Systems and methods for fault-based power signal interruption

• US 20050018371A1
• Filed: 06/12/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tdg Aerospace
• Original Assignee: Tdg Aerospace
• Inventors: Larson, Wayne L., Fish, Daniel E., Evans, David L., Bench, Gerald, Mladenik, John E., Barba, Jose M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/006 Provisions for user interfaces for electrical protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00; systems for change-over to standby supply H02J9/00 ; integrated protection for motors H02H7/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/042 combined with means for locating the fault locating faults in cables G01R31/08

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for fault detection and interruption in power lines are provided. Circuitry is implemented via software and hardware that is configured to sense an operational aspect of a power line and apply signal processing to the sensed operational aspect to detect faults including different types of faults such as transient and steady state faults and can also be configured to identify the type of fault. Information on the fault and the identification of the type of fault can be displayed, stored, or some other output operation can be implemented. Circuitry can be implemented to provide digital signal processing and analog signal processing to, for example, independently and in parallel (e.g., redundant operation) detect faults and respond to faults as they occur (i.e., in real time). The types of faults can include transient type faults that can include ground, arc, line-to-line, and imbalance type faults and can also include steady state type faults (e.g., those showing wear in the machinery of a load).

Claims

1. A power line fault response device, comprising:

sensor circuitry configured for sensing an operational aspect of a power line;

analog signal processing circuitry configured to detect different types of power line faults based on the operational aspect and configured to perform an output operation in response to detecting at least one of the different types of power line faults; and

digital signal processing circuitry comprising a processor and memory that is configured to detect different types of power line faults based on the operational aspect and to perform the output operation in response to detecting at least one of the different types of power line faults.

2. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the output operation comprises generating a signaling output.

3. The power line fault response device of claim 2, wherein the output operation comprises generating the signaling output to signal that the power line should be disconnected from a load to which the power line is supplying power.

4. The power line fault response device of claim 2 wherein the output operation comprises generating the signaling output to signal an indicator to be activated.

5. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising memory, and wherein the output operation comprises storing data generated by the analog signal processing circuitry in the memory for later retrieval.

6. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising memory, and wherein the output operation comprises storing data generated by the digital signal processing circuitry in the memory for later retrieval.

7. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising memory, and wherein the output operation comprises storing data generated by the analog signal processing circuitry and the digital signal processing circuitry in the memory for later retrieval.

8. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry and the analog signal processing circuitry are configured to perform the operation to prevent a detected fault from damaging a load being supplied with power by the power line.

9. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry and the digital signal processing circuitry are configured to perform the operation to prevent the detected fault from damaging a load being supplied with power by the power line.

10. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuitry and the analog signal processing circuitry are configured to independently detect faults.

11. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured to detect transient and drift faults.

12. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the analog signal processing circuitry is configured to detect transient faults.

13. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the power line fault response device is configured to be in circuit with a plurality of power lines that each supply power to different loads and is configured to detect faults on each of the power lines during operation.

14. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the analog signal processing circuitry is configured for detecting faults on a poly-phase power line.

15. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured for detecting faults on a poly-phase power line.

16. The power line fault response device of claim 15 wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured to independently detect faults in each phase.

17. The power line fault response device of claim 15 wherein the sensor circuitry comprises sensors and the sensors and the conductors for each phase are arranged in relation to each phase to plural conductors of the power line based on an orientation of each phase that avoids electromagnetic cross-interference in sensing performed by the sensors.

18. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising a housing and connectors.

19. The power line fault response device of claim 18 where the connectors include a standard connector adapted to mate with standard connectors of an electrical system that uses the power line.

20. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be a plug-in device.

21. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured to produce an output that identifies the type of fault currently detected.

22. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to disconnect the power line when the analog signal processing circuitry detects a fault and is further configured to gather information about the type of fault using the digital signal processing circuitry to produce an output identifying the type of fault.

23. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to disconnect the power line when the digital signal processing circuitry detects a fault and is further configured to gather information about the type of fault using the digital signal processing circuitry to produce an output indicating information on the fault.

24. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the output operation is configured for operating a switching device that connects the power line to a load.

25. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the output operation comprises sending a signal to a fault indicator in response to detecting one of the faults.

26. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprises a reset control operable by a user and configured for resetting the logic circuitry and output.

27. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured for detecting faults in an alternating current power line.

28. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured for detecting faults in a direct current power line.

29. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the operational aspect is a level of current.

30. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the operational aspect is a voltage level.

31. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising housing configured to add the device in a socket for a power relay and to connect the relay to the socket through the device.

32. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the device is physically adapted to be an integrated part of a conventional power supply circuit.

33. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the analog signal processing circuitry is configured to detect transient faults.

34. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured to detect transient faults.

35. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processing circuitry and the analog signal processing circuitry are each configured to detect transient faults.

36. The power line fault response device of claim 1 further comprising filtering circuitry that is configured to filter out nuisance conditions.

37. A power line fault response device, comprising:

sensor circuitry configured for sensing an operational aspect of a power line;

analog signal processing circuitry configured to detect different types of power line faults based on the operational aspect and configured to perform an output operation in response to detecting at least one of the different types of power line faults; and

digital signal processing circuitry comprising a processor and memory that is configured to detect different types of power line faults based on the operational aspect and to perform the output operation in response to detecting at least one of the different types of power line faults,

wherein the analog signal processing circuitry and the digital signal processing circuitry are each configured to operate independently and simultaneously to respond to faults as they occur to prevent a detected fault from damaging a load being supplied with power by the power line.

38. The power line fault response device of claim 37, further comprising an indicator to display information on the detected fault.

39. The power line fault response device of claim 37, further comprising storage that stores information on faults detected by the analog signal processing circuitry or the digital signal processing circuitry.

40. The power line fault response device of claim 37 further comprising reset circuitry that is configured to reset the device in response to a user action.

41. The power line fault response device of claim 37 further comprising heat exchangers for removing heat from the device.

42. A power line fault response device comprising:

sensors configured for sensing an operational aspect of a poly-phase power line;

analog-to-digital circuitry that receives analog signals from the sensors;

processor circuitry that is configured to receive digital signals from the analog-to-digital circuitry and to monitor the digital signals for conditions indicative of faults;

summing circuitry that is configured to operate to sum analog signals received from the sensors; and

comparator circuitry that is configured to compare the summed analog signals with a threshold,

wherein the processor circuitry operates on the digital signals and the comparator operates on the summed analog signals to independently check for conditions indicative of faults during the operation of the power line.

43. The power line fault response device of claim 42 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to detect steady state faults.

44. The power line fault response device of claim 42 further comprising a programmable logic device that generates an output when transient faults are detected.

45. The power line fault response device of claim 42 further comprising a reset switch.

46. The power line fault response device of claim 42 further comprising LEDs to indicate fault detection.

47. The power line fault response device of claim 42 further comprising circuitry that is responsive to the processor circuitry and the comparator circuitry that is configured to control another device.

48. The power line fault response device of claim 47 wherein the other device is an internal device.

49. The power line fault response device of claim 47 wherein the other device is an external device.

50. The power line fault response device of claim 47 wherein the other device is a switch.

51. The power line fault response device of claim 42 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to characterize faults.

52. The power line fault response device of claim 51 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to characterize faults by evaluating running integrals of signal levels over different time periods.

53. The power line fault response device of claim 51 wherein a first integral of signal levels above an average signal level are compared to a second integral of signal levels below an average signal level.