A system and method for providing fault isolation in a power distribution network. The network includes a power line, a recloser coupled to the power line and a plurality of switching devices coupled to the power line downstream of the recloser, where each switching device is capable of detecting fault current in response to the fault and detecting presence of voltage. In one non-limiting embodiment, the method includes detecting overcurrent, loss of voltage and return of voltage by the switching devices and includes sequentially opening and closing switching devices from the recloser to a switching device immediately upstream of the fault in response to detecting overcurrent, loss of voltage and return of voltage.
G01R 31/11 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks using pulse-reflection methods
G01R 31/327 - Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
G01R 31/58 - Testing of lines, cables or conductors
H02H 3/033 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with several disconnections in a preferential order
H02H 3/06 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with automatic reconnection
H02H 7/26 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
G01R 31/50 - Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
G01R 31/52 - Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
A switch assembly that includes a cutout mounted fault interrupting switching device and ice shields that block ice build-up on the assembly that may otherwise impede a dropout operation of the switching device. The switching device includes a switch, an upper electrical contact and a lower electrical contact. The switch assembly includes an upper coupling assembly configured to releasably engage the upper electrical contact and a lower coupling assembly configured to engage the lower electrical contact in a pivoting engagement, where the switching device is operable to pivot relative to the lower coupling assembly when the upper electrical contact is released from the upper coupling assembly. The switch assembly further includes an upper ice shield coupled to and formed over the upper coupling assembly and a lower ice shield coupled to and formed over the lower coupling assembly.
A system and method for adaptive impedance protection in a power network. The method includes determining a measured impedance in an upstream interrupting device, determining an impedance set point in the upstream interrupting device, and identifying a predetermined percentage of the impedance set point. The method also includes determining if the measured impedance falls below the predetermined percentage, determining whether a change in a measured current value on the power line is less than a threshold change value in a downstream interrupting device, and sending the determination of whether the change in the measured current value is less than the threshold change value from the downstream interrupting device to the upstream interrupting device. The upstream interrupting device is opened if the measured impedance falls below the predetermined percentage of the impedance set point and the change in the measured current value is less than the threshold change value.
G01R 27/16 - Measuring impedance of element or network through which a current is passing from another source, e.g. cable, power line
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
H02H 3/08 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current
H02H 1/00 - Details of emergency protective circuit arrangements
4.
DESICCANT FOR ALTERNATIVE DIELECTRIC GAS BLENDS IN ELECTRIC SWITCHGEAR
A vacuum interrupter including a nominally cylindrical insulator having a first insulator portion and a second insulator portion defining a gap therebetween and a nominally cylindrical vapor shield having a first ring of a plurality of spaced apart bobbles and a second ring of a plurality of spaced apart bobbles. A gap ring including a series of spaced apart cut-out notches facing the vapor shield is positioned within the gap. The plurality of bobbles in the first and second ring of bobbles are configured so that the bobbles in the second ring pass through the cut-out notches in the gap ring and the bobbles in the first ring rest on the gap ring.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Electric circuit interrupters; current limiters; fuse limiters; limiter assemblies; fused tube assemblies; replaceable fuse cartridges; control modules; interrupting modules; switches; electric switches; electric switches for opening load carrying devices such as disconnecting fuse or switch; medium voltage and high voltage switches, interrupters and switchgear; high voltage switching and protection apparatus and instruments; fuses; switchgear; distribution cutouts; devices useable in or with high voltage switching and protection apparatus; high voltage measuring devices, operators and controls; battery chargers; switch assemblies; parts, fittings, assemblies and mountings for all the aforesaid goods.
7.
AUTOMATIC DROP-OUT AND RESET OF A VACUUM INTERRUPTER DEVICE IN A CUTOUT MOUNTING
An actuation assembly that is part of and operates to open and close a cut-out mounted switching device. The actuation assembly includes components that cause the switching device to be released from an upper coupling assembly when the actuation assembly opens the switching device and causes the switching device to be closed when the switching device is dropping out of the coupling assembly.
A system and method for operating a vacuum interrupter in a self-resetting interrupter. The method includes detecting fault current, opening the vacuum interrupter a first time using power harvested from the current transformer when the fault current is detected, and storing a polarity of the detected fault current when the vacuum interrupter is opened. The method then determines a close time to close the vacuum interrupter so that the current has the same polarity that was stored when the vacuum interrupter was opened and that actuation of closing the vacuum interrupter ends at a current zero crossing, closes the vacuum interrupter at the close time, and opens the vacuum interrupter a second time after the vacuum interrupter is closed using power harvested from the current transformer.
H01H 13/54 - Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state a predetermined time interval after removal of operating force, e.g. for staircase lighting
G05F 3/04 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable is AC
H01H 7/16 - Devices for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the AC cycle
H01H 31/32 - Air-break switches for high tension without arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means with movable contact that remains electrically connected to one line in open position of switch with rectilinearly-movable contact
H01H 33/00 - High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
An electrical device including a first cylindrical capacitor, a first terminal electrically coupled to one end of the first capacitor, a first electrical line electrically coupled to the first terminal and a first annular conductive end shield formed over the first terminal and being electrically coupled to the first terminal and the one end of the first capacitor, where the first end shield has a greater diameter than the diameter of the first capacitor. The device also includes a second cylindrical capacitor, a second terminal electrically coupled to one end of the second capacitor, a second electrical line electrically coupled to the second terminal and a second annular conductive end shield formed over the second terminal and being electrically coupled to the second terminal and the one end of the second capacitor, where the second end shield has a greater diameter than the diameter of the second capacitor.
A system and method for generating phasors having a phase angle and magnitude from a sinusoidal power signal, and using the phasors to generate a frequency and RoCoF of the power signal. The system and method provide improvements over known systems and methods by correcting the frequency of sensor signals, providing a simplified phasor correction equation, reducing errors in a non-recursive DFT algorithm, improving frequency estimation by spacing out DFTs, correcting the sampling rate, providing linear interpolation of frequency and/or providing a variable DFT window length.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Automatic electrical distribution apparatus, namely, electric distribution switches, recorded computer programs for controlling the closing of electric distribution switches after a fault has been detected; recorded computer programs for testing electrical power lines; downloadable computer programs for controlling the closing of electric distribution switches after a fault has been detected; and downloadable computer programs for testing electrical power lines.
A system and method for estimating fault current using a sliding observation window that is shorter than one cycle. The method may also include providing a pickup level that defines a current threshold for opening a switch in response to detecting the fault current; estimating the fault current from current measurement signals; accumulating time from a reset zero position during the time that the estimation of the fault current is greater than the pickup level; subtracting time from the accumulated time during the time that the estimation of the fault current is less than the pickup level after time has been accumulated from when the estimation of the fault current is greater than the pickup level; detecting the fault current if the accumulated time reaches a predetermined accumulation time; and opening the switch if the fault current is detected.
H02H 3/26 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to difference between voltages or between currentsEmergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents
H02H 3/353 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to difference between voltages or between currentsEmergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents involving comparison of the voltage or current values at corresponding points in different conductors of a single system, e.g. of currents in go and return conductors of a three-phase system involving comparison of phase voltages
H02H 3/46 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to frequency deviations
H02H 3/50 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to the appearance of abnormal wave forms, e.g. AC in DC installations
H02H 3/52 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to the appearance of abnormal wave forms, e.g. AC in DC installations responsive to the appearance of harmonics
H02H 3/44 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to the rate of change of electrical quantities
H02H 3/06 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with automatic reconnection
H02H 3/08 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current
H02H 3/10 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current additionally responsive to some other abnormal electrical conditions
H02H 3/16 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass
An insulator that has particular application for enclosing a switching device, such as a vacuum interrupter. The insulator includes a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a plurality of ring-shaped sheds extending from the body between the top portion and the bottom portion. The sheds are asymmetrical in an axial direction such that an axial dimension of the sheds at one side towards the front of the switching device is shorter than an axial dimension of the sheds at an opposite side towards the rear of the switching device. The axial dimension of the sheds uniformly increases from the one side to the opposite side.
An anti-bounce dampener assembly for dampening the closing impact force between vacuum interrupter contacts. The dampener assembly includes a dampening spring positioned within a contact adapter, a guide tube extending through the contact adapter and the spring, where the guide tube is coupled to a fixed contact stem, and a bolt extending through the guide tube and being rigidly secured to the fixed contact stem. An impact force caused when the vacuum interrupter contacts contact each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed causes the fixed contact stem, the guide tube, the bolt and the vacuum interrupter to move against the bias of the spring and dampen the impact force. A flexible strap is electrically coupled to the fixed contact stem and the contact adapter, and flexes when the stem moves so as to maintain electrical coupling between the fixed contact stem and the contact adapter.
A switching device for controlling power flow on a power line. The device includes a current sensor for measuring primary current on the line, a first voltage sensor for measuring primary voltage on the line at one side of the switching device, and a second voltage sensor for measuring primary voltage on the line at another side of the switching device. An ADC converts measurement signals from the current sensor and the voltage sensors to digital signals, and a PMU calculates magnitude and phase angle synchrophasor data using the current and voltage measurement digital signals and calibration data.
H02H 3/48 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to loss of synchronism
G01R 19/257 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof using digital measurement techniques using analogue/digital converters of the type with comparison of different reference values with the value of voltage or current, e.g. using step-by-step method
G01R 19/25 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof using digital measurement techniques
G01R 19/252 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof using digital measurement techniques using analogue/digital converters of the type with conversion of voltage or current into frequency and measuring of this frequency
G01R 27/28 - Measuring attenuation, gain, phase shift, or derived characteristics of electric four-pole networks, i.e. two-port networksMeasuring transient response
H02H 3/26 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to difference between voltages or between currentsEmergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents
A method for determining an optimized TCC operating curve for an electronic interrupting device that protects a distribution transformer in a power distribution network, where the TCC operating curve is some optimized predetermined percentage above a TCC curve for normal transformer operation. The method includes providing a TCC transformer curve that identifies an allowed transformer operation current once the transformer magnetics have been stabilized and the transformer is operating normally, and determining a TCC operating curve that is defined by points along the transformer curve plus a predetermined percentage above the transformer curve, where the operating curve identifies a response time for when the electronic interrupting device will open in response to a certain current flow.
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
H02H 3/093 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current with timing means
H02H 3/10 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current additionally responsive to some other abnormal electrical conditions
G01R 22/10 - Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters by electronic methods using digital techniques
H02H 3/06 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with automatic reconnection
17.
METHOD FOR REDUCING LOCALIZED DEFORMATION IN SNAP-IN FEATURES
A snap-in link that provides a snap-in connection between two devices. The link includes an elongated portion and first and second flexible arms coupled to the elongated portion at one end and having a first snap-in slot at an opposite end. The flexible arms include an outer side, an inner side, a plurality of stress-concentration indentations formed in the outer side and a plurality of stress-concentration indentations formed in the inner side, where a nub is formed in each of the indentations along the outer side and the flexible arms define a slot therebetween.
A vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle, a fixed contact extending through one end of the vacuum bottle and a movable contact positioned within the vacuum bottle relative to the fixed contact so that a gap is defined between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the vacuum interrupter is open and the fixed contact and the movable contact are in contact with each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed. An insulated drive rod is rigidly coupled to the movable contact opposite to the fixed contact and a circular flexible conductor is coupled to the movable contact and flexes when the movable contact is moved by the drive rod. The flexible conductor can be, for example, a laminate structure including a plurality of stacked conductive laminates each having a plurality of spirals separated by gaps or a linear spring trampoline conductor.
F04B 45/02 - Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids having bellows
H01H 1/50 - Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
19.
HIGH-VOLTAGE TRIGGERED PULSECLOSER WITH CRITICAL RECLOSING TIME ESTIMATION
a prioria priori knowledge or real-time behaviour. If the fault is not present, then the method determines a desired time to perform a reclose operation.
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
G01R 31/11 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks using pulse-reflection methods
H02H 3/06 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with automatic reconnection
A system and method for identifying an earth fault in a resonant grounded medium voltage network that employs a REFCL compensation system. The method derives a zero sequence real power from a phase voltage to ground on each phase and a current on each phase and aligns the zero sequence real power in time with a magnitude of a zero sequence voltage provided by the REFCL compensation system. The method determines when the zero sequence real power and the zero sequence voltage exceed predetermined thresholds. The method delays the magnitude of the zero sequence voltage for a predetermined period of time when the zero sequence voltage exceeds the threshold and determines that the fault is occurring when both the time aligned zero sequence real power exceeds the threshold and the magnitude of the zero sequence voltage exceeds the threshold for the predetermined period of time at the same time.
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
H02H 3/16 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass
G01R 31/52 - Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
H02H 9/08 - Limitation or suppression of earth fault currents, e.g. Petersen coil
21.
TRANSMISSION LINE FAULT LOCATION, ISOLATION & SYSTEM RESTORATION (FLISR) SYSTEM
An electrical power network employing fault location, isolation and system restoration. The system includes a plurality of switching devices electrically coupled along a power line downstream of a fault interrupting device. The switching devices each have current and voltage sensing capability and the capability to provide pulse tests for detecting fault presence. The fault interrupting device performs reclosing operations, and when the plurality of switching devices detect fault presence a predetermined number of times in coordination with a number of reclosing operations performed by the fault interrupting device and detect loss of voltage, each switching device opens. The fault interrupting device closes when the switching devices open, and the switching devices sequentially pulse test and close from a furthest upstream switching device when detecting return of voltage and no fault presence until a switching device closest to the fault pulse tests and detects fault presence and locks open.
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
G01R 31/52 - Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
H02H 3/30 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to difference between voltages or between currentsEmergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents involving comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system, e.g. at opposite ends of one line, at input and output of apparatus using pilot wires or other signalling channel
H02H 7/26 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred
22.
HIGH-VOLTAGE TRIGGERED PULSECLOSER WITH ADAPTIVE CIRCUIT TESTING
A system and method for maintaining electrical stability of a high-voltage transmission power system in response to a fault. The method includes detecting the fault, opening a switch to clear the fault, performing a first pulse test for a predetermined duration of time to determine if the fault is still present, preventing a reclosing operation from occurring if the pulse test indicates that the fault is still present, and allowing the reclosing operation to occur if the first pulse test indicates that the fault is not present. One or more subsequent pulse tests can be performed if the first pulse test is inclusive about the persistence of the fault, where the reclosing operation is prevented from occurring if the pulse tests indicate that the fault is still present and the reclosing operation is allowed if the pulse tests indicate that the fault is no longer present.
An energy harvesting circuit for harvesting energy from a medium voltage power line. The energy harvesting circuit includes an input capacitor electrically coupled to the power line and storing power therefrom, and a flyback converter including a primary coil and a secondary coil. The harvesting circuit further includes a switching circuit electrically coupled in series with the primary coil and being operable to electrically connect and disconnect the input capacitor to and from the primary coil, where the switching circuit includes an input voltage regulation feedback circuit for regulating an input voltage provided to the switching circuit from the input capacitor. The harvesting circuit also includes an output capacitor electrically coupled to the secondary coil and the actuator, where the output capacitor is charged by the secondary coil when the switching circuit is closed to provide power to an actuator to close a vacuum interrupter.
H02J 50/00 - Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
H02J 11/00 - Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
24.
SERIES Z-SOURCE CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH PULSE-TESTING CAPABILITY
A series Z-source circuit breaker including a semiconductor switch that breaks source power being provided to a load in response to overcurrent. An electromechanical switch is electrically coupled in parallel with the semiconductor switch, a first capacitor is electrically coupled to an output side of the semiconductor switch, a second capacitor is electrically coupled in parallel with the semiconductor switch, and a delay circuit is electrically coupled in series with the first capacitor. The semiconductor switch is in an open position and the electromechanical switch is in a closed position when overcurrent is not present. Upon detection of overcurrent the semiconductor switch is closed, the electromechanical switch is opened and the delay circuit is controlled to delay when reverse bias current is provided from the first capacitor to the semiconductor switch to prevent source power from being provided to the load to give the electromechanical switch time to open.
H02H 3/087 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current for DC applications
H01H 33/59 - Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switch and not otherwise provided for, e.g. for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the AC cycle
An insulating rotary diaphragm for a vacuum interrupter (VI) electrical switch. The insulating diaphragm is designed for use in underground or pad-mounted VI switches where an external lever is rotated by a line worker to manually open the switch. A torsional insulating rod is coupled between a switch actuator and the external lever, and the diaphragm maintains constant contact with the insulating rod and an outer housing when the lever and rod are rotated, thus ensuring adequate isolation between the actuator and the lever. The diaphragm deforms torsionally when the lever and rod are rotated. This configuration allows the actuator to be at medium voltage, eliminates the need for a translational insulating rod between the medium voltage switch components and the lever, and thereby reduces the overall length of the VI switch.
A61M 60/126 - Implantable pumps or pumping devices, i.e. the blood being pumped inside the patient’s body implantable via, into, inside, in line, branching on, or around a blood vessel
A system and method for determining when an electronic interrupting device will open in response to detecting overcurrent, where the interrupting device protects a transformer in a power distribution network. The method includes obtaining a time/current through fault protection curve that is defined by a plurality of time/current points for the transformer that identifies when the transformer may experience thermal or mechanical damage in response to a certain current flow over a certain time in the transformer windings, selecting a time multiplier, and determining an operating curve for the interrupting device by multiplying the multiplier and a time portion of each of the plurality of time/current points on the through fault protection curve, where the operating curve identifies when the interrupting device will open in response to a certain current flow over a certain time.
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
G01R 22/10 - Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters by electronic methods using digital techniques
H02H 7/00 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions
H02H 7/045 - Differential protection of transformers
A system and method for representing the topology of a power distribution network, where the network includes at least one power source, a feeder and a plurality of switching devices positioned along the feeder. The method includes providing a device list in each switching device that includes a local device index of each of the switching devices, a local team index of the team on an X-side of each of the switching devices, the local team index of the team on a Y-side of each of the switching devices and device specific data, where the X and Y-sides of the switching device is the physical orientation of the device when it is installed, and providing a team list in each switching device that includes the local team index of each of the teams, the local device indices of the switching devices on each team and team specific data.
A phase balancer switching device that switches input phases on one side of the device to select output phases on an opposite side of the switch for load balancing purposes in a low voltage power distribution network. The device includes an X-terminal having a first phase X-terminal line, a second phase X-terminal line and a third phase X-terminal line, a Y-terminal having a first phase Y-terminal line, a second phase Y-terminal line and a third phase Y-terminal line, and a switch electrically coupled to the X-terminal and the Y-terminal, where the switch includes a configuration of switch parts that are controlled to selectively connect the first, second and third phase X-terminal lines to the first, second and third phase Y-terminal lines.
A system and method for quickly detecting fault current on a power line in an electrical power distribution network. A switch assembly includes a detecting circuit for quickly detecting the fault current on the power line. The circuit includes a Rogowski coil wrapped around the power line that provides an output measurement signal that is proportional to a change in the current flow on the line, and a passive integrator responsive to the output measurement signal from the Rogowski coil that integrates the output measurement signal over time. The circuit also includes an amplifier responsive to and amplifying the integrated output measurement signal and a microcontroller responsive to the amplified output measurement signal that calculates the current flow on the line using the amplified output measurement signal. A current transformer harvests energy from the power line to power the circuit when the fault current is occurring.
G01R 19/30 - Measuring the maximum or the minimum value of current or voltage reached in a time interval
G01R 15/18 - Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks using inductive devices, e.g. transformers
G01R 15/20 - Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices
G01R 19/145 - Indicating the presence of current or voltage
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
30.
TRANSFORMER PROTECTOR WITH INTERNAL FAULT DETECTOR
A fault detection system that includes a recloser configured to perform a reclosing operation in response to detecting overcurrent. The system also includes a sensor adapted to be mounted to a can of a transformer and extending into the can for measuring pressure therein, where the sensor includes a mechanical indicator that extends when overpressure is detected. The transformer further includes a radio mounted to the can and coupled to the sensor, where the radio includes a switch coupled to the mechanical indicator and a transmitter. When the mechanical indicator extends in response to detecting overpressure in the can it causes the switch to close which causes the transmitter to send a signal that is received by a communications device, which prevents the recloser from reclosing.
H01H 71/62 - Manual reset mechanisms with means for preventing resetting while abnormal condition persists, e.g. loose handle arrangement
H01H 77/00 - Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
H01F 27/40 - Structural association with built-in electric component, e.g. fuse
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Electronic system comprised of computer hardware, recorded software, and gateway controls being gateway routers in the nature of computer control hardware, sold as a unit for enabling customizable security functionality for use with electrical power distribution and electrical power distribution equipment.
A system and method for restoring power in a power distribution network. The network includes at least two power sources, at least one feeder and a plurality of switching devices positioned along the at least one feeder and being in communications with each other. The method determines that one or more of network sections is not receiving power, and determining a plurality of possible power restoration solutions that identify what sections each of the power sources that are available to provide power can provide power to based on a power capacity of the sources and a load requirement of the sections.
G01R 19/25 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof using digital measurement techniques
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
G06F 1/30 - Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations
H02H 1/06 - Arrangements for supplying operative power
H02H 3/06 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with automatic reconnection
H02H 7/26 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred
33.
VOLTAGE READINGS USING HIGH VOLTAGE RESISTOR ACROSS VACUUM INTERRUPTER
A switch assembly including a switch and a high impedance element used for energy harvesting purposes that are connected to a power line and assembly electronics. The high impedance element has higher impedance than the switch so that current flows through the switch from the power line when the switch is closed and through the high impedance element from the power line when the switch is open. The switch assembly also includes a current sensing device, such as a current sensing resistor, electrically coupled in series with the high impedance element and the electronics. By measuring the current flow using the current sensing device, it is possible to infer the voltage across the high impedance element since its impedance is known. This voltage can be used to provide point on wave closing of the switch and to determine the line voltage magnitude.
H01H 75/00 - Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of power reset mechanism
A center post assembly for eliminating sagging of a roof panel in a cabinet, where doors of the cabinet latch to the post assembly. The post assembly includes a base portion and a post portion, where one of the base portion or the post portion includes a plurality of slots and the other one of the base portion or the slot portion includes a plurality of threaded studs. The base portion further includes a first bracket and a jackscrew threaded into a threaded opening in the first bracket and the post portion further includes a second bracket, where the jackscrew engages the second bracket so that rotation of the jackscrew causes the second bracket to move relative to the first bracket so that the studs slide in the slots and increase the length of the post assembly to remove the sag.
A47B 96/14 - Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like
A47B 45/00 - Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth
A47B 55/00 - Cabinets, racks or shelf units, having essential features of rigid construction
A47B 96/00 - Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups General details of furniture
F16B 12/30 - Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for metal furniture parts using threaded bolts
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Interrupters, controls, and software, systems of interrupters, systems of controls, and systems of software, bushing well interrupter assemblies and component parts therefor, all for electric power distribution systems.
A transformer fault detection, where the transformer includes a primary winding coupled to a medium voltage power line and a secondary winding providing a stepped down voltage of the medium voltage. The detection system includes a switching device, where the switching device includes a first voltage measuring device for measuring the voltage on the primary winding, a controller for processing measured voltages and a transceiver for receiving and transmitting messages. The detection system also includes a second voltage measuring device for measuring the stepped down voltage on the secondary winding, where the second voltage measuring device includes a transmitter for transmitting the measured step down voltage to the switching device. The controller uses the measured voltages to calculate a transformer turns ratio (TTR) of the transformer to determine whether a transformer fault.
H02H 3/32 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to difference between voltages or between currentsEmergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents involving comparison of the voltage or current values at corresponding points in different conductors of a single system, e.g. of currents in go and return conductors
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Electric circuit fault interrupters and electronic controls for electric power distribution systems; recorded and downloadable software for recording, managing, storing and communicating data for use with electric power distribution systems; systems of interrupters comprising electric circuit fault interrupters, electric switches and vacuum interrupters for electric power distribution systems; systems of controls comprising electronic controllers for electric power distribution systems; systems of software comprising recorded and downloadable software for recording, managing, storing and communicating data for use with electric power distribution systems; bushing well interrupter assemblies comprised of electric circuit fault interrupters and component parts therefor, namely, electric switches, circuit breakers and vacuum interrupters, all for electric power distribution systems
A switch assembly including a switch and a high impedance element used for energy harvesting purposes that are connected to a power line at one end and assembly electronics at an opposite end, where in one non-limiting embodiment the switch assembly has particular application for use in connection with a vacuum interrupter. The high impedance element has higher impedance than the switch so that current flows through the switch from the power line when the switch is closed and through the high impedance element from the power line when the switch is open, where power from the high impedance element can power a switch closing device, such as a solenoid actuator. The high impedance element can be a resistive element, a capacitive element or a combination of a resistive and capacitive element.
H01H 75/00 - Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of power reset mechanism
H02J 50/00 - Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
A method for performing a low energy pulse testing in a power distribution network that causes contacts to close and then open in about one fundamental frequency cycle of current flow time and close on a voltage waveform that produces symmetrical fault current. The method includes energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of a spring to move a movable contact towards a fixed contact. The method also includes de-energizing the actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, where energizing the magnetic actuator occurs when an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.
G01R 31/327 - Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
G01R 31/333 - Testing of the switching capacity of high-voltage circuit-breakers
H02H 3/06 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with automatic reconnection
H02H 7/00 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions
H01H 81/00 - Protective switches in which contacts are normally closed but are repeatedly opened and reclosed as long as a condition causing excess current persists, e.g. for current limiting
A control system and method for sectionalizing switches and pulse-testing interrupter/reclosers in a distribution grid feeder which enables fault location, isolation and service restoration without requiring an external communications infrastructure to pass information between the switches. The method includes switches entering an armed state when they experience a high fault current during an initial fault event. Then, when the interrupter/recloser runs its test pulse sequence, any armed switch counts all test pulses as fault pulses, while non-armed switches count the test pulses as load pulses. Switches open to isolate the fault based on threshold values of fault pulse count and load pulse count. When an initially active interrupter/recloser completes its test pulse sequence, another interrupter/recloser begins its sequence, and all switches reconfigure their threshold values based on the new interrupter/recloser. Interrupter/reclosers after the initial device use a fast close-open event if necessary to arm some switches for proper fault-count opening.
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
H02H 3/033 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with several disconnections in a preferential order
H02H 7/26 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred
A control system and method for sectionalizing switches and a source interrupter/recloser in a feeder, or portion of the distribution grid, which enables fault location, isolation and service restoration without requiring a communications infrastructure and communications equipment at the switches. The method includes each switch adaptively configuring fault-count, load-count and voltage-count thresholds upon which the switch should open. The thresholds for each switch are based on the switch's proximity to the active feeder source, which requires a determination of which source is powering the feeder at a particular time. Five different methods are disclosed to determine which source is active. When a fault is detected, the source interrupter/recloser opens and then begins a pulse testing or reclosing sequence, where the switches open to isolate the fault when reaching their fault-count or voltage-count threshold. When the fault is isolated, the source recloses to restore power to unaffected portions of the feeder.
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
H02H 3/033 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details with several disconnections in a preferential order
H02H 7/26 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred
42.
POWER DISTRIBUTION LATERAL PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A fault protection system for providing protection from fault current for components and devices on a lateral line proximate to a distribution transformer in a power distribution network. The system includes a single-phase recloser having a vacuum interrupter that is controlled by a controller. In one embodiment, the recloser has an insulating body that is molded in combination with an insulating body of a bushing that is connected to the distribution transformer. In this embodiment, the controller can be powered by a current transformer within the recloser. In another embodiment, the recloser is mounted to a utility pole separate from the distribution transformer, where the controller is powered by the low voltage side of the transformer and the current transformer is eliminated. An isolated power supply is provided between the transformer and the controller to provide voltage isolation.
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
H01H 47/00 - Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
H01H 73/00 - Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
H01H 75/00 - Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of power reset mechanism
H01H 77/00 - Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Electric circuit fault interrupters and electronic controls for electric power distribution systems; recorded and downloadable software for recording, managing, storing and communicating data for use with electric power distribution systems; systems of interrupters comprising electric circuit fault interrupters, electric switches and vacuum interrupters for electric power distribution systems; systems of controls comprising electronic controllers for electric power distribution systems; systems of software comprising recorded and downloadable software for recording, managing, storing and communicating data for use with electric power distribution systems; bushing well interrupter assemblies comprised of electric circuit fault interrupters and component parts therefor, namely, electric switches, circuit breakers and vacuum interrupters, all for electric power distribution systems
A guiding pull ring member for guiding a unit top contact in a switch assembly into a mounting contact. The guide ring member includes a mounting ring defined in a first plane, a grasping ring coupled to one side of the mounting ring and being defined in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, and a V-shaped guide piece coupled to the mounting ring at a side opposite from the grasping ring and extending perpendicular to the first plane. The guiding pull ring member has particular application for a solenoid operated vacuum interrupter recloser switch mounted to a utility pole.
A method for identifying a location of a fault in an electrical power distribution network that includes identifying an impedance of an electrical line between each pair of adjacent utility poles, measuring a voltage and a current of the power signal at a switching device during the fault, and estimating a voltage at each of the utility poles downstream of the switching device using the impedance of the electrical line between the utility poles and the measured voltage and current during the fault. The method calculates a reactive power value at each of the utility poles using the estimated voltages, where calculating a reactive power value includes compensating for distributed loads along the electrical line that consume reactive power during the fault, and determines the location of the fault based on where the reactive power goes to zero along the electrical line.
A method of determining the topology of a portion of the electrical distribution grid such as a feeder based on voltage and current measurements. The method employs Bayesian-based topology detection, where voltage and current data is measured at switches in the feeder at numerous sample times. A voltage variance is calculated for each switch, along with a voltage correlation coefficient for each pair of switches. Voltage variance is used to establish a preliminary position of a switch in the feeder, where switches closest to the substation source are expected to exhibit the least variance, and vice versa. The voltage correlation coefficient is used to provide a first determination of whether two switches are in series with each other in a parent-child relationship, and a current magnitude comparison is used to confirm or refute the preliminary parent-child relationship between the two nodes.
A control system and method for a group of interconnected feeders which enables fault location, isolation and service restoration without requiring each switch to have topology knowledge of devices in adjacent feeders. The method defines, for each switch, connectivity and X/Y directional information about its neighboring switches and propagates this information throughout each feeder. A leader device is also determined for each feeder. Information about topology of adjacent feeders is not needed by all devices. Only normally-open tie switches which define a boundary between two adjacent feeders have knowledge of the devices in both feeders. Switches which open during fault isolation automatically find open tie switches in a direction opposite the fault, and request service restoration downstream of the fault by providing power from an adjacent feeder. Leader devices ensure an overload condition is not created before initiating opening and closing operations of switches downstream of the fault.
H02J 13/00 - Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the networkCircuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
48.
FAULT PROTECTION CONFIGURATION FOR A RESETTABLE TRANSFORMER PROTECTOR
Described are curve shapes that may be implemented in a transformer protector that provide enhanced fault protection. A transformer protector curve rating structure relates response curves to the transformer size and simplifies selection of response curves implemented within a transformer protector and associated transformer. In a system, a transformer protector is configured with a response curve selected in respect to the size of an associated transformer.
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
H02H 3/00 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection
H02H 3/02 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details
A method for separating welded contacts in a magnetically actuated switch assembly that includes providing multiple actuator hammer blows to the contacts. The method includes causing the contacts to close using, for example, a manual actuation device and detecting a high current condition that occurs when the contacts are closed. The method further includes electrically actuating the actuator to open the contacts in response to detecting the high current condition and determining that the contacts have not opened in response to the actuator being actuated because they are welded together. The method also includes electrically actuating the actuator to close the contacts when it is determined that they are welded together and again electrically actuating the actuator to open the contacts.
B60L 11/12 - with additional electric power supply, e.g. accumulator
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
G01R 31/327 - Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
H01H 1/50 - Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
A method for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The method includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.
H01F 7/08 - ElectromagnetsActuators including electromagnets with armatures
H01H 3/42 - Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts using cam or eccentric
H01H 13/02 - Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch Details
A system and method for determining if a fault condition exists in an electrical network. The method includes determining that a fault protection device has been opened and monitoring a voltage angle of a voltage waveform across a vacuum gap switching arrangement if the fault protection device is open, where the vacuum gap switching arrangement includes at least one vacuum gap switching element. The method also includes triggering a breakdown of a vacuum gap in the at least one vacuum gap switching element when the voltage angle corresponds to a predetermined switching angle to enable a temporary current flow through the vacuum gap switching arrangement, measuring the current flow through the vacuum gap switching arrangement, and determining whether the fault condition exists based at least in part on the measured current flow.
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
H02H 3/02 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details
H02H 3/08 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to excess current
H02H 3/16 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass
52.
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FAULT MITIGATION
Electrical systems and related operating methods are provided. One exemplary electrical system includes a power conversion system, a plurality of battery strings, a plurality of switching arrangements configured electrically in series between the respective battery strings and an interface to the power conversion system, and a control system coupled to the plurality of switching arrangements. The switching arrangements are operated to electrically connect a selected one of the battery strings to the power conversion system while concurrently isolating remaining battery strings from the power conversion system and the selected battery string.
A pole unit including a vacuum interrupter switch having a fixed contact extending into one end of a vacuum chamber and being electrically coupled to a first terminal, and a moving contact extending into an opposite end of the chamber. A sliding contact is rigidly coupled to the moving contact and slidably coupled to a second terminal. The pole unit also includes an electromagnetic actuator including a coil, a rod coupled to the sliding contact and a spring positioned against the rod. The pole unit further includes a transmitter coil and a receiver coil that are electromagnetically coupled, where the receiver coil is electrically coupled to the actuator and is electrically isolated from the transmitter coil. In this configuration, the interrupter switch, the actuator and the receiver coil are at a line potential and the transmitter coil is at ground potential.
Fault protection devices for electrical distribution systems and related reclosing methods are provided. One exemplary method of reclosing a switching element of a fault protection device after fault detection involves pulsing the switching element closed to enable a temporary current flow through the fault protection device and verifying absence of a fault condition based at least in part on the temporary current flow using a testing fault detection threshold. After verifying the absence of the fault condition, the method closes the switching element to enable current flow through the fault protection device, monitors the current flow through the fault protection device for the fault condition using the testing fault detection threshold for a transition period, and monitors the current flow through the fault protection device for the fault condition using a different fault detection threshold after the transition period.
H01H 83/06 - Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by current falling below a predetermined value
H01H 83/20 - Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition
H02H 3/02 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details
H02H 9/02 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection responsive to excess current
55.
SPIRAL CORE CURRENT TRANSFORMER FOR ENERGY HARVESTING APPLICATIONS
A current transformer assembly for harvesting power from a primary conductor, such as a power line, for operating electronics, where the assembly is secured to the conductor while the conductor is connected. The assembly includes a current transformer having a transformer structure with a central opening that accepts the primary conductor and a spindle member for accepting a current transformer magnetic tape operating as the core of the current transformer. The assembly also includes a tape carrier secured to the structure on which the transformer tape is wound, and a winding device operable to unwind the transformer tape from the tape carrier and wind the tape onto the spindle member.
H02J 11/00 - Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
H02J 50/00 - Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
A method for detecting a voltage disturbance on an electrical line coupled to a utility that provides three-phase electrical AC power signals to a critical load that includes a transformer. The method includes reading instantaneous voltage measurements at a high sample rate of each of the three-phase power signals, and calculating a flux in the transformer at the sample rate for each of three-phase power signals by adding the instantaneous voltage measurements at the current sample point and at a previous sample point. The method includes calculating a flux error for each of the three-phase signals at the sample rate as a difference between the newly calculated flux and the oldest calculated flux. The method determines whether the flux error for any of the three-phase power signals is greater than a first predetermined percentage or less than a second predetermined percentage, and if so, identifies a voltage disturbance.
H02H 3/32 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to difference between voltages or between currentsEmergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents involving comparison of the voltage or current values at corresponding points in different conductors of a single system, e.g. of currents in go and return conductors
H02H 7/04 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for transformers
H01F 27/42 - Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors or choke coils
58.
METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY COORDINATING PROTECTION SETTINGS IN AN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
Methods and systems are provided for automatically coordinating protection settings for relays within an electrical power distribution network. A method includes using a graph traversal mechanism to analyze geographical-based equipment data that contains information about overcurrent relays within the electrical power distribution network. A customizable rule base is applied to protection guidelines. Protection settings are determined based upon the applied customizable rule base and the direction of fault current flow from each source. The determined protection settings are used for the overcurrent relays to control switches in the electrical power distribution network in response to a detected fault.
H02H 7/26 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred
H02H 7/28 - Sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, e.g. for disconnecting a section on which a short-circuit, earth fault, or arc discharge has occurred for meshed systems
H02H 1/00 - Details of emergency protective circuit arrangements
H02H 9/00 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Microgrid control system for balancing local energy resources with electrical demand in order to conserve energy comprised of computers, operating software, AC inverters, AC to DC inverters, inverters for power supply, power inverters, electric current switches, electric power switches, current switches, cut-out switches, and circuit breakers
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Electric current switches, electric power switches, current switches, cut-out switches; arc fault circuit interrupters, electrical ground fault detectors, fault current breakers, fault current switches, ground fault circuit interrupters; reclosers; dropout reclosers; electronic controls for arc fault circuit interrupters, electronic controls for electrical ground fault detectors, electronic controls for fault current breakers, electronic controls for fault current switches, electronic controls for ground fault circuit interrupters
61.
COORDINATED FREQUENCY LOAD SHEDDING PROTECTION METHOD USING DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
A method for providing frequency load shedding in a power distribution network. The network includes a number of distributed switch-gear assemblies that control whether AC power is provided to groups of loads. The distributed switch-gear assemblies monitor the frequency of the AC signal to determine if a frequency event is occurring and also determine the direction of the power flow at the time of the event. The switch-gear assembly may open in an underfrequency event only if the loads are drawing power from the network, and the switch-gear assembly may open in an overfrequency event only if there is reverse power flow during the event. In addition, the order of operation of which switch-gear assemblies may open first in response to the frequency event is determined in advance by the location of the switch-gear assembly in the network and a corresponding time delay and coordinated frequency set-points.
H02J 3/14 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
G05B 17/02 - Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems electric
H02J 3/12 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
A method for determining whether a fault is on a feeder line or a lateral line so as to allow an upstream recloser on the feeder line to immediately open in response to the fault if it determines the fault is on the feeder line. The method includes measuring a downstream voltage on the feeder line at a downstream recloser during the fault and transmitting the downstream voltage from the downstream recloser to the upstream recloser. The method can determine that the fault is on the feeder line or the lateral line by determining whether the fault voltage is approximately the same as the downstream voltage, or by comparing a first distance from the upstream recloser to the fault location using the fault voltage and a second distance from the upstream recloser to a last location of the fault current on the feeder line using the downstream voltage.
H02J 3/00 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
H02J 3/12 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
A method for detecting a voltage disturbance on an electrical line coupled to a utility that includes calculating a sliding window actual root mean squared (RMS) voltage for each three-phase power signal, calculating a sliding window filtered RMS average voltage for each actual RMS voltage to identify normal changes in the voltage of the power signals from a nominal voltage, and obtaining a difference between the actual RMS voltage and the RMS average voltage for each of the power signals. The method determines whether the difference between the actual RMS voltage and the RMS average voltage for any of the three-phase signals is greater than a first predetermined percentage, or whether the difference between the actual RMS voltage and the RMS average voltage for any of the three-phase signals is less than a second predetermined percentage, and if so, disconnects a load from the utility.
Apparatuses and methods are provided for restoring flux in a startup of an uninterruptible power supply device. The uninterruptible power supply device passes voltage to loads while offline. Upon occurrence of a utility disturbance, the output voltage is adjusted while maintaining RMS voltage within a pre-specified window in order to restore flux during startup of the uninterruptible power supply device.
H01F 27/42 - Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors or choke coils
H02M 1/32 - Means for protecting converters other than by automatic disconnection
H02J 9/06 - Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source with automatic change-over
An electrical power distribution network that is able to provide power to a plurality of loads, such as electric vehicle charging stations, on demand. The network includes a DC bus and a plurality of power sources that may be a number of renewable energy power sources, such as an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells and wind turbines, and a number of energy storage devices, such as batteries, that are electrically coupled to the DC bus. The network also includes a DC-to-AC power conversion system (PCS) that is electrically coupled to the DC bus and an AC utility feed line that is part of an electrical grid. The network further includes a system controller that controls which of the power sources and the utility grid provides power to the loads in response to a power demand from the loads and the available power from the power sources and the grid.
B60L 11/00 - Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle (B60L 8/00, B60L 13/00 take precedence;arrangements or mounting of prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines for mutual or common propulsion B60K 6/20)
B60L 8/00 - Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
Methods for energizing microgrids and microgrid energy distribution systems are provided. A method for energizing a microgrid includes energizing a storage management system (SMS) that is configured to control power distribution in the microgrid. The method further includes connecting a plurality of reactive components to the SMS based on a configuration control programmed into the SMS. The method yet further includes ramping up an output voltage of the SMS based on limiting inrush currents of the plurality of reactive components in the microgrid.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
68.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ISLANDING TRANSITIONS
Electrical systems and related operating methods are provided. One exemplary electrical system includes a sensing arrangement coupled to an electrical grid interface to measure an electrical characteristic of the electrical grid interface, a power conversion module having an output coupled to the electrical grid interface, and a control module coupled to the sensing arrangement and the power conversion module. The control module determines a reference value for the electrical characteristic, identifies an islanding condition based on a difference between a value for the electrical characteristic and the reference value, determines a target output value for the power conversion module based on the difference, and in response to the islanding condition, operates the power conversion module to provide the target output value for the electrical characteristic at the output. The target output value reduces the difference while a connection arrangement is being opened to achieve islanding.
Electrical systems and related operating methods are provided. One exemplary electrical system includes a sensing arrangement coupled to an electrical grid interface to measure an electrical characteristic of the electrical grid interface, a power conversion module having an output coupled to the electrical grid interface, and a control module coupled to the sensing arrangement and the power conversion module. The control module determines an estimated frequency of the electrical characteristic based on a phase error corresponding to a measured value of the electrical characteristic obtained from the sensing arrangement, determines a frequency correction power command based on a difference between the estimated frequency and a target frequency, and operates the power conversion module in accordance with the frequency correction power command. The frequency correction power command regulates the frequency of the electrical characteristic of the electrical grid interface to the target frequency, for example, by charging or discharging a battery.
Electrical systems and related operating methods are provided. One exemplary electrical system includes a sensing arrangement coupled to an electrical grid interface to measure an electrical characteristic of the electrical grid interface, a power conversion module having an output coupled to the electrical grid interface, and a control module coupled to the sensing arrangement and the power conversion module. The control module determines an estimated frequency of the electrical characteristic based on a measured value of the electrical characteristic from the sensing arrangement, adjusts a commanded reactive power for the power conversion module to increase a difference between the estimated frequency and a reference frequency, operates the power conversion module in accordance with the adjusted reactive power command, and thereafter initiates a remedial action when the difference between the estimated frequency and the reference frequency exceeds a threshold amount.
H02J 3/38 - Arrangements for parallelly feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
H02H 3/46 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to frequency deviations
H01L 31/05 - Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
H02H 3/48 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to loss of synchronism
H02J 3/44 - Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator with means for ensuring correct phase sequence
H02J 5/00 - Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks
Method of controlling distribution of energy within an energy distribution system and energy distribution systems are provided. An energy distribution system includes a central controller and one or more remote distribution control units. A method includes obtaining, with the central controller from the remote distribution control units, operational data indicating an operational condition of the energy distribution system. The method further includes comparing the operational condition to a polling rate threshold that indicates when the operational condition is approaching a condition threshold at which the central controller will operably control operation of the remote distribution control unit. The method further includes adjusting a polling rate at which the operational data is obtained in response to the operational condition crossing the polling rate threshold. The method yet further includes polling and controlling the remote distribution control unit with the central controller at the adjusted polling rate.
G06F 1/26 - Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H01L 31/05 - Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
Methods and apparatus are provided for fault detection and direction determination with a phase overcurrent relay using individual phase torques and the negative sequence torque, and with a ground overcurrent relay using the zero sequence torque. A directional element includes a ground element logic circuit, a negative element logic circuit and a phase element logic circuit to evaluate the operation state of the system, detect a fault condition and determine the direction of the fault condition in an electrical power distribution system having multiple sources on a power grid.
G01R 31/08 - Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
H02H 3/00 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection
H02J 3/18 - Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks
An electrical equipment connector having a replaceable bushing for an electrical power connector is disclosed. The replaceable bushing includes an insulator body having a tapered exterior surface formed on the first end, and a tapered interior surface formed in a second end. A conductor body extends through the insulator body and has a through bore with a counterbore at one end. A captured bolt in the counterbore engages a threaded tap in a conductor body disposed in the housing such that the tapered interior surface fits over and conforms to a tapered exterior surface on the housing connector.
H01R 43/26 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device
76.
CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS WITH MASSES IN CONTACT SPRING ASSEMBLIES
Devices and assemblies are provided for operating circuit interrupters. A circuit interrupter assembly includes a circuit interrupter and a contact spring assembly. The circuit interrupter is located within the housing and includes a moving contact and a stationary contact. Contact spring assembly includes a mass, a plunger, a ferrule, a spring, and a dielectric drive rod. The mass defines an inner bore with a first diameter at a first portion of the mass and a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter at a second portion of the mass. The plunger has a flange portion and a body portion. The flange portion is located within the inner bore at the second portion and has a flange diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The spring is disposed within the inner bore between the plunger and the ferrule.
H01H 33/02 - High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means Details
H01H 33/59 - Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switch and not otherwise provided for, e.g. for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the AC cycle
H02H 3/02 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition, with or without subsequent reconnection Details
An enclosure includes a body portion, a top portion having a lid component configured to rotate with respect to the body portion to provide access to an interior compartment of the enclosure, and a counterweight assembly coupled between the lid component and the body portion. The counterweight assembly is configured such that the force required to rotate the lid component from the enclosure's closed position to its full-open position is substantially constant.
A busbar assembly for interconnecting electrical equipment units is disclosed. The busbar assembly includes one or more conductors have a conductive rod. Each end of the conductive rod has an end forming a ball member. The busbar assembly also includes two or more connectors having a clamp mechanism to receive the ball member of the conductive rod, A fastener threadably couples with a conductor on an electrical equipment unit to rigidly secure the busbar assembly to the electrical equipment units.
An electrical connector system includes a socket component and a plug component. The socket component includes a contact region, a first socket contact centrally located within the circular contact region, and a second socket contact radially offset from the first socket contact by a first distance. The plug component includes a plug having a plug face, a first plug contact centrally located substantially within the circular plug face, and an annular, elastically deformable conductor having a radius approximately equal to the first distance which functions as a second plug contact. The socket contact region is configured to mate with the plug face to provide electrical continuity, in a connected state, between the first socket contact and the first plug contact, and to provide electrical continuity between the second socket contact and the second plug contact.
A motor operator assembly is described, which is releasably secured and selectively coupled to a switchgear unit. The motor operator assembly includes a support plate, and a latch mechanism secured to the support plate that has a latch member configured to releasably secure the support plate to the switchgear unit. A guide tube is secured to the support plate and includes a cylinder assembly having a motor mount and an indexing mechanism for selectively positioning the cylinder assembly between a stowed position and a use position. A motor operator is attached to the motor mount and has a socket configured to engage an input drive shaft on the switchgear unit.
Methods, systems, and non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium for generating a graphical user interface to view status events for devices operating within an electrical distribution system over various time interval granularities and ranges are disclosed. The graphical user interface provides users with the ability to select various overall ranges of time and time intervals within these ranges. By generating a simple graphical user interface in this manner, operating personnel can more easily view an aggregation of data for the electrical power system, predict trends, and isolate and rectify recurring problems.
An enclosure includes a body portion having a first slotted opening, a top portion including a rotatable lid component to provide access to an interior compartment of the enclosure. A locking assembly integral with the lid component includes an actuator component rotatably coupled to a side surface of the lid component and having a first threaded end portion and an actuator axis. The locking assembly further includes a drive cylinder having a second threaded end portion configured to receive the first threaded portion of the actuator component, wherein the drive cylinder is slideably coupled to the lid component, Rotation of the actuator component from a first position to a second position causes the drive cylinder to translate parallel to the actuator axis. The locking assembly further includes a first latch structure rigidly coupled to the drive cylinder to engage and disengage the first slotted opening.
E05B 65/52 - Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
E05C 9/02 - Arrangement of simultaneously-actuated bolts or other securing devices at well-separated positions on the same wing with one sliding bar for fastening when moved in one direction and unfastening when moved in opposite directionArrangement of simultaneously-actuated bolts or other securing devices at well-separated positions on the same wing with two sliding bars moved in the same direction when fastening or unfastening
An operating mechanism for a switchgear unit is disclosed. The operating unit includes an input drive shaft operable to rotate and counter-rotate. A trip linkage has a cam disk rotatably coupled to the input drive shaft and is coupled to a spring-drive mechanism for opening and closing the vacuum interrupter. An over-center linkage has a drive link rotatably coupled to the input drive shaft, and a follower link for opening and closing the isolating disconnect. Rotation of the input drive shaft through a first range drives the trip linkage for opening the vacuum interrupter and moves the drive link though an over-center position without opening the isolating disconnect. Rotation of the input drive shaft though a second range drives the over-center linkage for opening the isolating disconnect after the vacuum interrupter is opened.
A fuse link includes a conductive terminal component having a cylindrical insertion region with a knurled region formed therein and a fusible element electrically coupled thereto. A tubular sheath is configured to form a press-fit connection with the knurled region such that the tubular sheath substantially encloses the fusible element. The inner radius, the wall thickness, and the length of the tubular sheath are together configured to remain substantially intact when the fusible link experiences a first overload event within a first range of fault current values and burst when the fusible link experiences an overload event within a second range of fault current values that is greater than the first range.
Circuit interrupting devices, power distribution switchgear assemblies, and pole units for power distribution are provided. A circuit interrupting device includes a solid insulation housing, a disconnect, a window, and an insulating fluid. The solid insulation housing defines a first external opening and a first cavity extending into the solid insulation housing from the first external opening. The disconnect has a moving contact in selective engagement with a stationary contact in the first cavity. The window is secured to the solid insulation housing at the first external opening. The insulating fluid is disposed within the first cavity. The window, the solid insulation housing, or a combination thereof is configured to form a trap region that is in fluid communication with the first cavity and is configured to trap air bubbles in the insulating fluid.
A system and method for improving operation of power systems using global filtering criteria across multiple reports or dashboards is provided herein. The system and method may receive data regarding electric power system components, along with a filter selection from a power system operator. The operator' s filter selection is applied to the received data, and a first summary is generated. Upon receiving a request to generate a second summary, the system and method apply the filters to the received data to generate a second summary without requiring additional filter selection. The power system operator may then use the generated data in operating the power system.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Electric transformer protection systems comprising electrical switches, electrical switch operating mechanism, and electrical controllers; electrical switches, circuit interrupters, transformer protection pole units, electrical switch operating mechanisms, and parts therefor
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Communication system devices, namely, computer hardware and software for the setup and management of the communication system devices, namely electric power lines, modems and transceivers for use solely in electric power utility systems above 240 volts
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Electrical switches and circuit-interrupting devices, namely, a manually operable loadbreak device for opening electrical circuit devices carrying load currents for use in low and medium voltage electrical distribution systems.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Microgrid control system for balancing local energy resources with electrical demand in order to conserve energy comprised of computers, operating software, inverters, electrical switches, circuit breakers, and also containing electricity generators
