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US 11,901,724 B1Granted
Method and apparatus to optimize protection of fuse-protected transformers and AF mitigation
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsRicardo Jose Guerra Castillo, Faisal Almansour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a system for protecting an electrical component includes an overload fuse, and a diverter switch connected in parallel with the overload fuse and operable in a first closed position to provide an electrical path for inrush current when the system is energized and in a second open position to direct operating current exclusively through the overload fuse when the system is in normal operating condition.
Claims20
A system for protecting a transformer in an AC electrical network, the system comprising:
- an overload fuse coupled to a primary winding of the transformer in an AC current path of the electrical network, the overload fuse rated to reduce arc flash energy at a low voltage (LV) side of the transformer;
- and
- a diverter switch connected in parallel with the overload fuse and operable in a first closed position to provide an electrical path for inrush current when the system is energized and in a second, normally open position to direct operating current exclusively through the overload fuse when the system is in normal operating condition.
A method for protecting a circuit including a transformer comprising:
- coupling an overload fuse to a primary winding of the transformer in an AC current path of the circuit, the overload fuse rated to reduce arc flash energy at a low voltage (LV) side of the transformer;
- establishing a parallel electrical connection between the overload fuse and a diverter switch that are coupled upstream from the transformer;
- closing the diverter switch in advance of an inrush current;
- energizing the circuit to thereby pass at least a portion of the inrush current through the closed diverter switch;
- and
- opening the diverter switch after the inrush current has passed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.