Digital electricity using carrier wave change detection

A power-distribution system for regulating transfer of energy from a source on a transmitter side of a transmission line to a load on a receiver side of the transmission line, where a transmission-line electrical fault can be detected, and the source electrically isolated from the transmission line before substantial human or equipment damage is incurred, comprising:

• a controller on the transmitter side of the power-distribution system responsive to one or more sensors that provide feedback to the controller, including providing at least a signal indicative of the voltage across the transmitter side of the transmission line;
• a source-disconnect device operable by the controller, for electrically isolating the source from the transmission line;
• and
• a signal-generator circuit configured to superimpose a carrier waveform with a source-output waveform on the transmission line, where the carrier waveform has a frequency that is substantially higher than the source-output waveform frequency, wherein
• the controller includes a processor and computer-readable memory in communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable memory stores software code to determine the normal impedance of the transmission line from measurement or by utilizing a preset held in the computer-readable memory, and for detecting a transmission-line fault, as indicated by a change in carrier waveform reflections or energy content of the carrier waveform because of a change in the normal impedance of the transmission line, and wherein the computer-readable memory further stores software code that generates a command to cause the controller to open the source-disconnect device upon detection of the fault on the transmission line.