Protection of power systems by earthquake warning based on local assessment of seismic events

In order to limit the material damages and the human victims caused by some earthquakes, a complex system of protection of high-risk equipment and installations were designed, built and tested in Râmnicu Vâlcea (Romania). Such are the power supply systems and electrical networks that have a warning in case of major earthquakes based on the local measurement / assessment of seismic events. The system was validated by the comparative presentation of the data recorded on the occasion of two recent seismic events -the earthquake of Mw = 6.4 of 2020/12/29 with depth = 10 km Croatia and the earthquake of ML = 4.2R of 2021/02/27 with depth = 125.9 km, Vrancea. The latter was felt in the area of Râmnicu Vâlcea at a distance from the epicenter of 633.9 km and 173.09 km, respectively, producing vibrations with an acceleration of 0.52 mm / s2 and 0.28 mm / s2 respectively. These values were below the 1.2 mm / s2 threshold (considered dangerous for gas and electricity networks) and no warning and command signal was issued.