Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Stefan Gies

Reinhard Schmid

Markus Huber

A fault current detection system is provided. The detection system detects a fault current generated on a conductive path supplying power to an electric device and prevents the fault current from being supplied to the electric device. In particular, the detection system contains a detector, a switch, and a controller. The detector detects a fault current generated on the conductive path and outputs a corresponding detection signal. The controller inputs the detection signal and determines predetermined characteristics of the fault current based on said detection signal. Then, the controller identifies the fault current as a first type of fault current based on the predetermined characteristics and sets a trigger current to a first trigger current value when the fault current is identified as the first type of fault current. Also, the controller outputs a control signal to the switch to instruct the switch to isolate the electric device from the conductive network when the fault current is greater than the trigger current. In addition, a software program performed by the fault current detection system is also provided.

Software-controlled evaluation of fault currents for protection and monitoring systems

A fault or differential current detection system is provided. The detection system detects a fault or differential current generated on a conductive path supplying power to an electric device and prevents the fault or differential current from being supplied to the electric device. The detection system comprises a detector, a switch, and a controller. The detector detects a detected current generated on the conductive path and outputs a corresponding detection signal. The controller inputs the detection signal and determines if the detected current is greater than or equal to a first predetermined current threshold based on the detection signal. Then, the controller refrains from outputting a control signal to the switch for a predetermined delay period after the detected current becomes greater than or equal to the first predetermined current threshold. Then, the controller determines if the detected current is greater than or equal to a second predetermined current threshold when the predetermined delay period is over. After the detected current becomes greater than or equal to the second predetermined current threshold, the controller determines if the detected current is a fault or differential current. When the detected current is a fault or differential current, the controller outputs the control signal to the switch to instruct the switch to isolate the fault or differential current from the electric device. A software program executed by the controller is also provided.

Fault current and differential current detection system capable of preventing spurious triggering of a protection system due to transient interference pulses

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Wuppertal, Germany

Stefan Gies