US 12,730,153 B2 · Magnetic field-based detection method and system for circuit breaker switching operation and arc duration detection

Abstract

A system of tracking load switching operations and fault clearing operations of at least one circuit breaker in a power circuit includes at least one coil antenna sensing changes in a magnetic field around the coil antenna. The changes in the magnetic field induce corresponding changes to a current or voltage in the at least one coil antenna. A receiver is connected to the at least one coil antenna and receives the current or voltage. A computer is connected to the receiver and stores a data stream that corresponds to the changes in magnetic field around the at least one coil antenna. The computer uses the data stream to generate a plurality of characteristic magnetic field waveforms for the at least one circuit breaker. The computer assembles a low frequency magnetic signature for a respective circuit breaker from the characteristic magnetic field waveforms generated for the respective circuit breaker.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus for gathering magnetic field data associated with at least one circuit breaker connected to a power circuit, the apparatus comprising:

at least one coil antenna positioned in a location relative to the at least one circuit breaker to sense changes in a magnetic field around the coil antenna, wherein the changes in the magnetic field induce corresponding changes to a current and voltage on the coil antenna;
a receiver connected to the at least one coil antenna and receiving the current or the voltage from the coil antenna;
an analog to digital converter receiving the current or the voltage and generating a digital output tracking the changes to the current caused by the magnetic field around the coil antenna;
and
a computer comprising a processor and computer memory connected to the analog to digital converter and storing the digital output in the computer memory, wherein the computer memory comprises software implemented by the processor to generate a plurality of characteristic magnetic field waveforms of the magnetic field data for the at least one circuit breaker.

2 more elements

A system of tracking load switching operations and fault clearing operations of at least one circuit breaker in a power circuit, the system comprising:

at least one coil antenna in proximity to the at least one circuit breaker for sensing changes in a magnetic field around the at least one coil antenna, wherein the changes in the magnetic field correspond to load switching operations and fault clearing operations at the at least one circuit breaker and induce corresponding changes to a current and a voltage in the at least one coil antenna;
a receiver connected to the at least one coil antenna and receiving the current or the voltage;
a computer comprising a processor and computer memory connected to the receiver and storing a data stream in the computer memory that corresponds to the changes in magnetic field around the at least one coil antenna, wherein the computer memory comprises software, implemented by the processor, configured to use the data stream to generate a plurality of characteristic magnetic field waveforms for the at least one circuit breaker, and wherein the software assembles a low frequency magnetic signature for a respective circuit breaker from the characteristic magnetic field waveforms generated for the respective circuit breaker.

A computer implemented method of tracking load switching operations or fault clearing operations of at least one circuit breaker in a power circuit, the method comprising:

positioning at least one coil antenna in proximity to the at least one circuit breaker;
sensing changes in a magnetic field around the at least one coil antenna,
wherein the changes in the magnetic field correspond to the load switching operations at the at least one circuit breaker and induce corresponding changes to a current or a voltage in the at least one coil antenna;
transmitting the current or the voltage from the at least one coil antenna to a receiver;
converting the current or the voltage that is input from the at least one coil antenna to a magnetic field data stream tracking the magnetic field in the time domain;
using a computer comprising a processor and computer memory to:
store the data stream in the computer memory;
and
generate a plurality of characteristic magnetic field waveforms for the at least one circuit breaker.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic field-based detection method and system for circuit breaker switching operation and arc duration detection

Life of this patent

Magnetic field-based detection method and system for circuit breaker switching operation and arc duration detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25