Fault detection and location system for power transmission and distribution lines

• US 5,343,155 A
• Filed: 12/20/1991
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Montana State University
• Original Assignee: Research and Development Institute, Inc.
• Inventors: Kejariwal, Murari L., March, Daniel, Gerez, Victor, Thapar, Baldev
• Primary Examiner(s): Regan, Maura K.
• Application Number:
  US07/810,410
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 324/521, 324/522, 324/536, 324/509, 364/492, 361/62, 361/65, 361/81, 361/107
• US Class Current: 324/522
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0007 concerning the detecting means in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061

Abstract

A system for detecting and locating faults on a power system includes the e of fault detection and transmitting devices on each pole of the system. The fault detection apparatus includes detecting coils mounted on the static line on either side of each pole, and a third detecting coil positioned so as to detect an orthogonal magnetic flux due to a phase-to-phase fault. A microprocessor on each pole analyzes the type of fault from the output of the three coils, and transmits the identification of the pole and pertinent fault data, when appropriate, to a repeater system. Thus, fault information from an entire power system can be fed through the repeater system into a central location.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and locating faults on a power transmission/distribution system having line supports carrying power lines and a ground line, comprising:

sensing means on said ground line at each said line support in said power transmission/distribution system arranged on each side of each said line support for determining a direction of ground current flow on said ground line;

fault detection means on each said line support in said transmission/distribution system for detecting an orthogonal current component at each respective line support due to a line to line fault;

transmission means on each said line support in said transmission/distribution system for sending an identification number of a line support at which a fault is detected; and

a plurality of repeater means arranged throughout said power transmission/distribution system for receiving and sending to a central location identification numbers of the supports at which faults are detected.