NiT i ndicator

Team Tow:

Kyle Logan
Keith Male Amy Lautenbach Rishi Kripalani

Rod Marstel Will Lefevre Jennifer Suiter

What is a ground fault indicator?

Ground fault indicators (GFIs) provide automated visual/remote indication of a short in an electrical power network

Comparisons of GFI types

Type Measures Protects from Human contact Actuation Current Design Flaws

Overhead GFI Underground Arc-GFI

Current increase Vector sum of 3-phase signal (AC only, diff Niti response)

Conversion to Inconsistent mechanical resetting work Response time (Controller switches off branch)

Arc to Trigger of insulation cellular/remot (structure fire) e signal

OBJECTIVE:

Consistent resetting in overhead GFIs

Automatic reset driven by Nitinol shape memory

Our design for Nitinol fault indicator

5. Indicator; raised when wheel spins 4. Wheel; spins when line is pulled

3. Fishing Line; pulled when spring contracts 2. NiTi Spring; contracts when heated by current
NiTi Chosen: SM495 Straight Black; Dia: 0.013

1. PVC covering; protects parts

Heat Treatment

Since a spring was required, three different screws were tested as jigs Heat treated at 550C for 15 minutes, resulted in an Af of 70oC This heat treatment and the large diameter screw resulted in the fastest actuation time

As

Af

Market analysis of our prototype

System Diameter Voltage <1 kV (RMS) 240 V 5kV 4.02 V Current 6 mA 200 mA 400-800 A 21.61 mA Time <5s <25 ms 1-10 ms 3.823 s Price < $600 < $600 <$300 < $63

AC <2 (steel (underground) line) AC <2 (steel (underground) line) DC (overhead) NiTi (SM495) <0.5 (steel) 0.013

Conclusions and recommendations for the future

Problems: 1. Faulted current is too high 2. Faulted current lasts too long 3. Excessive response time

Solutions: 1. BJT w/ variable resistor 2. Limit application to 20 mA at 15 minutes 3. Integration of capacitor impulse

Questions?