Protection of electrical devices based on electromagnetic pulse signal
AssigneeTechHold, LLC
InventorsDavid Anderson, Greg Fuchs, Frederick R. Faxvog
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit includes a detector and controller circuit configured to detect a high field RF (radio frequency) electromagnetic fields indicating a potential of an electromagnetic pulse event capable of damaging electrical equipment connected to a power grid. The circuit also includes controller receiving an input from the detector circuit, the controller being included within a shielded enclosure and configured to initiate an event in response to detection of the high field electromagnetic pulse field to remove the electrical equipment from the power grid.
Claims25
A circuit comprising:
- a detector circuit configured to detect an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of a future electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment connected to a power grid, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal;
- a controller receiving an input from the detector circuit, the controller being included within a shielded enclosure and configured to generate an actuation signal output from the controller to initiate an event in response to detection of the electromagnetic field to electrically disconnect the electrical equipment from the power grid prior to occurrence of the future electromagnetic event.
A method of protecting a transformer electrically connected to a power grid, the method comprising:
- detecting, via a detection circuit, an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of an electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal;
- in response to detecting the electromagnetic field at a detection circuit, sending an actuation signal from a controller positioned within a shielded enclosure, the actuation signal triggering a normally-closed switch to an open state, thereby electrically disconnecting the transformer from the power grid prior to arrival of the electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment.
A circuit comprising:
- a detector circuit configured to detect an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of a future electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment connected to a power grid, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal;
- a controller receiving an input from the detector circuit, the controller being included within a shielded enclosure and configured to generate an actuation signal output from the controller to actuate one or more breakers in a region expected to be affected by the future electromagnetic event prior to occurrence of the future electromagnetic event;
- wherein actuating the one or more breakers electrically segments the power grid into a plurality of segments, the plurality of segments including a segment including the electrical equipment, the segment being electrically isolated from a remainder of the power grid in response to detection of the electromagnetic field.
A method of protecting electrical equipment electrically connected to a power grid, the method comprising:
- detecting, via a detection circuit, an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of an electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal;
- in response to detecting the electromagnetic field at a detection circuit, sending an actuation signal from a controller positioned within a shielded enclosure, thereby electrically disconnecting the electrical equipment from the power grid prior to arrival of the electromagnetic event capable of damaging the electrical equipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.