Current transformer with embedded voltage field detection and thermal sensing
AssigneeAnord Mardix (USA) Inc.
InventorAlan H. Katz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A monitoring system for sensing electrical parameters including current and voltage can comprise a current transformer and an antenna. The current transformer can be configured to sense current passing through a conductor. The antenna can be configured to sense electrical potential of the conductor by sensing an electric field generated by the conductor. The antenna can sense the electrical potential independent of whether current is present in the conductor. The monitoring system can further comprise a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the conductor. A sensing module can include a housing supporting the current transformer, the antenna, and the temperature sensor for monitoring an electrical power circuit.
Claims25
A monitoring system configured to sense two or more electrical parameters in an electrical power circuit, comprising:
- a sensing module comprising:
- a housing having an outer housing wall and an inner housing wall, the inner housing wall defining an inner opening of the sensing module, the inner opening configured to permit a power circuit conductor of the electrical power circuit to pass therethrough;
- a current transformer (CT) supported by the housing and configured to output a signal representative of a quantity of electrical current present in a power circuit conductor passing through the inner opening;
- and
- an antenna supported by and embedded inside the housing and configured to sense an electric field generated by the power circuit conductor, the electric field related to the electrical potential present in the power circuit conductor, whereby
- the antenna senses the electrical potential present in the power circuit conductor passing through the inner opening independent of whether electrical current is present in the power circuit conductor.
A sensing module system configured to sense electrical parameters in an electrical power circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of sensing modules, each of the plurality of sensing modules configured to sense two or more electrical parameters of a unique power circuit conductor of the electrical power circuit, each of the plurality of sensing modules comprising:
- a housing, the housing comprising:
- an outer housing wall,
- an inner housing wall, the inner housing wall defining an inner opening of the sensing module, the inner opening configured to permit the unique power circuit conductor to pass therethrough;
- a current transformer (CT) supported by the housing, the CT configured to sense a first electrical parameter, the first electrical parameter being the electrical current present in the unique power circuit conductor passing through the inner opening;
- and
- an antenna supported by and embedded inside the housing, the antenna configured to sense a second electrical parameter, the second electrical parameter being an electric field generated by the unique power circuit conductor, the electric field related to the electrical potential present in the unique power circuit conductor passing through the inner opening, whereby
- the antenna senses the electrical potential present in the unique power circuit conductor independent of whether electrical current is present in the unique power circuit conductor;
- and
- a base, the base supporting the plurality of sensing modules.
A method of sensing two or more electrical parameters in an electrical power circuit, comprising:
- attaching a housing around a power circuit conductor of the electrical power circuit such that the power circuit conductor passes through an inner opening of the housing;
- outputting a signal representative of a quantity of a first electrical parameter of the power circuit conductor via a current transformer (CT) supported by the housing and positioned around the power circuit conductor, the first electrical parameter being an electrical current present in the power circuit conductor;
- sensing a second electrical parameter of the power circuit conductor via an antenna supported by and embedded within the housing, the second electrical parameter being an electric field generated by the power circuit conductor, wherein
- the electric field is related to electrical potential present in the power circuit conductor, and the antenna senses the electrical potential present in the power circuit conductor independent of whether electrical current is present in the power circuit conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.