Abstract:
The present invention includes an airfield lighting and control system for energizing at least one airfield control device and containing a ground fault detection system, comprising: (1) at least one airfield control device; (2) an AC electrical circuit conducting an AC signal and connected to said at least one airfield control device; (3) an inductive device, in electrical contact with said AC electrical circuit, which comprises (a) an inductive coil having an input pole and an output pole, and being loaded by a capacitor; (b) a driver winding for the inductive coil, the driver winding adapted to sense AC current flow through the inductor coil; (c) a sampling resistor connected to the driver winding and adapted to detect AC current in the form of a voltage across the sampling resistor; (d) signal processing circuitry comprising: (1) an inverting amplifier adapted to amplify the voltage; and (2) a phase shifter adapted to shift the phase of the voltage; and (e) a power amplifier connected to the signal processing circuitry and to the driver winding.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is a system for the detection and measurement of ground faults in electrical circuits, such as those used in airfield lighting systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the field of electrical circuits, particularly those used in residential, municipal and large commercial applications, it is desirable to be able to monitor, locate and measure the grounding faults in a given circuit. 
     This is especially valuable in complex electrical circuits such as those used in residences, by municipalities, and by commerical concerns. Examples of such complex circuits include street lighting, airfield lighting, power plants, large buildings, etc. 
     In many of these applications it is desirable, if not necessary that the circuitry remain in service, or at least subjected to as little down time as possible. 
     As an example, the lighting of modern airfields involves large, widespread and complex electrical circuitry which serves not only to light the airfield, but to monitor the position and progress of aircraft on the runways and taxiways. Examples of such an airfield lighting/control system (&#34;ALCS&#34;) are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/059,023 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,243,340; 5,220,321; 4,951,046; 4,481,516; 4,590,471; 4,675,574; 3,943,339; 3,771,120; and 3,715,741 which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. At best, faults in these systems would be detected and resolved immediately without disabling any portion of the circuitry. Presently however, an airfield must be shut down to allow the airfield lighting system to be diagnosed and repaired. Currently, this is done by de-energizing the entire ALCS followed by passing surge currents through the circuits, such as through the use of meggers, in an attempt to detect and locate ground faults. This procedure necessarily involves down-time for the runways and taxiways, bringing airfield traffic to a standstill until the ALCS can be repaired and re-energized. 
     Down-time at airfields results in the disruption of airline scheduling and a resultant loss of airport and airline revenue. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a system capable of detecting, locating and measuring ground faults throughout an electrical circuit, such as those described above, particularly while the AC system is operational. 
     In view of the present disclosure and/or through the practice of the described invention, additional advantages, efficiencies and solutions to problems may become apparent to one skilled in the relevant art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes an airfield lighting and control system for energizing at least one airfield control device and containing a ground fault detection system, comprising: (1) at least one airfield control device; (2) an AC electrical circuit conducting an AC signal and connected to said at least one airfield control device; (3) an inductive device, in electrical contact with said AC electrical circuit, which comprises (a) an inductive coil having an input pole and an output pole, and being loaded by a capacitor; (b) a driver winding for the inductive coil, the driver winding adapted to sense AC current flow through the inductor coil; (c) a sampling resistor connected to the driver winding and adapted to detect AC current in the form of a voltage across the sampling resistor; (d) signal processing circuitry comprising: (1) an inverting amplifier adapted to amplify the voltage; and (2) a phase shifter adapted to shift the phase of the voltage; and (e) a power amplifier connected to the signal processing circuitry and to the driver winding. 
     The airfield lighting and control system of the present invention also includes a corrective feedback device adapted to sum the voltage across the sampling resistor with a corrective feedback voltage so as to obtain a resultant voltage, and to apply that resultant voltage to the signal processing circuitry whereby DC bias occurring in the inductor coil is compensated. 
     The ground fault condition detection/monitoring system may be adapted to produce at least two voltage levels, such as, for instance about 50 and about 500 volt levels, depending on the desired current and sensitivity levels. Such a function is advantageous in airfield lighting and control systems. 
     The present apparatus involves a method for separating AC and DC portions of a composite waveform. That method comprises the general steps (a) obtaining an electrical connection to a composite AC/DC waveform; (b) conducting the AC/DC waveform through an inductive device described above. 
     The AC/DC separation method may in turn be used in a method for detecting ground fault condition in an active AC circuit. Such method involves the steps of (a) obtaining a circuit having an active AC waveform; (b) superimposing a DC voltage on that AC waveform using a DC voltage source, so as to form an AC/DC waveform; (c) separating the DC voltage from the composite AC/DC waveform; and (d) measuring the current flowing through the DC voltage source so as to be able to determine the existence of ground fault conditions in the circuit. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the function portions and logical relationships of the components of a ground fault monitoring system apparatus used in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and showing in block form the portions of the ground fault monitoring system circuitry shown in FIGS. 2-5. 
     FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic of a portion of a ground fault monitoring system apparatus used in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic of a portion of a ground fault monitoring system apparatus used in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic of a portion of a ground fault monitoring system apparatus used in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of a portion of a ground fault monitoring system apparatus used in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the overall ALCS system for use in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting the major components of the ALCS with the ground fault condition monitoring system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a ladder diagram of the lockout relays used in accordance with the ALCS with the ground fault condition monitoring system of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a graph that shows that resistance measurements recorded by the ground fault detection/measurement system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention are highly accurate at both low and high ranges. 
     FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C show a detailed flow diagram explaining the operation of the ALCS and ground fault condition detection/measurement system of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 shows a basic logic diagram from which the microprocessor operating instructions can be written in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following describes one embodiment of an ALCS in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention which is also considered to be the best mode of the invention in its many aspects. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional portions and logical relationships of the components of a ground fault condition detection apparatus (also referred to as an &#34;insulation resistance system&#34; or &#34;IRMS&#34;) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and an AC electrical circuit containing same. Many of the blocks correspond to dot-lined portions of the electrical schematics shown in FIGS. 2-5. FIG. 1 shows line voltage input 1 and regulator 2 which is connected to electrical loads 3. The ground fault condition detection circuitry is connected at point P1 through input protection 4 and operating relay 5. FIG. 1 also shows the position of the inductive device 6, self-test circuitry 7 DC bias voltage supply 8 and leakage sampler 9. Also shown is an analog-to-digital converter 10 with a parallel-to-serial connector 11 and address preset 12. Governing the function of the system is the firmware control 13 which may be provided with computer interface 14. 
     Input protection circuitry 4 protects the balance of the circuitry from surges coming from the active AC circuit, connected at P1. Operating relay 5 controls the access of the ground fault detection circuitry (fundamentally inductive device 6, high voltage supply 8 and leakage sampler 9) to the active AC circuit. This relay operates to allow the ground fault detection system to calibrate itself when disconnected (by using self-test circuitry 7) and also opens if an input overload is detected. Inductive device 6 acts to strip the AC component from the combined AC/DC waveform created when the DC voltage is imposed on the active AC circuit. Leakage sampler circuitry 9 measures the current flowing from high voltage supply 8. Leakage sampler 9 also feeds back a signal to inductive device 6 to proportionately compensate for the effect of any DC current, flowing through the coil of the inductive device, on its operating characteristics (i.e. its ability to fully restrict the AC signal). Specifically, the leakage sampler provides a DC offset to the power operating amplifier to nullify the swinging choke effect brought about by the DC current flowing between the input and output of the coil. 
     The current sensed by the leakage sampler circuitry 9 in turn is recorded by means of analog-to-digital converter 10 which in turn interfaces, via parallel-to-serial port 11, with computer interface 14. Measured current flow is then related to the extent of ground fault condition. 
     Firmware control 13 performs many functions. The control provides start-up reset and holds all operations in reset during the start-up period, typically two seconds. It interprets the external computer&#39;s commands, and controls the external computer&#39;s ability to turn on the high voltage supply, to engage the input relay, to activate range hold function and to initiate the self-test circuitry. It also responds to signals from the inductive device 6 indicating when the inductive device 6 is in an overload condition in order to signal operating relay 5. The firmware determines the activation of the A/D conversion process, preferably synchronous with the signal ripple in the inductive device. During the serial interface transmit cycle, the A/D conversion process is inhibited. The firmware control 13 may be adapted to select from among two or more voltage ranges, depending upon the amount of current leakage sensed by the leakage sampler circuitry 9 as related by analog-to-digital converter 10. The firmware control 13 responds by signaling the high voltage supply 8 to select from two or more voltage ranges, while interfacing with the control computer via parallel-to-serial port 11 and computer interface 14. 
     FIG. 2 is a portion of the electrical schematic of the ground fault condition detection system. FIG. 2 shows input protection circuitry 15 (corresponding to block 4 of FIG. 1), operating relay 16 (corresponding to block 5 of FIG. 1) and inductive device 17 (corresponding to block 6 of FIG. 1). Inductive device 17 includes inductive coil 40 and driver winding 41. Driver winding 41 is connected sampling resistor 42 which in turn is connected to signal processing circuitry which includes inverting and non-inverting integrators 43 and 44, respectively. Also shown is self-test circuitry 18 (corresponding to block 7 of FIG. 1) and high voltage power supply 19 (corresponding to block 8 of FIG. 1) in this embodiment. The high voltage supply may be set at various voltage levels, such as, for instance 0 volts, 50 volts (at both high and low sensitivity) and at 500 volts. FIG. 2 also shows coaxial connection 20 which connects to coaxial connection 21 in FIG. 3. This connection corresponds to the connection between blocks 8 and 9 of FIG. 1. 
     The AC/DC waveform separator operates by having high voltage source 19 impose a DC voltage through inductor coil 40 and onto the AC circuit, through the operating relay 16 and protection circuitry 15, via lead P1. 
     Any AC waveform entering via lead P1 and through protection circuitry 15 and operating relay 16, is suppressed by inductor coil 40, and is prevented from progressing to disrupt or damage circuitry beyond this point. If there is a ground fault condition on the AC circuit, a DC current will begin to flow through inductor coil 40 in an amount corresponding to the degree of current leakage from the circuit loop attached to P1. In that event, the flow of the DC current through either of sampling resistors 45 or 46 (see FIG. 3); resistor 45 sampling for the extreme low range and resistor 46 for the other ranges. 
     A large AC signal is available on inductor coil 40. As dv/dt increases to a significant level, the core of the inductor approaches the efficiency curve caused by an increase in magnetic flux density, which causes a decrease in effective inductance. This signal is transferred by transformer principle to driver winding 41. After transfer, the imposed current is sensed as a voltage across resistor 42. The signal is then amplified, inverted and phase-shifted via inverter 43, non-inverting amplifier 44, in order to drive power operational amplifier 48 (preferably having a performance level that swings±20 V at 10 amps). The amplified signal is then used to drive the other terminal of driver winding 41 (that terminal not directly connected to sampling resistor 42). By doing this, the magnetic energy lost is compensated, and thus the performance of the inductor coil is restored. 
     FIG. 3 shows leakage sampler 22 (corresponding to block 9 of FIG. 1) which contains buffer amplifier 23 and range indicator 24. Also shown in FIG. 3 is analog to digital converter 25 (corresponding to block 10 of FIG. 1) and firmware control 26 and 27. Range selection circuitry 27 sets a binary level detection from the output of the A/D converter (e.g. a 14-bit output). This circuitry determines if the level is excessively high or low, the command increment down or increment up, respectively, is issued to the range counter 49. The resulting range selected is seen at Q1 and Q2 (i.e. to select from among HV off, low Ohm, 50 V and 500 V). Range selection circuitry 26 is a delay counter to delay the ability to change range for a pre-set number of the A/D clock cycles. Parallel-to-serial converter 28 (corresponding to block 11 of FIG. 1) is also shown in FIG. 3, as is address pre-set 29 (corresponding to block 12 of FIG. 1) and computer interface 30 (corresponding to block 14 of FIG. 1) (which may, for instance, and RS232 or RS244 port). 
     FIG. 4 shows a high voltage power supply for the DC bias, showing that corresponding to block 8 of FIG. 1 and item 19 of FIG. 2 in more detail. 
     FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic showing the firmware control portion of the present invention, corresponding to block 13 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows synchronous A/D start conversion circuitry 90. This detects the ripple as seen at the input to the power operating amplifier 48 of FIG. 2, and starts the A/D process on a timed basis at the lowest point of the ripple. Also shown is timer 91 that inhibits the A/D start conversion when the computer interface is transmitting. Overload detector 92 (see FIG. 2) detects the level of overload that occurs in the inductive device. If the inductive device reaches near its upper limit, the detector signals the firmware control to open the operating relay, discontinuing input signal and also turning off the high voltage supply. 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the overall ALCS system for use in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows fuse and relay assemblies 51, the insulation resistance monitoring system (&#34;IRMS&#34;) enclosure 52, L-847 circuit selectors 53, and on-line uninterruptable power supply (&#34;UPS&#34;) 54 and constant current regulators (&#34;CCRs&#34;) 55 (corresponding to item 2 of FIG. 1). Also shown are several airfield lighting loops 56 (of which one would correspond to item 3 of FIG. 1). An airfield supplied with an ALCS in accordance with the present invention may have one or more such systems operating independently of each other without being connected. 
     A function of the IRMS is to monitor the insulation resistance of the high voltage series circuit used in the ALCS. The IRMS system is able to measure and record the insulation resistance of multiple circuits so that long term degradation of the field cabling, and other components of the circuit, can be monitored and characterized. The IRMS of the present embodiment can be separated into three principle sections. These are (1) fuse and relay assemblies which can control switching between multiple lighting circuits; (2) an insulation resistance meter which measures the circuit resistance; and (3) the IRMS microprocessor which controls the lockout relays and resistance data collecting. 
     A flow diagram depicting the major components of the IRMS is shown in FIG. 7. Where more than one high voltage series circuit is being used, the IRMS system may energize only one circuit for resistance measurement at a given time, thus locking out all other monitored circuits. The IRMS enclosure contains banks of interlocking relays for this purpose. These lockout relays are the first portion of the isolation circuitry. 
     The final stage of the isolation circuitry includes fuse and relay assemblies which may be located in small enclosures that are mounted at each monitored regulator. These enclosures house another high voltage relay and a high voltage fuse. 
     The IRMS has been designed such that the lockout relays are interlocked to allow only one relay and fuse enclosure to be energized at a time. A ladder diagram of the lockout relays is shown in FIG. 8. Where more than one circuit is to be monitored, this allows only one field circuit to be connected to the resistance meter at any given time. 
     The final stage uses the fuse and relay circuitry to isolate the high voltage of the lighting circuits from the IRMS computer which controls and monitors the resistance meter. The high voltage relays located in each fuse and relay enclosure are individually energized by the lockout relays. The fuse and relay circuit connects the resistance meter to the specific field circuit cable while the ground fault condition detection and/or measurement is taken. The lockout relay holds the fuse and relay on the selected circuit for approximately 20 seconds to allow for an accurate reading and then de-energizes. The next lockout relay will then energize and another fuse and relay enclosure will be selected. This process continues until the last circuit has been selected. The isolation process is all controlled by the IRMS computer which determines which lockout relay is energized and for what period of time. 
     As described above, the ground fault condition detection/measurement may be performed by a combination of two circuits. As will be appreciated from the accompanying drawings, these circuits include a megohm resistance measurement circuit and a digital controller circuit which work together to measure and record the ground fault condition of the series circuit cable. The resistance measurement circuit imposes a 500 volt DC potential onto the airfield&#39;s series circuit while the digital controller circuitry measures the ground fault current to determine the cabling resistance. The data is then transferred to the IRMS computer. 
     The ground fault detection system of the present invention may be made to report cable resistance ranging from less than 20KΩ to greater than 1000MΩ. The results of the resistance measurement may then be communicated to the IRMS computer which displays the data in text or graphical format. 
     FIG. 9 shows that resistance measurements recorded by the ground fault detection/measurement system are highly accurate at both low and high ranges. The error percentage ranges from about 2% to about 4% depending on the measuring range depending on whether the circuit is operating or not. Accuracy is extremely steady on circuits that are either on or off. 
     Once the circuit measurement schedule has been entered, the IRMS system is able to operate independent of operator control. The circuit of the present invention may also include a self-calibration circuitry which is activated each time the ground fault detection/measurement system is turned on. The system can also be made to perform self-calibrations at regular time intervals such as every half-hour. Calibration using the circuitry depicted in the accompanying drawings takes only about one minute to complete. 
     A detailed flow diagram explaining the operation of the ground fault condition detection/measurement system of the present invention is included as FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C. These Figures illustrate how the resistance meter is connected to the series circuit cable and how the resistance measurements reach the IRMS computer. 
     FIG. 10A shows block 60 representing a series lighting circuit designed to carry power for the airfield lighting which is a maximum of 5 kV. A typical imposed DC voltage has a maximum of about 500 V. Block 61 represents a constant current regulator adapted to supply power for the airfield lighting which is paralleled with the ground fault measurement system imposing the DC voltage onto the series circuit. 
     Block 62 which represents the fuse and relay boxes which are located at each monitored regulator. These boxes are used to isolate the high voltage from the ground fault measurement computer and controls. The relay is only energized when the ground fault measurement system is making a ground fault measurement on the associated circuit. Block 63 and 64 represent the imposing DC voltage to the series lighting circuit and the AC voltage from the series lighting circuit with the imposed DC voltage, respectively. Block 65 represents input protection in the form of input lighting and search protection circuitry. Block 66 represents an operating relay which, when energized, enables the ground fault measurement system to impose the 500 V DC potential onto the series lighting circuit and, when de-energized, removes this potential and isolates it from the series lighting circuit. Block 67 represents a firmware control which detects an overload due to a voltage surge or a lightening strike, in which the case, the operating relay is commanded to de-energize, removing the 500 V DC potential from the circuit. 
     Turning to FIG. 10B, this figure shows block 68 which represents the &#34;resistance megger&#34; whose primary function is to eliminate any noise present on the incoming signal. Block 69 represents an overload monitor which interfaces with the overload status of the firmware control. The firmware may be adapted to initiate appropriate action depending upon the status. Block 70 represents the high voltage DC source which is designed to place a high voltage DC potential onto the series lighting circuit. This high voltage supply is totally isolated and may be driven by opto-couplers to control the voltage selecting (where more than one voltage range is used) and the on/off control. Depending upon the reading of the ground fault measurement system, the power supply may be automatically switched between two voltage ranges, such as between 500 V DC and 50 V DC. The high voltage power supply also has built-in current limiting circuitry which prevents the supply from generating dangerous current levels. Block 71 represents a voltage range control which may be in the form a firmware control for selecting the voltage of the high voltage supply depending on the range of the active ground fault resistance reading. Block 72 represents self-test circuitry whereby the ground fault measurement system, once turned on, is provided with an initial test which checks the operation of the system and performs an automatic calibration. 
     FIG. 10B also shows block 73 which is the leakage sampler whose function it is to measure the amount of DC current leaking in a given AC circuit. The sampling circuitry may be made to function as a digital current meter to generate a DC voltage that represents the corresponding DC current that has been sampled. Depending upon the range of the ground fault condition reading, the sampler may be switched between two or more current ranges. By doing so, the ground fault measurement system of the present invention may, for example, be capable of operating in four discrete ranges: 
     
         ______________________________________1.    Off            Ground Fault Measurement                System Disabled2.    Low Ohm Range  Readings from 20-200 kΩ3.    Medium Ohm     Readings from 200 kΩ-2 MΩ Range4.    High Ohm Range Readings above 2 MΩ______________________________________ 
    
     Block 74 represents a current range control which may be in the form of a firmware control for selecting the current ranges of the ground fault measurement sampler depending on the range of the active ground fault reading. Block 75 represents the firmware control itself which maintains the operation of the ground fault measurement system. The firmware control&#39;s task may include: (1) providing the analog to digital converter its control parameters for selective sampling, (2) controlling voltage and current ranges, (3) initiating the ground fault measurement test mode, (4) monitoring the system for overload, (5) disabling the system upon detection of overload, and (6) performing commands requested by the computer. 
     FIG. 10C shows block 76 which represents an analog to digital converter which may be a 16-bit converter to selectively sample the DC voltage generated by the ground fault resistance sampler. The A-D converter may also be responsible for determining the range control parameters and may report the necessary measurement range to the firmware control which in turn makes appropriate adjustments to the high voltage supply or to the ground fault sampler. Block 77 represents the selective sampling parameters which may be generated by the firmware control and which are used by the analog to digital converter to determine, for instance, when and how often to take sample measurements. Block 78 represents a range selector whereby the analog to digital converter may signal the firmware control when a measurement is out of a given range. The firmware control then may make appropriate adjustments to the high voltage supply and the ground fault sampler. Also shown is block 79 which represents a parallel to serial converter which may be provided by a 7-bit addressable UART. This converter changes the format of the information so it may be transferred to the system computer. When addressed, the UART may convert the 16-bit parallel number into 8-bit serial numbers. This process may be reversed when commands from the system computer are given. 
     Block 80 represents range update information flowing from the firmware control to update the computer on the current operating range of the ground fault measurement system. 
     Block 81 represents serial port communication, such as via RS232 port. All serial date is transferred between the ground fault measurement circuitry and the system computer by an RS232 line transceiver. The data transfer may take place across a 9-pin connector which interfaces to the computer&#39;s serial port. 
     The IRMS computer interfaces directly to the visual controller board through its serial port and is responsible for controlling the scheduling and recording of the insulation resistance measurements. 
     The computer may be an industrially hardened AT compatible computer with a passive backplane. Also within the computer is a interface board (such as an ET-100 board commercially available from Siemens Corporation of Iselin, N.J.) which is used for serial communications to the I-O modular system. The input/output system is used to control the lockout relays which individually select which circuit is to be measured. 
     From the computer keyboard, an operator can enable or disable the IRMS operation, specify which circuits which should be monitored and at what time, and review or printout previously collected data. The collected data can be displayed on the computer monitor or printed to the printer in a text or graphical format which is automatically stored on the computer&#39;s hard drive. 
     FIG. 11 shows a basic logic diagram from which the microprocessor operating instructions can be written. 
     The performance of the system described in the foregoing preferred embodiment was found to give high signal-to-noise ratio for the DC signal compared to the AC signal. The results were stable at very low leakage levels. The initial tolerance of the measurements in the extended ranges of about 1 gigaohm was about±1%. Furthermore, measurements were found to be practical at resistance levels of as much as 10 gigaohms. 
     Performance at this level could be achieved regardless whether the system was energized or not. This allows the operator to take measurements under energized and non-energized conditions, and to compare the performance of the circuit under both such conditions. 
     In view of the foregoing disclosure and/or from practice of the present invention, it will be within the ability of one skilled in the art to make alterations to the method and apparatus of the present invention, such as through the substitution of equivalent elements or process steps, to be able to practice the invention without departing from its scope as reflected in the appended claims.