Square D Company

Schneider Electric Usa, Inc.

Other

Gary W Scott

Kon B Wong

Andy A Haun

Robert F Dvorak

Andi Jakupi

Paul Andrew Reid

William Weizhong Chen

Hynek Raisigel

Brian Grattan

Christopher K Goble

Michel Layour

Scott Robert Brown

Brett E Larson

Randall James Gass

Stanley J Brooks

Eldridge R Byron

Joseph R Beierschmitt

Costin Vasile

Alan G Coats

John M Winter

Julius Michael Liptak

Alexander Filippenko

Gary Brent Pollard

Thomas A Edds

Mark Kocher

James V Fixemer

Eugene W Wehr

Barry Noel Rodgers

Matthew D Sortland

David R Pearson

Carlton R Rodrigues

Issa V Drame

Philippe Picot

Charles H Wagner

Paul J Rustebakke

Jim Ramsey

Kevin L Parker

Gary Myron Kuzkin

Leslie J Weinstein

Kevin James Green

Erik R Meinikheim

Andrew A Haun

Lori Dorrell

Andy Allen Haun

Robert Joseph Dwulet

Ramon O Torres-Isea

George D Gregory

William Rezac

Manzoor Ali

Colin Cornhill

Systems and methods for detecting an arc fault in a circuit breaker use a single-coil current rate of change (di/dt) sensor for monitoring both low frequency alternating current (AC) and broadband high frequency noise on a power line. The di/dt sensor is optimized to amplify any broadband high frequency noise, typically from about 1 MHz to 40 MHz, that may be present on the power line. Low frequency signals representing the current being monitored, typically from about 1 Hz to 10 KHz, is provided to an active integrator circuit with a high gain to enable the single-coil sensitivity. To shorten capacitor charge up time of the active integrator circuit, a charging current is provided to the active integrator circuit upon startup of the circuit breaker.

Arc fault detection using single current sensor and wideband analog frontend

Example embodiments of the invention include a powdered core bead body configured to become an inductive impedance to current signals with high frequencies in a power wire threaded through the powdered core bead body. The signals are detectable by a high frequency voltage sensor that is configured to output an arc fault tripping indication to an arc fault tripping circuit in response to an occurrence of high frequency current signals in the power wire.

Low cost high frequency sensor for arc-fault detection

An arc fault detection system samples a high frequency signal on a power line sequentially at different frequency regions according to a frequency hopping sequence, which is repeated a number of times over a predefined period. The different frequency regions include at least one region with a carrier for power line communication on the power line and at least one region without a carrier for power line communication on the power line. The system obtains energy measurements for each frequency region based on the sampled signals, computes an energy level for each frequency region based on the measurements for each region, and assigns a binary value to each region according to the corresponding energy level. The binary value represents a presence or absence of signal content in the frequency region. The system determines a presence or absence of an arc fault based on the binary values for the frequency regions.

Arc fault detection using frequency hopping techniques

A method of tripping a circuit breaker including sampling an AC line voltage at regular intervals during a first time period to generate a plurality of AC line voltage samples. Each sample of the set of AC line voltage samples is summed to generate a voltage area value. A controller determines whether the voltage area value exceeds a threshold. In response to the voltage area value exceeding the threshold, an amount determined as a function of the voltage area value is added to a count value. The circuit breaker is caused to trip in response to the count value equaling or exceeding a maximum count value. An improper line-to-neutral voltage can be detected by monitoring the line-to-neutral voltage and comparing it to a function such as a trip curve. Thus, components downstream from a circuit breaker, as well as the circuit breaker itself, can be protected from prolonged exposure to improper voltages, which can lead to component failure.

Improper voltage detection for electronic circuit breaker

Systems, methods, and devices are presented for mitigating arc fault events in a photovoltaic system. An aspect of this disclosure is directed to a photovoltaic system for generating electrical power. The photovoltaic system includes one or more solar panels, and one or more shuttering assemblies, each of which is configured to selectively limit the quantity of light received by one or more of the solar panels. One or more sensing devices detect characteristics of an arc fault event in the photovoltaic system, and output signals indicative thereof. A control module is operatively connected to the shuttering assemblies and the sensing devices. The control module is configured to direct the one or more shuttering assemblies to reduce the quantity of light received by at least one of the one or more solar panels in response to the output signals indicating there is an arc fault event in the photovoltaic system.

Arc fault mitigation for photovoltaic systems

A fault detection system is provided for a power distribution system having at least first and second line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other from a source to a load, and a common neutral conductor. The system includes an arcing fault current sensor comprising a coil wound on a hollow core and coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the hollow core, thus inducing in the coil an output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. A neutral current sensor produces an output signal representing the magnitude and phase direction of current in the neutral conductor. An arcing fault detection circuit includes a processor programmed to (1) respond to a change in the first output signal to analyze the second output signal to determine whether the change in the first output signal is attributable at least in part to current in a line-to-line circuit, (2) if the answer is affirmative, determine a scaling factor to be used to adjust the value of the first output signal, and (3) analyze the adjusted first output signal to determine whether an arcing fault has occurred and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault.

Multi-pole arcing fault circuit breaker including a neutral current sensor

A high-speed arc terminator for an electrical power distribution system includes a sealed, evacuated housing, and a controllable mechanical switch having first and second electrically conductive contacts enclosed within the housing and adapted to be coupled to the power distribution system outside the housing. A trigger conductor extends into the housing and has an exposed end near the gap between the contacts when the contacts are in the open position. At least one of the contacts is movable between an open position in which the contacts are separated by a gap, and a closed position in which the contacts engage each other, and an operating mechanism is provided for moving the at least one contact between the open and closed positions. A high voltage source is controllably coupled to the trigger conductor for supplying a high-voltage pulse to the trigger conductor in response to the detection of an arcing fault. The high-voltage pulse produces an arc within the gap between the contacts, to shunt fault current from the power distribution system across the gap, from one of the contacts to the other, before the contacts engage each other.

Arcing fault and arc flash protection system having a high-speed switch

A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a bi-stable display that maintains an indication of a fault condition after power is interrupted to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a microcontroller that receives power derived from a line current that passes through the circuit breaker or the line voltage when the circuit breaker is in an on state. The bi-stable display is electrically coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller. A tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to detection of a fault condition. The tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to receiving a trip signal from the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to modify the bi-stable display when sending the trip signal to the electronic switching device. The bi-stable display shows an indication of one of the several fault types that would have caused the circuit breaker to trip. The bi-stable display continues to display the fault-type indication after the circuit breaker has tripped and power is interrupted to the microcontroller.

Circuit breaker with bistable display

A wireless electrically isolated plug-n-play communications system for branch circuit breakers. The system providing means for automatically connecting the wireless electrically isolated communication system between the branch circuit breaker and a communications strip as the branch circuit breaker is being installed in the load center.

Method and apparatus for bi-directional communication with a miniature circuit breaker

A multi-pole circuit breaker for a power distribution system having multiple line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other, and a common neutral conductor, comprises first and second current sensors, a ground fault detection circuit, and an arcing fault detection circuit. The first current sensor is adapted to be coupled to both of the line conductors and to the neutral conductor and produces a first output signal indicative of the resultant of the electrical currents flowing in the line and neutral conductors. The ground fault detection circuit receives the first output signal and produces a trip signal in response to the detection of a ground fault. The second current sensor comprises a coil wound on a toroidal core and is adapted to be coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the toroidal core, thus inducing in the coil a second output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. The arcing fault detection circuit receives the second output signal and includes a processor programmed to analyze the second output signal and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault.

Multiple-pole circuit breaker with shared current sensor for arcing fault detection

An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between communication paths on each of the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.

Method of facilitating communications across open circuit breaker contacts

A method and system for determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes sensing a change in an alternating current in the circuit and developing a corresponding input signal, analyzing the input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal, and processing the input signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The processing includes determining a type of load connected to the electrical circuit, based at least in part upon the input signal and the output signal, and monitoring high frequency noise in a 20 KHz band for each &#x215b; cycle of the alternating current.

Load recognition and series arc detection using bandpass filter signatures

A method of determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes sensing a change in current in the circuit and developing a corresponding input signal, analyzing the input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal, and processing the input signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The processing includes determining a type of load connected to the electrical circuit, based at least in part upon the input signal and the output signal.

Arc detection using load recognition, harmonic content and broadband noise

A zone arc fault detection system for detecting arcing faults in a defined zone of an electrical circuit, such as an aircraft circuit, includes a pair of substantially identical parallel insulated conductors for each zone in which arcing is to be detected. A detection zone is defined by the parallel conductors between end points where the two conductors are coupled together. A current sensor is operatively associated with each pair of parallel conductors. The current sensor and conductors are respectively configured and arranged such that the current sensor produces a signal representative of a difference in current between the two conductors.

Detection of arcing faults using bifurcated wiring system

Growing community of inventors

Mount Vernon, IA, United States of America

Gary W Scott