MULTIPLE COIL CONFIGURATION FOR FAULTED CIRCUIT INDICATOR

• US 20160314679A1
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dodds, William J., Khoshnood, Bahman, Martin, David
• Application Number:
  US15/099,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20160314679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/186 using current transformers with a core consisting of two or more parts, e.g. clamp-on type G01R15/142 - G01R15/16 take precedence; tong testers G01R1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/20 Instruments transformers

Abstract

A faulted circuit indicator (FCI) may use a multiple coil configuration to improve measurements of current flowing through a power line. The FCI may include a fault alert module and a sensor configured to measure a current flowing within a power line based on a first inductive coupling with the power line. The FCI may further include a power supply configured to provide at least one supply voltage based on a second inductive coupling with the power line. The FCI may include a detector/controller module coupled to the fault alert module, sensor, and power supply. The detector/controller may be configured to monitor measurements provided by the sensor, and provide a warning signal to the fault alert module when a fault condition in the power line is detected.

Claims

1. A faulted circuit indicator (FCI) device, comprising:

a fault alert module;

a sensor configured to measure a current flowing within a power line based on a first inductive coupling with the power line;

a power supply configured to provide at least one supply voltage based on a second inductive coupling with the power line; and

a detector/controller module coupled to the fault alert module, sensor, and power supply, wherein the detector/controller is configured to monitor measurements provided by the sensor and provide a warning signal to the fault alert module when a fault condition in the power line is detected.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises:

a power coil, arranged around a first laminate core, to generate a primary supply voltage upon exposure to a magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the power line.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the power coil comprises:

a first plurality of windings of wire around the first laminate core, wherein the first plurality of windings is greater than 10,000.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the sensor further comprises:

a sensing coil, arranged around a second laminate core, to generate a measurement voltage upon exposure to the magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the power line, wherein the second laminate core is electrically isolated from the first laminate core.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the measurement voltage characterizes at least one of an amplitude or a flow direction of the current flowing through the power line.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the sensing coil comprises:

a second plurality of windings of wire around the second laminate core, wherein the second plurality of windings greater than 100.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second laminate core comprises insulation at contact points with the first laminate core to provide electrical isolation.

8. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

a thermal sensor, proximate to the sensing coil, configured to provide temperature values for compensating the measurement voltage.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the sensing coil is proximally located to the power line, and further wherein the power coil is distally located to the power line.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector/controller module further comprises:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to;

receive, from the sensor, measurements of current flowing through the power line,

identify variations in the received measurements of current,

determine whether the identified variations are indicative of a fault condition, and

provide a warning signal upon determining that the identified variations are indicative of the fault condition.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the fault alert module comprises:

at least one of an on-board fault indicator or a wireless communications interface.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one on-board fault indicator further comprises a visual fault indicator comprising at least one of a mechanical flag or a light indicator.

13. A device for establishing an inductive coupling with a power line, comprising:

a housing;

a laminate structure fixed to the housing and configured to at least partially confine the power line in a dimension transverse to a direction of current flow therein;

a power coil, wound around a fixed end of the laminate structure, enclosed within the housing; and

a sensing coil, wound around a laminate core electrically insulated from the laminate structure, enclosed within the housing and fixed between the power coil and the power line.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the laminate core further comprises non-conductive edges serving as contact points with the laminate structure.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a hinged laminate member pivotally configured to close an open end of a “

U”

shaped structure to fully confine the power line after being received by the “

U”

shaped structure.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the sensing coil is configured to generate a measurement voltage upon exposure to a magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the power line.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the measurement voltage characterizes at least one of an amplitude or a flow direction of the current flowing through the power line.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

a thermal sensor fixed to the housing and proximate to the sensing coil, wherein the thermal sensor is configured to provide temperature values for compensating the measurement voltage.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the power coil is configured to generate a primary supply voltage upon exposure to a magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the power line.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the laminate structure further comprises non-conductive surfaces serving as contact points with the laminate core.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein the laminate structure further comprises a substantially “

U”

shaped structure that is partially enclosed by the housing at the fixed end, and having an open end protruding from the housing for receiving the power line.

22. A method for monitoring a current flowing within a power line, comprising:

receiving a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through a power line;

generating, at a sensing coil, a measurement voltage induced by the received magnetic field;

generating, at a power coil, a supply voltage induced by the received magnetic field;

determining measurements of the current flowing through the power line based on the measurement voltage;

identifying variations in the determined measurements of current;

determining whether the identified variations are indicative of a fault condition; and

providing a warning signal upon determining that the identified variations are indicative of the fault condition.