Zero sequence sensing apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10324140-B2
Application number	US-201615256800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2016
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Zero sequence current sensors for single-phase and multiphase power systems are disclosed. In one implementation, a zero sequence current sensor is positioned between conductors associated with a single-phase power system or a multiphase power system. The current sensor may be shaped to accommodate maintaining a substantially equal distance between the conductors associated with the single-phase power system or the multiphase power system.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a current sensor positioned between conductors of a single-phase power system or a multi-phase power system, the current sensor to detect a power system fault associated with the single-phase or multiphase power system; and
an output associated with the current sensor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is positioned between conductors of the single-phase system, the conductors including a first conductor and a second conductor, and wherein the first conductor is a neutral conductor and the second conductor is a phase conductor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is positioned between conductors of the three-phase system, the conductors including first, second and third conductors, each of the first, second and third conductors associated with a unique phase of the three-phase system.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is a magnetic field sensor, magnetoresistive (MR) sensor, tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor, or a paired magnetoresistive (PMR) sensor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current sensor has a shape to accommodate maintaining a substantially equal spacing between the conductors of the single-phase power system or the multi-phase power system.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a sheath, the current sensor at least partially disposed within the sheath, the sheath providing the shape to accommodate maintaining the substantially equal spacing between the conductors of the single-phase power system or the multiphase power system.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sheath, the current sensor at least partially disposed within the sheath, the sheath providing a shape to accommodate maintaining a substantially equal spacing between the conductors of the single-phase power system or the multiphase power system.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheath is made from a dielectric material.

9. An apparatus, comprising:
a current sensor positioned between conductors of a three-phase power system, the current sensor to detect a power system fault associated with the three-phase power system; and
an output associated with the current sensor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a sheath, the current sensor at least a partially disposed within the sheath.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the sheath has a shape to accommodate maintaining substantially equal spacing between conductors of the three-phase power system.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the current sensor has a shape to accommodate maintaining substantially equal spacing between conductors of the three-phase power system.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , the current sensor is a magnetic field sensor, magnetoresistive (MR) sensor, tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor, or a paired magnetoresistive (PMR) sensor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the current sensor is a zero sequence current sensor.

Assignees

• Littelfuse Inc

Inventors

• Gilman Daniel R
• Larson Kip M
• Johnson Brian

Classifications

• H02H1/0007

  concerning the detecting means (in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445) · CPC title

• G01R15/205

  using magneto-resistance devices, e.g. field plates · CPC title

• G01R31/42 Primary

  AC power supplies · CPC title

• G01R19/0092

  Measuring current only · CPC title

• H02H3/162

  for AC systems · CPC title