Substation electromagnetic mitigation module
AssigneeCenterPoint Energy, Inc.
InventorsEric D. Easton, Kevin J. Bryant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric power substation includes a circuit breaker that receives electrical power from a power plant, and a control house communicably coupled to the circuit breaker via a primary communication line, wherein one or more primary relay panels are housed within the control house. An electromagnetic pulse mitigation module is communicably coupled to the circuit breaker via a fiber optic line and comprises a continuous conductive enclosure that is impervious to radiated and coupled electromagnetic energy. One or more backup relay panels are housed within the electromagnetic pulse mitigation module and capable of assuming operation of the one or more primary relay panels.
Claims12
An electric power substation, comprising:
- a circuit breaker that receives electrical power from a power plant;
- a control house communicably coupled to the circuit breaker via a primary communication line, wherein one or more primary relay panels are housed within the control house;
- an electromagnetic pulse mitigation module communicably coupled to the circuit breaker via a fiber optic line and comprising a continuous conductive enclosure that is impervious to radiated and coupled electromagnetic energy;
- and
- one or more backup relay panels housed within the electromagnetic pulse mitigation module and capable of assuming operation of the one or more primary relay panels.
A method of operating an electric power substation, comprising:
- receiving electrical power from a power plant at a circuit breaker located at the electrical power substation, wherein the electrical power substation includes a control house communicably coupled to the circuit breaker via a primary communication line, and wherein one or more primary relay panels are housed within the control house;
- transitioning operation of the circuit breaker to an electromagnetic pulse mitigation module communicably coupled to the circuit breaker via a fiber optic line and comprising a continuous conductive enclosure that is impervious to radiated and coupled electromagnetic energy;
- and
- assuming operation of the one or more primary relay panels with one or more backup relay panels housed within the electromagnetic pulse mitigation module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.