EEWeb Website of the Day April 2, 2012

This blog is featured in EEWeb - Electrical Engineering Community, as website of the day for April 2, 2012. This is an excellent recognition from a popular electrical engineering community website for hardware engineers. I'm happy and honored that this blog was on the front page of the EEweb  and was included in the list of impressive websites  that EEweb has recognized in the past.

Thank you EEWeb!

Update: 2013
The old name of this website was "Mathematics and Engineering Topics" and now changed  to "EngineerMaths.com". The change was due to transfer of this website from free domain to a premium domain name. Every articles and feeds will be automatically redirected  into our new domain. For example, when you visit our old address [Mathematics and Engineering Topics], it  will redirect you to our new address.

Screenshot of Enginering and Mathematics Topics in EEweb

Screenshot of EEweb home page

Electronic Control of automatic Recloser

Electronic Recloser Contol is compromised of a number of programmable, solid solid-state electronic circuits that perform the command fuctions involved in automatic recloser operation. It is used to operate all electronically controlled reclosers.
the control panel of the control unit contains the programming and opening elements of the control.

Parts of the control panel of the electronic recloser:
Minimum trip resistors - Establish the minimum trip current levels for ground and each phase; cartridges are marked in primary amps and clamped in place.
Operation counter - record the cumulative trip operations of the control.
Sequence relay - steps the control through its operating sequence.
Ground- Trip Operation Switch -Blocks all ground in the BLOCK position: prevents unintentional tripping during single -phase switching operations.

Recloser Control panel

Manual Control Switch - In the TRIP position, it locks out the control, advances the sequence relay lockout, and disconnects the battery from the control circuits. In the CLOSE position, it moves the sequence relay to the home position, reconnects the battery and closes recloser. If held in CLOSE position, it will override cold- load inrush ; however, the control will lockout for permanent faults.
Control Fuse- Protects the closing solenoid coil (on reclosers that employ solenoid closing)  if closing voltage is too low. connected in series with the closing contactor in the recloser on motor- operated units; connected in series with the contactor rotary solenoid on reclosers that  employ solenoid closing
Non- Reclosing Switch - Sets the control  for one shot to lockout without disturbing the lockout setting of the operations selector.
Lamp Test Lockout Switch - Enables testing the signal  lamp and checking for lockout.
Lockout Indicating Signal lamp - Provides visual indication of control lockout
Battery Test Tetminals - Enable checking battery voltage, charging rate ,and quiescent current drain.
Reset -Delay Plug - Determines the delay interval before the control resets after a successful reclosure during an operation sequence. the delay value is determined by position of the plug in socket adapter.
Phase Trip Timing Plugs - Provide a variety of current integrated timing curves on individual plugs for coordinating the phase trip operation with backup and downline protective devices.
Ground Trip Timing Plugs -Provide a variety of current integrated timing curves on individual plug for coordinating the ground-trip operation with backup and downline protective devices.
Reclosing  Interval Plugs - Determines the delay interval for each closing operation. The delay value is determined by the position of the plug in the socket adapter. An instantaneous plug is available for the first reclose interval only.
Phase Trip Selector - Programs the number of fast phase trip operations as defined by the timing pug in Socket 1; the remaining (slower) operations to lockout are defined by the plug in phase trip socket 2
Lockout Selector - Programs the total number of operations to lockout.
Ground Trip Selector-  Programs the number of fast ground trip operations as defined by the timing plug in socket 1; the remaining (slower) operations to lockout are defined by the plug in ground trip socket 2

Automatic Circuit Recloser

Recloser is a device that is used in over head distribution systems to interrupt the circuit to clear faults. Automatic reclosers have its electronic control senses and vacuum interrupters that automatically recloses to restore service  if a fault is temporary. There are several attempts that may be made to clear and reenergize the circuit and if the fault still exist the recloser locks out. Reclosers are made in single-phase and three-phase versions, and use  oil or vacuum interrupters.

Operation
Systems where a SCADA control interface capability is required in the use of automatic reclosers. The controls for the reclosers range from the original electromechanical systems to digital electronics. The operating sequence of all the reclosers can  be all fast, all delayed or any combination of fast followed by delayed up. Fast operations clear temporary faults before branch circuit line fuses are weakened. Delayed operations allow time for down time protective devices to clear so that permanent faults can be confined to smaller sections of the system.

Three Phase Vacuum Circuit Recloser
image credit: www.abb.com  

A complete electronic recloser package consists of the recloser which interrupts the circuit, an electronic control which senses over-currents and actuates the recloser and an interconnecting control cable.

Tripping and Closing

Recloser tripping and closing are initiated by signals from the electronic control. When fault currents in excess of the programmed minimum-trip value are detected in one or more phases, a signal from the control actuates a low energy tripper in the operating mechanism of the recloser to trip the opening springs and open the interrupter contacts. Closing energy and the force required to charge the opening springs is supplied by a high-voltage closing solenoid momentarily connected phase-to-phase through a high-voltage contactor.  At the programmed reclosing time, the control energizes a rotary solenoid in the operating mechanism which mechanically closes the closing solenoid contactor to connect the closing coil to its power source.  The energized closing coil pulls a plunger down, charging the opening springs.

AC Circuit Phase Sequence

Phase sequence is the order in which the generated voltages in the phase winding of an alternator reach or  attain  their peak or maximum values. It is represented by the letters a, b, and c or the numbers 1, 2, 3 or by using double letter as ab, bc  and ca or  an, bn  and cn.

For instance , The three phase balanced voltages with their common magnitudes as K have sequence of a b c , then in complex form, 

Positive Phase Sequence 

ABC sequence  -  Va = Ka0˚ , Vb = a-120˚ and Vc = Ka-240˚

In this sequence Vb lags Va by 120˚ and Vc lags Vb by 120 or Vc lags Va by 240. The maximum value of Va comes first in the positive direction, next Vb and then Vc. 

ABC →BCA →CAB

AB - BC - CA → BC - CA - AB → CA - AB - BC

AN - BN - CN → BN - CN - AN → CN - AN - BN

Vector Representation

 Sequence ABC  

Sequence BCA

Sequence CAB

Negative Phase sequence 

ACB sequence- Va = Ka0˚ , Vb = a-120˚ and Vc = Ka-240˚

Voltage Vc lags Va by 120˚ and voltage Vb lags Vc by 120˚. 

ACB →CBA →BAC

AB - CA - BC → CA- BC - AB → BC - AB - BA

AN - CN - BN → CN - BN - AN → BN - AN - CN

Vector representation

Sequence BAC

Sequence  CBA

Sequence ACB

Assume a positive phase sequence if the phase sequence is not given . The three  phase alternators are designed to operate with positive phase sequence voltages.

Balanced Three phase AC circuit Delta connected

A balanced three phase AC circuit systems is energized by three equal alternating emf's of the same frequency but 120 degree apart. The phase impedance are equal. Also the currents are equal and 120 degree apart.

Three AC emf's differing in time phase by 120 degree

DELTA (MESH) CONNECTED SYSTEM
This type of connection is reffered to as 3 phase, 3 wire system. In this connection , the dissimilar ends of the 3 phase windings of a 3 phase ac generator are joined together,  for example the starting ends of one phase is joined to finishing end of the other phase so on. In other words the three winding's are joined in series to form a closed mesh. three leads are taken out from the juntions to serve as the generator terminals.

Delta connected System

Relationships: VØ = VL       :  IØ = IL/√(3)   

 Where:

        VØ  - phase voltage

        IØ  - phase current

       VL -  line voltage

       IL -  line voltage

The three phase voltages of this circuit always sum to zero  Va + Vb + Vc =0

As seen from the diaram, there is only one phase winding completely included between any pair of terminals. Hence, in delta connection, the voltage between any pair of lines is equal of the phase voltage of the phase winding connected between the two lines considered.

Electronics :Traffic light Circuit

This is a two way continuous traffic light circuit which uses  LED, diodes and IC's . 

Usually most traffic light in the world is PLC controlled but this circuit is  simple  and easy to build . 

 In the image below is the schematic diagram of the project . I used Yenka Free Software to simulate and see if its properly working . You can download it free on Yenka website.

The  clock pulses from the 555 astable circuit is sent into the 4017 decade counter . Each output becomes high in turn as the clock pulses are received. Appropriate outputs are combined with diodes to supply the amber and green LEDs. 

components :

• resistors: ,50k ohm, 10k ohm, two-100k ohm
• capacitors: 10µF 16V radial
• diodes:  16 pieces of 1N4148 
• LEDs: 2 sets of ( red, amber or yellow, green)
• IC:555 timer ,  4017 counter
•  on/off switch

You can adjust the timing of light-shifting by adjusting the  value of the resistor in the astable circuit .