Fuse saving power distribution system and fault protection

Fault protection is provided with fuse saving in a power distribution system. An operating characteristic of a fault protection device protecting a portion of the power distribution system is configured in view of fuse melting characteristics. In this manner, fault protection is provided with fuse saving, when possible, with reduced service disruptions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent relates to the control of an electric power distribution system, and more specifically to a fuse saving system and method for isolating faulted sections of distribution lines.

BACKGROUND

Power distribution systems typically include distribution feeders (ranging from approximately 4 KV to 69 KV) originating in power distribution substations and leading to the source of supply for end customers of an electrical supply utility or agency. Regulatory service provision requirements, cost and competitive pressures create requirements for lower cost, modular, standardized equipment, which can be installed, operated and maintained with minimal labor and human supervision.

Failures of the distribution feeder (faults) occur due to downed power lines, excavation of underground cable or other causes and are typically detectable by sensing excess (short circuit/overcurrent) current, and occasionally by detecting loss of voltage. In distribution systems, it is sometimes the case that a loss of voltage complaint by the customer is the means by which the utility senses the outage in order to respond by dispatching a crew to isolate the fault and reconfigure the distribution system. The typical devices for isolating these faults are circuit breakers located primarily in distribution substations and fuses located on tap lines or at customer transformers. The substation breakers are generally provided with reclosing relays that cause the breaker to close several times after the breaker has detected an overcurrent condition and tripped open. If during any of these “reclosures”, the fault becomes undetectable, service is restored and no extended outage occurs. Particularly on overhead distribution lines, temporary arcing due to wind, lightening, etc causes many faults. Thus, the majority of faults are cleared when the breaker opens and service is restored on the automatic reclose. Alternatively, after some number of reclosure attempts, if the overcurrent condition continues to be present, the recloser goes into a “lockout” state which prevents further attempts to restore service.

Although utility acceptance of more sophisticated automation solutions to fault isolation and reconfiguration has been limited but continues to increase, many methods have been developed and marketed. The most primitive methods have typically involved placing control equipment and switchgear at strategic points in the power distribution grid and coordinating their operation entirely with the use of circuit parameters sensed and operated on locally and independently at each point. More sophisticated methods have been developed for isolating/reconfiguring these circuits by communicating information sensed locally at the strategic points to a designated, higher level control entity(s). Utilizing intelligent, distributed control methodologies, several methods have been developed to isolate/reconfigure distribution circuits without the need for the higher-level control entity(s). In systems implementing these methods, information is sensed and processed locally, acted on as much as possible locally, and then shared with other cooperating devices to either direct or enhance their ability to take action. Examples of these methods include versions of the IntelliTEAM® product available from S & C Electric Company, Chicago, Ill.

Systems, such as the IntelliTEAM® products and the systems described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,240, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference, provide methodologies and related system apparatus for using and coordinating the use of information conveyed over communications to dynamically modify the protection characteristics of distribution devices (including but not limited to substation breakers, reclosing substation breakers, and line reclosers). In this way, overall protection and reconfigurability of the distribution system or “team” is greatly enhanced. Devices within the system recognize the existence of cooperating devices outside of the team's domain of direct control, managing information from these devices such that more intelligent local decision making and inter-team coordination can be performed. This information may include logical status indications, control requests, analog values or other data.

Still, when restoration systems reconfigure distribution feeders, for the purpose of fault isolation and/or load restoration, the coordination between fault protection devices, such as interrupters, used to segment the feeder, can be destroyed. Thus, an automated method to reconfigure the protection settings to maintained coordination is desired. Further, benefits may be obtained where the fault protection devices are set so they coordinate with other devices that may or may not automatically set, for example, boundary devices such as circuit breakers that protect the distribution feeder and fuses that protect loads that are tapped off the feeder.

In some instances, where a fault current exceeds a melting current of a fuse protected distribution line, fault interruption followed by automated restoration may lead to service restoration if the fault is transient; however, service disruptions followed by inevitable service loss with the fuse melting may be the result for persistent faults or sufficiently high current faults. This may be particularly true for loads extending from the distribution line between the fuse and the fault protection device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A fault protection system for an electrical power distribution system and a method of configuring and operating a fault protection system for an electrical power distribution system accepts device fault protection parameters, such as the time-current-characteristics (TCC's), of boundary devices, and selects and sets fault protection parameters for one or more fault protection devices, such as fault-interrupters, that thus coordinate with the boundary devices. Fault protection parameter selection for each fault protection device may occur automatically, and each device may reconfigure its fault protection parameters based upon changes in the electrical power distribution system, for example, as the result of fault isolation and/or service restoration.

FIG. 1shows a simplified view of a portion of an exemplary electrical power distribution system that includes fault protection devices that can be configured and controlled by one or more of the herein described embodiments. The distribution system comprises a plurality of sources of electrical power, one shown as source102, connected to a plurality of users or loads104(e.g., factories, homes, etc.) through an electrical distribution line106such as conventional electrical power lines.

Distribution line106has a plurality of fault protection devices, devices1,2,3and4placed at predetermined points along the line106. The depiction of the number of sources, users, lines and devices inFIG. 1is arbitrary and there may be many different configurations and virtually any number of each of these components in any given distribution system. Also depicted are a number of boundary protection devices including breaker108and fuses110.

FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment of a fault protection device200. A distribution line, such as line106, passes through a fault isolation operator, e.g., a switch204, which can open and close the distribution line106at this point to isolate a fault in the line from the source. In other embodiments, the fault isolation operator may be any suitable device or devices capable of performing power sensing, control or conditioning functions such as voltage regulation (voltage regulators), reactive power control (switched capacitor banks), fault sensing, etc. in conjunction with fault isolation. It will be appreciated that the device200may also be of a type for controlling two (dual), three, or more switches, with customer loads or alternate sources between the switches. In this case, the distribution line or lines106would pass through two or more switches204which can open and close independently under the control of the single device200. In this context, device200is a single device from the standpoint of communications, but is multiple devices from the standpoint of the power system and the control and fault protection algorithms. In this circumstance, the information flow is unchanged, but the communication step is simply bypassed.

A controller206controls the distribution switch204. The controller206includes a control computer or suitable processing device208, a display202, and an associated memory210. The memory210may store, among other data, the programming to control the device200, programming to determine configuration and performance data, the configuration data for the device, and a database of device records relating to other devices in the system.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that distribution switch204can have different operating capabilities which may enhance or detract from its ability to participate in circuit reconfiguration. For example, the lowest-cost switches may not be capable of interrupting high currents, or may not be outfitted with both voltage and current sensors. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the device200may be programmed not to open the switch under high interrupting currents (sectionalizing switch control), or alternatively may be programmed as a “circuit protective device” (recloser or breaker). When programmed as a protective device, the switch is controlled in accordance with operating parameters such as fault protection parameters. For example, the switch, if normally closed, may be opened under overcurrent conditions (fault current) to prevent fire or damage to the circuit or to customer equipment, and also for safety concerns.

The distribution switch204may also be a number of switches, independently operable on each of a plurality of phases of the power distribution system. Alternatively, a fault protection device200may be provided for each phase of the multi-phase power distribution system with their operation being coordinated. Operation of the fault protection device200and/or the distribution switch(s)204to provide single-phase or multiple-phase operation may be set within the controller as a user settable parameter or as a result of an operating logic for the device200. For example, the device200may be configured to provide on initial operation single-phase tripping of each faulted phase, e.g., one, two or more phases. Such operation isolates the fault on the single phase while at the same time preserving a level of service via the remaining, non-faulted phases which are not opened. A subsequent fault clearing operation on one or more phases may then trigger isolation of all phases to prevent single phasing of loads. One will appreciate that various strategies of operating on a single phase, multiple phases or all phases may be employed to provide effective fault isolation with minimal service disruption.

The control computer208is connected to an AC waveform processor212. The AC waveform processor212is connected through a field interface connector214to the distribution line106. This allows the processor to measure various parameters of the electricity on the distribution line106such as, voltage and current, digitally convert them, and send them to the control computer for processing, communications, or storage in memory.

The digital I/O interface216is connected to the control computer208, the switch204and the distribution line106. The digital I/O interface216allows the controller206to receive switch position sensing information and other inputs, and to output control outputs to the switch.

The communications device218is connected to the control computer208and allows it to communicate with other devices on the system through suitable communications channels. The communications device218can be connected to any communications network that is conveniently available and has the desired characteristics. For example, a Metricom Radio network may be used. An optional communications device220may be included in the device200. An example of such a secondary communication option may be a SCADA gateway. Power is supplied to the device200through a power supply/battery backup222. The battery can be charged from solar power, an AC potential transformer, or from power supplied through the voltage sensors.

Each of the devices200is connected to a suitable communications channel (not depicted). Any type of communications channel can be used. For example, the communications channel may be telephone, radio, the Internet, or fiber optic cable.

The fault operating parameters of the devices200may be set so that operation of each individual device200in accordance with the fault operating parameters coordinates with the other devices and boundary devices such as breakers that protect the distribution feeder(s) and fuses that protect load(s) that are tapped off of the feeder. That is, the fault operating characteristic of each of the devices200is based upon one or more fault protection parameters set within the device. The fault protection parameters may be selected in relationship to the other devices in the system, and particularly devices that do not have adjustable or settable fault protection characteristics, so that operation of the fault protection device coordinates with operation of the other devices to better facilitate fault isolation and service restoration. For example, the fault protection operating characteristics of the device200may include a time-current-characteristic (TCC) operating curve that is established at least in view of TCC curves associated with boundary devices within the system and potentially other fault protection devices within the systems.

FIG. 3illustrates exemplary TCC curves that may be used to establish the fault protection parameters and hence the fault operating characteristics of the device200.FIG. 3illustrates a TCC curve300for a substation breaker, such as breaker108shown inFIG. 1. The curve300illustrates three different characteristics of the breaker108. The curves300a,300band300cmake up the complete TCC300for the breaker.300ais the nominal response time of the breaker.300bis the maximum time to clear for the breaker.300c, is the minimum response of the breaker and is the maximum time limit that a downstream device can take to clear any current before the breaker operates. TCC302b, which takes into account tolerances of the current sensors, control, the fault-interrupter, and the load that may be tapped between the breaker and the fault-interrupter and a desired margin, is the maximum time to clear for the fault protection device.

To coordinate with the breaker, a fault protection device may have a TCC such as that illustrated by the TCC302depicted inFIG. 3. The curve302illustrates the nominal characteristic of the fault protection device302a, its maximum time to clear302band its minimum response,302c. The maximum time to clear302bmay be selected to be below the minimum response of upstream devices, such as the breaker, and as shown inFIG. 3the maximum time to clear302bis set below the minimum response300cof the breaker. The band between the minimum response302cand the maximum time to clear302bis a function of the operating characteristics of the fault protections devices, and may generally be made to be tighter than the upstream device by providing accurate sensing, electronic control and a fast interrupter.

In addition to coordination with upstream devices, the fault protection device may be made to coordinate with downstream devices, such as fuses. To coordinate with a downstream device, the minimum response of the fault protection device should be longer than the maximum clearing time of the downstream device.FIG. 3illustrates a TCC curve304for a fuse device having a maximum clearing characteristic illustrated by the curve304aand a minimum clearing characteristic illustrated by the curve304b. As can be seen fromFIG. 3, the minimum response302cof the fault protection device is longer than the maximum clearing time304aof the downstream device, in this example, a fuse.

It is possible to specify the TCC of a fault protection device as a function of the characteristics of the device and the devices with which it will coordinate. Exemplary device characteristics may include: curve type (e.g., inverse, very inverse, U/C1through5, etc.), time dial setting, minimum pickup current and coordination requirements. The coordination requirement may take the form of a coordination time interval (CTI) or device tolerances such as relay tolerance, current transformer (CT) tolerance and relay over-travel characterstics. Expressed as a function, the TCC may be stated as:

t=TD·[k(I/Ipu-1)a+c];(a)
where TD is the time-dial setting; Ipuis the minimum pickup current; and the constants k, α, and c determined by the specified relay curve.

The fault protection device TCC of a downstream device assumes the same shape (i.e., the constants, k, α, and c are the same). However, the pickup current and time-dial are reduced by a factor, to ensure coordination and shifted in time (down), to account for the clearing time of the device, margin, and any minimum or fixed tolerance. Thus the fault protection device TCC will have the form:

t=TD′·[k(I/I′pu-1)a+c]-TS.(b)
The constants k, α, and c are the same as root TCC set forth in equation (a). TD′, I′pu, & TS depend on the factors set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1ParameterDetermining factorsI′purelay/control current tolerance of the deviceand the upstream deviceCT/sensor tolerance of the device and theupstream deviceLoad current effectTD′relay/control time tolerance of the device andthe upstream deviceTSfixed or minimum time error of the device andthe upstream devicemaximum device interrupting timemargin

Alternatively, a fault protection device TCC may be specified as a set of data that define the nominal TCC curve. In this case, the fault-interrupter TCC is expressed as a corresponding data set from points of the breaker TCC modified by multiplying by a current & time factor and additionally subtracting a time-shift term. The factors and time-shift term may be determined as set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2ConstantDetermining itemsCurrent factorrelay/control current tolerance of the deviceand the upstream deviceCT/sensor tolerance of the device and theupstream deviceLoad current effectTime factorrelay/control time tolerance of the deviceand the upstream deviceTime termfixed or minimum time error of the deviceand the upstream devicemaximum device interrupting timemargin

Once a fault protection device curve is generated, its useability must be validated. With respect to load protection coordination, the relevant range of current is defined by the minimum operating current of the device and the maximum available fault current. For all currents in the relevant range, if the minimum operating time of the fault protection device is greater than the maximum clearing time of the load protection device, the fault protection device TCC is valid. Additionally, with respect to inrush current withstand capability, if the minimum operating time of the fault protection device at a specified multiple of the minimum operating current is less than a time value, the TCC is invalid. In connection with the fault protection device200, after determining the device TCC, the controller may check the validity of TCC and provide a warning or indication by communicating a message via the communication device218or provide a message in to the display202.

The method may be repeated to generate a TCC for each of several series fault protection devices.FIG. 4illustrates a series of fault protection devices, e.g., fault interrupters,406-410segmenting a feeder line400coupled to a source402via a source protection device, e.g., breaker404. Loads, e.g., load412protected by fuse414, may extend laterally from any of the segments.

FIG. 5, illustrates fault protection characteristic curves, i.e., the TCC of several of the fault protection devices disposed between a source protection device and a load protection device. As shown inFIG. 5, the TCC504,506and508for a plurality of fault protection devices is disposed between the breaker TCC500and the fuse TCC502. Provided any given fault protection device TCC resides between the upstream device TCC and the downstream device TCC, the fault protection device TCC is considered valid. At some point, however, the generated TCC for a fault protection device will no longer coordinate with the downstream fuses, and as illustrated inFIG. 5, the TCC508includes a portion that overlaps the fuse TCC502. Under this circumstance, several supplemental coordination methods may be utilized. This is described following the discussion of a method600(FIG. 6) to generally coordinate fault protection devices.

Given the system of fault protection devices406-410, each having suitable communication capability, such as that described above in connection with the device200, fault protection characteristics for each device may be coordinated between the fault protection devices and any boundary devices.FIG. 6illustrates in flow chart form a method600of coordinating fault protection devices. The method has application to systems with multiple sources and loads. Each device preferably includes a control program stored in its memory to allow it to operate to automatically generate fault protection characteristics.

For the method600, it is assumed the boundary devices, e.g., breakers, fuses, and the like, do not have communication capability and are unable to communicate to other devices in the system their respective fault protection characteristics, such as the their TCCs. Boundary fault protection characteristic information is therefore loaded into the communication capable fault protection devices. It may be sufficient to load the boundary fault protection characteristic data to a single communication capable fault protection device and the information propagated from that device, or the information may be loaded to each individual fault protection device. Moreover, non-communication capable devices are not limited to boundaries. In such a case, the fault protection characteristics of the non-communicating, non-boundary fault protection device is also loaded and propagated. This process is illustrated inFIG. 6at blocks604and606.

With the non-communicating fault protection device information loaded, fault protection characteristic propagation to all communication fault protection devices occurs each time a communicating fault protection device is installed, the system is reconfigured or a status of a fault protection device changes,608. Given a system configuration, all possible paths from sources to loads are considered as a default,610. Fewer than all possible paths may be considered, and if certain paths are to be excluded, such information may be retained within the fault protection devices and/or communicated to the fault protection devices.

Each active, communicating fault protection device propagates its own fault protection characteristics to each other communicating fault protection device. Fault protection devices with closed paths back to a source may be considered active. The active status of a fault protection device may therefore change based upon the opening or closing of another fault protection device, thus creating or breaking a path to a source for that fault protection device.

As noted above at608-612of the method600, propagation of fault protection characteristics occurs whenever a fault protection device is installed in the system, the system is reconfigured or a fault protection device changes it status. The propagation may occur by having a fault protection device send its fault protection characteristic information to the fault protection devices connected to it. When a fault protection device receives a fault protection characteristic it may generate a new fault protection characteristic based upon the received information,614and proposed the new fault protection parameters. Prior to proposing the new fault protection parameters, however, it may check to ensure that further propagation will not create a looped path, and during propagation the fault protection device may add its name to the path back to the source. Referring toFIG. 1, each fault protection parameter may carry a designation112that identifies the fault protection device, the directionality of the fault protection parameter, the source name, the number of devices in the path back to the source and the names of the devices in the path back to the source. After generating the new fault protection parameter, it then propagates the newly generated fault protection parameter to fault protection devices connected to it. It will also propagate its own close or open status.

All fault protection devices in a closed path to a source are considered active and activate an appropriate fault protection parameter,616. A fault protection device may have multiple paths to a source or to multiple sources. The fault protection device may determine a fault protection parameter for each possible path and for each possible direction of the path back to the source. Additionally, each fault protection device may have multiple terminals. Separate fault protection parameters may be established for each terminal of the fault protection device. Thus, each fault protection device may have more than one fault protection parameter associated with it based upon the number of paths and direction of paths back to sources as well as the number of connected terminals with paths back to sources. In implementing any one of the possible fault protection parameters, the fault protection device may implement the most onerous fault protection parameter, typically the fault protection characteristic providing the fastest fault protection response time.

The process of automatically updating fault protection device parameters repeats responsive to installation of new devices, changes in the system configuration, a change in the status of one or more fault protection devices, for example, as a result of a fault protection device operating to isolate a fault or to restore service,610. In this manner, the operation of the fault protection devices remain continuously coordinated.

The fault protection devices may include programming and implement functionality to allow a predicted status to be propagated just prior to the device changing to that status. For example, if the device is open and is about to close, it may propagate its closed status before closing thus causing a system-wide coordination of the fault protection devices prior to its actual closing. Furthermore, status of fault protection devices may periodically propagate their status, again causing a system-wide coordination update, thus correcting any errors.

FIG. 5illustrates how fault protection characteristics, i.e., TCCs of several fault protection devices may be precisely fit between the corresponding TCCs of a source device and a load device. However, the TCC508overlaps the load device TCC504, and thus does not provide the required coordination, and is invalid. In this instance, the device associated with the TCC508, e.g., with respect toFIG. 4the device410, may check the next preceding device, e.g, the device409associated with the curve506. Because the TCC506does coordinate, the TCC506may be adopted by the device410in place of the TCC508. While the device410is now coordinated with the rest of the system, it is no longer coordinated with the device409. However, additional capability may be provided to ensure coordination between the devices409and410using the same TCC506.

An approach to provide coordination between fault protection devices using the same or substantially similar TCCs is to use the communication capability of the fault protection devices. In one possible scheme, all fault protection devices that detect a fault signal the next upstream fault protection device. Referring again toFIG. 4, the devices409and410may share a TCC, e.g., TCC506, and both detect the fault416. The device410may signal the device409to delay it fault protection operation, which has the affect of shifting in time its TCC curve. Thus, coordination is provided between the device409and the device410because the device409implements its fault protection operation only after the device410operates. With the devices409and410coordinated, the device409and408may no longer be coordinated as the TCC of the device409is time-shifted toward that of the device408. Thus, the device409will signal the device408to delay, similarly shifting in time its TCC. Generally, a device that receives a delay command signals the next upstream device with a second delay command. In fact, first, second and up to “N” delay commands, were “N” is the number of devices sharing a TCC following a last unique TCC may be employed to ensure coordination back to the source402. As a result of the first, second, and/or N delay commands, only the device410operates to isolate the fault. As will be appreciated, the time of the communication of the delay command must be less than the minimum response time for the fault protection device to ensure the delay command(s) is received before the fault protection device trips. The minimum response of the shared TCC's must be greater than the time to communicate the delay command. In the example inFIG. 5, the time to communicate the delay command must be less than about 0.08 seconds. Alternately TCC506could be made to flatten out at a time greater than the time to communicate the delay command, if it were to be greater than 0.08 seconds.

As appreciated from the foregoing discussion, fault protection devices may be coordinated essentially by staggering the fault protection characteristics of the devices in a path from a source to a load such that the response time of the device closest so the fault will clear the fault faster than the response of any upstream device. Device coordination can be problematic as additional fault protection devices are added in series between a source and a load, but, as described above, the communication capability of the fault protection devices themselves is advantageously used to facilitate coordination between devices where coordination of a series devices results in two or more devices having the same fault protection characteristics. In an alternative approach, two or more devices may be configured to operate in tandem or as a team to provide the necessary coordination and hence the desired fault protection response. Using tandem or team operation allows series devices to provide the intended fault isolation and still achieve coordination with existing upstream circuit breakers or downstream fuses.

There are also occurrences on installed systems where series devices might miscoordinate for a number of reasons such as improper settings, tolerances on the fault relay, loss of communication signals, etc. As noted above, this may be addressed by having the fault protection devices periodically propagate their status and fault protection characteristics resulting in the automatic recoordination of the devices. The tandem or team operation of devices can also be evoked in these situations to improve overall system operation, again, by ensure isolation of only the faulted segment even when device miscoordination should exist.

Referring again toFIG. 4, each section of the feeder400has its own fault protection device, i.e., fault protection devices406-410. From each of these sections there may extend lateral loads that are protected by fuses, such as the load412protected by the fuse414extending from the section418. The load412/fuse414combination is exemplary, and while not depicted inFIG. 4, additional load/fuse combinations may extend from any or all of the other sections as may non-fuse protected loads. Furthermore, as described above, it may necessary that the fault protection devices409and410have the same fault response characteristics, e.g., to ensure coordination with downstream load protection devices.

The following described method allows the inclusion of multiple series fault protection devices with a predetermined and known operating sequence to isolate a single faulted section. The device410may be set to operate with the same fault protection characteristics, e.g., the same TCC, as the device409. Operating and reclosing logic may be applied by the fault protection devices409and410to ensure that only the proper device remains opens for the fault416.

A fault412in the section418between the device409and410would be seen by the device409and it would appropriately open. The device410would not respond since it did not see a fault, e.g., an over current. Should the fault412in the section418be a “temporary fault” that would be cleared by the initial operation of the device409, the device409could be set to reclose to thereby reenergize both sections418and420, providing the minimum outage time for the fault scenario. No special logic needs to be implemented in the devices409and410even though each may have the same fault protection parameters.

The fault416in the section420, as indicated inFIG. 4, may be addressed by having the fault protection devices409and410implement response logic. Several scenarios are possible. Note that even though both the fault protection devices409and410are set to operate on the same fault protection parameters, there are inherent tolerances in each of the devices such that for the same fault current, either device may operate before the other one, or both devices may operate essentially simultaneously. It is likely not possible to eliminate these inherent differences in the devices themselves, and the logic may be adapted to respond to these various scenarios.

The devices409and410detect the fault current, and the device410trips and clears the fault current before the device409trips. This is the desired mode of operation, and no further logic is needed. The device409would have knowledge of a downstream fault cleared by another protective device but does not need to take any further action.

The devices409and410each sense the fault current and essentially trip simultaneously to clear both sections418and420. Both devices409and410are set to reclose and test the circuit. The device410, however, saw an overcurrent and tripped the interrupter, but also saw a loss of voltage due to tripping of the device409. The device410may be configured to not attempt to reclose until voltage is restored on the source side. The device409would perform its reclosing operation and energize section418, which has not faulted and would restore voltage to the terminals of the device410. The device410, upon detecting voltage, may then reclose to test the circuit for a fault in the section420. Service is restored to the section420if the fault416is temporary, and therefore, there is no fault detected when the device410recloses. If, however, the fault416is persistent, the device410would interrupt the fault and continue with its test/reclose sequence. The device409does not operate during the test sequence for one of the following two reasons.1. When conducting the test sequence, the device410may use a “pinging” type test, such as described in the commonly assigned International Patent Application (PCT) Entitled “Fault Interrupting and Reclosing Device” Serial No. PCT/US2006/038472, filed Oct. 4, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. As only a momentary pulse of current is used to test the line sections, the device409would not “see” the test current; and therefore, would not timeout on its fault protection parameters. In this fashion, coordination would be achieved between the devices409and410while device410tests the segment420.2. If more conventional reclosing is used where the device410reenergizes the segment420to test with an extended fault current, the device409may be configured to shift to a slower fault protection parameter set given that the knowledge of tripping on a measured fault current and successfully closing to restore service to the segment418. The slower fault protection parameter set provides the coordination necessary between the devices409and410. For example, if both devices are set to a common TCC, the device409after clearing the initial fault and reclosing successfully, would shift the TCC in time a delay period equal to or greater than the reclose sequence assigned to the device410. In this way, the device409temporarily delays its response in order to achieve coordination for faults in the section420.3. Alternately, when reclosing, device410could adopt a faster TCC to avoid tripping device409.

The device409clears the fault416before the device410trips. The device410, however, will sense an overcurrent but prior to reaching its trip settings, the device410will see a loss of source voltage. Using this information, the device410may automatically open and go into an operating mode as described in Example 2 above. If necessary based upon the test procedure implemented by the device410, the device409would appropriately adjust its time fault protection response or not.

Overall, two fault protection devices can be set to operate as a team or in tandem to provide clearing of the appropriate faulted section even when the responses must be set to the same or nearly the same fault protection parameters in order to coordinate properly with upstream and/or downstream devices. This same operating scenario may be used in conditions where there is an unintended miscoordination, for example, the fault protection parameters on the device409are set incorrectly faster than those of the device410.

An additional operating consideration for fault protection devices and an advantage of the herein described fault protection systems is that they may be configured to provide fuse saving. That is, the fault protection device may be configured to operate to isolate a faulted segment before a line protecting fuse melts, i.e., the fault protection device does not operate in coordination with the fuse. The fault protection device may then operate in an automated manner to restore service or to lock-out to isolate the faulted segment until repairs can be affected should the fault be upstream of the fuse. However, for a sufficiently large fault or a persistent fault, operation of the fault protection device and potentially automated service restoration, which may use short periods of reenergization or line pinging, as described above, can cause service disruptions to loads that would otherwise be unaffected by the fault. Thus, the fault protection operating characteristic, while taking into account fuse saving, should also be made to reduce service disturbances to customers, and particularly those located between the fuse and the fault protection device.

While fuse saving device coordination as will be described is applicable to and may be adapted to any of the herein described embodiments,FIG. 7is a schematic of a power distribution system700including a power source702coupled to a distribution line704that may illustrate fuse saving with reduced service disruptions. The power source702may be protected by a suitable source protection device, e.g., circuit breakers and the like (not depicted inFIG. 7, but generally illustrated in the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1 and 4). The line may be segmented into a first segment710feeding loads716′ and a second segment712feeding loads716″ by a fault protection device714, with loads716″ in the second segment712further being protected by a fuse708. Similar in concept, as shown inFIG. 4, loads may extend laterally from the distribution line with such lateral loads being fuse protected, e.g., fuse414protecting lateral load416which are downstream of fault protection devices, e.g., devices406,407,408and409. The fault protection device714may be configured much like that described above in connection with the fault protection device200. Loads716′ extend from the first segment710and loads716″ extend from the second segment712. While shown as a single distribution line, one will appreciate that there is likely to be at least three lines associated with a three phase power distribution system each being configured as described in connection withFIG. 7. Furthermore, while the fuse708and the fault protection device714are shown as separate elements, the physical structures and/or the functionality may be combined, and furthermore, these devices may be combined with other equipment such as switches, segmenting devices and the like.

Typically, the fault protection device714will operate to isolate faults in the second segment712, and preferably before the fuse708melts persistently disrupting service to the second segment712. A fault in the second segment712may be transient, in which case the fault protection device may operate to isolate the fault temporarily and then to restore service. However, if the fault is sufficiently large, i.e., high current, or persistent, these efforts to restore service in the second segment712may result in melting of the fuse708creating a potentially persistent disruption to service on the second segment712. To reduce this possibility, the operating characteristics of the fault protection device714may be set in view of the operating, e.g., minimum melt characteristic, of the fuse708.

For example, the fuse708has a current-based melt characteristic while the fault protection device714has a fault protection characteristic, e.g., a fault current operating parameter. The fault protection characteristic may be determined based upon the current based melt characteristic of the fuse708such that the fault protection device714operates, even if capable of isolating a particular fault of higher current value, only if the fault current is within a determined current value range.

Thus, the current value range may be defined by a lower bound current value and an upper bound current value based upon the fuse melt current and/or the fuse minimum melt current (e.g., roughly the current that melts the fuse in about 4 cycles). The upper bound current value may be a current value that is less than a maximum operating current of the fault protection device. Alternatively, the upper bound current value may be a current value corresponding to a current above which the fault protection device is incapable of preventing melting of the fuse. The lower bound current value may be set to a current value that is approximately 150% of the fuse minimum melt current. Adjustment or correction of the current value range may be made for fault current asymmetry, e.g., based upon current fault reactance-resistance ratio (X/R). Additional considerations will become apparent from the following discussion.

The time-current operating characteristics (TCC) of the fault protection device714may be characterized according to the equations set out above. These equations may further be augmented to consider additional parameters such a minimum response cutoff current, maximum response cutoff current and minimum inverse response time providing a TCC model for the fuse708. The TCC parameters generated from modeling the fuse708may then be used to set the fault protection device714TCC.

Fuse melt characterization may be based on an adjusted subset of the fuse minimum melt data. The adjusted subset of the data may therefore be referred to as adjusted or intelligent fuse saving (IFS) fuse data. For the fault protection device, e.g., device714, fuse saving may be set to be active for fault currents between a minimum value and a maximum value defining the current value range, e.g., a modified minimum melt current of the fuse and a maximum current that the fault protection device can isolate before protected fuse melts in some number of cycles. For example, the modified minimum melt current may be set at approximately 150% of the rated minimum melt current, while the maximum current may be set at the current that melts the fuse in about 4 cycles. Thus, fuse data outside this range is irrelevant and can be ignored.

These data may be further adjusted to account for various factors such as preload adjustment, asymmetry and reactance-resistance ratio (X/R). To account for preload adjustment, a correction factor may be applied. For example, the melt time data may be multiplied by 75% to account for 25% preloading of the fuse. The fuse minimum melt current data may be divided by an asymmetry factor to allow the use of symmetrical current data to drive the fault protection device. This is done in lieu of a true RMS current that melts the fuse. The asymmetry factor may be the ratio of the asymmetrical fault current to the symmetrical RMS fault current. The asymmetry factor also depends on the X/R of the fault circuit. Taking into account several reasonable assumptions about feeder X R, source X/R and the available fault currents, and X/R approximation may be made as follows:

The asymmetry factor may then be determined as:

Asymfactor⁡(1rms,⁢t):=1+[1-e(-2)⁢ω·txr⁡(Irms)]⁢xr⁡(Irms)3(1+xr⁡(Irms)2)·ω·t
where Irmsis the symmetrical fault current and t is time to melt.

Preferably, characterizing data of various fuses devices may be collected and catalogued. This data may be stored in a user accessible database, or in an automated coordination system, as described above, the data may be stored or associated with one or more intelligent system devices, Thus, a user need only consider: the fuse characteristics based upon its type, manufacturer, speed and ampere rating, whether an optional higher minimum response cutoff current is to be used and an index/curve number that specifies an appropriate fault protection device TCC, e.g., a faster TCC, taking into account coordination with active upstream fault protection devices, as discussed above. Fuses may be characterized in accordance with the equation:

t⁡(Irms)=(A(IrmsImin-pickup)p-C+B)·TD+TS.
TD may be arbitrarily chosen to be 1. The parameters p, B, TS and C are defined for all conventional fuses having the common characteristics of constant I2*t to melt at high currents and no response below the minimum melt current, and p may be chosen to be 2, B and TS may be chosen to be 0 and C may be chosen to be 1, forcing Imin-pickupto be equal to the fuse minimum melt current. The parameters A and Imin-pickupdepending on the specific fuse element. The Imin-pickupcurrents may be calculated by solving the TCC equation for any two adjacent IFS fuse data points that are between 150% and 200% of the minimum fuse melt current. In this case, Imin-pickupmay be taken to be the smallest of the calculated currents. In many cases the Imin-pickupwill likely be close to the minimum melt current of the fuse, but this is not necessarily so. The parameter A is chosen by dividing the minimum I2*t (of all of the IFS fuse data points) by the Imin-pickup2. The resulting parameters yield a TCC that is below and to the left of the IFS fuse data points for the relevant range of currents.FIG. 8illustrates unadjusted fuse melt data802and corresponding IFS fuse data804as modified in accordance with the herein described embodiments for an S&C 100 KSR fuse. The trace806shows the TCC as noted moved below and to the left of the IFS fuse data points.

In addition to the fuse saving coordination with reduced service disruption as has been described, the additional herein described techniques of fault protection device coordination may be employed to coordinate N fault protection devices segmenting power distribution lines including fuses. Thus, fault protection devices may provide coordinated fault protection while also providing fuse saving and reducing service disruptions.

In view thereof, a method isolating a fault in a distribution line of a power distribution system may include determining a current value range related to melt characteristics of a fuse also disposed in the distribution line. A response, e.g., a TCC, of the fault protection device may then be set relative to the current value range. For example, the current value range may be bounded by a current value beyond which the fault protection device cannot prevent melting of the fuse, which may be a current value that is less than a maximum operating current of the fault protection device and a current value of approximately 150% of a fuse minimum melt current of the fuse. The current value range may be adjusted for current asymmetry and current fault reactance-resistance ratio (X/R).

A method of generating fuse saving fault protection device response curves in accordance with the herein and additional described embodiments may include starting with fuse data points for a given fuse type to be saved; optionally determining a best fit equation. Given the best fit equation, adjusting the best fit equation downward by the maximum error between the best fit curve and actual fuse data points; multiplying the time values by 0.75 to account for standard fuse derating factors and then adjusting the best fit curve down by a factor to account for the typical fault protection device clearing time, e.g., 0500 seconds to account for the 0.0333 seconds of a typical device. The best fit curve may be further adjusted down by a factor representing fixed time tolerances, e.g., 0.0167 seconds; shifting time values down by a factor, e.g., 4%, for time tolerance; and shifting current values left by a factor to account for current tolerance, e.g., 9%, to account for 4% current tolerance and 5% load tolerance between the fault protection device and the fuse. The minimum response time of the fault protection device may be approximately 0.0167 seconds, which is typical, which corresponds to a point where the IFS fuse data curve flattens out (seeFIG. 9). At any current value where the curve is flat, the required margins need not be maintained and the response curve for the fault protection device may be cutoff there.

Referring more particularly toFIG. 9andFIGS. 10-12, IFS TCC curves defining operation of the fault protection device are based upon fuse data points902. The outcome of the method is a TCC904that defines the operation of the fault protection device. As shown inFIG. 9, a low current cutoff906may be defined as 150% of the fuse's minimum melt current. A high current cutoff908may be defined where the required margins with the fuse data points902cannot be maintained.FIG. 10illustrates both the low current cutoff906and the high current cutoff908. Also shown inFIG. 10is the TCC910of the fault protection device prior to adjustment for fuse saving operation. It should be noted, that the fault protection device may be configured to operate under both the TCC904and the TCC910, for a particular set of operating conditions. In this regard, the fault protection device may be configured to operate with a hybrid curve (912,FIG. 11) having a first portion914for fuse saving operation and a second portion916for high current operation. Alternatively, the fault protection device may be configured to operate with a fuse saving TCC, e.g., TCC904, until a first fault operation. After an initial fault operation, the fault protection device may then employ its initial TCC910or the hybrid TCC912providing fault protection over the full range of potential overcurrent. One will appreciate that after an initial operation, a set number of operations or other criteria, the fault protection device may implement yet another TCC, e.g., a TCC918(FIG. 12) specified for service restoration/test sequence operation.

AsFIGS. 9 and 10illustrate, the fault protection device may be configured to implement a first TCC on an initial operation and a second TCC for subsequent operations. Additionally, as described, the fault protection device may employ one or several reclosing strategies, including pulse closing to test the line for a persistent fault prior. In one possible embodiment to implement fuse savings while also reducing service interruptions, an initial or “fast” response curve may be a fuse saving curve, as described. Following one or more unsuccessful reclose attempts indicative of a persistent fault or detection of a persistent fault via pulse closing line testing or the like, a second or “delayed” response curve may be implemented. The initial, fast curve causes the fault protection device to operate before a downline fuse melts or blows. For example, the fault protection device714may operate responsive to a fault in section712prior to the fuse708melting. Operation of the fault protection device714interrupts service to both loads716′ and716″ when only load716″ is subject to the fault. On a subsequent operation, or upon determination that the fault is persistent, or upon other operating condition, or by user setting, the fault protection device714may implement the second, delayed response curve for subsequent operation. The result is the fault protection device714does not operate before the fuse708blows/melts isolating the segment712. Service is restored to the load716′, which was not subject to the fault.

Numerous other multi-curve operating strategies can be envisioned. The fault protection device714may provide multiple testing and reclose attempt capability and different and employ one, two or more response curves selected for particular test/reclose attempts in accordance with a service restoration, system protection strategy. One such strategy may take into account whether the initial operation of the fault protection device714would satisfy operating curves other than a fast, fuse saving operating curve. If so, the device714may then implement pulse testing over conventional closing for subsequent operations to minimize closing into a faulted line. However, if the fault protection device714operates in response to a fault only on the fast, fuse saving curve, even though the fault protection device714may be capable of pulse testing, it may provide conventional reclosing using a delayed curve to illicit fuse melting fault isolation.

While the invention is described in terms of several preferred embodiments of circuit or fault interrupting devices coordinated to provide fuse saving, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to circuit interrupting and disconnect devices. The inventive concepts may be employed in connection with any number of devices including circuit breakers, reclosers, and the like.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, certain embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and the herein described embodiments. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms described, but to the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents defined by the appended claims.