Power apparatus, power transmission/distribution unit, and tripping method therefor

• US 5,124,687 A
• Filed: 08/29/1990
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fukuoka, Masaru, Kawada, Takaaki, Tagawa, Yoshinori, Okumura, Kiyoshi, Yamagiwa, Tokio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/574,085
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/647, 340/644, 324/551, 324/552, 324/536, 361/42, 361/47, 361/48, 361/49, 361/50, 361/131
• US Class Current: 340/647
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1254 of gas-insulated power appliances or vacuum gaps testing switches G01R31/327; detecting electrical or mechanical defects in encased switchgear H02B13/065
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/065 Means for detecting or reacting to mechanical or electrical defects

Abstract

A power apparatus in which a particle in an enclosure of the apparatus containing an electric conductor therein is moved in the enclosure by an electric field so as to cause an abnormality of insulation. The apparatus includes a first sensor for detecting an existence position of the particle on the basis of a sound of collision of the particle against the enclosure, a second sensor for detecting a partial discharge generated in the enclosure, and a device for receiving respective detection signals from the first and second sensors, for judging the existence of insulation abnormality caused by the particle inside the enclosure, and for outputting a result of the judgment.

Claims

1. A power apparatus in which foreign matter in an enclosure of said apparatus containing an electric conductor therein is moved in said enclosure by an electric field so as to cause an abnormality of insulation, said apparatus comprising:

first sensor means for detecting a position of the foreign matter on the basis of a sound of collision of said foreign matter against said enclosure and for providing a detection signal indicative thereof;

second sensor means for detecting a partial discharge generated in said enclosure and for providing a detection signal indicative thereof; and

means for receiving respective detection signals from said first and second sensor means, for judging the existence of the insulation abnormality caused by said foreign matter inside said enclosure, and for outputting a result of said judgment.

2. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon reception of the detection signal from said first sensor means, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that the foreign matter exists on an inner side of said enclosure and outputs an instruction to permit continuous use of said apparatus.

3. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon reception of a detection signal from said second sensor means having a value smaller than a reference value therefor, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that a small particle of foreign matter adheres to said conductor within said enclosure, and outputs an instruction for an emergency stop of said apparatus.

4. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon reception of the detection signal from said first sensor means and a detection signal from said second sensor means having a value smaller than a reference value therefor, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that a particle of the foreign matter exists on the enclosure side and outputs an instruction for an emergency stop of said apparatus.

5. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon reception of a continuous detection signal from said first sensor means and a detection signal from said second sensor means having a value smaller than a reference value therefor, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that a particle of the foreign matter is one of repeating up and down movement between said enclosure and said conductor within said enclosure and a plurality of particles of the foreign matter are within said enclosure, and outputs an instruction for an emergency stop of said apparatus.

6. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon reception of the detection signal from said first sensor means and a detection signal from said second sensor means having a value larger than a reference value therefor, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that a long particle of the foreign matter exists on the enclosure side and outputs an instruction for an emergency stop of said apparatus.

7. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon reception of a detection signal from said second sensor means having a value larger than a reference value therefor, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that a particle of the foreign matter exists on the inner side of the enclosure and outputs an instruction for an emergency stop of said apparatus.

8. A power apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor means includes a plurality of first sensors and upon reception of detection signals from said plurality of said first sensors, said means for outputting a result of said judgment judges that a particle of the foreign matter exists in the vicinity of a strong electric field portion in one of the vicinity of an insulator of said enclosure, and an end portion of said conductor, and outputs an instruction for an emergency stop of said apparatus.

9. A power apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power transmission/distribution unit constituted by apparatuses including a connection bus bar, a disconnector, a transformer and an arrester which are connected to a system constituted by a conductor supported by insulating spacers, said power transmission/distribution unit comprising:

judging means for judging a foreign matter moved by an electric field in an enclosure of at least one of said apparatuses, and for outputting a trip command signal on the basis of a result of a judgment; and

tripping means for separating said power transmission/distribution unit from said system in response to said trip command signal from said judging means.

10. A power apparatus in which foreign matter in an enclosure of said apparatus containing an electric conductor therein is moved in said enclosure by an electric field so as to cause an abnormality of insulation, said apparatus comprising:

first sensor means for detecting a position of the foreign matter on the basis of a sound of collision of the foreign matter against said enclosure and for providing a detection signal indicative thereof;

second sensor means for detecting a partial discharge generated in said enclosure and for providing a detection signal indicative thereof; and

means for receiving respective detection signals from said first and second sensors means for judging the existence of the insulation abnormality inside said enclosure, and for generating at least one of a signal for the causing a display unit to display a result of said judgment and a signal for causing a warning device to generate an alarm.

11. A power apparatus which is provided with devices including at least one of a gas-insulated and sectioned circuit breaker, a disconnector, and a connection bus bar so as to constitute a gas insulated switch gear, said apparatus comprising:

first sensor means for detecting a position of a particle moved within an enclosure of at least one of said devices on the basis of a sound of collision of said particles against said enclosure and for providing a detection signal indicative thereof;

second sensor means for detecting a partial discharge generated inside said enclosure and for providing a detection signal indicative thereof; and

means connected to said first and second sensors means so as to receive respective detection signals from said first and second sensor means, to thereby judge an abnormality of insulation caused by said particle inside said enclosure, and for outputting a result of said judgment.

12. A method for judging an abnormality of insulation of a power apparatus in which foreign matter in an enclosure of the apparatus containing an electric conductor therein is moved in the enclosure by an electric field so as to cause the abnormality of insulation, comprising the steps of:

detecting with first sensor means a position of the foreign matter on the basis of a sound of collision of the foreign matter against the enclosure and providing a detection signal indicative thereof;

detecting with second sensor means a partial discharge generated in the enclosure and providing a detection signal indicative thereof; and

judging the existence of the insulation abnormality caused by the foreign matter inside the enclosure based upon respective detection signals received from the first and second sensor means and outputting a result of the judgment.