Method of detecting faults using graduated fault detection levels
First Claim
1. A faulted circuit indicator comprising:
- i) a housing;
ii) a current acquisition circuit disposed within the housing, the current acquisition circuit adapted to monitor current within a conductor;
iii) an adjustable trip circuit coupled to the current acquisition circuit and producing a trip output;
iv) a persistent memory component disposed within the housing, the persistent memory component storing at least one fault indication curve, where the at least one fault indication curve comprises a plurality of associated fault current levels and fault times; and
v) a processor, the processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the adjustable trip circuit and the persistent memory component, the processor adjusting the trip level of the adjustable trip circuit based on the passage of time and the at least one fault indication curve and producing a fault signal based on the trip output and the at least one fault indication curve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A faulted circuit indicator utilizes digitized fault indication curves to determine if a fault has occurred in a monitored conductor. Fault indication curves are intended to be similar to trip curves of common power protection devices, and consist of a plurality of associated fault current levels and fault times. The faulted circuit indicator only displays a fault when the current within the monitored conductor exceeds one of the fault current levels for its associated fault time. This results in more accurate fault detection through the ability to distinguish between small and large amplitude faults coupled with the flexability of a fault indicator suitable for use on many different power systems.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A faulted circuit indicator comprising:
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i) a housing;
ii) a current acquisition circuit disposed within the housing, the current acquisition circuit adapted to monitor current within a conductor;
iii) an adjustable trip circuit coupled to the current acquisition circuit and producing a trip output;
iv) a persistent memory component disposed within the housing, the persistent memory component storing at least one fault indication curve, where the at least one fault indication curve comprises a plurality of associated fault current levels and fault times; and
v) a processor, the processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the adjustable trip circuit and the persistent memory component, the processor adjusting the trip level of the adjustable trip circuit based on the passage of time and the at least one fault indication curve and producing a fault signal based on the trip output and the at least one fault indication curve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method operating within a processor for determining whether a fault has occurred within a monitored conductor, the method comprising the steps of:
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i) receiving the level of current within the monitored conductor, resulting in received current;
ii) comparing the received current to a fault indication curve, wherein the fault indication curve comprises a plurality of associated fault current levels and fault times; and
iii) outputting a fault signal if the received current exceeds any particular fault current level of the fault indication curve for the fault time associated with the particular fault current level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification