or distribution lines,

• Determining where the snow/ice load has accumulated,

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) • Providing a structure which communicates with the center,

• Having a structure which does not impose a risk on human health,

• Cleaning power transmission and/or distribution lines by means of vibration,

• Calculating the possibility of ice formation on power transmission and/or distribution lines and preventing ice load formation,

• Providing a device that is easy to use, compact and low cost.

Definition of the Figures Describing the Invention

The figures and related descriptions that are used in order to further describe the snow/ice cleaner developed by means of this invention have been provided below.

Figure- 1 : Schematic view of the Power Supply System of the Snow/Ice Cleaner

Figure-2: Perspective View of the Snow/Ice Cleaner that has been mounted onto the Power Transmission and/or distribution Line

Figure-3: Perspective View of the Snow/Ice Cleaner that has been mounted onto the Power Transmission and/or distribution Line Showing the Components Located in the Cleaner

Figure-4: Schematic View of the Connection of the Components of the Snow/Ice Cleaner, with each other

Definitions of the aspects/sections/parts forming the invention

The parts and sections in the figures that are used in order to further describe the snow/ice cleaner developed by means of this invention have each been numbered and the references of each number have been provided below.

1. Outer box

1.1. Outer Box Top Part

1.2. Outer Box Bottom Part

2. Splitcore Transformer

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) 3. Power transmission and/or distribution line

4. Locking Module

5. Motor

6. Microcontroller Circuit

7. Charge Circuit

7.1. Super Capacitor

7.2. Bridge Type Full Wave Rectifier Circuit

8. Sensor Card

9. Temperature and Humidity Sensor

10. Warning Led

11. Safety Circuit

12. Motor Drive Circuit

VI : Potential Source which Symbolized a Power transmission and/or distribution

Line

A : Snow/ice cleaner

D1,D2,D3,D4 : Diode

CES : Capacitor (capacitive energy storage)

Detailed Description of Invention

The novelty subject to the invention has been described with examples that do not have any limiting effect but have been provided to further describe the subject matter of the invention. Accordingly in the description and figures below, a system which can obtain energy sufficient to operate small devices practically from power transmission and/or distribution lines and a snow/ice cleaner (A) which enables to prevent formation of snow/ice and to clean snow/ice is described.

It comprises a dual drum which operated together with the communication module and the vibration plate combined with the motor having a snow/ice cleaning effect mounted onto the line-used in maintenance operations of long distance power transmission and/or distribution lines. The encased spherical device that has been formed by connecting the two drums is a monolithic drum which enables to clean the entire line between two poles and carries out data transmission process by the devices following each other on the same line being mounted such that a single device is provided between two poles. The device is characterized such that it provides continuous power to the motor without a brush combined

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) with the plate from the capacitors according to the current passing more than once through the power transmission and/or distributionline, and enables cleaning without the need for external aid continuously of a line between two poles without bringing about any significant load onto the power on the line.

The snow/ice cleaner (A) is formed of 2 main parts. These are the charge circuit (7) and the microcontroller section (6). The power required by the snow/ice cleaner (A) is provided by the power transmissionand/ or distribution line without the need to use a battery or any other additional power supply. The system used as the snow/ice cleaner (A) obtains energy with the logic of a transformer from the magnetic field by winding a coil around the power line. In splitcore transformers (2) the current passing through the power transmission and/or distribution line is rectified with the rectifying circuit and is stored in the capacitor (7.1) located on the charge circuit (7). As the capacitor (7.1) used for storing energy is a super capacitor (electric double layer capacitor), rapid and high energy can be obtained to form vibration in a compact structure.

The core selection of the splitcore transformer (2) that shall be mounted onto the power transmission and/or distribution line and the winding rate has been designed.

The winding rates of the splitcore transformer (2) has been calculated as follows:

According to the calculations carried out by taking into consideration the energy storage requirement of the super capacitor (7.1) and in connection with the current amount passing through the power transmission and/or distribution line, the core has been wound with approximately 400 rounds of winding. The core of the splitcore transformer (2) has been selected to be“Mu metal core” which is a nickel iron alloy.

The energy charge and discharge times of the super capacitors (7.1) have been calculated as below:

The charging of the capacitor The discharging of the capacitor

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As a result of the tests carried out, when the average value of the current amount passing through the power transmission and/or distribution line is taken as basis (6-8A), super capacitors (7.1) store between 8-9 volts of energy in 1 hour from the empty state. After approximately 2 hours from the empty state, the super capacitors (7.1) reach their fully charged capacity. As the current amount passing through the power transmission and/or distribution line increases, the charging time of the super capacitors (7.1) is reduced. When very high energy passes through the power transmission and/or distribution lines and when the super capacitors (7.1) are completely charged, the safety circuit protects the system and discharging of load is provided. The energy that is stored in super capacitors (7.1) are used by a microcontroller circuit

(6), a motor drive circuit (12) and temperature and humidity sensors (9). If it is assumed that super capacitors (7.1) which are completely charged cannot charge anymore power, it can be said that it shall have the energy to activate the motor drive circuit (12) at least 1 time. Therefore the snow/ice cleaner (A) device can oscillate the power transmission and/or distribution line at least 1 time.

In figure 2, the mounted view of the snow/ice cleaner to the power transmission and/or distribution line can be seen. Splitcore transformers (2) can be attached to the power transmission and / or distribution line without needing to cut off energy as they have a clamping structure. By means of the locking module (4) the system can be locked onto the power transmission and/or distribution line. The snow/ice cleaner (A) device can charge itself by being attached to the single phase power transmission and/or distribution line. There is no need for earthing or establishing connection with a second wire.

The circuit is shown schematically in Figure 1. VI is the potential source which represents the power transmission and/or distribution line. A phase belonging to the power line passes right from the mid section of the splitcore transformer (2). AC voltage is established at the ends of the transformer depending on the amount of the current that passes to the power transmission and/or distribution line. The AC voltage that is created is converted into DC voltage by means of a bridge type full wave rectifier (7) and stored in capacitors (7.1). The power required for the snow/ice cleaner (A) to operate shall be obtained from super

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) capacitors (7.1).

The microcontroller circuit (6) of the snow/ice cleaner (A) device, controls the super capacitor (7.1) safety circuit (11), motor drive circuit (12), communication module (6), and the temperature and humidity sensor (9). The safety circuit (11) of super capacitors (7.1) located inside the micro controller circuit (6) measures voltage at certain periods of time and both prevents the super capacitors (7.1) from reaching a high voltage level and provides the required amount of voltage for the (12).

The aim of the snow/ice cleaner (A) is to provide a solution for the ice load problem on power transmission and/or distribution lines (3). The formation of ice loads depend on the humidity and temperature conditions in the environment. The microcontroller circuit (6) continuously measures the temperature and humidity of the environments by means of the temperature and humidity sensor (9) therein. The risk of ice formation is evaluated by the microcontroller (6) when the temperature falls below 6°C and the relative humidity rises above 80%. If the temperature data received successively for 15 minutes is the same or it is reduced, or the humidity value is the same or it increases, vibration is applied to the line by making assumptions regarding the possibility for icing or the risk of snow fall, by carrying out dev point calculations. If the process is started even before ice load is not formed the accumulation of ice on the line will be prevented. By this means the problem of having an ice load is eliminated with low energy usage.

A lightweight motor (5) without a brush is provided inside the snow/ice cleaner (A) device with long usage life and low energy loss. It is aimed to obtain a short term strong vibration force from the motor which has low vibration features as a result of applying a reverse force to the function of the motor by attaching a load that is 60gr asymmetrically onto the body of the motor (5). Therefore it has been aimed for the motor to carry out effective vibration at low frequencies. The microcontroller circuit (6), interprets the data received from the temperature and humidity sensors (9) and activates the motor drive circuit (12) when the air conditions in which ice load can be formed and sends vibration to the power transmission and/or distribution line for 2 seconds. It has been planned for the vibration received via the motor to be transmitted directly to the power transmission and/or distribution line (3) with the least effect or without having any effect on the outer box of the device or the electronic components. Accordingly, it is prevented from being in contact with the body and the

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) vibration is isolated from the body by means of springs having a high spring constant rate. It has been planned for the vibration to be transferred to the line via transmission pins.

In long distance energy transmission and/or distribution lines (3) the cleaning of the snow/ice cleaner of all the lines, can be enabled by mounting the successive devices such that a device is located between two poles. According to land conditions an unlimited number of snow/ice cleaner (A) devices can be mounted successively at 0-500m distances. A separate device needs to be attached for each wire between two poles.

The communication module located inside the snow/ice cleaner device provides bi- directional communication in all devices located on the power transmission and/or distribution line (3). By means of the communication module located on the microcontroller circuit (6) data transfer is enabled among devices respectively and information is transferred to the center from the final device located on the power transmission and/or distribution line (3). The final device on the power transmission and /or distribution line (3) shall enable us to transfer data via the LoRa (Long Range - Long Distance) network between very long distances by means of a‘Routing’ located inside the device. Data such as temperature, humidity, capacitor voltage, device breakdown condition are submitted to the center from snow/ice cleaner (A) devices and the location of the device that is not working can be determined. It allows the center to instantaneously see the breakdown status of the devices and to step in. As the snow/ice cleaner (A) device shall carry out communication between two poles, communication distance shall be 500 meters. The communication module shall provide low power consumption and shall support short distance data transfer. When the system is operating a warning led (10) that is activated is provided in the system.

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