Abstract: An alarm system in which a pair of transmission lines are disposed in a loop to define two channels of transmission from a controller to a group of interconnected detectors, the improvement comprising a spaced group of line fault isolators interleaved with respective sub-groups of detectors and connected across the lines for sensing a short circuit on the transmission lines so as to isolate the short circuit condition; the isolators including an arrangement for switching, in response to a signal transmitted from the controller, those isolators which are physically located adjacent to the short circuit without interfering with the operation of other detectors in the loop.

Abstract: A method of locating a phase-to-ground fault in a radial distribution system with a tapped load. The method includes determining the positive-sequence impedance from the residual current, the residual current compensation factor and the phase-to-ground voltage of the faulted line. The positive-sequence impedance is then used to determine the distance to the fault.

Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear system having two gas insulated switchgear equipments, each of which consists of first disconnecting switches, circuit breakers, and second disconnecting switches, three phase gas insulated buses which are respectively connected to the first disconnecting switches of the two gas insulated switchgear equipments in every three phases thereof, a single phase reserve buses which are commonly connected to all of the second disconnecting switches of the two gas insulated switchgear equipments, and an operating device for opening the circuit breakers and the first disconnecting switches in only one phase of the gas insulated switchgear equipments and closing the second disconnecting switch in only the one phase. A gas insulated switchgear system having single phase reserve bus is economical and switches one of the three phase main buses to the single reserve bus without forming short circuit.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit device comprises first and second output terminals, a power switching circuit which is connected across the first and second output terminals and through which electric current is supplied to an external load from an external power source, a driving a circuit for generating a first drive signal to be supplied to the power switching circuit, and a third output terminal in electrical connection with the driving circuit for derivation of electric energy from the driving circuit as a second drive signal to be spplied to an external circuit via the third output terminal. The monolithic integrated circuit device is capable of not only controlling power supply to an external load but also driving an external circuit which may be another power switching cirtcuit cooperative with the power switching circuit in the present monolithic integrated circuit device for the purpose of controlled power supply to the external load or which may be other types of electronic circuits.

Abstract: A composite circuit breaker includes a plurality of circuit breaker modules inserted in paralleled branches of the main conductor. The branch phase currents associated with each breaker module and a signal representative of the total currents in the main conductor are auctioneered to select the largest of the current for application to the trip circuit of the breaker to provide protection for the individual breakers against current hogging while composite protection is provided for the load/source. The signal representative of each phase of the total current is generated by a primary current transformer which feeds series connected auxiliary current transformers each of which is associated with one of the individual breakers.

Abstract: a protective relay for detecting faults in electrical power distribution system generates a signal .DELTA.i(t) which is substantially equal to the magnitude of the power distribution system current i measured at a first time subtracted from the magnitude of the power distribution system current i measured at a second time, the second time occurring later than the first time. The signal .DELTA.i(t) is utilized to generate measurement of the distance of a fault to the relay and is also utilized to generate operate signals if the fault occurs within the zone protected by the relay.

Abstract: Control apparatus for three phase alternating current load protection wherein each of the phases of the load is connected to a corresponding current transformer. When the load is energized by a three phase power supply the transformers induce signals which are applied to a signal detection circuit. The detection circuit controls a relay means. If any of the three power phases is lost the detection circuit is interrupted causing the relay means to drop out, whereby the load, the power supply and auxilliary circuitry, as the case may be, are protected.

Abstract: In differential function calculation processing, a value of differential function f(d) is calculated using differences between a plurality of predetermined number p of differential current data Dd sampled at different sampling times. The differential current data is data obtained from differential current Id or a sum of data Dj (j=1 to n where n is the number of the respective terminal currents) obtained from respective terminal currents Ipj. In restraint data calculation processing, restraint data Dr is calculated using respective terminal current data Dj sampled at the same sampling time. In restraint function calculation processing, a value of restraint function f(r) is calculated using differences between a plurality of predetermined number p of restraint data Dr sampled at different sampling times. Then, in comparison processing, the value of differential function f(d) is compared with the value of restraint function f(r).

Abstract: A device for protecting an AC distribution network against short circuit currents and an appropriate current limiting circuit breaker. A downstream circuit breaker (D1) generates a signal (S) for neutralizing the opening of the contacts of an upstream current limiting circuit breaker (D2) when the downstream current exceeds a neutralization threshold less than the tripping threshold and/or than the limitation threshold of (D2). The upstream current limiting circuit breaker (D2) has in parallel a pair of head to tail thyristors (TH1, TH2) and a circuit (16) for controlling the gates of the thyristors, this circuit enabling one of the thyristors in response to the signal (S) for inhibiting (D2) for at most one half wave.

Abstract: A fault protection system for a power circuit composed of a main current path and a plurality of parallel branch paths connected in series with the main current path and each containing a winding of a medium voltage transformer, which system includes: first and second switchable current interrupters for switching the current flowing through the paths and for protecting the paths against fault currents, the first interrupter being connected in one branch path for interrupting fault currents in a first amplitude range and the second interrupter being connected in the main current path for interrupting fault currents in a second amplitude range which is higher than the first range and includes short circuit currents; and current monitoring circuits connected for monitoring the current in the one branch path and for maintaining the first interrupter in the closed state when the current in the one branch is below the first amplitude range, for placing the first interrupter in the open state in response to the pres

Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for automatic connection of a remote feed current path of a remote feed loop fed from both sides for electrical loads with direct current series feed, a parallel circuit of a first four-terminal network comprising two feed outputs and a second four-terminal network containing a connecting two-terminal network, controllable by current sensors, is provided for the acquisition of a feed output per remote feed current path, this being undertaken by way of diode current branches. The circuit arrangement can advantageously be employed for the remote feed of regenerators and communications transmission links.

Abstract: A test circuit simulates the operation of a multipole electrical circuit breaker, and includes a pair of auxiliary terminals connected by a connection circuit to the input terminals of a bridge rectifier cell whose output is connected in parallel with the respective outputs to two other rectifier cells associated with current transformers. A first resistor delivers a first signal proportional to the maximum intensity of the mains currents. Diodes cooperate with a second measuring resistor of a residual earth leakage current discriminator. Reversing the direction of the test current flow in the test circuit is performed by simply changing the polarity of the test terminals, and enables overcurrent protection and earth leakage protection of the electronic trip device to be checked separately.

Abstract: Fault currents in the phases of a three-phase supply are detected by transformers 28 in respective phase links 14 and are counted by associated circuits 24 when any one of the circuits 24 reaches a predetermined count level, or when there is a fault condition, a low VA trip coil 42 is energized so as to release latches which hold the phase links 14 in their operative positions and thereby cause all three links 14 to drop out together.

Abstract: A low level fault condition in a mine trolley system is distinguished from a normal system load by detection circuitry connected to the trolley system between a main circuit breaker and the trolley wire. The detection circuitry monitors the current through the trolley wire and samples the current at preselected intervals of time to detect a rise in current through the trolley wire. The rate of current rise is compared to an adjustable reference signal. If the current rise exceeds a preselected rate, then activation circuitry of the main circuit breaker is latched to determine if the net current change is above a preset limit. If other available protective devices, such as fuses, in the trolley system fail to isolate the faulted circuitry within a preselected period of time after an excessive current rise is detected, then the activation circuitry is tripped to open the normally closed contacts of the main circuit breaker. In this manner the entire flow of current through the trolley wire is interrupted.

Abstract: A transformer differential relay which includes apparatus for speeding up the detection of a power transformer internal fault condition to initiate breaker action which interrupts current through the transformer is disclosed. Presently, conventional transformer differential relays include a unit for each phase of the power transformer for detecting a potential internal fault in a respective transformer phase winding and for generating a signal to operate a set of breakers. This breaker operation is inhibited for current inrush conditions of the transformer. However, a processing time is associated with the detection of such a current inrush condition. Accordingly, the breaker operating signal must be delayed for at least this processing time in order for the inhibition to be effectuated. For the case in which there is no current inrush condition, the breakers remain delayed in operation from the inception of a true internal fault.

Abstract: A transmission line protection system arranged such that a leakage current detector is provided at an end of an insulating device such as an insulator connected at one end to a corresponding one of arms of a steel tower and connected at the other end to a transmission line of each phase, thereby detecting an arrester leakage current flowing in the transmission line of each phase, an output signal of the leakage current detector being led to a repeater through an optical fiber cable, an output of the repeater being transferred to a control/supervisory board in a substation through an optical fiber cable. In the control/supervisory board, preferably, a received digital signal which was converted from an analog signal at said leakage current detector is displayed on a cathode ray tube. In such an arrangement, it is possible to smoothly perform supervision of the status of the transmission lines without causing maloperations due to influences from the transmission lines.

Abstract: A power distribution system consists of an inverter means providing power to a plurality of separate outputs, with each separate output being protected by its own individual overload protection means. In case more than a pre-determined rate of power has been drawn from one of these separate outputs for longer than a pre-determined time, the associated individual overload protection means acts to remove the power from this particular output--without affecting the other outputs. However, if for some reason the individual overload protection means for that particular output fails to operate within the pre-determined time, a second overload protection means operates to disable the inverter, thereby to remove power from all the separate outputs.

Abstract: A bus differential relay which is capable of distinguishing between an internal bus fault and an external fault on a feeder line with saturation of the faulted feeder line current transformer during portions of the alternating current cycles thereof is disclosed. The relay generates a net current signal or differential signal from the signals generated by the feeder line current transformers of the protected bus section. During an internal fault, the current differential signal extends in amplitude beyond fault current limits and a trip signal is generated to interrupt current to the bus section. During an external fault with current transformer saturation, the current differential signal will include amplitude portions of the alternating current cycles which exceed the fault limits.

Abstract: A protective relay for detecting power arcing faults on a three-phase electrical power spot network. A phase-to-phase power arc on a spot network produces harmonics on the phase-to-phase voltages, and the phase currents; a phase-to-ground arc produces harmonics on the phase-to-neutral voltages. The protective relay of the present invention monitors one or more of the three phase-to-phase voltages, the three phase-to-neutral voltages, or the three phase currents and indicates a fault based on the harmonic content of those signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the prospective short circuit current at any position in an electrical installation measures the voltage at a predetermined point or points of a half cycle of the operating voltage between conductors at any position in an electrical installation. A switching mechanism for connection and disconnection of an impedance between said conductors causes a current to flow therebetween for a short period, with the voltage measurement and actuation of the switching mechanism appropriately synchronized and sequenced. The differences in voltages caused by said current flow are measured and the differences in times of the half cycle caused by said current flow determined. A microprocessor having a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), stores the voltage measurements and time measurements in the RAM and uses a program previously stored in the ROM to derive the corresponding value of the prospective short circuit current.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring current levels at adjacent zones along an a.c. transmission line is provided by current transformers at said zones, the secondaries of the transformers being connected in a series circuit such that currents induced in the secondaries are all in the same direction in said series circuit. Resistors are connected between a common connection of the series circuit and respective interconnections between the transformer secondaries. Devices are provided for monitoring the voltages across the resistors.

Abstract: A computer-controlled system protects electric circuits where power and branch load circuits are all disposed outside the pressure hull of a submersible in a marine environment. The system generally comprises a combined inboard operator panel and computer arrangement and an inboard or outboard circuit breaker computer operatively connected by a data link to the panel computer. A multiplexer/demultiplexer arrangement is provided for the system to minimize the passage of electric lines through the hull. The circuit breaker computer compares its stored information with the output of circuit current sensors to detect whether a circuit fault condition exists and if so to open the interrupter of the fault-detected circuit. Moreover, if a circuit fault is detected greater than a predetermined value, e.g., greater than 500% normal load current value, the circuit breaker computer not only opens the fault detected branch circuit but also the power circuit.

Abstract: Circuitry is described for isolating a section of a loop circuit (L) from a bi-directional supply unit (20) in the event of a short circuit in the section. One or more circuit elements (21), such as fire detectors, are connected in respective portions of the loop circuit and between respective pairs of bi-directional isolators (1,2,3,4). Each isolator includes switching means (TR1,TR3) providing low and high impedance paths for respectively supplying current to said circuit elements and isolating said circuit elements from the supply unit (20). Each isolator also includes sensing means (TR2, D1, D7) for sensing a short circuit in any one of the circuit elements (21) whereby the sensing means causes a change in state of the switching means from the low to the high impedance path thereby isolating the circuit elements in the respective section of the loop from the supply unit.

Abstract: A fault detection and clearance system for paralleled electrically similar power transmission lines wherein at each end of the line matched separate directional relays respectively connected to trip associated fault clearance circuit breakers have polarized windings and operate windings. The polarized windings are energized by an alternating current proportional to the summation while the operate windings are energized by an alternating current proportional to the difference (phase considered) of fault currents going into the breakers in both lines at the adjacent end in the event of a fault.

Abstract: A short circuit protection system is disclosed in which a trip-free circuit breaker is combined with at least one current limiting fuse whereby to provide full range short circuit clearing capacity in voltage ranges in which full range fuses are not available or economical.

Abstract: A current transformer and current sensing relay are used to determine the maximum conduction time of the main interrupter in a power circuit. The operating time of the current sensing relay is less than that of the main interrupter but greater than that of a plurality of branch interrupters.

Abstract: A method for detecting excessive current in a system and interrupting the delivery of further current thereto comprises determining actual system current, obtaining a value of a predetermined system parameter indicative of the time the actual system current can safely exist in the system, creating a dynamic history of the predetermined system parameter by repetitively modifying the predetermined system parameter in accordance with actual system current, and interrupting power to the system if the dynamic history of the predetermined system parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined system parameter may be quadratically extended into an undefined region in order to decrease the response time to an overload or fault condition.

Abstract: In a selective safety device for the protection of successive power levels in a power distribution system, a current limiting switch is provided in each of the power levels and includes a current-limiting quick-switching contact which is so positioned at the power supply side in each one of the different power levels such that the current limiting switch immediately in front of a fault is switched off upon occurrence of a fault. A resistor is connected across each of the quick-switching contacts and is serially connected in the interrupted circuit upon the opening action of the quick-switching contact. Additionally, a slow-switching contact is serially connected with each of the quick-switching contacts to be opened after opening of the quick-switching contact with a presettable delay time, which is dependent upon the power levels in which the slow-switching contact is connected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fault current detection, isolation and clearing system for use in an integrated power generating and distribution arrangement having multiple generators electrically connected to loads and to a distribution bus through circuit breakers. The system includes a power control logic unit and circuit breaker condition detection units which have their outputs electrically coupled to the power control logic unit. Fault current detection circuits are coupled to the electrical connections of the generating and distribution arrangement and have outputs electrically coupled to the power control logic unit. The power control logic unit has an output which is controllingly electrically connected to the circuit breakers to control the circuit breakers and clear faults from the generating and distribution arrangement as a function of circuit breaker conditions and fault currents detected.

Abstract: Demonstrator apparatus utilizes a display to portray in log-log coordinate scale the trip-time curve of a solid state (static) trip circuit breaker. A simulated static trip unit programmer is selectively adjustable to vary the shape and position of the displayed trip-time curve. An overlay bearing the trip time-current curve for a prospective upstream or downstream circuit protective device is superimposed on the display and the programmer adjusted to demonstrate selective trip coordination. Alternatively, a pair of simulated trip unit programmers are connected to the display to jointly portray thereon a pair of trip-time curves. Also disclosed is the utilization of a computer to generate on a display plural time-current response curves of a series of circuit protective devices selected on the basis of specific distribution system parameters to provide requisite system protection and response coordination.

Abstract: A power breaker system comprises a main breaker connected to a power source; a plurality of feeder circuit breakers; a long-timing breaking delay circuit and a short-timing breaking delay circuit for delaying the total breaking time by a trip mechanism of the main breaker; and a current limiting circuit for limiting the fault current.

Abstract: A differential protection circuit is responsive to measured current pulses generated upon the occurrence of external and internal faults within a protected device for emitting blocking and tripping signals respectively upon the occurrence of an external and an internal fault of the protective device. The measured current pulses are rectified and level-sensing means in a stabilizing circuit is responsive to the rectified current pulses. A stabilizing potentiometer is connected in series with the level-sensing means and a differential circuit is connected to the sliding terminal of the potentiometer. Both the stabilizing circuit and the differential circuit include gating means such that the emission of tripping signals is blocked upon the emission of output signals of the gating devices in the stabilizing circuit; and tripping signals are emitted upon the emission of output signals from the gating devices in the differential circuit.

Abstract: A reclosing system for d-c feeder breakers in transit systems employing cars using a chopper type of regulated power is disclosed. The circuit includes voltage-sensing and load-measuring circuits which determine that there is no short circuit on the respective feeder line before the circuit breaker can be closed. The system operates in two sequential modes. The first is a voltage-sensing mode which, upon sensing a voltage on the feeder circuit greater than some given magnitude, will cause the closing of the feeder breaker. If this voltage is not sensed during the voltage-sensing mode, the circuit automatically goes into a load-measuring mode wherein a current is injected into the feeder circuit and the voltage drop caused by the injected current is monitored. If a sufficiently high voltage is produced, which indicates that the feeder circuit is free of a fault, the feeder breaker is closed.

Abstract: In an alternating current electric power system of the type subject to rapid load voltage regulation as a result of variations in reactive load current, reactive load current compensation is provided by fixed capacitors and inductors in parallel with the load, the inductors being in series with static switches which are phase controlled to continuously maintain the net reactive compensating current substantially equal and opposite to the reactive component of load current. Compensation control determines firing time of static switches in accordance with the magnitude of reactive load current. The compensation control includes means rapidly responsive to rapid current disturbances. In one embodiment, the compensation control includes devices for continuously sensing the phase and magnitude of the reactive load current. In another embodiment, the compensation control includes devices for sensing the phase and magnitude of the reactive load current 12 times per cycle of source frequency.

Abstract: This high-speed differential protective arrangement discriminates between a fault occurring in a differentially-protected zone of a power circuit and operation of a lightning arrestor connected to the power circuit in said zone. The protective arrangement comprises a relay which operates in response to such a fault but which remains inactive despite operation of the lightning arrestor. Despite this insensitivity to lightning-arrestor operations, the relay is still able to operate relatively fast at levels of fault-produced voltage across input terminals to the protective arrangement much lower than those developed across these terminals by lightning-arrestor follow-through current.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting power distribution networks from damage due to ground faults comprises a plurality of groups of zero sequence current monitors, each group surrounding all branches of the network which enter a zone of protection. Each group is electrically connected to produce an output signal corresponding to the vector sum of differential currents flowing into and out of the zone. Each group is connected to a ground fault relay which will trip when the vector sum of the differential currents entering or leaving a zone is above a predetermined level.

Abstract: In a distribution circuit for connecting a load to an a-c source, it is known that a ground-to-neutral short tends to reduce the sensitivity of ground fault detectors that use a differential current transformer to sense line-to-ground leakage. A resonated coil on a core links the neutral conductor forming part of a protective device for interrupting the load circuit in the event of reduced Q of the resonated coil caused by a neutral-to-ground fault. The core must also link the line conductor, for otherwise a loop including the line, the load and the neutral would wrongly have a like effect.The same core and coil are used with a common amplifier for the neutral-to-ground fault detector and for the line-to-ground leakage detector, so that the apparatus can be economical and compact. Furthermore, so long as there is no neutral-to-ground fault, the amplifier delivers a signal of normal strength that monitors the integrity of both detectors.

Abstract: High-voltage high-power, multiphase electrical installation comprising, for each phase, at least two circuit fields that include, in each circuit field, a circuit breaker arranged between two current transformers, each of them discharging into the same load as the homologous current transformers of the other circuit fields having the same phase; isolating switches placed at the ends; earth isolators placed between the isolating switches and the current transformers. The magnetic circuit of the current transformers is crossed simultaneously by the conductor of the phase of the circuit field and by an auxiliary conductor connected; on the one hand, to a ground isolator and, on the other hand, to a ground point.