General Electric Company

John S Vandevanter

Thomas F Papallo

Edgar Yee

Gregory Paul Lavoie

James Byron Burke

Geoff F Butland

Indrajit Purkayastha

Robert P Thomas

Donald R Brown

Veronica Kertesz

Thomas A Murphy

Grady W Broadnax, Jr

Jose Bscheider

Dana Edmond Foster

Ellen E Spahr

Sara Uecker

Mary A Doddy

Patrick G Salas

Wolfgang Meyer-Haack

A circuit protection system is provided that utilizes a single state definition for each of the zones of protection of the circuit to increase computational efficiency. Multiple zone protective functions can be performed on a single zone of protection and can reference the single state definition.

Circuit protection system

There is provided a computer-implemented method for configuring a centralized circuit breaker protection system. The method includes determining configuration data for a processor in the centralized circuit breaker protection system in accordance with a parameter relating to an operation of the centralized circuit breaker protection system, and configuring the processor with the configuration data. There is also provided an apparatus for configuring a centralized circuit breaker protection system, and a storage media containing instructions for controlling a computer for configuring a centralized circuit breaker protection system.

Configuring a centrally controlled circuit breaker protection system

A three dimensional power management control system provides control and graphical representation of a plurality of electrical devices and components of an electrical distribution system. The PMCS includes a graphical representation of tagout/lockout displays (i.e., Danger and Ground Tags) representative of a physical lockout/tagout tag attached locally to a device of the electrical distribution system. The graphical displays include a large bit map representative of a Danger tag and a Ground Tag installed on a device, and representative symbols displayed at other graphical and tabular data displays associated with the tagged device. The implementation of the virtual lockout/tagout displays is automated using software, namely a Tagging Wizard. The Tagging Wizard provides automated configuration of the lockout/tagout graphic and the ability to install and remove virtual tagout displays associated with the graphical representation of the device of the distribution system. The Tagging Wizard logically links a one-line wizard associated with each graphical and/or tabular representation a common device to a common discrete memory tag for storing the tagged condition of a device. A &ldquo;Tag Menu&rdquo; window includes an install and remove button for each lockout/tagout tag that when selected stores data in the memory tag.

Man-machine interface for a virtual lockout/tagout panel display

The power management control system comprises a computer having standard RS485 interface cards and adapters installed in its I/O slots defining multiple industry standard Modbus RTU networks. The computer contains software for monitoring and controlling selected aspects of power usage/consumption, as described in more detail hereinafter. The Modbus RTU protocol is a well known industry standard. Devices with a Modbus RTU interface can be connected directly to the Modbus and other devices which communicate on the Commnet protocol require a Modbus concentrator. The Modbus concentrator provides an interface between the Modbus RTU protocol and the Commnet protocol, whereby these other devices can communicate through the Modbus concentrator over the Modbus. Alternatively, standard Ethernet interface cards and adapters are installed in the computer's I/O slots defining multiple standard Ethernet TCP/IP networks. The Ethernet TCP/IP protocol is a well known standard, which would allow a user of the power management control system of the present invention to use its existing LAN. Ethernet gateways are connected to the Ethernet TCP/IP networks to provide an interface between the Ethernet TCP/IP protocol and the Modbus RTU protocol.

Power management control system

Growing community of inventors

East Granby, CT, United States of America

John S Vandevanter