Methods and systems for sectionalizing a looped distribution line in a power distribution system
First Claim
1. A method of sectionalizing a looped distribution line in an electric power distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said electric power distribution system including a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed downstream from the source of power, said plurality of preprogrammed switches including a first preprogrammed switch and a fifth preprogrammed switch each disposed in the looped distribution line, a second preprogrammed switch and a fourth preprogrammed switch each disposed in the looped distribution line downstream from said first and fifth preprogrammed switches and a third preprogrammed switch disposed in the looped distribution line between said second and fourth preprogrammed switches, said third preprogrammed switch being in a normally open condition, all of said preprogrammed switches programmed to respond to the occurrence of a short circuit in the looped distribution line and to reconfigure the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing some of the preprogrammed switches each with a unique open time interval, different from an open time interval of the other preprogrammed switches, for at least one of its open intervals when responding to a short circuit condition on the looped distribution line;
determining the length of said unique open time interval at at least one of the preprogrammed switches in response to the occurrence of a short circuit;
identifying that the short circuit is in a portion of the looped distribution line that is downstream from the preprogrammed switch associated with the determined unique open time interval; and
changing the configuration of the other preprogrammed switches to isolate the short circuit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of preprogrammed switches is disposed in a looped distribution line downstream from a source of power to respond to a short circuit and to reconfigure the line to isolate the short circuit. Some of the preprogrammed switches are each provided with a unique open time interval, such as t1, t2 and t3. Others of the plurality of preprogrammed switches can then determine which switch is opening in response to the short circuit and can identify the portion of the line that is shorted. Certain of the preprogrammed switches can then reconfigure to protect the identified portion of the line.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of sectionalizing a looped distribution line in an electric power distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said electric power distribution system including a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed downstream from the source of power, said plurality of preprogrammed switches including a first preprogrammed switch and a fifth preprogrammed switch each disposed in the looped distribution line, a second preprogrammed switch and a fourth preprogrammed switch each disposed in the looped distribution line downstream from said first and fifth preprogrammed switches and a third preprogrammed switch disposed in the looped distribution line between said second and fourth preprogrammed switches, said third preprogrammed switch being in a normally open condition, all of said preprogrammed switches programmed to respond to the occurrence of a short circuit in the looped distribution line and to reconfigure the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing some of the preprogrammed switches each with a unique open time interval, different from an open time interval of the other preprogrammed switches, for at least one of its open intervals when responding to a short circuit condition on the looped distribution line; determining the length of said unique open time interval at at least one of the preprogrammed switches in response to the occurrence of a short circuit; identifying that the short circuit is in a portion of the looped distribution line that is downstream from the preprogrammed switch associated with the determined unique open time interval; and changing the configuration of the other preprogrammed switches to isolate the short circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of sectionalizing a looped distribution line in an electric power distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said electric power distribution system including a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed downstream from the source of power on the looped power distribution line, one of the preprogrammed switches being in a normally open condition, all of said preprogrammed switches programmed to respond to the occurrence of a short circuit in the looped distribution line and to reconfigure the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing some of the plurality of preprogrammed switches each with a unique open time interval, different from an open time interval of the other preprogrammed switches, for at least one of its open intervals when responding to a short circuit condition on the looped distribution line; determining at at least one of the plurality of preprogrammed switches the length of said unique open time interval in response to the occurrence of a short circuit; identifying that the short circuit is in a portion of the looped distribution line that is protected by the preprogrammed switch associated with the determined unique open time interval; and changing the configuration of other preprogrammed switches on the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for sectionalizing a looped distribution line in an electric power distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said system comprising:
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a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed in the looped distribution line, one of the preprogrammed switches being in a normally open condition, some of said plurality of preprogrammed switches programmed to respond to the occurrence of a short circuit in the looped distribution line and to reconfigure the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit, some of said plurality of preprogrammed switches each provided with a unique open time interval different from an open time interval of the other preprogrammed switches, for at least one of its open intervals when responding to a short circuit condition on the looped distribution line; and at least one of said plurality of preprogrammed switches capable of determining the length of said unique open time interval in response to the occurrence of a short circuit to identify that the short circuit is in a portion of the looped distribution line that is downstream from the preprogrammed switch associated with the determined unique open time interval; whereby the preprogrammed switch next downstream of the preprogrammed switch with the determined unique open time interval is reconfigured to isolate the short circuit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for sectionalizing a looped distribution line in an electric power distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said system comprising:
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a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed in the looped distribution line downstream from the source of power, some of said plurality of preprogrammed switches programmed to respond to the occurrence of a short circuit in the looped distribution line each with an a unique open time interval different from an open time interval of the other preprogrammed switches, for at least one of its open intervals; at least one of said plurality of preprogrammed switches capable of determining which preprogrammed switch opened in response to the occurrence of a short circuit by determining the unique open time interval of the preprogrammed switch that opened; identifying that the short circuit is in a portion of the looped distribution line that is protected by the preprogrammed switch associated with the determined unique open time interval; and changing the configuration of other preprogrammed switches on the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit.
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29. A method of sectionalizing a looped distribution line in an electric power:
- distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said electric power distribution system including a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed in the looped distribution line downstream from the source of power, said method comprising the steps of;
providing some of the plurality of preprogrammed switches each with an a unique open time interval different from an open time interval of the other preprogrammed switches, for at least one of its open intervals when responding to a short circuit condition on the looped distribution line; determining the length of said unique open time interval by at least one of said plurality of preprogrammed switches in response to the occurrence of a short circuit;
identifying that the short circuit is in a portion of the looped distribution line that is protected by the preprogrammed switch associated with the determined unique open time interval; andchanging the configuration of other preprogrammed switches on the looped distribution line to isolate the short circuit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
- distribution system that supplies electrical power from a source of power, said electric power distribution system including a plurality of preprogrammed switches disposed in the looped distribution line downstream from the source of power, said method comprising the steps of;
Specification