Method and apparatus for controlling the magnetization of current transformers and other magnetic bodies

• US 6,522,517 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas G. Edel
• Original Assignee: Thomas G. Edel
• Inventors: Edel, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/713,921
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 361/143, 361/146, 361/149
• US Class Current: 361/143
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/185 with compensation or feedback windings or interacting coils, e.g. 0-flux sensors using galvano-magnetic field sensors G01R15/20; conversion of DC into AC using transductors G01R19/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/006 Methods and devices for demagnetising of magnetic bodies, e.g. workpieces, sheet material for erasing of information on magnetic record carriers G11B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/32 Circuit arrangements

Abstract

A varying voltage is applied to a conductive winding (61) that magnetically interacts with a magnetic body (60). The varying voltage causes the voltage induced in the winding to have such waveform and magnitude that the integral over time of the induced voltage correlates to desired changes of the induction level (magnetic flux density). The induction level of a magnetic body may be controlled to transition from an initial induction level to a preferred induction level, to maintain a preferred induction level, to reduce fluctuations around a preferred induction level, or to vary with time in a preferred manner. The invention is especially applicable to ordinary current transformers, which may be demagnetized automatically while remaining in service. Once demagnetized, ordinary current transformers are able to accurately sense nonsymmetrical currents, including d-c currents and a-c currents that have d-c components. A demagnetizing mode, during which the current transformer is demagnetized, and a current-sensing mode, during which current transformer secondary current is sensed, are usually utilized sequentially. For a-c power system applications, a current transformer demagnetizing circuit may include an adjustable impedance with a suitable control circuit. A controllable active voltage source may alternately be used as part of a current transformer demagnetizing circuit, in which case an ordinary current transformer may be used to sense d-c current as well as a-c current. A controllable active voltage source may also be used to improve current transformer accuracy by reducing the amount that the induction level of the core fluctuates, regardless of whether the demagnetizing aspect of the invention is utilized.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the induction level of a magnetic body;

said magnetic body being positioned relative to a conductive winding in such a way that a change of said induction level is associated with an induced voltage across said winding;

said induced voltage being proportional to a rate of change of said induction level;

said winding conducting an electric current;

said method comprising the control of a voltage device connected to said winding;

said voltage device producing an output voltage that controls said induced voltage, thereby controlling said rate of change of said induction level;

said output voltage causing said induced voltage to have such waveform and magnitude so as to be approximately proportional to a preferred rate of change of said induction level;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage differing from the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage because of voltage drops associated with said electric current flowing through loop impedances;

said method utilizing a parameter related to said electric current and characteristics of said loop impedances to control said output voltage so as to compensate for said voltage drops, thereby optimizing said output voltage for improved control of said inductions level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said output voltage is controlled for a period of time in such a way as to cause said induction level to transition from a determinate induction level at the beginning of said period of time to a preferred induction level at the end of said period of time;

said output voltage causing said waveform and magnitude of said induced voltage to have such characteristics that the integral of said induced voltage over said period of time is approximately equal to a volt-time value corresponding to a change of said induction level from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level, thereby causing said induction level to transition from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said preferred induction level is an induction level near zero, and said method is thereby a method to demagnetize said magnetic body.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said induced voltage during said period of time is entirely of one polarity.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said induced voltage during said period of time sequentially comprises a first voltage and a second voltage of opposite polarities;

said first voltage having such magnitude, duration and polarity so as to cause said induction level to transition to and pass said preferred induction level;

said second voltage having such magnitude, duration and polarity so as to cause said induction level to transition to said preferred induction level.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said induced voltage during said period of time comprises a plurality of sequential voltage pulses of varying form, magnitude, duration, and polarity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said induction level is influenced by a magnetic field caused by a magnetomotive force independent of said winding, and said output voltage is controlled for a period of time in such a way as to maintain said induction level near a preferred induction level;

said preferred induction level being present at the beginning of said period of time;

said output voltage further causing said induced voltage to have such waveform and magnitude during said period of time that the integral of said induced voltage from the beginning of said period of time to any point of time within said period of time does not exceed a small value, thereby causing said induction level to be maintained near said preferred induction level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said induction level is influenced by a fluctuating magnetic field caused by a magnetomotive force independent of said winding, and said output voltage is controlled for a period of time in such a way as to reduce the amount that said induction level fluctuates;

said output voltage being controlled during said period of time in such a way as to cause the magnitude of said induced voltage to be significantly smaller than would be the case without said method, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said output voltage is controlled in such a way that the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage is approximately equal to the sum of said voltage drops, thereby reducing the magnitude of said induced voltage, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said output voltage is controlled utilizing a proportional plus integral plus derivative type of control;

the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage being controlled to be approximately equal to the sum of

(a) the instantaneous value of said electric current multiplied by a first constant of proportionality,

(b) the integral over time of said electric current multiplied by a second constant of proportionality, and

(c) the instantaneous rate of change of said electric current multiplied by a third constant of proportionality.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said output voltage is controlled utilizing a proportional plus derivative type of control;

the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage being controlled to be approximately equal to the sum of

(a) the instantaneous value of said electric current multiplied by a first constant of proportionality, and

(b) the instantaneous rate of change of said electric current multiplied by a second constant of proportionality.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said output voltage is controlled utilizing a proportional type of control;

the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage being controlled to be approximately equal to the instantaneous value of said electric current multiplied by a constant of proportionality.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said method is used to cause said induction level to approximately match a reference induction level for a period of time;

said reference induction level being a function of time;

said method further comprising an initial step of determining a constant of proportionality;

said constant of proportionality having such value that said induced voltage is approximately equal to said rate of change of said induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality;

said output voltage further causing the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage to continuously be approximately equal to the rate of change of said reference induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality, thereby causing said induction level to approximately match said reference induction level.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said output voltage is controlled utilizing a proportional plus integral plus derivative type of control;

said method calculating said induced voltage and controlling said output voltage so as to minimize the error between said induced voltage and said rate of change of said reference induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said parameter related to said electric current is a feedback signal that is instantaneously proportional to the instantaneous magnitude of said electric current;

said electric current and said feedback signal both being functions of time;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of said voltage drops;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said feedback signal and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said parameter related to said electric current is the only feedback signal utilized to control said output voltage.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said parameter related to said electric current is a first voltage measurable across a first impedance through which said electric current flows;

said first voltage being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said first impedance;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of said voltage drops;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said first voltage and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said first voltage is the only feedback signal utilized to control said output voltage.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said electric current to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a primary winding of said current transformer;

said method being used to control said induction level in such a way that said electric current is more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said method.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said method is utilized while said current transformer is in service, said primary electric current having a nonzero magnitude.

21. The method claim 20 wherein the accuracy of said current transformer is improved by reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates;

said induced voltage and associated fluctuation of said induction level adversely affecting the accuracy of said current transformer;

said output voltage being controlled in such a way that the magnitude of said induced voltage is reduced, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates, thereby improving the accuracy of said current transformer.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the accuracy of said current transformer is improved by causing said magnetic core to transition to a preferred induction level;

said output voltage being controlled during a first phase so as to cause said induction level to transition to a determinate induction level;

said output voltage being controlled during a second phase so as to cause said induced voltage to have such waveform, magnitude and duration that the value of the integral over time of said induced voltage is approximately equal to a volt-time value corresponding to a change in said induction level from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level, thereby causing said induction level to transition form said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level;

said output voltage being controlled during a third phase so as to allow said electric current to flow freely;

said electric current being approximately proportional to said primary electric current during said third phase.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the accuracy of said current transformer is further improved by further using said method to reduce the amount that said induction level fluctuates during said third phase;

said induced voltage and associated fluctuation of said induction level adversely affecting the accuracy of said current transformer;

said output voltage being controlled in such a way during said third phase that the magnitude of said induced voltage is reduced, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates, thereby improving the accuracy of said current transformer.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said primary electric current is a direct current;

said electric current being approximately proportional to said primary electric current during said third phase.

25. Apparatus for controlling the induction level of a magnetic body;

said apparatus comprising

(a) a winding conducting an electric current;

said winding comprising one or more turns of conductive material positioned relative to said magnetic body in such a way that a change of said induction level is associated with an induced voltage across said winding;

said induced voltage;

being proportional to the rate of change of said induction level;

(b) a current-sensing means for providing a feedback signal containing information about said electric current;

(c) a controllable voltage device connected to said winding, said voltage device producing an output voltage which controls said induced voltage and thereby controls the rate of change of said induction level; and

(d) a suitable control means for receiving said feedback signal and controlling said voltage device;

said control means utilizing said feedback signal and characteristics of loop impedances through which said electric current flows to optimize said output voltage for improved control of said induction level.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said apparatus operates for a period of time to cause said induction level to transition from a determinate induction level at the beginning of said period of time to a preferred induction level at the end of said period of time;

said control means controlling said voltage device so as to cause said output voltage to have such waveform and magnitude so as to cause the integral of said induced voltage over said period of time to be approximately equal to a volt-time value corresponding to a change of said induction level from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level, thereby causing said induction level to transition from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said current-sensing means comprises a first impedance connected in series with said winding;

said electric current flowing through said first impedance;

a first voltage across said first impedance being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said first impedance;

said feedback signal being said first voltage;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of voltage drops associated with said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said first voltage and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said electric current to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a primary winding of said current transformer;

said apparatus being utilized while said current transformer is in service;

said apparatus functioning to demagnetize said current transformer, thereby causing said electric current to be more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said apparatus.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said induction level is influenced by a magnetic field caused by a magnetomotive force independent of said winding, and said apparatus operates for a period of time to maintain said induction level near a preferred induction level;

said preferred induction level being present at the beginning of said period of time;

said control means controlling said voltage device during said period of time so as to cause said induced voltage to have such waveform and magnitude that the integral over time of said induced voltage from the beginning of said period of time to any point of time within said period of time is small, thereby causing said induction level to be maintained near said preferred induction level.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said current-sensing means comprises a first impedance connected in series with said winding;

said electric current flowing through said first impedance;

a first voltage across said first impedance being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said first impedance;

said feedback signal being said first voltage;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of voltage drops associated with said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said first voltage and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said electric current to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a primary winding of said current transformer;

said apparatus being utilized while said current transformer is in service;

said apparatus functioning to maintain said magnetic core in a demagnetized state, thereby causing said electric current to be more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said induction level is influenced by a fluctuating magnetic field caused by a magnetomotive force independent of said winding, and said apparatus operates for a period of time to reduce the amount that said induction level fluctuates;

said control means controlling said voltage device during said period of time in such a way as to cause the magnitude of said induced voltage to be significantly smaller than would be the case without said apparatus, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said current-sensing means comprises a first impedance connected in series with said winding;

said electric current flowing through said first impedance;

a first voltage across said first impedance being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said first impedance;

said feedback signal being said first voltage;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of voltage drops associated with said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said first voltage and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further operating to make the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage approximately equal to the instantaneous sum of said voltage drops, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates;

the polarity of said output voltage being opposite to the polarity of said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said electric current to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a primary winding of said current transformer;

said apparatus being utilized while said current transformer is in service;

said apparatus functioning to reduce the amount that said induction level fluctuates, thereby reducing the effective burden of the secondary circuit of said current transformer, thereby causing said electric current to be more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said apparatus.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said first voltage is the only feedback signal utilized by said control means to control said induction level.

37. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said apparatus operates for a period of time to cause said induction level to approximately match a reference induction level;

said induction level and said reference induction level both being functions of time;

said induced voltage being approximately equal to said rate of change of said induction level multiplied by a constant of proportionality;

said control means controlling said voltage device during said period of time so as to cause said induced voltage to continuously be approximately equal to the rate of change of said reference induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality, thereby causing said induction level to approximately match said reference induction level.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said current-sensing means comprises a first impedance connected in series with said winding;

said electric current flowing through said first impedance;

a first voltage across said first impedance being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said first impedance;

said feedback signal being said first voltage;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of voltage drops associated with said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said first voltage and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

39. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said current-sensing means comprises a first impedance connected in series with said winding;

said electric current flowing through said first impedance;

a first voltage across said first impedance being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said first impedance;

said feedback signal being said first voltage;

the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage being calculable as the instantaneous magnitude of said output voltage minus the instantaneous sum of voltage drops associated with said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

said instantaneous sum of said voltage drops being calculable from said first voltage and said characteristics of said loop impedances.

40. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a voltage-measuring means connected to said winding and measuring a second voltage across said winding;

a voltage drop caused by said electric current flowing through stray impedances of said winding being calculable from said feedback signal;

said induced voltage being calculable as said second voltage minus said voltage drop.

41. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said feedback signal is the only feedback signal utilized by said control means to control said induction level.

42. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said winding will also be referred to as a secondary winding and said electric current will also be referred to as a secondary electric current;

said magnetic body further magnetically interacting with a primary winding;

said primary winding comprising one or more turns of conductive material;

said primary winding conducting an alternating electric current;

said primary winding being positioned relative to said magnetic body in such a way that said alternating electric current influences said induction level of said magnetic body;

said voltage device comprising an adjustable impedance connected in series with said secondary winding;

said secondary electric current flowing through said adjustable impedance;

said control means controlling said output voltage of said voltage device by controlling the characteristics of said adjustable impedance;

said output voltage being a function of the magnitude and polarity of staid secondary electric current and said characteristics of said adjustable impedance.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said magnetic body, said secondary winding, and said primary winding are configured as a current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said secondary electric current to be approximately proportional to said primary electric current;

said apparatus being utilized while said current transformer is in service to control said induction level in such a way that said electric current is more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said apparatus.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said apparatus is utilized periodically to demagnetized said current transformer, thereby improving the accuracy of said current transformer.

45. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said electric current to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a primary winding of said current transformer;

said apparatus being used to control said induction level in such a way that said electric current is more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said apparatus.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said apparatus is utilized while said current transformer is in service, said primary electric current having a non-zero magnitude.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the accuracy of said current transformer is improved by reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates;

said induced voltage and associated fluctuation of said induction level adversely affecting the accuracy of said current transformer;

said output voltage being controlled so as to counteract voltage drops caused by said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

thereby reducing the magnitude of said induced voltage, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates, thereby improving the accuracy of said current transformer.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the accuracy of said current transformer is improved by causing said magnetic core to transition to a preferred induction level;

said output voltage being controlled during a first phase so as to cause said induction level to transition to a determinate induction level;

said output voltage then being controlled during a second phase so as to cause said induced voltage to have such waveform, magnitude and duration that the value of the integral over time of said induced voltage is approximately equal to a volt-time value corresponding to a change in said induction level from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level, thereby causing said induction level to transition from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level;

said output voltage then being controlled during a third phase so as to allow said electric current to flow freely;

said electric current being approximately proportional to said primary electric current during said third phase.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the accuracy of said current transformer is further improved by further using said apparatus to reduce the amount that said induction level fluctuates during said third phase;

said induced voltage and associated fluctuation of said induction level adversely affecting the accuracy of said current transformer;

said output voltage being controlled during said third phase so as to counteract voltage drops caused by said electric current flowing through said loop impedances;

thereby reducing the magnitude of said induced voltage, thereby reducing the amount that said induction level fluctuates, thereby improving the accuracy of said current transformer.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said primary electric current is a direct current;

said electric current being approximately proportional to said primary electric current during said third phase.

51. Apparatus for determining an induced voltage in a winding, said induced voltage being proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux enclosed by said winding;

an electric current flowing in said winding;

said electric current also flowing through any impedance elements that may be connected in series with said winding;

a voltage measurable across said winding being referred to herein as a first voltage;

said winding having stray impedances that cause said first voltage to differ from said induced voltage by an amount referred to herein as a first voltage drop;

a second voltage drop being associated with said electric current flowing through said impedance elements;

said first voltage drop and said second voltage drop being calculable from characteristics of said electric current and characteristics of said stray impedances and characteristics of said impedance elements;

said induced voltage being approximately equal to the sum of any voltages produced by active voltage sources in the loop through which said electric current flows minus said first voltage drop and said second voltage drop;

said apparatus comprising

(a) a current-sensing means for providing an information signal containing information about said electric current; and

(b) a calculating means for receiving said information signal and for calculating said induced voltage.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said current-sensing means comprises a sensing impedance connected in series with said winding;

said electric current flowing through said sensing impedance;

a second voltage across said sensing impedance being directly related to said electric current in accordance with the properties of said sensing impedance;

said information signal being said second voltage.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said sensing impedance is a resistor and said second voltage is therefore directly proportional to said electric current;

the combination of said impedance elements and said stray impedances together functioning as a resistive component and an inductive reactance component;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous voltage drop across said resistive component to be approximately equal to the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage multiplied by a first constant of proportionality;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous voltage drop across said inductive reactance component to be approximately equal to the instantaneous rate of change of said second voltage multiplied by a second constant of proportionality;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous value of said induced voltage to equal the sum of;

(a) the instantaneous magnitude of any voltages produced by said active voltage sources in said loop,

(b) said instantaneous voltage drop across said resistive component, and

(c) said instantaneous voltage drop across said inductive reactance component.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said apparatus further comprises a voltage-measuring means measuring said first voltage, and said sensing impedance is a resistor;

said second voltage therefore being directly proportional to said electric current;

said stray impedances functioning as a resistive component and an inductive reactance component;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous voltage drop across said resistive component to be approximately equal to the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage multiplied by a first constant of proportionality;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous voltage drop across said inductive reactance component to be approximately equal to the instantaneous rate of change of said second voltage multiplied by a second constant of proportionality;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous value of said induced voltage to be approximately equal to the sum of

(a) the instantaneous value of said first voltage,

(b) said instantaneous voltage drop across said resistive component, and

(c) said instantaneous voltage drop across said inductive reactance component.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the combination of said stray impedances plus all said impedance elements function together as a second reactive component and a second resistive component;

said sensing impedance comprising a first reactive component and a first resistive component such that the ratio of said first reactive component to said first resistive component is approximately equal to the ratio of said second reactive component to said second resistive component;

the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage therefore being approximately proportional to the instantaneous sum of said first voltage drop and said second voltage drop;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage as the instantaneous sum of any voltages produced by said active voltage sources in said loop minus the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage multiplied by a constant of proportionality.

56. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said apparatus further comprises a voltage-measuring means measuring said first voltage;

said stray impedances functioning together as a first reactive component and a first resistive component;

said sensing impedance comprising a second reactive component and a second resistive component with magnitudes such that the ratio of said second reactive component to said second resistive component is approximately equal to the ratio of said first reactive component to said first resistive component;

the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage therefore being proportional to the instantaneous magnitude of said first voltage drop;

said calculating means calculating the instantaneous magnitude of said induced voltage as the instantaneous magnitude of said first voltage minus the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage multiplied by a constant of proportionality.

57. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said calculating means comprises one or more operational amplifiers configured so as to receive said information signal and utilize analog arithmetic means to generate a voltage signal that is proportional to said induced voltage.

58. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said calculating means comprises an analog-to-digital converter circuit and a digital-processing means;

said analog-to-digital converter circuit receiving said information signal and communicating digital information about said electric current to said digital-processing means;

said digital-processing means calculating said induced voltage utilizing said digital information.

59. A method for controlling the induction level of a magnetic body;

said magnetic body being positioned relative to a conductive first winding in such a way that a change of said induction level is associated with a first induced voltage across said first winding;

said first induced voltage being proportional to the rate of change of said induction level;

a first electric current flowing in said first winding;

said magnetic body also being positioned relative to a conductive second winding in such a way that a change of said induction level is associated with a second induced voltage across said second winding;

said second induced voltage being proportional to said rate of change of said induction level;

said second winding being terminated in a high-resistance manner so that a second electric current flowing in said second winding is small, a second voltage measurable across said second winding therefore being approximately equal to said second induced voltage;

said method comprising the control of a voltage device connected to said first winding;

said voltage device producing an output voltage that controls said first induced voltage and thereby controls said rate of change of said induction level and said second induced voltage and said second voltage;

said output voltage being controlled so that said second voltage has such waveform and magnitude so as to be approximately proportional to a preferred rate of change of said induction level;

the waveform and magnitude of said output voltage being controlled based on said second voltage and said preferred rate of change of said induction level;

said preferred rate of change of said induction level being a function of time not continuously equal to zero.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said output voltage is controlled for a period of time in such a way as to cause said induction level to transition from a determinate induction level at the beginning of said period of time to a preferred induction level at the end of said period of time;

said output voltage causing said waveform and magnitude of said second voltage to have such characteristics that the integral of said second voltage over said period of time is approximately equal to a volt-time value corresponding to a change of said induction level from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level, thereby causing said induction level to transition from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein said preferred induction level is an induction level near zero, and said method is thereby a method to demagnetize said magnetic body.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein said output voltage during said period of time is entirely of one polarity.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein said output voltage during said period of time sequentially comprises a first output voltage and a second output voltage of opposite polarities;

said first output voltage having such magnitude, duration and polarity so as to cause said induction level to transition to and pass said preferred induction level;

said second output voltage having such magnitude, duration and polarity so as to cause said induction level to transition to said preferred induction level.

64. The method of claim 60 wherein said output voltage during said period of time comprises a plurality of sequential voltage pulses of varying form, magnitude, duration, and polarity.

65. The method of claim 60 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said first winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said first electric current flowing in said first winding to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a third winding;

said method being utilized while said current transformer is in service;

said method being used to periodically cause said induction level to transition to a preferred induction level near zero, thereby demagnetizing said current transformer, thereby making said first electric current more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said method.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein said primary electric current is a direct current.

67. The method of claim 59 wherein said induction level is influenced by a magnetic field caused by a magnetomotive force independent of said first winding, and said output voltage is controlled for a period of time in such a way as to maintain said induction level near a preferred induction level;

said preferred induction level being present at the beginning of said period of time;

said output voltage further causing said second voltage to have such waveform and magnitude during said period of time that the integral of said second voltage from the beginning of said period of time to any point of time within said period of time does not exceed a predetermined value, thereby causing said induction level to be maintained near said preferred induction level.

68. The method of claim 59 wherein said method causes said induction level to approximately match a reference induction level for a period of time;

said reference induction level being a function of time;

said method further comprising an initial step of determining a constant of proportionality;

said constant of proportionality having such value that said second voltage is approximately equal to said rate of change of said induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality;

said output voltage further causing the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage to continuously be approximately equal to the rate of change of said reference induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality, thereby causing said induction level to approximately match said reference induction level.

69. Apparatus for controlling the induction level of a magnetic body;

said apparatus comprising

(a) a first winding conducting a first electric current, said first winding comprising one or more turns of conductive material positioned relative to said magnetic body in such a way that a change of said induction level is associated with a first induced voltage across said winding;

said first induced voltage being proportional to the rate of change of said induction level;

(b) a second winding, said second winding comprising one or more turns of conductive material positioned relative to said magnetic body in such a way that a change of said induction level is associated with a second induced voltage across said second winding;

said second induced voltage being proportional to said rate of change of said induction level;

said second winding being terminated in a high-impedance manner so that a second electric current flowing in said second winding is sufficiently small so that a second voltage measurable across said second winding is approximately equal to said second induced voltage;

(c) a voltage-measuring means for providing an information signal containing information about said second voltage;

(d) a controllable voltage device connected to said first winding;

said voltage device producing an output voltage which controls said first induced voltage and thereby controls said rate of change of said induction level and said second induced voltage and said second voltage; and

(e) a suitable control means for controlling said voltage device;

said control means receiving said information signal and controlling said voltage device in such a way that said second voltage correlates to a preferred rate of change of said induction level;

said preferred rate of change of said induction level being a function of time not continuously equal to zero.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said apparatus operates for a period of time to cause said induction level to transition from a determinate induction level at the beginning of said period of time to a preferred induction level at the end of said period of time;

said control means causing said output voltage to have such waveform and magnitude so as to cause the integral of said second voltage over said period of time to be approximately equal to a volt-time value corresponding to a change of said induction level from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level, thereby causing said induction level to transition from said determinate induction level to said preferred induction level.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said magnetic body is a magnetic core of a current transformer, and said first winding is a secondary winding of said current transformer;

said current transformer functioning to cause said first electric current to be approximately proportional to a primary electric current;

said primary electric current flowing in a conductor configured as a third winding;

said apparatus being utilized while said current transformer is in service;

said apparatus functioning to periodically cause said induction level to transition to a preferred induction level near zero, thereby demagnetizing said current transformer, thereby causing said first electric current to be more accurately proportional to said primary electric current than would be the case without said apparatus.

72. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein said primary electric current is a direct current.

73. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said induction level is influenced by a magnetic field caused by a magnetomotive force independent of said first winding and said output voltage is controlled for a period of time in such a way as to maintain said induction level near a preferred induction level;

said preferred induction level being present at the beginning of said period of time;

said output voltage further causing said second voltage to have such waveform and magnitude during said period of time that the integral of said second voltage from the beginning of said period of time to any point of time within said period of time does not exceed a predetermined value, thereby causing said induction level to be maintained near said preferred induction level.

74. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said apparatus causes said induction level to approximately match a reference induction level for a period of time;

said reference induction level being a function of time;

said second voltage being approximately equal to said rate of change of said induction level multiplied by a constant of proportionality;

said output voltage further causing the instantaneous magnitude of said second voltage to continuously be approximately equal to the rate of change of said reference induction level multiplied by said constant of proportionality, thereby causing said induction level to approximately match said reference induction level.

75. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said magnetic body further magnetically interacts with a primary winding;

said primary winding comprising one or more turns of conductive material;

said primary winding conducting an alternating electric current;

said primary winding being positioned relative to said magnetic body in such a way that said alternating electric current influences said induction level of said magnetic body;

said voltage device comprising an adjustable impedance connected in series with said first winding;

said first electric current flowing through said adjustable impedance;

said control means controlling said output voltage of said voltage device by controlling the characteristics of said adjustable impedance;

said output voltage being a function of the magnitude and polarity of said secondary electric current and said characteristics of said adjustable impedance.