Apparatus and method for testing an arcing fault detection system
First Claim
1. A system for detecting arcing faults in an electrical distribution system that includes a line conductor connected to a utility power transformer, said system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to said line conductor for monitoring the rate of change of electrical current in the line conductor and producing a signal representing the rate of change, means for generating an arcing-fault-detection signal in response to said rate-of-change signal, a test line coupled to said current transformer in the same manner as said line conductor for subjecting said transformer to a test signal simulating a line current produced by an arcing fault, and a signal generator connected to said test line for producing said test signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for testing an arcing fault detection system in an electrical distribution network having a line conductor carrying an electrical signal between a power source and a load, the arcing fault detection system including a sensor coupled to the line conductor for monitoring the electrical signal and generating a sensor signal representing the electrical signal, the arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to the sensor signal having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault. The testing system couples the sensor to a test line simultaneously with the line conductor and periodically produces a test signal on the test line. The sensor simultaneously monitors the test signal and the electrical signal and produces a sensor signal representing both the test signal and the electrical signal when the test signal is present on the test line. The arcing fault detection system generates an arc-indicative signal in response to the sensor signal associated with either the test line or line conductor having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault. A diagnostic test integrator evaluates the status conditions of the test signal and the arc-indicative signal and generates a trip signal to trigger the interruption of the electrical signal in response to certain status conditions of the test signal and the arc-indicative signal.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for detecting arcing faults in an electrical distribution system that includes a line conductor connected to a utility power transformer, said system comprising:
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a current transformer coupled to said line conductor for monitoring the rate of change of electrical current in the line conductor and producing a signal representing the rate of change, means for generating an arcing-fault-detection signal in response to said rate-of-change signal, a test line coupled to said current transformer in the same manner as said line conductor for subjecting said transformer to a test signal simulating a line current produced by an arcing fault, and a signal generator connected to said test line for producing said test signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting arcing faults in an electrical distribution system that includes a line conductor connected to a utility power transformer, said method comprising the steps of
monitoring the rate of change of electrical current in the line conductor with a current transformer, and producing a signal representing the rate of change, generating an arcing-fault-detection signal in response to said rate-of-change signal, and applying a test signal to said current transformer through a test line coupled to said transformer in the same manner as said line conductor, and said test signal simulating a line current produced by an arcing fault, said test signal being produced by a signal generator connected to said test line.
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13. A test method for an arcing fault detection system in an electrical distribution network having a line conductor carrying an electrical signal between a power source and a load, said arcing fault detection system including a sensor coupled to said line conductor for monitoring said electrical signal and generating a sensor signal representing said electrical signal, said arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to said sensor signal having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling said sensor to a test line simultaneously with said line conductor, and periodically producing a test signal on said test line, said sensor simultaneously monitoring said test signal and said electrical signal when said test signal is present on said test line, said sensor signal representing both said test signal and said electrical signal when said test signal is present on said test line, said arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to said sensor signal associated with either of said test line or said line conductor having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A testing apparatus for an arcing fault detection system in an electrical distribution network having a line conductor carrying an electrical signal between a power source and a load, said arcing fault detection system including a sensor coupled to said line conductor for monitoring said electrical signal and generating a sensor signal representing said electrical signal, said arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to said sensor signal having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault, said testing apparatus comprising:
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a test line coupled to said sensor simultaneously with said line conductor, and means for periodically producing a test signal on said test line, said sensor simultaneously monitoring said test signal and said electrical signal when said test signal is present on said test line, said sensor signal representing both said test signal and said electrical signal when said test signal is present on said test line, said arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to said sensor signal associated with either of said test line or said line conductor having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A testing apparatus for an arcing fault detection system in an electrical distribution network having a line and neutral conductor carrying an electrical signal between a power source and a load, said arcing fault detection system including a sensor coupled to said line conductor for monitoring said electrical signal and generating a sensor signal representing said electrical signal, said arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to said sensor signal having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault, said testing apparatus comprising:
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a test circuit removably attachable to said line and neutral conductor, said test circuit being adapted to produce a simulated arcing fault signal when attached to said line and neutral conductor, said sensor being adapted to monitor said simulated arcing fault signal and generate said sensor signal representing said simulated arcing fault signal, said arcing fault detection system generating an arc-indicative signal in response to said sensor signal associated with said simulated arcing fault signal having characteristics indicative of an arcing fault. - View Dependent Claims (28)
a first terminal removably attachable to said line conductor;
a second terminal removably attachable to said neutral conductor;
a relay comprising an electrical switch and a relay coil connected between the first and second terminals, the electrical switch rapidly opening and closing to create said simulated arcing fault signal when said first and second terminals are attached to said line and neutral conductors.
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Specification