Digital sensor and monitoring system for protection, monitoring and control of switchgear using Rogowski coil and capacitive voltage divider type device integrated in line or load of switchgear, main current path

Abstract

A device for protecting, controlling and monitoring an electrical medium range switching device, the device comprising the use of a Rogowski coil embedded within a bottle of the switching device, and the bottle surrounding the flow of voltage and current of a main power source, a capacitive or similar voltage divider also surrounding the main power source and extending around the bottle, an analog signal is provided from these devices to an integrated circuit for conversion into a digital signal, and then the digital signal is passed as an output to a digital collector in which the digital signal is optionally time-stamped and compared to other signals, standard values or own signals at different times.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Medium switchgear devices transmit and protect electrical power typically in the range of 1,001 to 40,000 volts and approximately 100 to 5,000 amperes. None of these ratings or values are within the reach of a human hand to touch and cause serious injury or even death. In addition, prior to the present invention, none of these devices could be directly monitored, protected or metered. There was no "direct" sensing of the actual current and / or voltage passing through the switchgear / circuit breaker. Indirect proportional measurements of current and voltage in medium switchgear devices have been provided to date in analog fashion using bulky and expensive conversion devices. The present invention takes the analog signal from newer low power sensing devices and immediately converts the analog signal to a digital signal through integrated circuits and then adds a time stamp so that this instantaneous time stamped value can be compared to other time stamped sample values or control values from the same sensor and / or other sensing signal locations at the same and different time instances. The desired end result is a lower cost, smaller volume and lower cost system for control, monitoring and protection of electrical equipment having switchgear properties.

[0002] Prior to the present invention, only "indirect" sensing allowed us to know if the circuit voltage, current (and other properties) were normal and if the circuit breaker or switchgear should remain closed (allowing current flow) or if there was now an abnormal condition and if the circuit breaker should immediately trip due to inappropriate voltage and / or current indicating an impending catastrophic situation. These existing devices are bulky, heavy, expensive and provide information in analog form. They are called current transformers. It would be highly desirable therefore to provide a light weight, relatively inexpensive and ultimately digital signal providing device for use in medium switchgear devices. And, if the device provided was "self-monitoring" then another significant advantage would be provided so that the owner / maintenance personnel of the switchgear could know if there was a fault, ground fault, short circuit or if the sensor / meter itself was in a fault mode and needed attention or replacement.

[0003] The latest technology used in the electrical switchgear industry for a long time is the use of current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (VTs interchangeably called "voltage" transformers or PTs "potential" transformers) and connecting them to the main power supply conductors and their surroundings in the switchgear. In this context, the main power supply electrical energy refers to the alternating current that provides the electrical energy that is delivered to the grid and transmitted through the grid. These transformer devices (CTs, VTs or PTs) can sense the condition of the main power supply conductors and emit a much lower but proportional analog signal to the main power supply value in order for the downstream metering, monitoring and protection relay devices to understand the electrical system condition and allow the circuit breakers of the main power supply to take appropriate action. These devices work well, but they are bulky, expensive, analog and do not have the inherent self-monitoring function provided by the present invention.

[0004] As an example - a 15,000 volt main power supply conductor connection, which cannot be safely touched directly by hand, can be scaled down (thus still in analog form) to a 120V signal (similar to the voltage of a household light bulb) using a voltage transformer, which can then enter a meter and provide a relatively accurate metering, even changing the voltage value of the system. A corresponding current transformer can monitor the main power supply current of thousands of amperes and produce a 5 amp analog signal on its scaled output, which can now be directly connected to a protection or metering type device at such a level. This metering or protection device can be connected to a controller, which will then determine whether action needs to be taken by the circuit breaker. This prior art and these transformer devices are robust, reliable and accurate. They exist in many places. However, as mentioned above, they are bulky, expensive, voluminous and provide scaled, analog output values. Moreover, these analog signals eventually need to be digitized by modern microprocessor-based relay, metering, monitoring and control devices, which will be input into these devices.

[0005] The aforementioned devices (CTs and VTs / PTs) represent the preferred technology for over a hundred years in the electrical energy industry. For the medium range type of switchgear applications, the purpose is to determine the real-time system voltage and current ratings in order to ensure the safe operation of the switchgear using real-time metering information, and the CTs and VTs are almost the only choice of scaled sensors today.

[0006] Standard metering, protection and control transformers, whether voltage or current type, are electromagnetic devices built around a magnetic core. The core has many copper coils and sufficient insulation to protect the surrounding "live equipment" from thousands of volts. In the medium voltage and current ranges mentioned above for switching equipment, each transformer device installed on one (1) of the three (3) phases of the system's voltage and its associated current conducting path can be the size of one or two shoe boxes and each weigh about twelve (12) to fifty (50) pounds or so. They are bulky, heavy and relatively expensive (compared to the present invention).

[0007] At least six (6) of these devices are required in a three phase system (one CT and one PT for each of the three (3) phases). This becomes very bulky, expensive and heavy. Furthermore - if the voltage across the open switching device interrupt gap needs to be known - (to synchronize both sides before closing the circuit breaker) - additional sets of voltage sensors (VT / PT) must be installed on the opposite side (load side) of the three (3) phases of the circuit breaker. Adding this voltage sensing across the open gap allows a comparison of the voltage on one side of the circuit breaker to the voltage on the other side of the circuit breaker open contact point. This enables knowing that the AC voltage on both sides of the circuit breaker are in phase synchronization. Ideally (and practically often mandatory) the circuit breaker can only be closed when both sides of the open circuit breaker are in phase synchronization with each other. Now we have nine (9) devices, each the size of one or two (2) shoe boxes and each weighing easily several tens of pounds, made of a lot of copper and expensive. Obviously, it is not desirable if it can be replaced by a simpler, cheaper, digital sensing and smaller volume device.

[0008] Currently, with voltages approaching 40,000 volts and currents approaching 5,000 amperes (or higher), the total volume of these nine (9) transformers can easily cover the top of a standard desk and their total weight in copper and steel can reach 300 pounds or more. This is neither compact, nor light, nor inexpensive. Moreover, the prior art system again provides analog readings. There is an urgent need for a compact, digital, light, high precision device for monitoring voltage and current in the above mentioned medium range of voltages and currents and if it can also monitor itself, it will surpass all existing industrial devices and practices. It is believed that the present invention is a significant step in this direction.

[0009] Using the devices described by the prior art is the status quo in the electrical industry - thus, every person who manufactures, sells and buys these medium voltage switchgear devices simply accepts the magnetic, iron core, proportional analog, transducer devices as a given and assumes the size, weight and money are the cost of doing business in the electrical related business of safe supply of medium voltage switchgear. Prior to the present invention, there was no alternative that met the requirements of digitization, light weight, extremely compact, accurate, self monitoring and cost effective. And such a system was not fully applied to medium voltage draw out switchgear.

[0010] CTs typically output a 1 or 5 amp nominally proportional (thus analog, not digital) signal and PTs typically output a 120 VAC nominally proportional analog signal. All modern protective relaying, metering and control devices that are connected to these proportional transducer signals have an initial input circuit board (IC) that processes these powerful analog signals and somehow digitizes them so that then a version of these now digitally "processed" analog signals can be passed to the next circuit board, the microprocessor portion of the relaying, metering and / or control device. Once processed, the "brain" of the analyzing device (microprocessor board) "outputs" or somehow "acts" in the way it was designed and programmed to provide. Examples of what such devices can do can be reading, recording, displaying and billing for energy usage, or tripping under overload conditions, or opening a valve when the voltage on a ramped up generator is appropriate. The number of applications in the industry is almost limitless.

[0011] In the past 25 to 50 years - there have been many advances in electrical transducer devices that are smaller, lighter, less costly than using iron core devices, but that can obtain acceptably accurate proportional signals compared to the main power source. However, each of these devices has shown its own serious deficiencies. Thus, no company has gotten much traction to create a sensor market for themselves that leads the industry share and keeps customers away from the well known traditional CT / VT approach. The present invention can overcome this deeply ingrained industry inertia. SUMMARY

[0012] The present invention employs two (2) well known and mature versions of these new sensors and provides the creative "turn" that enables them to replace the conventional methods very well. More specifically, the prior art uses bulky and heavy CT and VT / PT devices in switchgear. These heavy core devices are typically installed around the main line and / or load conductors in the case of CTs and directly or indirectly to the electrical "contact" conductors in the case of PTs. In contrast, the present invention will integrate and possibly mold the Rogowski coil and capacitor voltage divider (CVD) devices (the latter can employ one of several configurations including resistive and inductive voltage dividers) directly into the large electrical "plug" that exists within the drawer-type switchgear known as the Stationary Power Breaker Assembly (hereinafter SPDA) (commonly known as the "main bottle").

[0013] The present invention uses the Rogowski coil along with the use of a version of the capacitor voltage divider or similar device, then uses integrated circuits and data accumulators or collectors for the digitization of the signals and time stamping for comparison, not necessarily exclusively for medium size draw-in and draw-out switchgear, but the technology can have multiple other uses and can be used for other purposes as a stand-alone but connectable device, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0014] It is well known that the Rogowski coil is a simple "split ring" winding that extends in a loop to form a coil with multiple windings. Directly molding the Rogowski coil to the outside of each of the main bottle assemblies (also known as) in the switchgear, in place of the CT, will save tens of pounds of weight, bulk and expense. In addition to the Rogowski coil, according to the present invention, a voltage divider (one of its configurations) is also encapsulated within the molding of the main bottle assembly. In the present invention, the Rogowski coil and voltage divider are each / modeled into a single "stationary power break assembly" (aka break bottle and hereinafter SPDA) that will replace the former large, heavy, bulky and expensive current (CT) and voltage (PT / VT) devices that surround or are connected to the main power supply of the switchgear.

[0015] The Rogowski coil by design is an air core device. They do not require nor use the heavy core component of magnetic power conversion devices such as CTs and VTs. Therefore, by extension, they do not have the magnetic "saturation" problem that can cause magnetic power conversion devices to fail to operate properly in the event of excessive magnetic flux (i.e. short circuit). However, the Rogowski coil can only provide a very small voltage (millivolts) at its terminals of a very low power signal that will be directly proportional to the current strength of the primary current carried in the main power supply conductor passing through the center of the Rogowski coil. The output of the Rogowski coil is highly linear, which is a very desirable characteristic when trying to extract a proportional signal and use this lower proportional output value to represent and calculate the actual main power supply value. Highly linear means that the Rogowski encoder will provide a proportional signal over a very wide range of main power supply currents and will not suffer from the magnetic saturation defect that can occur with CTs due to the lack of sufficient core magnetic material at high short circuit conditions.

[0016] However, the Rogowski coil has the following disadvantageous characteristics / conditions

[0017] A - Has a very low value of proportional output voltage value (i.e. microvolts to millivolts) related to the main current. This will require very sensitive measuring equipment to read the output value of the Rogowski coil when the value of the main power supply current is low; and

[0018] B - The large output signal range requirement of the Rogowski coil mechanism (near zero microvolt output at light loads of the main power supply current circuit, to over a volt of Rogowski coil output signal at 150,000 amp peak in some short circuit conditions) is too broad to accurately sense at the low end (when accurate metering levels are required), and will not damage its own sensor at high fault current values (when accurate measurements are required to protect the relay action at high short circuit fault conditions) - and vice versa, the high end signal sensor (for protection purposes) will also not accurately sense the fairly low main power supply current values to meet the daily metering needs; and

[0019] C - The signal will be swamped.

[0020] More simply stated, without attaching a fairly expensive device to the output of a Rogowski coil, it is very difficult to use a Rogowski coil over its very wide range to be able to monitor all of its output from the low end of its expected output to the high end with reasonable accuracy and reliability. Therefore, the state of the art is to use a Rogowski coil with its output signal put into an "amplifier / converter" device to integrate and convert the very low voltage, low power signal, then step it back up to a 1 or 5 amp analog signal so that this converted, re-powered output signal can be directly input into a conventional, standard metering device. Since metering devices are not primarily concerned with short circuit conditions, this "processed" and re-powered Rogowski coil output creates a bit of complexity, but is reasonably cost effective and acceptable in applications where the user is simply trying to replace a CT with a low cost signal generator to work with its standard metering devices. Prior to the user / employer of the present invention, few manufacturers were willing to try to use these inputs for protection relaying and even fewer were willing to do so at the medium voltage level where short circuit current peaks can reach 150,000 amps or more. Failure of the protection scheme not only destroys the line, but can destroy the entire circuit.

[0021] The present invention circumvents these Rogowski coil shortcomings and / or uses a roundabout way to use these low energy sensor output devices.

[0022] The Rogowski coil works best when installed in such a way that it is almost perfectly concentric with the surrounding electrical energy conductor and in reasonably close proximity to the same. By physically molding this Rogowski coil into the insulator of the fixed primary disconnect assembly (SPDA) of an draw-out switch device, one can ensure that the Rogowski coil is securely installed, concentrically positioned well and locked into place in the closest proximity to the main conductor. And because the SPDA molding is designed to be particularly strong in mechanical and dielectric properties, it becomes the perfect location for the sensor location. In fact, the industry's current practice is to install its ferrous cored magnetic CT devices in the exact same physical location - around the same SPDA.

[0023] Similarly, the SPDA is typically constructed in such a way that it has some form of metal clamping hardware that secures the main power conductor within its dielectric molded center. A "PEM" type insert (or similar) is molded into the dielectric material that uses bolts to secure the SPDA to the back metal wall of the switch device cabinet or enclosure. As shown in Figure 1 .

[0024] According to design, these two (2) hardware points (the main power conductor securing hardware and the switchgear cabinet mounting hardware) are now either at full power system potential (the conductor hardware) or at system ground potential (the switchgear metal enclosure is always solidly grounded metal) by design. This is exactly what the other components of the invention require. The capacitive voltage divider (one of its various forms) requires a high input voltage source and a ground location to function properly. So, during the molding process of the SPDA of the invention - the capacitive voltage divider component of the device will have one of its terminals solidly connected to the metal retaining PEM hardware of the main power conductor and the other electrical terminal will be internally attached to one of the molded PEMS, ultimately bolted to the grounded metal back wall of the switchgear cabinet. The SPDA is bolted to the back wall of the switchgear enclosure - the voltage divider will electrically span the full voltage to the solid ground electrical distance exactly how the device is designed to function effectively. The capacitive voltage divider will have leads, one to power the device by direct connection to the main power source and the other to ground. This will provide an indication of the voltage being experienced by the device which will be "divided" by a series of capacitors. This output feeds back to the integrated circuit just like the voltage from the Rogowski coil feeds back to the integrated circuit. And, the signal is digitized from the integrated circuit and then sent to the data collector where it is time stamped and analyzed.

[0025] The capacitive voltage divider (hereafter generally referred to as "CVD" (or similar voltage dividing technology) and the Rogowski coil are two components; one electrically "touches" the main power conductor (the capacitive voltage divider) and is concentrically wrapped around (the Rogowski coil) the main power conductor of the switchgear in an insulating manner (by the main bottle molding) - molded within the SPDA (the main disconnect component - the main bottle).

[0026] It should be understood that the output signals of the Rogowski coil and the capacitive voltage divider are wired so that their respective outputs can be properly connected to another component of the invention, preferably also molded onto or near the SPDA component. The respective outputs of the Rogowski coil and the CVD are connected to a small adjacent integrated circuit (IC) board, which is preferably also molded in or near one of the cylindrical ends of the SPDA, i.e., on or near many different SPDAs or bottles. The two (2) signal output lines, one set from the Rogowski coil (providing a proportional measurement of the main power current) and one set from the CVD (providing a proportional measurement of the main power voltage) provide input "information" to the integrated circuit board, which is molded near, on or in the SPDA of the medium switchgear.

[0027] The integrated circuit board is essentially a high speed sampling circuit that will take a "snapshot" of the Rogowski coil and CVD output and immediately digitize its value. Each SPDA (master bottle) will have no less than one (1) low power sensor for current and no less than one (1) low power sensor for voltage that is field molded. The output of the low power sensors will be connected to a small, field molded integrated circuit board, preferably located on or near the SPDA. The integrated circuit board is designed to be an analog to digital (A to D) converter and have sufficient range and shielding to accept the bandwidth of the signals from the Rogowski coil and CVD under "normal" and "full short" conditions.

[0028] Due to the wide output range of the Rogowski coil proportional output, the A to D circuit will employ a sophisticated circuit scheme to protect itself while providing high accuracy readings from near zero amperes to the highest system short circuit level, typically near 200 kA IC peak. To accomplish this protection, the integrated circuit board will have many parallel channels that are nearly identical for routing the Rogowski coil signal readings within its boundaries. Each of the parallel circuits will be "timed" so that the output signal of the Rogowski coil can be split into a safe readable range. Thus, under severe overload and fault conditions, the Rogowski coil will not produce a high output to avoid damaging the A to D reader of the IC. Also, under light loads of the main power circuit, any very low value of the Rogowski coil output will not be too low to be read within the specified accuracy and output the accurate value digitized. By employing "adjustable" parallel circuits for accurate readings from very low to very high values of the Rogowski coil output, the Rogowski coil sensing technology of the present invention in this application environment will surpass the current state of the art. As the Rogowski coil output value rises from low levels to short circuit levels due to the main power current, the lower level parallel sensing circuits of the integrated circuit board providing the A to D will all shut down (or shunt) in a proper high speed manner to avoid damage to them. As the Rogowski coil signal output rises to levels above its input range, the next parallel channel will sense if the value is within its "sweet spot". Continuing in this manner, the A to D integrated circuit will select the "sweet" parallel path that can then be digitized, thus providing the most accurate output value. In effect, the preferred embodiment of the present invention places six properly "adjusted" parallel path digitizing integrated circuits on a common IC "chip" and slices the Rogowski coil raw output signal so that no matter which value of the signal is selected to be read, digitized and output - it is always done through the path or circuit that considers the monitored value to be comfortably within its sensing and reading range capabilities. The integrated circuit board will take the sensing information from its SPDA main power and immediately convert these proportional current and voltage values into a high speed, accurate, streamable, now digitized (digital) transmitted signal output.

[0029] The digitized output (digital data) of the integrated circuit (one located on each SPDA) is then directed to a controller, also known as a "data collector / collector accumulator" (hereinafter referred to as DC), which is preferably installed in a "bottled assembly" molded close to the six (6) SPDA's, which carries the combination of a Rogowski coil and a CVD - one SPDA for each line or load connection of a three (3) phase electrical system.

[0030] The data collector or collector accumulator can be programmed to "understand" various machine and / or computer languages or provided with a translation function so that the output of the time-stamped data can be used and transmitted downstream in multiple and various formats and languages. Once the data is transmitted to the "cloud", other uses of the data can be required and various analyses and uses can be done.

[0031] It should be understood that the Stationary Primary Disconnect Assembly (SPDA) is an existing standard assembly in medium voltage draw-out switchgear. They are made in a molded manner with insulating material and are very robust to house sections of the main conductor material inside the so-called "bottle". The molded piece is then bolted to the switchgear housing and becomes the female plug, enabling the draw-out circuit breaker to be connected. It is very similar to the insulated plug receptacle in one's home wall (but it is worth noting that it must be much larger and more robust so that it can mechanically and electrically carry 100 times (or more) the voltage and current that a residential wall outlet plug design carries, (i.e. 15,000 volts versus 120 volts, or 3,000 amperes versus 15 amperes)).

[0032] Since the Stationary Primary Bottle Assembly (SPDA) is already part of the medium voltage switchgear and is one of the currently universally accepted locations to install the existing large, heavy, bulky technology as a current transformer device, it becomes the ideal location and solution to remove the existing CT device and slightly modify the SPDA molded piece so that now two (2) small, lightweight, low power but accurate sensing devices can be molded inside or around it, which can (under the conditions explained below) replace the CT (current transformer) and the separately installed large, heavy VT (voltage transformer). The Rogowski coil and the capacitive voltage divider are smaller, lighter, cheaper and can be wound around and supported by the SPDA or bottle.

[0033] It should now be clearly noted that by the customer "anticipating" the existing form of switchgear device contains six (6) SPDA's anyway. Once the manufacturing techniques for embedding the Rogowski coil, CVD and A to D integrated circuit and data collector circuit are determined - the added cost is very small for the normal basic design of the SPDA's already well known. These modest additions now not only turn each SPDA into a huge power plug (which it already is) - but it is now a "smart" power plug that can produce an accurate, digital, high speed, exportable output of the signal values of the voltage and current present on its host conductor in near real time (within microseconds). This is the method to solve the real problem; the solution is less costly, smaller in size and weight and more efficient.

[0034] Due to the SPDA's of the prior art line voltage switchgear devices, by their nature, having a large bulk host conductor molded in their electrical insulating molding, and previously (and now) having current sensing devices installed, such as a CT mounted thereon, in the process of creating the SPDA, the Rogowski coil can replace the loop around installation around the bottle body for the host conductor to be installed directly into the SPDA molding. This is the perfect platform for such a device / installation. Also, since potential devices such as VT / PT or Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) need to "contact" the conductor and since the SPDA is by nature molded completely around a portion of the host conductor and "clamped" to a portion of the host conductor, it also provides the perfect location for the adjacent Rogowski coil installation and molding of a capacitive voltage divider (CVD) within the molded housing of the SPDA. One (1) SPDA is provided for each of the six (6) connection points of the draw out circuit breaker, i.e., one (1) SPDA can be provided for each phase on the line side and one (1) SPDA bottle for each phase on the load side. The metal cabinet or housing of the switchgear device is by design a grounded metal housing. Thus, by the required design standards, the SPDA bottle assembly is bolted to the housing, grounding the SPDA bottle (and by the extended CVD, one side to the conductor and the other side to the cabinet or ground), which can effectively operate once all in place. By connecting the far end of the capacitive voltage divider (CVD) circuit to the main power source, the present invention effectively creates a bridge from the main power source conductor voltage, i.e., the portion of the conductor molded within the main bottle assembly is grounded for the capacitive voltage divider (CVD) circuit. Both the Rogowski coil and the CVD circuit have lines that can be connected to a digitizing device (analog to digital, A to D, custom IC board), essentially a "sensor measurement" with a microchip circuit that is also specially designed to be molded onto the SPDA. Other locations can be suitable, but the manner in which the IC is placed near or on the SPDA is considered ideal to avoid any environmental stray electrical signals from interfering with the Rogowski coil and CVD low power signals.

[0035] With the two (or more) "smart" sensors molded into a stationary primary disconnect assembly - SPDA (aka stationary "bottle" assembly), proportional low power output signals can be generated from the output of these sensing devices. In the relatively high electric and magnetic flux medium voltage environment - as is well known, these signals have drawbacks when trying to run any distance within the general location of the point of signal generation. Typically, the power of the signals is so low that they cannot be transmitted very far and the low power output signals can easily be "swamped" by other stray magnetic flux generated signals so that the final "reading" device will not know if the received value is correct. Thus, the reading device can output a potentially false value and take the wrong action.

[0036] Further, the low value of these signals is that with very little equipment can even accept and / or use them as input values and typically to use a Rogowski coil signal - the manufacturer puts the signal into a device that is equivalent to an amplifier and converts and steps up the milliamp signal to a 5 amp output that is then fed back to the input of a standard 5 amp input metering device. Further, in using for potentially monitoring short circuit conditions, the range of output of a Rogowski coil needs to go from near zero (0) amps (i.e. very low current usage through a circuit breaker) to near 200,000 amps peak in very high fault current conditions. No normal, cost effective amplifier has such a range. The amplifier either is set to look for the high end prospect of a short circuit signal - meaning it will not accurately sense normal operating / low current values or - more commonly, the amplifier is set for "normal" operating conditions and must shut down when a short circuit occurs to protect itself from the dangerously high output values in the short term.

[0037] The present invention addresses the above. It should be noted that Rogowski coils have and continue to use their damage as a front line sensor to send signals to metering, relay and monitoring devices. As described herein, these previous and well intentioned attempts have flaws. Notable drawbacks include:

[0038] 1) Both Rogowski coils and capacitive (or similar) voltage dividers can output very low power signals, meaning that the actual proportional signals that are meant to be used as input to other metering, monitoring or relay protection devices can be swamped by the magnetic flux surrounding the primary circuit and any large surges produced by associated short circuits flowing through them. The industry currently attempts to circumvent this problem by turning the output signal into an effective amplifier. The output of the amplifier is then designed to be 1 amp or 5 amps and this signal is sent to the next metering, monitoring or protection device;

[0039] 2) The purpose of these front line sensor devices is to measure with reasonably good accuracy in "normal" conditions. These values range from near zero current (off state) to nominal current values (typically 100 to 3000 amps). Here we can already see that any "amplifier" such as the one mentioned above must have a wide range of acceptable input signal values so that it can produce a 1 or 5 amp output from the nominal millivolt output of the Rogowski coil while still being accurate to within 1 / 10 of the nominal value. This is not an easy task, especially when trying to be small, lightweight, and cost effective. These "amplifier" devices add volume, generate heat, and essentially greatly increase the auxiliary power required to amplify a very low power signal and in turn generate it as a 5 amp output signal that can then drive standard downstream devices such as common metering devices that receive the 5 amp signal as their standard.

[0040] 3) In addition to the difficulties of 2) above, a short circuit situation can / will have tens of thousands of short circuit amperes flowing in the main conductor of the main power supply. In high current density places (main urban centers or large oil and chemical plants), far beyond 50,000 amp symmetrical short circuit current values, and these symmetrical short circuit current values exceeding 150,000 amps are not uncommon. Such a huge main current will be converted into proportional voltages of the Rogowski coil output instead of millivolts. Any such attempt to input a signal as described herein with such a mutation in the range value into an amplifier can / will destroy the input of the amplifier and if allowed to pass through can damage the output circuit or severely "clip" the output signal and not be able to pass or preserve the fault current record for evaluation. It can be imagined as grabbing the volume knob on the power amplifier of a high-quality stereo system while playing a song and turning the volume to maximum as fast as possible. It is likely that the speakers will burn out - and the same amplifier's output circuit can also cause a lot of damage.

[0041] 4) The integrated electronic assembly of the invention (called the omnidirectional sensor IC) which is expected to be twice the size of an ice cube will be mounted (molded) on the outer peripheral side of the fixed main disconnect bottle assembly and will be directly connected to the wiring connections of the internally molded Rogowski coil and CVD output devices. When the front end of the IC receives signals from these two (2) low power devices - then it will relay the Rogowski coil signal to a series of parallel (almost identical) sampling circuit groups.

[0042] One of the parallel groups of sampling circuits will "time" for the range of input values. As a (unique) example of guidance, the configuration of the sensing groups can be dropped along the range of the sampling circuits. Group #1 will be used for currents in the range of 0 to 500 amps; Group #2 for 400 to 2000 amps; Group #3 for 1600 to 9,000 amps, Group #4 for 8,000 to 40,000 amps, and Group #5 for 32,000 to 160,000 amps. Thus, each group can very accurately handle a range of about five times its lower limit to its upper limit. And, each group has a certain range to sample signals and amps that are in close proximity to its full range. By design, this provides excellent accuracy and great safety margins. Each group range overlaps the previous range in sequence, so that the entire device can accurately sense currents from near zero to 150,000 peak amps (or more) with extremely high accuracy and without clipping of the output signal. Each range will be protected on the high end so that it will shut down immediately before any damage occurs, and only the next higher parallel sensing channel is allowed to monitor, read, and report the input signal value to the data collector or collector accumulator.

[0043] Only the particular parallel path channel that finds the input signal value in its "sweet spot," for example, in its range, will be the channel that outputs data from the SPDA (to the data collector or D.C.). The digital signal sensing & reporting described herein is pre-calibrated at manufacture, very accurate, stable, and inexpensive (compared to methods that currently provide scaled analog output values). It is trivial and commonplace for today's ICs to protect them from fast rising surges with faster acting surge suppression techniques. Today's appropriately specified "off the shelf" signal processing IC chips all have such protection standards. Furthermore, it is commonplace today with design capabilities to package a dozen such parallel channels into an IC and into an ice-cube size footprint. Each channel on each IC on each SPDA will be adjusted and calibrated at manufacture according to its pre-specified range. The output of each SPDA will be digitized, high speed, accurate over a wide range, and does not require amplification. This is also highly desirable.

[0044] Re-amplification of the Rogowski coil signal is required, which is another major limitation and disadvantage of the Rogowski coil mechanism approach used by the prior art. However, the IC output of the SPDA is inherently digitized, self-monitored, and transmitted to any third party relay, meter, or control system that wants the flow data of the omni-directional sensor. TMThe values that are digitized (directly from the IC) will be transmitted using a well-established open protocol format (such as IEC61850 or similar). Even at low power, the digitized signals transmitted will not be "swamped" by the analog medium voltage flux that is generated locally by the general switching equipment system. The direct placement of the integrated electronic sensing circuit mechanism on the SPDA (possibly requiring electrical shielding) will ensure that the low power signals from the IC's Rogowski coil and CVD devices that are directly (and at very short distances) reaching the SPDA are not compromised. And the digitized output from the IC ensures that the digital output signals are clear, stable and digitally accurate for all subsequent intended uses, as described below.

[0045] The raw sampled values are collected at microsecond speeds, meaning that many samples are collected within the time frame of a quarter cycle of the electronic sinusoidal wave at (50 or) 60Hz (i.e., within the 1 / 4 cycle of 60Hz (approximately 16.67 milliseconds) of approximately 4.167 milliseconds). Each rolling time slice is extremely fast, accurate and informative to acquire and output. That is, it includes all of the fundamental and harmonic data information that can be passed directly from the IC mechanism or filtered and "processed" to some degree on board as needed. Nothing is particularly specified to the quarter cycle time frame; it is simply stated herein because most microprocessor relays today require a long time to determine if a fault (short circuit) has occurred. Once the protective relay makes such a determination - then it sends the "determination" to the trip coil of the associated circuit breaker via dry output contacts. Thus, the present invention provides many samples to accurately ensure that the "circuit breaker trip" determination is made based on reliable input information from the components and using omnidirectional sensors TM The device performs.

[0046] The IC structure of the SPDA includes standard plug jack connectors (such as RJ45, Ethernet or similar connectors). These connectors and similar connections are currently used on router devices such as those of Cisco in San Jose, California, and can be used as devices for providing Power over Ethernet (POE) devices. This structure will allow the IC to be quickly and reliably connected to a data collector / collector accumulator or data accumulator device as described below. The jack connector will provide control power to the IC from the data collector (accumulator) and will transmit digitized signals from the IC back to the data collector / accumulator (D.C.) device.

[0047] The above summary describes a very "space" friendly way to extract high precision, high integrity, high sample rate values of current and voltage samples from a medium voltage draw-out switchgear enclosure design. Now, the group of six (6) stream data are digitized, high speed and accurate. However, they are not as useful by themselves as one would expect. In order to convert the data stream into usable information - the stream values are connected from the integrated circuit to a data collector (D.C. or aka collector accumulator) and processed therein. The invention can even anticipate to detect broken circuit breaker push rods.

[0048] Data collector / collector accumulator Apparatus

[0049] It can be appreciated that the digital samples are simply raw numbers. These individual values are like individual pieces of a puzzle that are scattered across a large table. They are only valuable when pieced together into a specifically fitting and ordered sequence. Therefore, the primary purpose of the data collector / collector accumulator (DC) is to reassemble, time stamp, and analyze as needed, both coarsely and in detail, the six (6) digitized current and voltage samples from each stationary primary bottle assembly (SPDA) that are provided from the signals collected by the integrated circuit from the multiple Rogowski coils and capacitor voltage dividers, and synchronize them with each other. Synchronization is the default byproduct of the DC simultaneously "reading" or "snapshotting" the six (6) inputs. The output sine waves allow the DC to create synchronized three-phase line and load output data streams that can be both fundamental frequency and rich in harmonics (i.e. unfiltered) at the same time. The onboard high speed clock signal will allow the DC to receive the six (6) SPDA IC signals and add a time stamp to their digitized values before sending the raw, integrated, and mathematically compared signals for further processing. Each digital sample and its five (5) corresponding samples will have a common clock value. The reconstruction, comparison, and analysis (downstream) of the samples returning the sine waves of the six (6) voltages and the sine waves of the six (6) currents can easily achieve synchronized overlap to have the "puzzle" pieces combined together in microsecond alignment. It is contemplated that subsequent iterations of the DC will add an industry-recognized universally clocked input. In this way, further microsecond alignment can be superimposed to identify global transients. The data collector or data accumulator can import a clock synchronization, such as a GPS, whose own oscillation run time is within sub-microseconds. It can time the synchronized frequency to below 1 / 100 Hz.

[0050] It should be appreciated that time stamping is a known current need. The actual time stamping can be done by the DC as it is simultaneously sampling and / or the DC can send a calibration pulse to all of the SPDA ICs and then the SPDA ICs can simply report their most recent sensed values with the time stamp already embedded in the sampled values.

[0051] The DC will then review the streaming, time stamped values and perform certain integration and comparison mathematical processes. The DC will be able to compare line and load current and voltage values for each phase and thereby be able to verify what is being input - what is being output, i.e., it is an "inherent" function of the invention that inherently, automatically provides 100% self-check and self-calibration functions. The DC will be able to compare line and load phase angles and provide watchdog permission to allow (or prevent) access to the synchronized (or non-synchronized) set of system conditions. The DC will be able to automatically monitor frequency (by counting zero-crossings of the digitally streaming data values) and be able to analyze, verify and confirm phase angles between A-B and C phases in near continuous real-time. The DC will be able to automatically provide a signal rich smorgasbord of instantaneous system conditions to the next downstream mechanism (whether protection, metering or control) that can be stripped down and provide only the system base values if desired, or the full harmonic rich content and alarm information (digital and dry contacts) if programmed preset values are reached or exceeded.

[0052] The Data Collector (DC) will be customized so that it outputs its now mathematically processed values so that they can be input into any third party manufactured supplier's relays, meters and control devices that currently use standard CT and PT and want to provide an interface plug to directly into their processor boards and bypass the third party device's initial analog input boards. This is also a perceived advantage. The OmniSensor™ will be agnostic like the current CT and PT. As long as the third party suppliers are willing to allow this method of source signal input into their devices, they will be able to provide fully functional protection, metering, monitoring / control systems with a small fraction of the weight, cost and bulk and current state of the art CT / VT sensor input related.

[0053] The Data Collector - Collector Accumulator (DC or AD) device will process (integrate, calculate and compare) the various raw digital data samples to create a useful signal stream that can be passed through the OmniSensor™ NORAAD (native on-board relays and management mechanisms) or any other third party modern electronic metering, relaying or control mechanism that wants to accept the OmniSensor™ digital data stream format. TM Third party modern electronic metering, relaying or control mechanisms that use the digital data stream format. The OmniSensor™ design is intended to use one of the more standard open source formats in the power industry (such as 61850) so that the OmniSensor™ system can over time become an open source industry standard component to replace the current CT and PT mechanisms used for metering, monitoring and control. In fact, it would be very beneficial to provide the OmniSensor™ so that third parties can calibrate and program the output themselves for more seamless and accurate operation with their own specific microprocessor devices.

[0054] Downstream NORAAD devices (whether omni-directional sensor series products, or any third party relay, meter or control device) can parse the information and perform any type of mathematical operation on the signal as needed. However, the initial version of DC will (can) have the ability to determine a short built into its processor. This will be the fastest method of protecting the associated electrical system, circuit and machinery. When used with NORAAD devices, the "trip" signal can be set to go directly into the circuit breaker (through a built-in output) contact or into the NORAAD for verification, discrimination and action as determined by the user. As the DC iterates forward, more functionality of the NORAAD can be pushed back into the DC.

[0055] The inherent line / load balancing self-verification function ensures that what goes in must come out (or if not, there is a ground fault). This self-monitoring function is also considered of great value. Voltage sensing will enable under / over voltage protection and simultaneous shutdown functionality. Under / over frequency as a determined value or rate is a value that downstream devices can monitor, report and act upon. Timed over current protection can easily be placed in the DC, followed by directional over current protection.

[0056] The SPDAIC will transmit a high speed, accurate digital signal to the data collector / accumulator which will read six (6) samples of data at the same time and then analyze them simultaneously. Using a Rogowski coil, a Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) and a board mounted SPDA IC (integrated circuit) will transform the main opening of a draw out switch device into a "smart" opening device, now replacing all of the prior art's large, bulky, heavy, expensive analog signal generating devices. Therefore, by using a simple and lightweight Rogowski coil and Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) (molded together) and an integrated circuit, then to a data collector, all housed or placed inside or to the switch device (on the SPDA), a great amount of cost, weight and money can be saved to replace the currently used heavy, bulky and expensive copper and iron core transformers.

[0057] The present invention also has a self-monitoring function in that whatever current goes into the Rogowski coil of the line side SPDA assembly must of course come out of the SPDA on the load side of the same phase (the value of the current can be simply compared). If a difference between these two data points is detected at the same time or approximately the same time, then either there is a loss of current somewhere due to a ground fault situation or the main power supply sensing device (one of the two Rogowski coils) of the SPDA itself has failed. Either way, an alarm (either digital contact or dry contact can be used, or both can be used simultaneously) will be sent to notify the operator and maintenance personnel of the instrument. This self-monitoring function provides a continuous long term maintenance cost savings stream as well as a very important reliability self-verification function that is not normally available as part of the prior art devices.

[0058] Moreover, the present invention, through the simple use of a Rogowski coil and a Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD), molded together and around the conductor in the switchgear device, each connected to an integrated circuit, will result in the use of an analog signal converted into digital form, which is more useful than the analog and amplified signal from the larger, bulkier, heavier, more expensive devices in the prior art. It is anticipated that the present invention will first find its application in the inventor's assignee's own circuit breaker / switchgear product line. In this manner it can address any software or hardware application "defects" in the specific application environment method. Once proven viable (and indeed desirable) - the present invention will be able to be offered in countless independent formats to the various application, device supplier and end user (electric power) industries. As product acceptance and volume increase - costs will naturally decrease and the product will ultimately find itself suitable for installation on low voltage switchgear and similar electric power devices requiring CT / VT sensing devices, with a price point lower than medium voltage devices.

[0059] By using a Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) - available in multiple configurations, and a Rogowski coil, packaged together in an epoxy (or similar) molded piece, the molded piece surrounding the "bottle" of a medium voltage switchgear device (in this initial case - manufactured exclusively for the Citadel circuit breaker and switchgear and produced and sold by National Switchgear of Middlebury, Connecticut), the SPDA (main "bottle") itself can become a proportional signal generator. Currently, the state of the art in the industry uses said fixed, primary, surrounding "bottle" assembly as the mounting location for a large, heavy "toroidal" core CT around the conductor in the switchgear device to perform current sensing of the specific electrical node of that conductor. The present invention disclosed herein is considered to be a significant improvement in volume, weight, cost and other factors.

[0060] A Data Collector (DC) (aka Data Accumulator) will be available to express multiple languages (formats). As such, it will be able to be packaged with any third party relay, meter or control device where the third party vendor wants their microprocessor input format to be compatible with the currently called Omni-Sensor TMaccurately, at high speed, and streaming data output coordination. This low power analog arrangement of the Rogowski coil and CVD sensing devices is not sufficient to complete the task. Since these low power analog output signals are very small - they would be swamped by stray magnetic flux from the surrounding medium voltage environment, so these scaled signals would not reliably reach the inputs of the metering and relay devices, even if they did reach the intended input location, nor would they be reliably trustworthy and useful. Additionally, the levels of these signals are too low to be used as drive signals for the protection, metering, monitoring, or control devices, which typically employ one (1) or five (5) amp CT inputs and 120 VAC PT inputs. The Rogowski coil outputs are measured in millivolts and the CVD device outputs are measured in single digit volts.

[0061] The present invention, however, shows that it is possible to directly package (mold) microcircuitry (ultimately "custom integrated chips") on each of the six stationary primary disconnect assemblies (SPDA or bottle) of a draw-out medium voltage switchgear device. The bottle will have the molded Rogowski coil and capacitor voltage divider on its outer cylindrical wall, and in close proximity to the two (or more, as needed) low power sensing devices - i.e. the Rogowski coil and capacitor voltage divider, an IC microcircuit will be placed, to convert the low signals to digital signals, which will then be directed to the same data collector for time stamping and analysis. This very close, molded proximity of the IC microcircuitry to the low output signal devices, and any additional electrical protection signal shielding, can easily be molded into the package of the SPDA, so that it will easily allow these low level signals to reliably make their way to the microcircuitry ("integrated chip"). The microcircuitry can sample (using state-of-the-art circuitry that is currently very low cost) tens to hundreds of samples per cycle of the low power output current and voltage signals. Such a sampling rate will yield outstanding resolution and accuracy for analog signal reproduction emulation. With this method of signal acquisition, any protection, metering, monitoring, control, harmonic content, etc. method calculations will meet or exceed the current industry standard expectations for levels of accuracy and speed of operation for almost any precision.

[0062] Once into the IC microcircuit ("chip") - the chip will sample and digitize these otherwise very low power Rogowski coils and CVD analog values. The result will be a stream of secure digital values (i.e. a real-time current and voltage value stream output directly from the microcircuit). All digitized signals are pre-calibrated during manufacturing, so within any line-to-load pair, the values are within one percent of the voltage / current sampling range of existing sensing equipment. This digitized output is now no longer susceptible to signal swamping and loss of information that can occur with the original low power equipment's analog output. These digitized stream signals also do not require analog amplification (as is the case with current low signal output equipment) in order to be able to enter the input side of the relevant industry collector / integrator or "brain", i.e. standard metering and / or relay protection equipment, which are currently designed to take one (1) or five (5) amp inputs from current transformers and 120 VAC nominal signals from voltage transformers.

[0063] The problem of low power analog signal amplification is eliminated by the next step of the invention herein. As mentioned above, these low power sensing / digitizing entities are referred to as the assignee's "Omnisense TM ". The next step of the invention is to transmit the high precision real-time voltage and current digitized stream signals of the "Omnisense" directly to (and in close proximity to) a multi-channel conversion platform (data collector or collector accumulator). This will convert the digital stream values into most of the languages (protocols) already used internally by today's protection, metering, control and communication equipment. This conversion platform can initially accommodate up to six (6) Omnisense TM signal inputs and eventually expand to twelve (12) digital signal inputs. The platform will simultaneously "read and store" these digitized signals, i.e. voltage and current stream values, of each instance and will add system synchronized timing values, so that now each digital output sample signal from all six (6) SPDA points (consisting of three (3) phase lines and three (3) phase loads, current and voltage) can now be in agreement with each other - (i.e. - the system internally creates its own three (3) phase clock synchronization for each recorded reading). (The reason for twelve (12) inputs instead of six (6) is that each SPDA module "may" include, but is not limited to: 100% dual backup for higher reliability, automatic switching for failed Rogowski coils, ease of maintenance, and options for varying inductive range in the system load circuit, or alternatively, a narrower band for high precision readings for revenue metering).

[0064] This also seems to be a good distinguishing feature or characteristic in the early adoption phase. In this way, the system can later be used to substantially improve low-end accuracy or "unclipped" high-end fault values. The additional material cost of providing multiple Rogowski coils, capacitive voltage dividers, and ICs is trivial compared to the reliability and enhanced self-monitoring value of the system. And, because no matter how much current flows in - it must flow out (or there is a problem or fault) - the two (2) series line / load SPDA bottles for each phase will act as calibrators and verifiers for each phase against its "other" same phase. The present invention, called "OmniSensor™" - when initially manufactured at the factory - they will be bench tested and pre-calibrated so as to set each other's errors within a 1% fraction of each other.

[0065] If they drift from each other in their mutual readings (within the accuracy range) - either a ground fault is siphoning off "leakage" current or one of the primary bottle systems, the OmniSensor TM .

[0066] From the data collector (DC or collector accumulator platform) - the properly protocolled Ethernet signal will appear and can be directly plugged into the digital input layer of most modern microprocessor protection, metering, and control devices (collectors, integrators, or "processors"). Essentially the D.C. output can now circumvent the "processed" signal requirements of the current state-of-the-art CT / VT / PT transformer outputs and the initial input board layer of protection, metering, and control devices. This cost savings (elimination of the initial input board of all analytical devices (i.e. relays, meters, and controllers) can save a great deal of cost to the manufacturers and / or purchasers of these devices which will now "plug-in" the OmniSensor TM instead of traditional CT / VT.

[0067] As all of these manufacturers will see the inherent advantages of this input signal generation technique - they will largely make the necessary adjustments to seamlessly cooperate with the OmniSensor TM system (i.e. add a plug-in to directly input the flow data to their processor board). The initial OmniSensor TM system will eventually provide the industry with its own NOORAD "box" to provide the protection, metering, and control functions required herein and the upstream power will control the power sent to the multi-channel conversion platform and individual sensors. As the industry gradually moves away from the traditional CT / VT transformer generated proportional system signals - all relay, meter, and controller manufacturers will need to appropriately modify their own devices to work in the new digital environment.

[0068] Once this method is accepted - every relay and metering company in the industry can make it a standard to replace the front panel with input jacks to receive the digital signals of the Omnidirectional Sensor™ instead of the dozens of pounds to hundreds of pounds of analog signals of the CT and VT / PT. The data collector will export the synchronized digitized values in such a way and format to match the primary "language" adopted by "second" (secondary) panels (microprocessor panels) of all existing metering and relay protection equipment. Whether they adopt a stream of digital sequences, 61850 format or any other data stream protocol - the data collector can be programmed and provide its data stream output to match the microprocessor input requirements of the most prominent industry standard driven electronic metering and relay equipment. In other words - as CTs and PTs become known and used, the Omnidirectional Sensor™ system of the present invention is expected to become ubiquitous through every manufacturer of such equipment.

[0069] With two (or more) "smart" sensors (Rogowski coils and capacitive voltage dividers) molded into the stationary primary disconnect assembly SPDA (also known as the stationary "bottle" assembly), low power output signals can be generated from the output of these sensors. In environments where the electric and magnetic fluxes are relatively high, these signals have well known shortcomings, especially when trying to run them at any distance within the general location of the point of signal generation. Basically, 1 - the signal power is too low for them to be transmitted too far; 2 - the signal can easily be swamped by other stray magnetic flux generated signals, so that the final "reading" device does not know which of the two or more values received is the correct one. As a result, the device will output a potentially erroneous value and action. Additionally, 3 - the values of these signals are so low that very few devices can even accept or use them as input values. Furthermore, 4 - usually to use the Rogowski coil signal, the manufacturer puts the signal into a device that is equivalent to an amplifier and converts the milliamp signal to a 5 amp output that is then fed back into the input of the standard metering equipment. Thus, the range of the output of the Rogowski coil needs to go from near zero (0) amps (i.e. very low usage of current through the breaker) to near 200,000 amps peak in very high fault current conditions when used to potentially monitor for short circuit conditions. No amplifier has such a range. It either is set to look for the high end prospect of a short circuit signal - which means it will not accurately sense normal operating current values, or - more commonly, the amplifier is set for "normal" operating conditions and must shut down to protect itself at the short term dangerously high output values when a short circuit is present. The present invention takes all of the above into account.

[0070] By connecting the sensor output directly to a small microchip digitizing circuit board device that will be molded directly to the outer perimeter portion of the main bottle assembly and protected with a small amount of electrical shielding, the low power output levels will not be so low as to be unacceptably accurate for the microcircuit to sample and read accurately. Because this microcircuit is highly flexible - the input to the digitizing sensor will go into a series of (up to a dozen as needed) parallel paths. Each path is identical to the others except that its upper range will be shunted to ground to protect the circuit from the high value input of the sensor. This acts like a mechanical sorter on a conveyor belt, for example, sending small chicken eggs in one direction, medium chicken eggs in a second direction, and large chicken eggs in a third direction. By splitting the Rogowski coil signal into multiple specific ranges - all current values from zero to 200,000 can be sampled, sensed, digitized and exported as a fully digitized value. Each of the parallel paths reads from its own low end to high end. If the signal is above its high end - the path is closed to avoid damage and the higher subsequent path takes over. This process continues until the signal falls within the path with the best ability to read and accurately report the value. The output value is exported in a digitized manner with extremely high sampling rate and accuracy. And because the output is digitized, it is no longer subject to the effects of a stray analog signal swamping it.

[0071] It should be noted that there will be industry popular connectors located on the digitizing circuit board that can quickly connect from the now smart bottle assembly to a data collector / data accumulator (DC) assembly. Such connectors can be copper based such as a telephone or Ethernet jack or like fiber optic connectors. Future ease of use and cost technology practices will dictate these choices of adoption of the invention described herein.

[0072] Smart Bottle - is the combination of two or more (at least one in a Rogowski coil and at least one in a form of a capacitive (or similar) voltage divider) molded around the SPDA as a low power current and voltage sensing device coupled with a custom (analog to digital) digitizing integrated circuit. The digital signal is then output to a data collector. Thus, the sensing signal will convert the fixed main disconnect assembly (i.e. large heavy sensorless plug of the draw out type medium voltage switchgear device) to a former "smart" version that provides high speed, high sampling rate, high accuracy scaled, digitized values that accomplish what the old style main circuit breaker assembly used to do in analog fashion but now without the hundreds of pounds of iron and copper hanging on or electrically connected to or around it.

[0073] Before going back to the D / C (Data Collector), it is important to note again that within each phase of the three-phase of this electrical system, there are incoming and outgoing connectors (main bottles) for the associated circuit breakers. When the breakers are open, the voltage across the open contacts (i.e. on the line and load main bottle assemblies) can be different. That is - one side is active and the other side is dead (off). In some cases, they can both be in an active state (e.g. a generator is now turned on and wants to deliver its power onto an energized electrical system). In this case, it is important to synchronize the two values before closing the associated breakers and "connecting" the two electrical sections together. At the current state of the art, there will be two sets of potential transformers for the three-phase - one set for the line side and one set for the load side, used by the metering and relay equipment to ensure that the breakers can be closed only under the proper prescribed conditions.

[0074] The current disclosed Omnidirectional Sensor™ system described herein provides line and load sensing of voltage and current only through its design. The foundation of the system provides highly accurate built-in sensing - redundancy - self-monitoring, self-calibration and self-maintenance (as the system will "know" when the values from the line and load associated load bottle equipment should be the same). It is also important to note and understand that by duplicating the sensors, including line and load for current and voltage, the overall global safety of the electrical system is greatly enhanced.

[0075] Once each fixed main disconnect assembly (also known as "main bottle assembly" or SPDA) becomes a "smart" PBA (referred to as -S 2 The now digitized data stream from the PBA - Smart Fixed Main Bottle Assembly or more simply SPBA, becomes a digital soup flowing out of the pot of six (6) SPBAs. The next step is to synchronize these streams and add a time stamp to each digitized data sample. Effectively turning the soup into a coherent salami slice that can be stacked one slice at a time and recreate the entire salami log. This is accomplished by the Data Collector / Collector Accumulator (D / C). The D / C will have multiple ports (probably no less than six (6)) to accept the output of each SPBA. Or 4 ports per set (3 real time and output; 3 load and output) to achieve 100% redundancy.

[0076] The data accumulator will perform the widely accepted and documented function of taking multiple "snapshots" during a common high speed clock synchronization. By "snapping" twelve (12) (or more) values (six currents and six voltages) from the SPBA's stream data and timing them to the microsecond - the values from each signal of the line and each load stream are now fully available and digitally derivable in order to be able to reproduce any combination of calculations that previously had to be performed on analog values of large, heavy, expensive iron core, copper wound equipment.

[0077] Measuring current / voltage zero to current / voltage zero provides frequency values in the order of one hundredth of a hertz. Measuring current, voltage and frequency, provides downstream metering, relaying, control or communication equipment to use raw data or perform current, voltage, power, power factor or frequency calculations and / or combinations thereof as needed in any form.

[0078] The D / C will be able to provide itself with inputs to acquire external clock synchronizations and use them to align its own time tagged numbers with other externally set time streams (such examples of external inputs can be utility computer networks for monitoring systems or various GPS type clock synchronizations broadcast by governments and private entities around the world) - not only can the fault values on all six SPBAs at the time of the fault be known - but the specific day, date and specific time of the fault can be known.

[0079] The SPBA effectively replaces the front end of the printed circuit board of every meter or relay currently manufactured and eliminates the need for CTs and PTs to power these front end boards. Once the method of the invention is accepted - every relay, control and metering company in the world can replace their front end integrated circuit boards with input jacks to receive the digital signals of the omnidirectional sensors of the invention TM instead of the tens to hundreds of pounds of analog signals of CTs and PTs.

[0080] The DC will export the synchronized, digitized values in such a way and format to comply with the main "language" adopted by the "second" (2 nd ) boards (microprocessor boards) of all existing metering and relaying equipment. Whether they adopt Modbus, DNP, 61850 or any data stream protocol in form - the DC can be programmed and provided to export its data stream to align with the most famous industry standard microprocessor input requirements of the driving electronic metering and relaying equipment. In other words, the omnidirectional sensor™ of the invention can be expected to be widely used by equipment manufacturers just as the CTs and PTs are well known and used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0081] Figure 1is an inside view of the back wall of a medium voltage switchgear device showing six cylindrical SPDA's or "bottles" stacked in two rows of three columns as forwardly projecting assemblies of the electrical mating assembly for the typical medium voltage switchgear device's draw-in and draw-out chassis, with high voltage conductors passing through the center of the cylindrical SPDA's or bottles towards the back wall of the cabinet;

[0082] Figure 2 is a front view of a single SPDA or bottle which is an assembly of a switchgear device with its center carrying an electrical conductor and with its outer cylindrical wall carrying, according to the prior art, a current transformer as shown in Figure 3 ;

[0083] Figure 3 is a back view of a single SPDA or bottle (separated from the switchgear device's cabinet) and a prior art current transformer which slides over the outer cylindrical wall of the SPDA (within the cabinet), the current transformer being a prior art device for providing an analog electrical signal for controlling, maintaining or stopping the operation of a circuit breaker of a switchgear device;

[0084] Figure 4 shows a front view of a single SPDA which is not attached to the back wall of a switchgear device's cabinet and shows a prior art current transformer which, according to the prior art, slides over the outer cylindrical wall of the SPDA or bottle within the cabinet, the current transformer being a prior art device for providing an analog electrical signal for the operation of a circuit breaker function of a switchgear device;

[0085] Figure 5 is a front view of the back vertical cabinet wall within a switchgear device according to the prior art showing a row of three high voltage conductors and surrounding cylindrical SPDA's on the top and a row of three more cylindrical SPDA's on the bottom, with their prior art current transformers surrounding the bottom row of SPDA's or bottles, all to be affixed to the inner back wall of a switchgear device cabinet according to the prior art; and

[0086] Figure 6 is a front view of one of the cylindrical bottles or SPDA's of a switchgear device, the bottle being separated from the back vertical wall of the cabinet but now showing it equipped with a surrounding Rogowski coil which is embedded or molded in the outer molding of the forwardly projecting portion of the cylindrical bottle;

[0087] Figure 7A is a back view of the SPDA of the present invention with a Rogowski coil (shown in dashed lines) embedded around the outer surface of the front portion of the cylinder and in front of the base, and with a capacitive voltage divider also embedded or adjacent to the circular SPDA molding and close to the connector board for the main power supply; meanwhile,

[0088] Figure 7Bis Figure 7A a partial enlarged rear view of a SPDA showing a capacitive or similar voltage divider with one lead connected to a metal plate in direct contact and surrounding the main power conductor and the other lead connected to ground schematically through a connection to the chassis of the switchgear; and

[0089] Figure 8 is a rear and partial view of the main power supply and six SPDAs with no wiring shown for connecting the SPDAs to the integrated circuit but showing the connection of the integrated circuit to the data collector for the switchgear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] As Figures 1 to 5 shown and with reference to U.S. Patent No. 11,444,439 issued September 13, 2022, a switchgear as is well known to those skilled in the art can include a large cabinet or enclosure with circuit breakers having integral roll-in and roll-out electrical chassis to allow insertion and removal of the breaker assemblies from the cabinet or enclosure. For a more in-depth and direct understanding of the present invention, the reader is directed to U.S. Patent No. 11,444,439 issued September 13, 2022, which was obtained by the same applicant / assignee as the present document. The teachings of this patent as well as other U.S. patents expected to be issued to the same applicant and / or assignee are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0091] The group of main power supplies (conductors 24) is shown in the figure, usually six in number, electrically connected in a three-phase configuration. Each of the three phases has two separate points for power connection for current flow and defines a line side and a load side. These main power supplies 24 are disposed in and through the back 22 of the cabinet 15 and connect the power or line side to the load. These main power supplies are disposed in the back of the cabinet and connect the power to the load, with the electrical equipment on the movable cart fully rolled into the cabinet 15. Upon completion, the equipment is in an “on-line” condition and delivers the required / indicated voltage with significant current strength to the three-phase current. Upon a fault, the automatic operation of the circuit breakers cuts off and / or stops the power. This is well known in the art.

[0092] With the cart assembly fully rolled into the cabinet and the equipment “ready for use”, the six rearwardly extending and slightly end projecting assembly carrying relatively high current and voltage main power supplies 20 to be housed within the representative cabinet 15 and secured by the SPDAs 50, become insulated and surround “bottles”, the six SPDAs 50 projecting forwardly from the back 22 as cylinders. In other words, the respective six “bottle” shaped insulators or SPDAs 50 project their cylindrical assemblies 51 forwardly to the front of the switchgear / cabinet 15. Figure 1The forward projecting bottle or SPDA 50 is shown, as are the main power sources 20, 24, which extend coaxially within the center of the bottle or SPDA 50. Figure 3 The bottle-like assembly 50 is shown from the rear perspective, surrounded by the prior art massive, heavy and expensive steel core that surrounds and provides support for it, which is fixed inside the cabinet in the prior art of medium voltage switchgear and slides on the front end of the bottle-like assembly or SPDA 50. In Figure 1 The rear wall 22 of the cabinet 15 is shown, which is provided with heat dissipation holes or openings 60 at the bottom of the rear vertical wall 23 of the cabinet 15.

[0093] By understanding and viewing the drawings of Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the prior art SPDA, rear wall, current transformer can be seen and understood. The drawing shows a group of six bottles 10 in two vertical stacks of three bottles 50 to accommodate the line and load of a three-phase electrical switchgear. Each bottle is expected to accommodate and hold the main power source conductors 24 of the electric power to provide the current and specified voltage.

[0094] Figure 2 The SPDA bottle 50 molded from insulating material is shown. The main "power" conductors 20 are installed inside the SPDA insulating mold and the SPDA is bolted to the back 22 of the cabinet 15 of the switchgear. Figure 1 and Figure 5 The drawing shows a group of six bottles or SPDAs 50 in two vertical stacks of three bottles 50 to accommodate the line and load of a three-phase electrical switchgear. Each bottle is expected to accommodate and support the electric power conductors of the main power source of the electric power to operate at the required voltage and current. The purpose of the switchgear assembly is to allow the voltage and current (i.e. electric power) to be transmitted (or connected) from the power source (line) to the load and to stop as required in the event of a fault. The switchgear is very important so that when a fault occurs, the downstream electrical system is not further damaged. The switchgear simply and mechanically / automatically closes the circuit by opening the circuit breaker. As understood by those skilled in the art, this is the function of the switchgear.

[0095] In the prior art, for a better understanding of the invention, the bottle-like element or SPDA 50 projects forward from the rear vertical wall 23 of the cabinet 15 of the switchgear towards the front cabinet door of the switchgear. Each bottle-like element has main power source conductors 20, 24 that extend coaxially down the middle of the cylinder of the SPDA, but the bottle or SPDA is molded and made of insulating material. Figure 2A bottle shaped element 50 is shown with an integrally formed rectangular base 33 and a forwardly projecting cylinder 51. The base has recessed PEM threaded holes 35 at the corners of the base 33 with embedded nuts or PEMs inside the base. The cylinder passes through a through hole in the back wall and a bolt 37 and washer 36 will pass through the hole in the back wall and into the PEM hole to secure the base and SPDA to the back of the cabinet with the cylinder projecting forwardly and the base 33 behind the back wall. The base, bolt and washer and the vertical back wall of the cabinet support the bottle or SPDA 50 and secure the SPDA to the back wall 23 of the switchgear housing or cabinet 15 with the cylinder assembly 51 of the bottle or SPDA 50 formed of insulating material extending toward the front of the switchgear and the door and cabinet 15. Figure 2 A conventional SPDA or bottle 50 is shown along with the base, bolt, washer and PEM arrangement used to secure the SPDA to the back wall 23 of the cabinet 15. Figure 2 A bottle shaped element 50 is shown with embedded nut holes at the corners to accept bolts 37 to allow the bottle 50 to be securely fastened to the back 22 of the switchgear housing or cabinet 15 with the insulating cylindrical bottle shaped element or SPDA 50 extending toward the front of the switchgear and the door.

[0096] As Figure 3 shown, the heavy, bulky and expensive iron winding and steel device 80, a current transformer, used in the past for proportional analog signal current consideration, slides over the cylinder 51 of the SPDA or bottle 50 and is bolted (by the same long bolt 37) to the back wall 23 of the switchgear cabinet 15. Figure 3 is a rear view of the main power source 20, 24 conductors and the prior art current sensing device (i.e. current transformer 80) held on and around the cylindrical element portion 51 of the SPDA or bottle 50. Here the central opening 53 (see Figure 2 ) of the SPDA or bottle 50 defines the forward end 51 of the bottle or SPDA 50.

[0097] The current transformer 80 is provided with two cylindrical windings 83 and 84 and a rectangular base 85 with holes 87 at the corners. The bolt 37 will pass through the holes of the base 85, through the back vertical wall and then into and secure in the PEM holes 35 of the base of the SPDA.

[0098] Reference is made to Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 5, shows that the bottle or SPDA 50 of the switching device is surrounded by, but also supports, the current transformer 80. According to the present invention, the device-current transformer 80 can be cancelled, would otherwise slide over at the front of the cylinder 51 of the bottle or SPDA 50 and be connected to the rear wall 23 of the cabinet 15 (thus indirectly fixed to the rear wall 23 at the back 22 of the cabinet 15) and the group of electrical devices, which is lighter, smaller in volume, possibly cheaper and very useful, can be provided by direct molding or integration into the SPDA.

[0099] According to the present invention, as Figure 6 , Figures 7a and 7b, the Rogowski coil 80 and the capacitive (or similar) voltage divider 90 are embedded or otherwise fixed around the cylindrical assembly 51 of the bottle or SPDA 50 and they (together with other provided assemblies) provide useful electrical signals, which, after conversion into digital signals, are time-stamped and sent to downstream assemblies. Details and schematics of the present invention can be referred to Figure 6 , Figures 7a and 7b.

[0100] During the manufacture of the cylinder 51 of the SPDA or bottle 50, the Rogowski coil 80 and the capacitive voltage divider 90 can be easily fixed or molded into the insulating epoxy rubber of the bottle, with each Rogowski coil having electrical leads 330 extending from it to the integrated circuit 110. The Rogowski coils can be fixed around the cylinder and molded under the epoxy resin. In a preferred embodiment, as Figure 6 , Figures 7a and 7b, the Rogowski coil surrounds and is embedded in the cylinder of the SPDA and is located at the base 33 of the SPDA, preferably inside and in front of the wall of the cabinet. The Rogowski coil can be covered with epoxy resin after being placed in position. The Rogowski coil does not require any power supply wires, as it only needs to draw power from the magnetic flux around the main power conductor. The leads 330, 331 provide the signals from the Rogowski coil 80 and the capacitive or similar voltage divider 90 to the integrated circuit 110, which is also preferably embedded or molded or otherwise fixed to or adjacent / near the outer peripheral wall 51 of the SPDA / bottle 50.

[0101] And, the capacitive or similar voltage divider 90 (see Figures 7a and 7b) is molded or otherwise fixed (preferably behind the back 22 of the cabinet 15) to the outside of the cylinder 51 of the bottle 50. Each capacitive or similar voltage divider 90 is provided with electrical leads. One group of leads is in contact and connected between the main power conductors, which are at system voltage when energized, and the other group of leads is connected to the chassis, which is at ground potential. The voltage difference between the main power conductors and the ground (the chassis must be properly grounded) is then "divided" by the capacitive or similar voltage divider and this signal is also provided to the integrated circuit or IC 110 through the leads 331.

[0102] The inner wall of the switchgear is schematically shown at cabinet 15 and in this embodiment one lead 333 of the capacitive divider 90 is fixed to the chassis as a terminal of the SPDA base and one lead 331 is grounded while the other is the signal input to the integrated circuit 110.

[0103] The lead for attaching the capacitive divider to the power source or mains 20, 24 is fixed to a bolt or terminal 130 that is fixed around the conductive hardware plate 137 that is in contact with the mains conductor 20. The voltage from the capacitive divider 90 is spread through the lead 333 between the system high voltage (at the conductor and mains 20, 24 voltage) and the zero or ground potential at the chassis 15.

[0104] The capacitive divider 90 has an electrical lead 331 connected to the integrated circuit 110 for providing signals from the capacitive divider to it. The leads from the Rogowski coil 330 and the capacitive divider 331 to the integrated circuit 110 provide the initial scaled, low power analog indication of current and voltage for digitization by the integrated circuit 110 of the SPDA. One of the Ethernet-like connectors for connecting components to the integrated circuit 110 is shown in the figure, but it will be understood that the other side of the integrated circuit (hidden in the figure) is also provided with similar electrical signal connections. While the signals provided to the integrated circuit 110 are initially analog signals, they are immediately converted to digital signal values by the integrated circuit. Thus, for example, if the voltage through the mains is 4000 volts and there are 10 identical capacitors, then only the analog voltage division of one of the capacitors is 400 volts and this will be provided to the IC by the capacitive divider 100. It will be converted to digital form and exported through appropriate connections to the data collector.

[0105] Both the now converted analog to digital stream signals from the Rogowski coil 80 and the capacitive divider 90 will be time stamped by the data collector 400 (not shown) and exported in turn to any required industrial equipment for relaying, metering and / or control. The simultaneous time stamping of the six SPDA stream values allows the data collector 400 to export the signals as required for input and processing for any protection, measurement or control process. It will be appreciated that the output of the data collector 400 provides a digital replica of all the analog signals obtained from the multiple current and voltage transformers 80 of the prior art. Thus, the metering, relaying of any existing control scheme that is in use today can be easily replicated and even enhanced in its functionality simply by modifying its front end inputs to interface with the stream data of the present invention.

[0106] The integrated circuits 110 (often referred to as "mini-relays") are preferably molded to the respective SPDA on which they reside. Additional insulation can be provided for the integrated circuits. They obtain limited but required control power through an Ethernet connection cable to the data collector 400 (Cisco Systems of California makes this equipment and markets it as (Power over Ethernet). The data collector, on the other hand, is basically a six (6) input Ethernet port switch that also has a little "brain" or functionality. This Ethernet port switch is almost a commodity item that can be purchased off the shelf and can contain a feature called POE (Power over Ethernet) Cisco. Thus, the integrated circuits 110 molded on the SPDA will obtain a highly reliable control power through a connection cable that connects both the SPDA integrated circuits 110 and the data collector, and then, the integrated circuits 110 will send back to the data collector 400 the digitized version of the signals of the original analog Rogowski coils and CVD or similar devices for the SPDA on which they are fixed or molded through the same cable.

[0107] The data collector 400 (Ethernet port switch) also has a timing signal input that can "normalize" the synchronized time stamp of the devices and the Ethernet output ports when receiving the digitized signals.

[0108] The control power of the data collector will be obtained through a simple hardwire connection to the DC control power circuit of the switching device. This is the same highly robust control power (from an external battery) that ensures that all relays and instruments installed on the medium voltage switching device will not fail due to lack of control power. The design of the medium voltage switching device ensures that there will be no failure when needed. Thus, the trip mechanism of the circuit breaker and all microprocessor devices (relays, instruments, controllers) are provided with uninterrupted control power from a highly reliable power source such as a battery. This is the standard state of the art.

[0109] According to the present invention, the bottle-like element 50 is provided with embedded Rogowski coils 80 and capacitive voltage dividers 90 around its outer peripheral wall 51. They provide signals to the associated integrated circuit 110 of each bottle or SPDA 50. The Rogowski coils are low power current sensors, through which the main power supply conductors pass. Any current (and magnetic flux) flowing through the main power supply will provide a low power analog signal through the same circuit that is instantaneously proportional to the main power supply current. This is the essence of the device as a sensing and detecting device. The molded integrated circuit 110 of the SPDA will convert the received analog signals into streaming digital signals. In addition, six (for example, one for each bottle) capacitive or similar voltage dividers 100 are embedded in the outer wall of the bottle element 50. The capacitive voltage dividers 100 have electrical connections between ground and the high voltage of the system main power supply. One of the connections is intended to make actual physical contact with the main power supply conductor (through a metal hardware plate 137 and a fixed bolt 130 that connects the plate to the main power supply). The other wire makes contact with the switchgear's ground chassis 15 through a wire 333, shown schematically in Figure 7b. The electrical connections of the capacitive voltage dividers 90 between the system voltage and ground cause a number of capacitors in series to be energized. By simply crossing the set of wires across one of the capacitors, a proportional, low power, analog voltage division is provided as its sensing output. This proportional, low power, analog voltage division sensing voltage is then also sent to the integrated circuit 110 associated with the SPDA. It will be appreciated that the molded integrated circuit 110 of each SPDA has inputs from low power analog signals of its current and voltage, which are sensed by the Rogowski coils 80 and capacitive voltage dividers 90 of the SPDA. These low power analog signals (passed to the integrated circuit 110) are then digitized and streamed out of the integrated circuit 110 of each SPDA and transmitted to a data collector 400. Alternatively, the data collector can do the digitizing. One data collector 400 is shown schematically in a black box in Figure 7b, and it is contemplated that only one data collector 400 is needed for all six (6) SPDAs and their individual integrated circuits 110.

[0110] The data collector 400 receives the simultaneously streaming digital converted signals from the integrated circuits 110 of the SPDAs and provides a synchronized time stamp for the six (in this example) signals received from the SPDA capacitive voltage dividers or similar voltage dividers. It is this synchronization and retransmission of the data that creates fully processable signal inputs for all downstream relays, metering and control devices.

[0111] The IC 110 will be provided with internal circuit architecture to protect its inputs from the direct connection of the Rogowski coil. It is important to remember that under normal operating conditions, the current strength in the main power supply will range from tens of amperes to thousands of amperes. However, under short circuit fault conditions, there can be peak currents of up to nearly 200,000 amperes flowing through the Rogowski coil. This means that the Rogowski coil output peak can fluctuate from nearly zero to 1,000,000 times that value. This fluctuation can cause great damage (or destruction) to the IC input products and severely distort the output values or cause them to become useless.

[0112] By employing an architecture within the IC (and surrounding insulation), providing multiple parallel paths of groups for the analog signal of the Rogowski coil, the Rogowski signal can be "routed" to one of several signal paths that are "tuned" for the analog signal value. As an example embodiment, imagine eggs moving along a conveyor belt. Small are routed to one adjacent lane - medium, large, and extra large eggs are sent to their own separate lanes. Then each product is packaged accordingly. Thus, for example, as described above, a first path will be provided for very low current loads (continuing with the example of small eggs) and if the current signal flowing through the Rogowski coil exceeds the sensed and predetermined maximum value of the first path (medium, large, or jumbo eggs), the analog signal will be transmitted to the next higher parallel current range. If the maximum value of the range is exceeded (corresponding to large or jumbo eggs), the signal will again be passed up to the next parallel signal analog to digital conversion path, and so on, until the maximum value of the parallel path exceeds the current that can be sensed. This will protect the Rogowski coil, the integrated circuit, and provide meaningful, high precision digital signals to be output and used by the data collector.

[0113] A data collector or collector accumulator device 400 is provided. This is downstream of the IC and time stamps (in nanoseconds) each of the signals obtained from the SPDA integrated circuit 110. The time stamped signals now on the output side of the data collector 400 can be compared to each other internally within the data collector and can be immediately output in a streaming fashion to become input signals for relays, metering, and control devices selected to "monitor" this particular circuit device. In this way, groups of meaningful data points are created, are able to be compared to each other, and to established standards intended to flow through the switch device. If an inconsistent group of signals is "seen" by the data collector (or additional downstream devices), the switch device will take appropriate action. The data collector can compare adjacent (in time) and adjacent (in group of main power supply) signals to self monitor the normal functioning of the device. When everything is working well - these signals provide metering, monitoring, and control data for measuring, recording, and displaying real time status.

[0114] The data collector can be (will be) electrically (digitally communicatively) connected to a controller 200 (not shown) which can sense the analyzed signals and provide meaningful results to the system operator for analysis and review.

[0115] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the IC and electrical metering device / system is provided with an integrated "look-up" table so that the rated value of the device can be quickly and easily determined from historical data of other similar devices, the data is acquired and stored / integrated into the new device. The look-up table is a simple and fast mechanism compared to the difficult and time consuming metering for each new current transformer / metering device. Please note US patent publication number 20160018817A1, published February 26, 2017, which relates to an electrical metering device that integrates a look-up table. Furthermore, the look-up table allows a computer (or suitably designed integrated circuit) to approximate a function or equation without having to perform complex calculus or other advanced mathematical operations.

[0116] The engineer / device designer can decide how the output varies with the input over the working range, including ranges outside normal operation. If the input goes outside the range, the output can be disabled. For a simple binary output, the software range will be defined within the hardware range. For a hardware range of 0-10, a software input range of 1-9 will have an output of 1; while an input of 0-0.99 or 9.01-10 will have an output of 0. Assuming a precision of 0.01, greater than the difference between the input points, so input values between 0.99 and 1 or between 9 and 9.01 will be rounded.

[0117] To read the look-up table, the computer or integrated circuit will find the input points on either side of the actual input value and will return the two corresponding output values and interpolate between them. For this example, the computer will read a 6x2 look-up table. The fractions will be 0,0; 0.99,0,1,1; 9,1; 9.01,0; 10,0. Since the shape is square, the result will be either 0 or 1. In another example, there can be flat regions and sloped regions, and the interpolation will draw a straight sloped line between the two points on either side of the input value.

[0118] For many practical industrial applications, the various parameters can have non-monotonic outputs (going up and down as the input value increases). The goal of the control system is to maintain the machine at a design point, a subset of the input range, where the output is monotonic and stable control can be maintained.

[0119] The size and complexity of the look-up table will vary depending on the precision of the theoretical relationship modeling. The look-up table can have two input values, so it can be called a "carpet". More numbers can be input, but as the dimensionality increases, the array also gets larger.

[0120] A common approach is to use more than one table or carpet. The computer can do a simple calculation based on several input parameters, come up with a value, and then use that as an input to a lookup table. This can be done by multiple sets, returning a value from two or more tables, and then used in another simple equation.

[0121] The overall goal for a high efficiency and fast system is for the computer or integrated circuit to perform simple calculations in the processor instruction set, leaving complex functions to previously determined and accurately measured data, which is the data set for the lookup table. Intermediate functions, such as square roots, can have low-level routines to provide efficient approximations. According to the present invention, one or more lookup tables can be employed to ensure that the readings and inputs and outputs fit the required electrical equipment, all based on previously accurately measured results in the laboratory or on-site at manufacturing.

[0122] High resolution accuracy, resolution, and repeatability throughout the expected range of experimental operating currents and voltages is critical. Specifically - this means extreme accuracy from 20% to 125% of the full load sensor rated current value, and extreme voltage accuracy from + / - 15% of the value of the nominal operating line voltage. Beyond (outside of) these extreme accuracy requirements - the accuracy can drop from the extreme range to an "acceptable" accuracy range. Acceptable accuracy would be defined as "the industry's current expectation of accuracy for conventionally used magnetic CTs and PTs in utility non-revenue metering and relay protection applications".

[0123] By employing "lookup table" functionality in the fully calibrated omni-sensors at the time of manufacture, extremely high accuracy within the "sweet spot" and acceptable accuracy outside of the sweet spot can be achieved. The lookup table is a memory chip or similar device that calibrates each omni-sensor by comparing the output value of each omni-sensor when a carefully calibrated test input value is injected into the omni-sensor. This provides a set of input data points compared to a set of output.

[0124] Example - using very accurate electrical test equipment, it can output a variety of current values such that these values are within 0.01 of the set value. By injecting this known quantity (let's say 100 amps) into each omni-sensor, and then reading the digital output value, the digital output value can be correlated in a table adjacent to the fact that the omni-sensor ultimately outputs a digital value that exactly equals 100 amps. This provides a frame of reference for calibration of future manufactured equipment.

[0125] Running this test plan / calibration sequence in an automated fashion allows all omni-sensors to always output the same digital reading for the same calibration analog test injection value, i.e. all omni-sensors will tell the world - "I just saw 100 amps" when in fact 100 amps of calibration current has been injected through the omni-sensor.

[0126] By automating this process - each omni-directional sensor will have multiple such set points tested and calibrated within its "sweet spot" so that the linearity between the two (2) test points will always remain within the specified accuracy. Outside of the "sweet spot" - the calibration test point values are injected further apart (in terms of voltage and current) so, the linearity calculation will now have a highly repeatable accuracy level but with a wider accuracy band than the sweet spot accuracy band.

[0127] By the use of a pre-calibrated test procedure that uses a universal high accuracy injection test equipment to provide highly accurate and standardized values and a universal look-up table procedure - accuracy and repeatability are locked in and assured.

[0128] Accuracy and repeatability over a specified temperature range.

[0129] The electrical power devices discussed herein are generally specified to provide full functionality within an operating temperature range of approximately -20 degrees Celsius to +70 degrees Celsius. Modern microchips have built-in thermal sensing capabilities and can "know" the ambient temperature in which they are operating by employing such chips as part of the look-up table and calibration chart functions - the calibration test procedure can be run in the ambient room - the temperature range of the product specification is low, medium, high, thereby reducing the fluctuations in the digital output values of current and voltage that are susceptible to the differences in the resistance values and lower and higher operating temperatures of the Rogowski coils and voltage dividers. In effect - the look-up table is now reset and recalibrated not only to read the output values of the Rogowski coils and voltage dividers - but to do so at several different temperature values (within the specified temperature range) and to employ the best look-up table values at the presented ambient conditions at the time of the readings.

[0130] It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is a highly improved replacement for the large, bulky, expensive current and voltage transformers used throughout the circuit breaker and electrical industry for protection, control and monitoring. It is therefore anticipated that there will be many other uses of one or more Rogowski coils and one or more capacitive voltage dividers connected to integrated circuits for converting analog signals to digital signals, with or without time stamping, thereby providing a digital representation of the current and voltage of the electrical device, and then using the information in a wide variety of applications and / or transmitting to data collectors, all with great advantage.

[0131] These electrical components, circuits and methods specifically eliminate the need for current practice of re-amplifying Rogowski coils and CVD signals to mimic CT and PT secondary output signals. The present invention does not employ the low power signals of Rogowski coils and CVD, but rather digitizes them. The present invention preserves the low power signals of Rogowski encoding and CVD, handles a wide range of possible signal processing issues and maintains the entire digital nature of the architecture of the solution. The time-stamped synchronization of the SPDA signals makes the streaming digital signals an enhanced replacement for the currently employed CT / PT analog architecture.

[0132] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is a replacement for the bulky, expensive and costly current and voltage transformers used throughout the circuit breaker and electrical industry for protection, control and monitoring. It is therefore anticipated that after the adoption of this new standard to replace current transformers, the Rogowski coils will have many other uses, the capacitive voltage divider, connected to integrated circuits for providing digital representation of current and voltage, then to data collectors, with or without time stamp for auxiliary analysis, in a wide variety of applications, with great advantages.

Claims

1. A mechanism for protecting, monitoring, and / or controlling switching equipment, the mechanism comprising at least voltage and current flow providing means, the means having an insulating cylindrical bottle surrounding a main power conductor, the insulating cylindrical bottle containing the main power conductor passing through it, the mechanism comprising: Rogowski coil, the Rogowski coil surrounding the cylindrical bottle; A capacitive or similar voltage divider, which also surrounds the cylindrical bottle, wherein there is a first direct electrical lead between the capacitive voltage divider and the main power conductor and a second direct electrical lead between the capacitive voltage divider and ground; An integrated circuit electrically connected to the output signals of the Rogowski coil and the capacitor divider, receiving analog signals of current and voltage from the Rogowski coil and the capacitor divider respectively, and providing a group of digitally converted analog low-power signals as a group of input signals; as well as A data collector, which selectively includes a group of inputs to the digital conversion of analog low-power signals, and compares the group of inputs over time, whether or not. in The data collector is connected to an electrical or mechanical device for modifying, controlling, or interrupting the flow of current and / or voltage if the set of compared digitally converted signals meets certain predetermined conditions.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the Rogowski coil is embedded in the outer insulating circumferential wall of the bottle.

3. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive voltage divider is embedded in the outer insulating circumferential wall of the bottle.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is embedded in the outer insulating circumferential wall of the bottle.

5. The mechanism of claim 3, wherein the capacitive or similar voltage divider is superimposed above or embedded below the Rogowski coil and molded within the bottle.

6. The mechanism according to claim 1, when incorporated into a switchgear, provides a circuit breaker for three-phase alternating current.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein six bottles are provided, each bottle having the Rogowski coil and the capacitive or similar voltage divider and the integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit directs its output for analysis to a single data collector.

8. A method for protecting, monitoring, or controlling an electrical switching device, the electrical switching device having one or more insulating bottles surrounding one or more main power lines, the method comprising the steps of: A Rogowski coil is provided around the bottle, the Rogowski coil sensing an analog current flowing through the main power supply; A capacitive or similar voltage divider is provided also around the bottle, the capacitive or similar voltage divider sensing the analog voltage flowing through the main power supply, the capacitive or similar voltage divider being in electrical contact with the main power supply; An integrated circuit located near the Rogowski coil and / or the capacitive or similar voltage divider is used to convert the analog current and voltage signals into digital signals; as well as The digital signal is passed to a data collector for selectively timestamping the digital signal and comparing two or more groups of digital signals.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein six bottles are arranged to create a group of two three-phase electrical paths.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the Rogowski coil is insulated from the main power supply.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The time-stamped digital signal group of the Rogowski coil and the capacitive or similar voltage divider is used to monitor switching equipment and to protect, monitor or control equipment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the protection, monitoring, or control is achieved by comparing digital signals from the Rogowski coil and the capacitive or similar voltage divider output by the integrated circuit to the same bottle at different times.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the integrated circuit provides a plurality of independent parallel paths for converting the analog signal into the digital signal, each path having a maximum value except for the last such path, and if the current or the voltage exceeds the maximum value, the analog signal is passed to a next upper maximum value and an adjacent range for conversion, and the next upper maximum value and the adjacent range have a larger maximum value than the previous parallel path.

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