General Electric Company

Abb Schweiz Ag

Marcelo Esteban Valdes

Nataniel Barbosa Vicente

Gregory Paul Lavoie

Radoslaw Narel

William James Premerlani

Craig Benjamin Williams

Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr

Thomas F Papallo

Mark Fredrick Culler

Brian Patrick Lenhart, Jr

Theodore Drummond Hill, Iii

John James Dougherty

Brent Charles Kumfer

Ajit Wasant Kane

John Charles Hill, Jr

Kanakasabapathi Subramanian

John Norton Park

Rui Zhou

John Steven Holmes

Robert Joseph Caggiano

Thangavelu Asokan

Yan Liu

Henry Hall Mason, Jr

Ilia Voloh

Todd Elliott Greenwood

Marty Lynn Trivette

Zubair Hameed

Charles Stephan Pitzen

Anurag Arjundas Jivanani

Sriram Changali

Stephen James West

Carmine G Giglio

Michael Gerard Pintar

Thomas Federick Papallo, Jr

Michael Constantin Von Kannewurff

Anupam Vinodkumar Sawhney

Rafael Gutierrez, Jr

Jeremy David Smith

Anand S V Sirivella

Jr John Charles Hill

Thomas Frederick Papallo Jr

Gregory P Lavoie

An example method of operating a solidly grounded, multi-source, multi-phase power distribution system having coupled neutral conductors is disclosed. The power distribution system includes a bus, a plurality of source protection devices coupled to the bus, and a plurality of feeder protection devices coupled to the bus. The method includes receiving, for each source protection device of the plurality of source protection devices, data indicative of detected source phase currents associated with the source protection device. Data indicative of detected feeder neutral currents and detected feeder phase currents associated with the feeder protection device are received for each feeder protection device of the plurality of feeder protection devices. A net source ground fault current associated with the plurality of source protection devices is determined based on the received data indicative of source phase currents and the received data indicative of feeder neutral currents and feeder phase currents.

Methods and systems for ground fault detection in a power distribution system

Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system are described. In one example, a method for use in a power distribution system including a plurality of devices is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of data signals associated with the power distribution system, determining a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system based on the plurality of data signals, comparing the determined measurement error value to a dynamic threshold, and generating an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold.

Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system

An example method of operating a power distribution system including a plurality of source and tie circuit protection devices coupled between at least one source and a protection zone is disclosed. The protection zone includes a distribution bus and a plurality of feeder circuit protection devices coupled between the distribution bus and a plurality of loads. The method includes determining an electric current flowing through each source and tie circuit protection device, determining whether any of the feeder circuit protection devices is outputting a ZSI blocking signal, and controlling operation of the plurality of source and tie circuit protection devices according to an enhanced partial differential protection scheme based on a combination of the determined currents through the source and tie circuit protection devices and the determination of whether any of the feeder circuit protection devices is outputting a ZSI blocking signal.

Power distribution systems and methods of operating power distribution systems with partial differential protection

Circuit protection devices, power distribution systems, and methods of monitoring circuit protection devices are described. In one example, a method of monitoring a circuit protection device in a zone selective interlocking (ZSI) system includes monitoring a variable associated with operation of the circuit protection device, determining, based at least in part on the monitored variable, when a likelihood of a malfunction of the circuit protection device exceeds a predetermined threshold, and preventing the circuit protection device from outputting a ZSI blocking signal when the likelihood of the malfunction of the circuit protection device exceeds the threshold.

Circuit protection devices and methods of monitoring protection devices in a power distribution system

Power distribution systems and methods are described. In one example, a method of determining by a first circuit protection device in a zone selective interlocking (ZSI) system whether to output a blocking signal to a second circuit protection device in the ZSI system is described. The method includes detecting, by a current rate of change sensor, a rate of change of a current flowing through the first circuit protection device. A trip unit receives a current rate of change signal from the current rate of change sensor. The current rate of change signal is proportional to the detected rate of change of the current flowing through the first circuit protection device. The trip unit determines whether to output the blocking signal to the second circuit protection device based, at least in part, on the current rate of change signal.

Zone selective interlocking (ZSI) power distribution operating a ZSI power distribution system

An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plasma generation element physically coupled to a first main electrode. The plasma generation element includes at least a first open end and a second open end. Each open end defines a nozzle such that the first open end directs an ablative plasma to a second main electrode and the second open end directs the ablative plasma to a third main electrode.

System and apparatus for arc elimination

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

Methods, devices, and systems for automated maintenance mode switching are described. An example method of controlling a protection assembly mode of operation is described for use in a system having a protection assembly configured to receive power from an upstream power source and provide power and protection to a downstream protection device moveable between a fully engaged position and a fully disengaged position. The method includes determining, by the protection assembly, when a maintenance action is being performed on the downstream protection device, and switching the protection assembly from a normal protection mode to a maintenance mode of operation in response to determining the maintenance action is being performed on the downstream protection device.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for automated maintenance mode switching

A power equipment protection system is provided. The power equipment protection system includes a first trip unit configured to monitor a first circuit, a second trip unit configured to monitor a second circuit that is downstream from the first circuit, an arc-flash (AF) sensor configured to detect an arc flash, an AF mitigation device, at least one current sensor, and a controller. The power equipment protection system is operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, the controller is configured to activate the AF mitigation device based on signals generated by both the AF sensor and the at least one current sensor, and wherein in the second mode, the controller is configured to activate the AF mitigation device based on signals generated by at least one of the at least one current sensor and the AF sensor.

Method, system, and apparatus for providing arc flash mitigation

A control module coupled to a switching device that is switchable between an open state and a closed state as part of a switching event is provided. The control module includes a communication interface configured to issue a control signal to the switching device that triggers the switching device to switch between the open state and the closed state, and receive a feedback signal from the switching device indicating that the switching device has switched between the open state and the closed state. The control module further includes a processing device coupled to the communication interface and configured to calculate a characteristic time interval associated with the switching event, wherein the characteristic time interval is indicative of a mechanical switching time of the switching device, and a memory device coupled to the processing device and configured to store the calculated characteristic time interval.

Systems and methods for monitoring circuit breaker operation

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 and a blocking threshold that is lower than the protective threshold, transmit a forward blocking signal to the first circuit protection device upon a determination that the current exceeds the blocking threshold, and generate a reverse blocking signal upon a determination that the current exceeds the protective threshold.

Power distribution systems and methods of operating a power distribution system

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.

A method of setting a ground fault trip response function for a trip unit includes enabling a ground fault protection mode for the trip unit, setting the ground fault trip response function for the trip unit, wherein the ground fault trip response function is a double knee time current function.

Global trip unit

A circuit breaker system and method having zone selective interlock features is provided. The system and method include the transmission of a selective interlock signal from a downstream circuit breaker to an upstream circuit breaker in the event a first or second fault condition is detected. The upstream circuit breaker upon receipt of this signal changes the response of the second circuit breaker depending on whether the first or second fault condition has been detected.

Circuit breaker zone selective interlock for differentiated faults and method of operation

A method of improved reduced energy let through (RELT) mode selection in a switching apparatus includes receiving a request to disable a RELT mode of the switching apparatus, and, if the RELT mode of the switching apparatus is active, increasing a current threshold of the switching apparatus after a configurable amount of time has elapsed from the receipt of the request to disable the RELT mode.

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, CT, United States of America

Marcelo Esteban Valdes