Coordinated fault protection system
First Claim
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1. A power distribution protection system comprising:
- a source coupled to a load by a distribution line, the distribution line being segmented by a plurality of fault protection devices;
each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices including a communication device permitting transmission or reception of a signaling message and each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices being operable to determine the existence of a fault within the communication system, wherein upon detection of a fault condition of the distribution line, each of the source and plurality of fault protection devices detecting the fault condition communicate the signaling message to an adjacent source or one of the plurality of fault protection devices, and each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices receiving a signaling message is operable to adjust a fault protection characteristic such that the one of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices nearest to the fault on the distribution line operates to isolate the fault from the remainder of the distribution line.
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Abstract
A power distribution protection system and method uses communications to coordinate operation of fault protection devices. Communications may be prioritized wherein messages of a lower priority are held or discarded in favor of messages of a higher priority, for example, messages indicating a fault condition. The devices may use multiple channel access schemes in accordance with a priority of a message to be communicated.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A power distribution protection system comprising:
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a source coupled to a load by a distribution line, the distribution line being segmented by a plurality of fault protection devices;
each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices including a communication device permitting transmission or reception of a signaling message and each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices being operable to determine the existence of a fault within the communication system, wherein upon detection of a fault condition of the distribution line, each of the source and plurality of fault protection devices detecting the fault condition communicate the signaling message to an adjacent source or one of the plurality of fault protection devices, and each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices receiving a signaling message is operable to adjust a fault protection characteristic such that the one of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices nearest to the fault on the distribution line operates to isolate the fault from the remainder of the distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A power distribution protection system comprising:
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a source coupled to a load by a distribution line, the distribution line being segmented by a plurality of fault protection devices;
each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices including a communication device permitting transmission or reception of a signaling message within a shared communication channel and each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices being operable to determine the existence of a fault within the communication system;
the shared communication channel being specified in accordance with a first channel access protocol for messages having a first priority and a second channel access protocol for messages having a second priority; and
whereinupon detection of a fault condition of the distribution line, each of the source and plurality of fault protection devices detecting the fault condition communicate the signaling message to an adjacent fault protection device within the communication channel using the first priority and the first channel access protocol, and each of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices receiving a signaling message is operable to adjust a fault protection characteristic such that the one of the source and the plurality of fault protection devices nearest to the fault on the distribution line operates to isolate the fault from the remainder of the distribution line. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification