US 7,236,338 B2 · System and method for remotely detecting and locating faults in a power system

Abstract

A system and method are provided for remotely detecting and locating faults in a power system. The system includes at least one slave controller and at least one supplemental protection module. The slave controller is disposed proximate at least one load and electrically connected to the loads via at least one conductor. More particularly, the slave controller includes at least one solid-state switch capable of controllably altering the input current to the loads. The slave controller also includes at least one measuring element for measuring at least one parameter associated with the loads and the solid-state switches. The solid-state switch can then controllably alter the input current to the loads according to the parameter. The supplemental protection modules are electrically connected to the conductors between the slave controller and the loads. In this regard, the supplemental protection modules can detects at least one fault in at least one conductor.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A system of remotely detecting and locating faults in a power system, said system comprising:

at least one slave controller disposed proximate at least one load and electrically connected to the at least one load via at least one conductor, wherein the at least one slave controller comprises:
at least one solid-state switch capable of controllably altering the input current to the at least one load;
and
at least one measuring element for measuring at least one parameter associated with the at least one load and the at least one solid-state switch, wherein said solid-state switch controllably alters the input current to the at least one load according to the at least one parameter;
and
at least one supplemental protection module electrically connected to the at least one conductor between the at least one slave controller and the at least one load, wherein the at least one supplemental protection module is capable of detecting at least one fault in at least one conductor.

3 more elements

A method of remotely detecting at least one fault in a power system comprising:

configuring a processing element that controls input current through at least one switch to at least one load via at least one conductor, wherein the configuring is based upon at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of a current rating of each load, a voltage rating of each load, a maximum current rating of each switch and a temperature rating of each switch;
operating each switch in an off mode wherein each switch prevents the input current from flowing to a respective load;
testing the at least one conductor to thereby detect at least one fault in the at least one conductor;
operating each switch in an on mode wherein each switch permits the input current to flow to a respective load when no damaged conductors are detected, and thereafter controlling the input current to the at least one load, wherein controlling the input current comprises:
monitoring at least one parameter associated with each switch and respective load selected from a group consisting of the input current to the load, a voltage drop across the load, the input current through the switch and a temperature of the switch;
determining a condition of each switch and respective load depending upon at least one of the at least one characteristic and the at least one parameter;
monitoring the at least one conductor to thereby detect at least one fault in the at least one conductor;
and
operating each switch in at least one mode selected from a group consisting of the on mode and the off mode depending upon the condition of the respective loads and at least one fault in the at least one conductor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for remotely detecting and locating faults in a power system

Life of this patent

System and method for remotely detecting and locating faults in a power system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26