FAULT CURRENT LIMITING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20050002152A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Tinggren, Richard, Liljestrand, Lars, Hartung, Karl-Heinz, Gemme, Carlo
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/626
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/28 effecting automatic replacement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/106 fuse and switch being connected in parallel

Abstract

A fault current limiting system includes switching means for providing a fast switching operation; a parallel current path comprising a limiting fuse; and a switching system to automatically replace a blown set of fuses with an unblown set of fuses after a fault current limiting operation has occurred. A method of limiting fault current includes providing a fast switching operation; providing a parallel current path comprising a limiting fuse; and automatically replacing a blown set of fuses with an unblown set of fuses after a fault current limiting operation has occurred.

Claims

1. A fault current limiting system, the system comprising:

switching means for providing a fast switching operation;

a parallel current path comprising a limiting fuse; and

a switching system to automatically replace a blown set of fuses with an unblown set of fuses after a fault current limiting operation has occurred.

2. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises a fast mechanical switch.

3. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises an explosive cartridge.

4. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, further comprising plural sets of fuses arranged in the parallel current path.

5. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, wherein the switching system comprises a revolver switch.

6. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, further comprising a control system which automatically operates at least one of said switching means and said switching system.

7. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, further comprising dedicated control means for supervising protection logic used in the fault current limiting system and for controlling and operating at least one of said switching means and said switching system.

8. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, further comprising means for short circuit closing after a fault, wherein said short circuit closing completes a restoration sequence of the fault current limiting system.

9. The fault current limiting system of claim 1, further comprising a moveable track, wherein one or more components of the fault current limiting system are located on the moveable track.

10. An electrical distribution switchboard comprising the fault current limiting system of claim 1.

11. A method of limiting fault current, the method comprising:

providing a fast switching operation;

providing a parallel current path comprising a limiting fuse; and

automatically replacing a blown set of fuses with an unblown set of fuses after a fault current limiting operation has occurred.