General Electric Company

General Electric Corporation Gmbh

John James Dougherty

Michael Sullivan Tignor

Mark Fredrick Culler

Craig Benjamin Williams

Nataniel Barbosa Vicente

David Geer Fletcher

Geoff F Butland

Ertugrul Berkcan

Emad Andarawis Andarawis

Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori

Ronald D Ciarcia

Marcelo Esteban Valdes

Thomas F Papallo

Thangavelu Asokan

Roger J Morgan

James I Smith

George William Roscoe

Cecil Rivers, Jr

Edward E Kim

Christopher Scott Fuselier

Joseph John Fisher

Bernardo Anger

Richard Alan Carpenter

Thomas A Digate

Roger N Castonguay

William James Premerlani

Scott Charles Evans

David Arnold

Gregory Paul Lavoie

Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr

Kenneth B Welles, Ii

Dale S Finney

Richard A Menelly

Joseph G Nagy

Lathom Alexander Louco

Esteban Santos

Henry Hall Mason, Jr

Bo Lundager Andersen

Frank A Todaro

Michael C Von Kannewurff

Heather Ellen Pugliese

Indrajit Purkayastha

Richard E Saunders

Narayansamy Soundararajan

Alan Luis Arvidson

Thomas Randolph Campbell

Paul A Raymont

Jeffrey A Goodman

Daniel J DellaVecchia

Donald McDonald

Senthoor Navaratnam

George T Rudge

Nora A Lund

Paul T Martellock

Matthew D Dougherty

Mario M Bilac

Dean Arthur Robarge

Cecil Rivers Jr

A circuit protection device having operational parameters configurable only via a separate programming device includes a memory configured to receive a selector identifying one of a plurality of operational parameters to be adjusted, and to receive a parameter value from the programming device. A processor is coupled to the memory and is configured to receive the selector from the memory, select the operational parameter of the circuit protection device based on the selector, and to receive a parameter value for the operational parameter from memory, and set the selected operational parameter to the parameter value.

Circuit protection device and methods of configuring a circuit protection device

Power distribution systems and methods are described. In one example, a method of testing a power distribution system including a first circuit protection device and a second circuit protection device coupled to the first circuit protection device downstream of the first circuit protection device is described. The method includes monitoring a status of a communicative connection between a ZSI output port of the first circuit protection device and a ZSI input port of the second circuit protection device with a ZSI monitor of the first circuit protection device, detecting whether the ZSI output port of the first circuit protection device is coupled to the ZSI input port of the second circuit protection device, and indicating the status of the communicative connection.

Power distribution systems and methods of monitoring zone selective interlocking in a power distribution system

A method of detecting thermal hotspots in a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a conductive hub including a connection point for coupling to an electrical distribution component. The method includes measuring a first temperature of the conductive hub at the connection point, estimating a second temperature of the conductive hub at the connection point, and determining when a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The estimation based at least partially on an amount of electric current flowing through the conductive hub.

Computing device and methods of detecting thermal hotspots in a power distribution system

Circuit protection devices, power distribution systems, and circuit protection device monitoring in a zone selective interlocking (ZSI) system are described. In one example, a circuit protection device for use in a ZSI power distribution system includes a trip mechanism configured to interrupt current flowing through the circuit protection device, and a trip unit operatively coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip unit is configured to monitor current flowing through the circuit protection device, output a first signal when the monitored current is less than a threshold value, and output a second signal when the monitored current is greater than or equal to the threshold value. The first and second signals are different from each other and different than an absence of a signal.

Zone selective interlocking and circuit protection device monitoring in a power distribution system

A computer for continuous calibration of circuit breaker trip units and metering devices includes a processor and a memory device. The computer is configured to request and receive circuit breaker current data from a plurality of circuit breaker trip units. The circuit breaker current data represents current data associated with the circuit breaker trip units over a collection interval. The computer is configured to receive main current data from a main trip unit. The computer is configured to determine a plurality of calibration factors for the circuit breaker trip units based upon the circuit breaker current data and the main current data. The computer is additionally configured to transmit the calibration factors to the circuit breaker trip units.

Methods and systems for continuous calibration of circuit breaker trip units and metering devices

A fault location system for locating a fault in a power distribution system is provided. The fault location system includes a grounding resistor assembly configured to generate, in response to detection of the fault, a tracing signal that alternates between on periods and off periods, and a plurality of power distribution networks, wherein a first power distribution network of the plurality of power distribution networks is configured to receive a synchronizing message that includes a timing for the on periods and the off periods, measure, based on the synchronization message, a current through the first power distribution network to attempt to detect the fault, broadcast a fault detection message to all other power distribution networks of the plurality of power distribution networks when the fault is detected at the first power distribution network, and determine whether the first power distribution network is the location of the fault.

Systems and methods for identifying fault location using distributed communication

A circuit protection device includes an adjustment device configured to provide a selected voltage, a memory configured to store a selector, and a processor coupled to the memory and to the adjustment device. The processor is configured to receive the selector from the memory, select an operational parameter of the circuit protection device based on the selector, receive a voltage value representative of a selected voltage provided by the adjustment device, and set the selected operational parameter to a parameter value based on the voltage value received.

A power distribution system includes a first circuit protection device and a second circuit protection device coupled to the first circuit protection device downstream of the first circuit protection device. The second circuit protection device includes a trip mechanism configured to interrupt a current flowing through the second circuit protection device, and a trip unit operatively coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip mechanism is configured to determine, for the second circuit protection device, a protective threshold, a blocking threshold that is lower than the protective threshold, and a backup threshold that is higher than the protective threshold, activate the trip mechanism based on a determination that the current flowing through the second circuit protection device exceeds the protective threshold, and transmit a first blocking signal to the first circuit protection device upon a determination that the current exceeds the blocking threshold.

Power distribution systems and methods of operating a power distribution system

A charging device includes a power conditioning device configured to be coupled to an electric power source by an electrical distribution bus. The power conditioning device is further configured to receive alternating current (AC) volt-amperes from the electric power source, convert a first amount of the AC volt-amperes received into direct current (DC) power, and supply the DC power to at least one load. The charging device also includes a controller coupled to the power conditioning device. The controller is configured to determine a second amount of volt-amperes that the charging device has a capacity to supply in addition to the DC power supplied, and control the power conditioning device to supply volt-amperes reactive to the electrical distribution bus using at least a portion of the second amount of volt-amperes.

Charging device, system, and method of supplying power to at least one load

A method and system are described for providing context sensitive data to a system user. The method includes the steps of identifying the user and querying databases to create a user context. Information is aggregated from the network databases and filtered using the user context. Providing the correct data needed by the user for that particular time, location and job function.

Methods and system for providing context sensitive information

A circuit breaker having a series arc fault detector and method of operation is provided. The series arc fault detector measures the RMS current and monitors current stability in response to a change in current levels. The sensitivity of the series arc fault detection is changed in response to the current satisfying a stability criterion. The circuit breaker further enables and disables series arc fault detection based on an enable threshold. The enable threshold is set based on the level of sensitivity being used to detect a series arc fault.

Circuit breaker with arc fault detection and method of operation

An ablative plasma gun having a dual power source pulse generator is configured to generate a high voltage low current pulse and a low voltage high current pulse. A pair of electrodes are disposed and configured to receive the high voltage low current pulse, and to receive the low voltage high current pulse in response to the high voltage low current pulse.

Dual power source pulse generator for a triggering system

A device and method for dynamically determining an impedance of a network is disclosed. The device includes at least a processing system for measuring a network voltage and network current when said network is determined to be in a first state, measuring a network voltage when said network is determined to be in a second state, estimating said impedance value dependent upon said measured voltages and current, adapting said estimated impedance based on at least one prior impedance value and storing at least said adapted impedance.

Method and system for estimation of source impedence on electrical distribution lines

A dual power source pulse generator in power connection with a pair of electrodes having a first electrode, a second electrode and an air gap therebetween. The dual power source pulse generator includes a first pulse source producing a high voltage low current pulse across the pair of electrodes to allow dielectric breakdown, and a second pulse source electrically connected in parallel with an output of the first pulse source, and producing a low voltage high current pulse to thereby produce a current flow of high-density plasma between the same electrodes of the pair of electrodes in response to the high voltage low current pulse.

A method and apparatus providing automatic circuit breaker identification to an electronic trip unit includes a processor and a configuration module comprising configuration data identifying the particulars of a circuit breaker and that is in operable communication with the processor.

Circuit breaker electronic trip unit personality module

Growing community of inventors

Collegeville, PA, United States of America

John James Dougherty