Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Patent
1980-08-27
1983-01-18
Nelms, David C.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
250239, G02B 514
Patent
active
043693644
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention refers to a monitoring device with an optical sensor for the detection of interference arcs in electrical systems, particularly in enclosed, SF.sub.6 -insulated high voltage systems, containing a gas-tight installed photoconductor to lead out the interference light.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The increasing energy density in the interconnection as well as the transition to higher transmission voltages make it necessary to improve the protection of the power supply system. In this context, it is essentially a question of increasing the reliability of the protection of the power supply system. The sensing devices used in the system protection, such as sensors for the detection of interference arcs in electrical systems, belong among the essential and most important components for the functional safety of the system as the first member in the path of the signal flow.
A system is described in the German Disclosure Publication No. 24 47 240 where a photoconductor is used as a sensor for the detection and signaling of a light occurring in an enclosed container. A functional monitoring of the sensor is not effected. However, due to the reasons given in the introduction, it has become necessary in the meantime to improve the protection of the system and thus to also include the sensors into a functional control besides the central unit of the protection system.
Furthermore, the German Disclosure Publication No. 22 16 238 contains a system for the protection of enclosed, pressure gas insulated electrical systems against interference arcs the sensors of which consist of a light-sensitive element, for example, a photocell. The light-sensitive elements arranged within the enclosure of an electrical system are each provided directly with a light source as a functional control. The light-sensitive element, for example, a photocell, as well as the light source used for test purposes, for example, an electric bulb, are active parts of the sensor and thus are subject to wear which reduces the reliability of the sensor; the sensor must, therefore, be replaced at certain time intervals for which purpose the enclosure of the electrical system must be opened which proves to be costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the task of improving the reliability of the sensors by means of a test light impulse supplied from outside the enclosure.
This task is accomplished according to the invention by the fact that the sensor has at least a second photoconductor connected with an external light source for the production of test light impulses and that the test light impulse is led through a portion of the space to be monitored before it enters again into the sensor and the first photoconductor.
An expedient continued development of the invention can consist of the fact that the sensor has a transparent protective cylinder in which the two photoconductors are arranged in axial direction, that the protective cylinder is designed as a collective lens at its front end for the bundling of the test light impulses and that a reflector is arranged in front of the collective lens at a certain distance. It can also be advantageous that the photoconductor leading the test light impulse is bent and arranged in such a way that the test light impulse emerging from its free end into the space to be monitored enters directly again into the sensor.
It is also possible to comprise both photoconductors to form a multi-armed photoconducting bundle consisting of a transmitter bundle and a receiver bundle. A multi-armed photoconducting bundle with a circular cross-section can, for example, have two semi-circular partial cross-sections or a circular ring with a small circle enclosed therein for the transmitter bundle and the receiver bundle.
The advantages achieved with the invention consist especially of the fact that it is a question of a passive sensor which has, thus, no active parts subject to wear and operates, therefore, with a high degree of reliability. Th
REFERENCES:
patent: 3952196 (1976-04-01), Larsen
patent: 4029391 (1977-06-01), French
patent: 4040743 (1977-08-01), Villaume et al.
patent: 4067052 (1978-01-01), Neuhoff
"Design of a Fiber Optic Pressure Transducer", by R. H. Pahler, Jr., et al., Mechanical Engineering, Mar. 1976, p. 105.
"Arc Monitor--a short-circuit protection for indoor switchgear", by Walter Pucher, ASEA Journal, 1976, vol. 49, No. 6, p. 137.
BBC Brown Boveri & Company Limited
Nelms David C.
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