System for detecting and limiting electrical ground faults within electrical devices
Abstract
An electrical ground fault detection and limitation system for employment with a nuclear reactor utilizing a liquid metal coolant. Elongate electromagnetic pumps submerged within the liquid metal coolant and electrical support equipment experiencing an insulation breakdown occasion the development of electrical ground fault current. Without some form of detection and control, these currents may build to damaging power levels to expose the pump drive components to liquid metal coolant such as sodium with resultant undesirable secondary effects. Such electrical ground fault currents are detected and controlled through the employment of an isolated power input to the pumps and with the use of a ground fault control conductor providing a direct return path from the affected components to the power source. By incorporating a resistance arrangement with the ground fault control conductor, the amount of fault current permitted to flow may be regulated to the extent that the reactor may remain in operation until maintenance may be performed, notwithstanding the existence of the fault. Monitors such as synchronous demodulators may be employed to identify and evaluate fault currents for each phase of a polyphase power, and control input to the submerged pump and associated support equipment.
- Inventors:
-
- Cupertino, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867498
- Patent Number(s):
- 4949362
- Assignee:
- General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01R - MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-88SF17467
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- detecting; limiting; electrical; ground; faults; devices; fault; detection; limitation; employment; nuclear; reactor; utilizing; liquid; metal; coolant; elongate; electromagnetic; pumps; submerged; support; equipment; experiencing; insulation; breakdown; occasion; current; form; control; currents; build; damaging; power; levels; expose; pump; drive; components; sodium; resultant; undesirable; secondary; effects; detected; controlled; isolated; input; conductor; providing; direct; return; path; affected; source; incorporating; resistance; arrangement; amount; permitted; flow; regulated; extent; remain; operation; maintenance; performed; notwithstanding; existence; monitors; synchronous; demodulators; employed; identify; evaluate; phase; polyphase; associated; electrical ground; return path; electromagnetic pump; power input; power levels; power level; power source; nuclear reactor; liquid metal; fault detection; fault current; ground fault; metal coolant; reactor utilizing; electrical device; submerged pump; electrical devices; phase power; control input; /376/361/
Citation Formats
Gaubatz, Donald C. System for detecting and limiting electrical ground faults within electrical devices. United States: N. p., 1990.
Web.
Gaubatz, Donald C. System for detecting and limiting electrical ground faults within electrical devices. United States.
Gaubatz, Donald C. Mon .
"System for detecting and limiting electrical ground faults within electrical devices". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867498.
@article{osti_867498,
title = {System for detecting and limiting electrical ground faults within electrical devices},
author = {Gaubatz, Donald C},
abstractNote = {An electrical ground fault detection and limitation system for employment with a nuclear reactor utilizing a liquid metal coolant. Elongate electromagnetic pumps submerged within the liquid metal coolant and electrical support equipment experiencing an insulation breakdown occasion the development of electrical ground fault current. Without some form of detection and control, these currents may build to damaging power levels to expose the pump drive components to liquid metal coolant such as sodium with resultant undesirable secondary effects. Such electrical ground fault currents are detected and controlled through the employment of an isolated power input to the pumps and with the use of a ground fault control conductor providing a direct return path from the affected components to the power source. By incorporating a resistance arrangement with the ground fault control conductor, the amount of fault current permitted to flow may be regulated to the extent that the reactor may remain in operation until maintenance may be performed, notwithstanding the existence of the fault. Monitors such as synchronous demodulators may be employed to identify and evaluate fault currents for each phase of a polyphase power, and control input to the submerged pump and associated support equipment.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}