Harmonic measuring instrument for AC power systems with latched indicator means

• US 5,298,888 A
• Filed: 08/21/1992
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Basic Measuring Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Basic Measuring Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: McEachern, Alexander, Nicholson, Jamie
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Tim
• Application Number:
  US07/934,116
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/557, 340/663, 340/664, 324/76.12, 324/76.24, 324/76.42, 324/141, 324/142, 324/107, 324/133, 324/542, 324/543, 324/539, 364/483, 364/484, 361/78, 361/113
• US Class Current: 340/660
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/165 using filters

Abstract

An instrument for measuring voltage harmonics and current harmonics on AC (alternating current) power systems. The instrument includes the ability to determine when threshold limits have been exceeded for harmonics. The instrument also includes timing thresholds whose inputs are activated when the harmonic thresholds are exceeded. A single harmonic threshold is applied to measurements from multiple phases on poly-phase systems by comparing the square root of the sum of the squares of measurements from each phase to the harmonic threshold. Three indicators show when voltage harmonic limits are exceeded, current harmonics limits are exceeded, or both voltage and current harmonic limits are exceeded simultaneously.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring voltage harmonics and current harmonics on an alternating current power system comprising:

a. means for sensing a harmonic voltage and a harmonic current coupled to the alternating current power system;

b. means for comparing both the harmonic voltage to a predetermined voltage threshold and the harmonic current to a predetermined current threshold, said means for comparing coupled to the means for sensing; and

c. means for indicating when either the predetermined voltage threshold is exceeded, the predetermined current threshold is exceeded or both the predetermined voltage threshold and the predetermined current threshold are exceeded simultaneously, the means for indicating coupled to the means for comparing.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for sensing a harmonic voltage comprises an attenuator coupled to a power line conductor and a power neutral conductor for sensing the voltage difference between the two conductors, and wherein the means for sensing a harmonic current further comprises a current transformer and a burden resistor coupled to the power line conductor.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power system includes a plurality of power line conductors wherein the means for sensing a harmonic voltage comprises an attenuator coupled to each of the power line conductors for sensing the voltage difference between each pair of the power line conductors, and wherein the means for sensing a harmonic current further comprises a current transformer and a burden resistor coupled to each of the power line conductors.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a means for communicating when either the predetermined voltage threshold is exceeded, the predetermined current threshold is exceeded or both the predetermined voltage threshold and the predetermined current threshold are exceeded simultaneously, the means for communicating coupled to the means for comparing.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for indicating comprises:

a. a first indicator light for indicating when the harmonic voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold;

b. a second indicator light for indicating when the harmonic current exceeds the predetermined current threshold; and

c. a third indicator light for indicating when both the harmonic voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold and the harmonic current exceeds the predetermined current threshold.

6. An apparatus for measuring voltage harmonics and current harmonics on an alternating current power system comprising:

a. means for sensing a harmonic voltage coupled to the alternating current power system;

b. means for sensing a harmonic current coupled to the alternating current power system;

c. means for comparing the harmonic voltage to a predetermined voltage threshold, said means for comparing coupled to the means for sensing a harmonic voltage;

d. first means for indicating when the harmonic voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold, the first means for indicating coupled to the means for comparing the harmonic voltage;

e. means for comparing the harmonic current to a predetermined current threshold, said means for comparing coupled to the means for sensing a harmonic current;

f. second means for indicating when the harmonic current exceeds the predetermined current threshold, the second means for indicating coupled to the means for comparing the harmonic current; and

g. third means for indicating when both the harmonic voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold and the harmonic current exceeds the predetermined current threshold, the third means for indicating coupled to the means for comparing the harmonic voltage and the means for comparing the harmonic current.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for sensing a harmonic voltage comprises an attenuator coupled to a power line conductor and to a power neutral conductor for sensing the voltage difference between the two conductors.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the power system includes a plurality of power line conductors wherein the means for sensing a harmonic voltage comprises an attenuator coupled to each of the power line conductors for sensing the voltage difference between each pair of the power line conductors, and wherein the means for sensing a harmonic current further comprises a current transformer and a burden resistor coupled to each of the power line conductors.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means for sensing a harmonic current comprises a current transformer and a burden resistor coupled to the power line conductor.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for sensing a harmonic current comprises a current transformer and a burden resistor coupled to the power line conductor.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a first means for communicating when the harmonic voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold, the first means for communicating coupled to the means for comparing the harmonic voltage.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a second means for communicating when the harmonic current exceeds the predetermined current threshold, the second means for communicating coupled to the means for comparing the harmonic current.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a third means for communicating when both the harmonic voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold and the harmonic current exceeds the predetermined current threshold, the third means for communicating coupled to the means for comparing the harmonic voltage and the means for comparing the harmonic current.

14. An apparatus for measuring voltage and current harmonics on an alternating current power system having a power line conductor and a power neutral conductor, comprising:

a. a current transformer coupled to the power line conductor;

b. a burden resistor coupled to the current transformer for producing a first voltage signal which represents a current flowing in the power line conductor;

c. a first amplifier coupled to the burden resistor for adjusting the first voltage signal;

d. a first filter coupled to the first amplifier for removing undesired frequencies from the first voltage signal;

e. an attenuator coupled to the power line conductor and the power neutral conductor for receiving a second voltage signal which represents a voltage difference between the power line conductor and the power neutral conductor;

f. a second amplifier coupled to the attenuator for adjusting the second voltage signal;

g. a second filter coupled to the second amplifier for removing undesired frequencies from the second voltage signal;

h. a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to the first filter for converting the analog first voltage signal to a first digital time-domain signal;

i. a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to the second filter for converting the analog second voltage signal to a second digital time-domain signal;

j. means for processing digital signals coupled to the first and the second analog-to-digital converters for converting the first time-domain signal to a first frequency-domain representation having a plurality of current harmonics representing the current in the power line and for converting the second time-domain signal to a second frequency-domain representation having a plurality of voltage harmonics representing the voltage difference between the power line conductor and the power neutral conductor;

k. a control subsystem coupled to the means for processing digital signals for determining if any of the current harmonics received from the means for processing digital signals circuit exceeds a predetermined current threshold and if any of the voltage harmonics received from the digital signal processing circuit exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold; and

l. a display coupled to the control subsystem for indicating if any of the frequency-domain representations do exceed a predetermined threshold.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the control subsystem is a microprocessor.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the means for processing digital signals is performed by the microprocessor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the means for processing digital signals is performed by a digital signal processor.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein an analog multiplexer coupled to the first and the second filters and a single analog-to-digital converter coupled to the analog multiplexer and the digital signal processing circuit can be substituted for the first and the second analog to digital converters.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the display comprises:

a. a first indicator light for indicating when any of the voltage harmonics exceed the predetermined voltage threshold;

b. a second indicator light for indicating when any of the current harmonics exceed the predetermined current threshold; and

c. a third indicator light for indicating when any of the voltage harmonics exceed the predetermined voltage threshold and any of the current harmonics exceed the predetermined current threshold simultaneously.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a serial communications port coupled to the microprocessor subsystem for communicating when any of the predetermined thresholds have been exceeded.