Managed transmission line coupled cooling system
Described embodiments include a system, a method, and a computer program product. A described system includes an air-pump-based cooling apparatus configured to mount on and cool a portion of a live transmission line of a power transmission system, wherein the power transmission system is configured to transport electric power from one place to another. The described system includes a temperature management device configured to assess a temperature condition of the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
1. A system comprising:
an air-pump-based cooling apparatus configured to mount on and cool a portion of a live transmission line of a power transmission system, the power transmission system configured to transport electric power from one place to another; and
a temperature management device configured to assess a temperature condition of the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission system includes a high-voltage power transmission system.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission system includes a power distribution system.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission line includes a live overhead transmission line.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is configured to actively cool a portion of the transmission line.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is configured to statically mount on a transmission line.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is configured to mount on and travel over a transmission line.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is configured to operate on power drawn from the power transmission system.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is inductively or quasi-DC power coupled to one or more power transmission lines of the power transmission system.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus includes one or more line-mounted fans.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more line-mounted fans are configured to force airflow along the transmission line.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more line-mounted fans include independently movable sets of blades with different sets having different blade radii and/or blade pitch.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more line-mounted fans include one or more fan blades that can be recessed or retracted when not in use.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more line-mounted fans are configured to operate at fixed sites along the transmission line.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more line-mounted fans are configured to be longitudinally propelled along the transmission line.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is further configured to force airflow through a heat exchanger device of the cooling apparatus.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus includes one or more line-mounted fans configured to force airflow through a heat exchanger device of the cooling apparatus.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus includes an electrostatic air pump.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature management device is configured to assess a temperature of the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature management device is configured to assess an ambient wind velocity proximate to the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature management device is configured to assess a line sag of the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature management device is configured to assess a power, current, or voltage level of the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is a mobile air-pump-based cooling apparatus configured to travel along the transmission line, and the temperature management device is configured to control a movement of the mobile air-pump-based cooling apparatus from site to site along the line according to local cooling needs.
24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature management device is configured to assess a temperature condition of the transmission line based upon a parameter influencing a temperature condition of the transmission line.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the parameter includes an existing parameter influencing the temperature condition of the transmission line.
26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the parameter includes a predicted parameter influencing the temperature condition of the transmission line.
27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the parameter includes a power, current, or voltage level of the transmission line.
28. The system of claim 24 , wherein the parameter includes a wind speed or wind direction effecting the transmission line.
29. The system of claim 24 , wherein the parameter includes sag of the transmission line.
30. The system of claim 24 , wherein the parameter includes a temperature at one or more points along the transmission line.
31. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature management device further includes an information-gathering circuit configured to acquire data indicative of a parameter influencing the temperature condition of the transmission line.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the data indicative of a parameter includes data generated by a sensor coupled with the transmission line.
33. The system of claim 31 , wherein the data indicative of a parameter includes weather prediction data.
34. The system of claim 31 , wherein the data indicative of a parameter includes data derived from an image of the transmission line.
35. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus and the temperature management device are carried by a single chassis.
36. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air-pump-based cooling apparatus is configured to operate at a location remote from the temperature management device.
37. A method comprising:
receiving data indicative of a parameter evidencing or influencing a temperature condition of a transmission line of a power transmission system, the power transmission system in use transport electric power from one place to another;
assessing a temperature condition of the transmission line in response to the data; and
actuating an air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment of the temperature condition, the air-pump-based cooling apparatus mounted on the transmission line and configured to cool a portion of the transmission line.
38. The method of claim 37 , further comprising:
receiving subsequent data indicative of a subsequent parameter evidencing or influencing a temperature condition of the transmission line;
assessing a subsequent temperature condition of the transmission line in response to the subsequent data; and
de-actuating the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment of the subsequent temperature condition.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the subsequent parameter and the parameter are at least substantially the same parameter.
40. The method of claim 38 , wherein the subsequent parameter and the parameter are at least substantially different parameters.
41. A computer program product comprising:
(a) program instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a process including:
(i) receiving data indicative of a parameter evidencing or influencing a temperature condition of a transmission line of a power transmission system in use to transport electric power from one place to another;
(ii) assessing a temperature condition of the transmission line in response to the data; and
(iii) actuating an air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment of the temperature condition, the air-pump-based cooling apparatus mounted on the transmission line and configured to cool a portion of the transmission line; and
(b) computer-readable media bearing the program instructions.
42. The computer program product of claim 41 , the process further comprising:
(iv) receiving subsequent data indicative of a subsequent parameter evidencing or influencing a temperature condition of the transmission line;
(v) assessing a subsequent temperature condition of the transmission line in response to the subsequent data; and
(vi) de-actuating the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment of the subsequent temperature condition.
43. The computer program product of claim 41 , the process further comprising:
providing a notification of the actuating of the air-pump-based cooling apparatus to at least one of a human, computer, or a system.
44. The computer program product of claim 41 , the process further comprising:
outputting a signal providing a particular visual depiction indicative of the actuating of the air-pump-based cooling apparatus.
45. The computer program product of claim 41 , wherein the computer-readable media includes a tangible computer-readable media.