Schneider Electric Usa, Inc.

Schneider Electric Industries Sas

Alan Freeman

Kevin M Jefferies

Benjamin W Edwards

Matthew L White

Richard Karl Weiler

Konstantin Filippenko

Julius Michael Liptak

Gilles De Vos

A method for configuring electrical devices in an electrical panel includes acquiring machine-readable configuration data including a list of electrical devices to be installed; displaying a visual identifier on an electronic display screen associated with each device; acquiring an image showing the devices in the panel with the visual identifiers displayed by each of the devices; a processor comparing identification information of each device on the list with the identification information from the visual identifiers of the acquired image; and for each device on the list whose identification information corresponds to the information of one of the visual identifiers of the acquired image, sending a setting parameter to be applied to the device.

Methods and systems for automatically configuring electrical devices in an electrical panel

A computer-implemented method is provided to automatically adjust a device setting of a plurality of networked devices. The method includes performing autonomously at a device of the plurality of networked devices, receiving a request to update a device setting to a new value, comparing a characteristic of the plurality of networked devices to a corresponding characteristic of the device, determining one or more similar devices of the plurality of devices that satisfy a similarity criteria based on a result of the comparison, and accessing the one or more similar devices to change the device setting of the one or more similar devices to the new value.

Management of setting change propagation in networked devices

A method is performed by a bus coupler of a subnetwork of one or more local subnetworks coupled to an overall network is provided, including performing a local discovery process for discovering and identifying one or more bus devices included in the subnetwork. The method further includes submitting an internet protocol (IP) address request to obtain an IP address for the bus coupler, receiving at the bus coupler the IP address of the bus coupler in response to the IP address assignment request, submitting a configuration request for configuration information associated with a device name for the bus coupler, receiving the configuration information in response to the configuration request, and configuring at least one feature of the bus coupler using the configuration information, wherein the device name is based on identifier(s) of the respective one or more bus devices obtained by the discovery process.

Automatic naming and configuration of a replacement electronic device

A method and system are provided to facilitate the commissioning of a distributed system. The method and system obtains a base configuration which defines an expected virtual topology for a distributed system, and identifies via a control device a physical network topology of the distributed system to commission the distributed system. The control device performs network discovery to identify a plurality of connected devices that are communicatively coupled thereto, and to collect device information for each connected device relating to its identity and relative position in the distributed system which has connected devices or associated subnetworks connected in a ring network topology. The collected device information for the plurality of connected devices is compared to the expected virtual topology from the base configuration to determine an identity and physical location of the plurality of connected devices and associated subnetworks in the physical network topology of the distributed system.

Method to commission a distributed system

Techniques for monitoring the health of a three-phase induction motor are provided. An expected threshold value is calculated as a function of an expected ratio of current unbalance to voltage unbalance for the three-phase motor. Embodiments determine whether a measured current unbalance exceeds the expected threshold value. Responsive to the measured current unbalance exceeding the expected threshold value, a remedial action may be taken, such as generating diagnostic information or activating one or more protection operations for the three-phase induction motor.

Motor branch circuit health monitoring method

A measurement module receives crosstalk compensation factors that include distance factors based on respective distances of a current sensor of the module from respective current sensors of other measurement modules and phase difference factors based on respective differences between the phase of a source current measured by the module and respective phases of source currents measured by the other modules. The module monitors messages reporting current measurements transmitted from the other modules connected to a broadcast bus, of current measurements made by respective current sensors of the other modules measuring other respective source currents. The module determines a reported current that is computed as a function of current measurement by the module's current sensor, reported current measurements monitored from the other modules, and the received crosstalk compensation factors. The module transmits the determined reported current over the broadcast bus to the other modules and a central controller.

Multi-device current measurement crosstalk compensation

A measurement module receives a defined system topology and system component characteristics information for a system. The measurement module calculates an expected system impedance for the defined system topology. The measurement module collects one or more impedance measurements using a high frequency voltage stimulus. Finally, the measurement module compares the one or more impedance measurements with the expected system impedance to determine adequacy of protective grounding of the system.

Embedded high frequency ground monitor

A measurement module uses harmonic compensation factors to minimize the effects of harmonic distortion in measurements of a source current by a current sensor of the module. The module samples at a first sampling rate, measurements of the source current to generate a first current measurement. The module samples at a second sampling rate higher than the first sampling rate, for an interval of time, measurements of the source current to generate a second current measurement. The module determines a harmonic compensation factor based, at least, on a difference between the first current measurement and the second current measurement. The module determines a reported current computed as a function of at least the first current measurement, the difference between the first current measurement and the second current measurement, and the harmonic compensation factor. The reported current represents a magnitude of the source current adjusted by the harmonic compensation factor.

Current measurement compensation for harmonics

A progressive protection method automatically adapts a protection trip delay or fault timeout for a motor that is a member of a group of motors performing mutually similar or related tasks, based on the occurrence of a fault in another motor within the group, without requiring manual intervention. If the user requires stringent protection of the motors in a particular application, then the trip delay time for all of the motors in the group, may be shortened in response to recently-detected similar trips of other motors within the group. Alternatively, if the user prefers continuity of service for a particular application, then the trip delay time for all of the motors in the group, may be increased in response to recently-detected similar trips of other motors within the group, based on past experience with the occurrence of fault self-clearing for the motors in the group.

Progressive protection functions for motor overload relay

A system and method is provided to monitor wear on a power factor correction capacitor in a motor system. The system and method obtains a baseline inductance angle, reactive power or power factor corresponding to a baseline power factor correction by the capacitor in the circuit; monitors a current supplied to the motor at a location upstream of the capacitor; monitors a voltage supplied to the motor, and determines a present inductance angle, reactive power or power factor based on the monitored current and voltage. The present inductance angle, reactive power or power factor corresponds to a present power factor correction by the capacitor. The system and method can then determine when the power factor correction of the capacitor has degraded to an unsatisfactory level based on a change in the inductance angle, reactive power or power factor from the baseline values, and take appropriate action.

Power factor correction capacitor wear detection

The present invention provides an improved hybrid motor starter that extends the expected life of the main motor contacts of a standard contactor by reducing arcing during opening and closing of the main motor contacts and permits the use of physically smaller solid state switching devices and secondary contacts that have electrical ratings significantly lower than the standard contactor. The use of smaller solid state switching device and secondary contacts that have lower electrical ratings is permitted by minimizing the time at which these devices are exposed to full motor currents.

Hybrid motor starter

A system and method are provided to perform current sensor error compensation. The system and method involve obtaining a current measurement of a current on a circuit from a current sensor; obtaining a voltage measurement of a voltage associated with the current from a voltage sensor; determining a fundamental frequency of the voltage from the voltage measurement; and performing error compensation on the current measurement based on the determined fundamental frequency to produce a corrected current measurement. The current sensor error compensation may be performed to correct current measurements in a motor system, such as in a motor overload relay, at a low cost by using functionality already available in the system.

Current sensor error compensation method

A method of performing temperature-based diagnostics for motor starters within a physical grouping of motor starters is performed by determining a presently expected temperature operating range for each starter based on measuring operating temperatures of the starters; measuring their current draws, and evaluating the temperature and load draw data in light of compensation values assigned for the known power ratings of the starter and the starter's physical location within the grouping. With the presently expected temperature operating range of the starter determined, and the periodic monitoring of starter temperatures, when an individual starter's temperature exceeds its expected range, a diagnostic warning will be issued for that starter and/or for the control panel itself as a guide for preventative maintenance. Alternately, the warning may be issued for an unexpected temperature rise for a given rise in current draw, or for values exceeding an expected rate of temperature change.

Temperature-based diagnostics method for a starter island

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, in an overload relay for a three-phase motor, an adjusted threshold for detected current phase unbalance is dynamically determined at which the relay will be tripped. The adjusted threshold is a function of a ratio of an average of currents in the three-phases to the rated full load current of the motor, i.e., motor load. As the motor load decreases, the adjusted current phase unbalance threshold is increased, causing the resulting trip time to increase, thereby increasing motor run time and reducing downtime.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Alan Freeman