Apparatus and method for distributing electrical power
AssigneeKeySpan Technologies, Inc.
InventorsLawrence J. Gelbien, Philip B. Andreas, Werner J. Schweiger
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for distributing electrical power from power substation circuits. The apparatus of the present invention is responsive to overcurrent conditions and selectively actuates a switching network so as to restore power to at least a portion of the users connected to the faulty circuit of the power distribution system.
Claims18
An electrical power distribution system having a plurality of power substation circuits each connected to at least one corresponding fault isolating switch assembly for sectionalizing a feeder conductor in said system, said system comprising:
- means for monitoring during a normal operation mode for an occurrence of a fault condition at said feeder conductor electrically connected to said at least one corresponding fault isolating switch assembly;
- means for signaling the occurrence of said fault condition;
- means for determining if said signaled fault condition lasts longer than a predetermined fault duration time threshold;
- means for performing at least one switching function if said fault condition lasts longer than said predetermined fault duration time threshold to prevent current supplied by at least one of said plurality of power substation circuits from flowing beyond a predetermined point along said electrical power distribution system;
- and
- means for terminating the determination of said fault condition if said fault condition does not last longer than said predetermined fault duration time threshold.
A method for performing at least one switching function in an electrical power distribution system having a plurality of power substation circuits each connected to at least one corresponding fault isolating switch assembly for sectionalizing a feeder conductor in said system, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring for an occurrence of a fault condition on said feeder conductor electrically connected to said at least one corresponding fault isolating switch member;
- (b) signaling the occurrence of said fault condition;
- (c) determining if said fault condition lasts longer than a predetermined fault duration time threshold;
- (d) performing said at least one switching function if said fault condition lasts longer than said predetermined fault duration time threshold to prevent current supplied by at least one of said plurality of power substation circuits from flowing beyond a predetermined point along said electrical power distribution system;
- and
- (e) returning to step (a) if said fault condition does not last longer than said predetermined fault duration time threshold.
An apparatus for performing at least one switching function in an electrical power distribution system having a plurality of power substation circuits for sectionalizing a feeder conductor in said system, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one isolating switch member positionable in series with said feeder conductor of a corresponding one of said plurality of power substation circuits so as to define a line side and a load side;
- current sensing means for measuring current values on said feeder conductor and for providing information indicating the measured current values;
- a controller for receiving said information indicating the measured current values, determining if said measured current values exceed a predetermined current value, and actuating, in response to the information indicating the measured current values from said current sensing means, said at least one isolating switch member when said current values exceed said predetermined current value;
- and
- communication means configured for transmitting at least status information of said apparatus to a system controller of said electrical power distribution system and for receiving at least control information from said system controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.