General Electric Company

Mark J Obermeier

Paul H Singer

Alan Joseph Messerli

Michael Roger Koller

James Wallace Hamilton, Jr

Lisa E Rosner

A method of initializing short time and groundfault protection heat index accumulators to compensate for current flow during the time interval between the application of phase current and application of current measurement and protection algorithms in an electronic trip unit is presented. The electronic trip unit includes a microcontroller and associated ROM having trip unit application code, e.g., main functionality firmware, including initializing parameters, and boot code, stored therein and EEPROM having operational parameter code, e.g., encoded enumerations for parameters such as 50/60 Hz., UL/ANSI/IEC, etc., stored therein. The time internal comprises first and second time components. The first time component is the time between the instant phase currents are applied and the instant the microcontroller is initialized and the second time component is the time between the instant the microcontroller is initialized and the instant the microcontroller begins execution of short time and groundfault algorithms (i.e., protection algorithms). The first time component is approximated by applying an initial current measurement to index a calibrator. The second time component is measured by a counter controlled by the initialization firmware. The first and second time components are applied to the initial current measurement (or a derivative thereof) to determine an initial value (or a component thereof), for short time and/or groundfault heat index accumulators.

Method for initializing short time and groundfault protection heat index

A method for error detection and correction in an electronic trip unit is presented. The electronic trip unit includes a ROM having trip unit application code, e.g., main functionality firmware, including initializing parameters, and boot code, stored therein and an EEPROM having operational parameter code, e.g., encoded enumerations for parameters such as 50/60 Hz., UL/ANSI/IEC, ect., stored therein The integrity of the code is monitored using CRC or checksum. Corrupted data is recovered by using encoded enumerations with at least two repetitive bit patterns of appropriate width. Encoding enumerations with greater that two repetitive bit patterns allows for each enumerated value to be recovered from any single bit corruption by replacing the corrupted pattern with the matching pattern. Alternatively, with a plurality of encoded enumeration groups stored in the EEPROM a corrupted enumeration can be properly selected and corrected by cross correlating the enumeration groups. Also, enumerations can be encoded with two identical bit patterns. An invalid bit pattern is then replaced with the other corresponding bit pattern, thereby restoring the bit pattern. The correct enumeration can then be identified, as one of the bit patterns continues to have the correct encoded enumeration identifying an enumeration.

Method for error detection and correction in a trip unit

The idea behind this algorithm is to provide prioritized data in an optimal sequence to expedite initialization/activation of ordered processes necessary to effect circuit protection functionality from a circuit breaker trip unit.

Circuit breaker trip unit processor initialization program

A motor controller unit of the type providing optimum motor operation and protection is configured to determine phase rotation correction during motor start-up without stopping and re-configuring. The effects of heat on the squirrel cage (amortisseur) and motor field windings are accurately and automatically determined on a continuing basis to deter nuisance trip occurrence during motor start and restart operations and to prevent damage to the motor windings during continuous motor operation, respectively.

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Coventry, CT, United States of America

Mark J Obermeier