Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Safety and protection of systems and devices – Ground fault protection
Patent
1996-08-02
1998-11-10
Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Safety and protection of systems and devices
Ground fault protection
361 94, 364483, H02H 316
Patent
active
058353216
ABSTRACT:
Arcing-faults in an electric power distribution system are detected by a circuit which includes a band-pass filter generating a low frequency bandwidth limited arcing current signal having a bandwidth above the measurable harmonics of the ac current but below the frequency band of power line communications systems, about 3 KHz to 20 KHz and preferably about 6 KHz to 12 KHz. For each cycle of the ac current that this low frequency bandwidth limited arcing current exceeds a threshold, preferably related to the amplitude of the ac current, for a selected duration of the cycle, a fixed pulse is generated. If a time attenuated accumulation of these fixed pulses reaches a selected level representative of a number of closely spaced cycles in which the arcing current has been detected for the selected duration, an arc indicative signal is output. Preferably, the value of the time attenuated accumulation of pulses at which the arc indicative signal is generated is variable so that fewer pulses are needed to generate the output as the amplitude of the ac current increases.
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Texas A & M University--IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-101, No. 6 Jun. 1982; Distribution High Impedance Fault Detection Utilizing High Frequency Current Components; by B. Mike Aucoin and B. Don Russell: pp. 1596 -1606.
Underwriters Labaratories Inc.; Report of research on ARC-Fault Detection Circuit Breakers for National Electrical Manufacturers Association; Rosslyn, VA 22209; Mar. 15, 1996; Project Number 95 NK6832 File Number NC3054; pp. 1-59 and i-iv and A1-B1.
Elms Robert T.
Schlotterer John C.
Eaton Corporation
Gaffin Jeffrey A.
Moran Martin J.
Sherry Michael J.
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