Fault gas alarm system

• US 8,836,523 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Roy Trudel, Anik, Barbulescu, Mariana, Ng Tong, Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US13/112,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20120293333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 340/632, 340/635, 702/24
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarm actuated by the presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10, for other abnormal conditions G08B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2841 gas in oil, e.g. hydrogen in insulating oil
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/14 Expansion chambers; Oil conservators; Gas cushions; Arrangements for purifying, drying, or filling
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 29/04 having provision for tap-changing without interrupting the load current
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0061 Monitoring tap change switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0005 Tap change devices

Abstract

A fault gas alarm system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fault gas alarm system includes: a gas sensor configured to fluidly connect with an oil valve in an oil-filled vacuum-type on-load tap changer (OLTC), the gas sensor for monitoring a gas level in an oil within the oil valve; and a bi-level alarm system electrically connected with the gas sensor, the bi-level alarm system including a visual alarm indicator configured to provide a visual alarm in response to receiving an indication the gas level in the oil exceeds a threshold.

Claims

1. A fault gas alarm system comprising:

a gas sensor configured to fluidly connect with an oil valve in an oil-filled vacuum-type on-load tap changer (OLTC), the gas sensor for monitoring a gas level in an oil within the oil valve; and

a bi-level alarm system electrically connected with the gas sensor, the bi-level alarm system including a visual alarm indicator configured to provide a visual alarm in response to receiving an indication the gas level in the oil exceeds a threshold.

2. The fault gas alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm indicator includes two distinct alarm levels.

3. The fault gas alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm indicator includes a first light-emitting-diode.

4. The fault gas alarm system of claim 3, wherein the alarm indicator includes a second light-emitting diode having a color distinct from the first light-emitting diode.

5. The fault gas alarm system of claim 1, wherein the bi-level alarm system has access to the oil within the valve, and wherein the oil valve is in contact with a flow of the oil within an oil compartment of the OLTC.

6. The fault gas alarm system of claim 1, wherein the bi-level alarm system further includes:

a microprocessor operably connected to the gas sensor; and

a relay operably connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to trigger the relay and the visual alarm indicator in response to receiving the indication the gas level in the oil exceeds the threshold.

7. The fault gas alarm system of claim 1, wherein the gas includes one of hydrogen or carbon monoxide.

8. The fault gas alarm system of claim 1, wherein the gas sensor is a fuel cell type gas sensor.

9. A fault gas alarm system comprising:

a gas sensor configured to fluidly connect with an oil valve in an oil-filled vacuum-type on-load tap changer (OLTC), the gas sensor for monitoring a gas level in an oil within the oil valve; and

a bi-level alarm system electrically connected with the gas sensor, the bi-level alarm system including a visual alarm indicator having two distinct light-emitting-diodes, wherein each of the two distinct light-emitting-diodes is configured to provide a distinct visual alarm in response to receiving an indication the gas level in the oil exceeds a threshold.

10. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the two distinct light-emitting diodes include distinct color indicators.

11. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the bi-level alarm system further includes:

a microprocessor operably connected to the gas sensor; and

a relay operably connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to trigger the relay and the visual alarm indicator in response to receiving the indication the gas level in the oil exceeds the threshold.

12. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the bi-level alarm system further includes an audible alarm.

13. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the gas includes hydrogen.

14. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the gas includes carbon monoxide.

15. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the gas sensor is a fuel cell type gas sensor.

16. The fault gas alarm system of claim 9, wherein the bi-level alarm system has access to the oil within the valve, and wherein the oil valve is in contact with a flow of the oil within an oil compartment of the OLTC.

17. A fault gas alarm system comprising:

a gas sensor configured to fluidly connect with an oil conduit in an oil-filled vacuum-type on-load tap changer (OLTC), the gas sensor for monitoring a gas level in an oil within the oil conduit; and

a bi-level alarm system electrically connected with the gas sensor, the bi-level alarm system including;

a microprocessor operably connected to the gas sensor;

a visual alarm indicator having a light-emitting-diode operably connected to the microprocessor; and

a direct contact relay operably connected to the microprocessor, the microprocessor for triggering the direct contact relay and the visual alarm indicator in response to receiving a signal that the gas level in the oil exceeds a threshold.

18. The fault gas alarm system of claim 17, wherein the gas sensor is a fuel cell type gas sensor.

19. The fault gas alarm system of claim 17, wherein the gas includes one of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

20. The fault gas alarm system of claim 17, wherein the bi-level alarm system has access to the oil within the valve, and wherein the oil valve is in contact with a flow of the oil within an oil compartment of the OLTC.