Apparatus and method for sensing a leakage current between first and second locations in a single wire earth return circuit
US9759759B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R15/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for sensing a leakage current along a primary conductor are provided. A first fault detection module is deployed at a first location along the primary conductor and a second driver module is deployed at a second location along the conductor, where the conductor passes through current sensors at each of the modules. The modules are further linked by a safety cable, which also passes through the current sensors. The driver module drives a compensation current in the safety cable to drive the net current passing through the driver current sensor to zero. The fault sensing module senses the net current passing through its current sensor. When the sensed current deviates significantly from zero, the fault sensing module generates a leakage current indication signifying a potential ground fault between the two modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.