Electrical fault protection system
AssigneeBath Iron Works Corporation
InventorMichael Timm Sieleman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fault protection system whose trip logic considers power magnitude and direction at first and second points on a conductor is provided. Under normal operating conditions, power flows in the same direction through first and second points on the conductor. Under faulted conditions, a differential power condition exists; that is, the power flowing at a first point on the conductor is of different magnitude and/or direction than the power flowing at a second point on the conductor. The trip logic identifies the differential power condition as the result of a fault between the first and second points on the conductor and causes a protective device on each side of the fault to trip open, thus isolating the fault.
Claims26
A system for isolating faults on an electrical power distribution system having a first node, a second node, and a first conductor having a first end connected to said first node and a second end connected to said second node, comprising:
- a first circuit interrupter for selectively interrupting current conducted through said first conductor, said first circuit interrupter having an open state in which current cannot be conducted through said first conductor and a closed state in which current can be conducted therethrough;
- a first current monitor for generating a first signal responsive to the current flowing through said first conductor proximate a first point thereof;
- a second current monitor for generating a second signal responsive to the current flowing through said first conductor proximate a second point thereof;
- first trip logic for selectively causing said first circuit interrupter to change state to its open state in response to said first signal and said second signal;
- and
- a communications channel operably connecting both of said first and second signals to said first trip logic.
A system for isolating faults on an electrical power distribution system having a first node, a second node, and a first conductor having a first end connected to said first node and a second end connected to said second node, comprising:
- a first circuit interrupter for selectively interrupting current conducted through said first conductor, said first circuit interrupter having an open state in which current cannot be conducted through said first conductor and a closed state in which current can be conducted therethrough;
- a first current monitor for generating a first single responsive to the current flowing through said first conductor proximate a first point thereof;
- a second current monitor for generating a second signal responsive to the current flowing through said first conductor proximate a second point thereof;
- first trip logic for selectively causing said first circuit interrupter to change state to its open state in response to said first signal and said second signal;
- a communication channel operably connecting both of said first and second signals to said first trip logic;
- a second circuit interrupter for selectively interrupting current through said first conductor proximate said second point thereof, said second circuit interrupter having an open state in which current cannot be conducted therethrough and a closed state in which current can be conducted therethrough;
- second trip logic for selectively causing said second circuit interrupter to change state to its open state in response to said first signal and said second signal;
- and
- said communication channel further operably connecting both of said first and second signals to said second trip logic.
A method for isolating faults in a power distribution system comprising at least one conductor for carrying current, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring the direction of current flowing through each end of a first conductor;
- comparing the direction of current flowing through a first end of said first conductor to the direction of current flowing through a second end of said first conductor;
- and
- isolating said first conductor if the direction of current flowing through said first end of said conductor is different from the direction of current flowing through said second end of said first conductor.
A method for isolating faults in a power distribution system comprising a first plurality of conductors having one end connected to a first node and a second plurality of conductors having one end connected to a second node, a conductor common to said first and second pluralities of conductors having a first end connected to said first node and a second end connected to said second node, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring the direction of current flowing through each of said first end and said second end of said common conductor;
- comparing the direction of current flowing through said first end of said common conductor to the direction of current flowing through a second end of said common conductor;
- and
- isolating said common conductor if the direction of current flowing through said first end of said common conductor is different from the direction of current flowing through said second end of said common conductor.
A method for identifying and isolating faults in a power distribution system comprising at least one conductor for carrying current, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring the magnitude of current flowing through each end of a first conductor;
- and
- comparing the magnitude of current flowing through a first end of said first conductor to the magnitude of current flowing through a second end of said first conductor;
- and
- isolating said first conductor if the magnitude of current flowing through said first end of said first conductor is substantially different from the magnitude of current flowing through said second end of said first conductor.
A method for isolating faults in a power distribution system comprising a first plurality of conductors having one end connected to a first node and a second plurality of conductors having one end connected to a second node, a conductor common to said first and second pluralities of conductors having a first end connected to said first node and a second end connected to said second node, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring the magnitude of current flowing through each of said first end and said second end of said common conductor;
- comparing the magnitude of current flowing through said first end of said common conductor to the magnitude of current flowing through a second end of said common conductor;
- and
- isolating said common conductor if the magnitude of current flowing through said first end of said common conductor is different from the magnitude of current flowing through said second end of said common conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.