IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CIRCUIT INTERRUPTION APPARATUSES

摘要

In the field of electrical networks, and in particular distribution networks that include distributed voltage sources such as distributed generators, there is a need to safely manage the operation of the networks. A circuit interruption apparatus (10), for an electrical network (18), comprises a circuit interruption device that is operatively connectable at a source side (30) to a source of the electrical network (18) and at a back side (32) to a load of an electrical network (18). The circuit interruption device when closed permits current to flow between the source side (30) and the back side (32), and the circuit interruption device when open inhibits current from flowing between the source side (30) and the back side (32). The current interruption device is configured to open when a current (I) flowing therethrough meets or exceeds a fault current threshold. The circuit interruption apparatus (10) also includes a fault current level determination unit that is configured to determine a predicted fault current level (IPFI) as a function of measured current and voltage values (I, U) at the circuit interruption device before and after a variation in the current and voltage values (I, U) at the circuit interruption device that result from a change of load at the back side (32) of the circuit interruption device.