Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a generator. In one embodiment, the system may include a measurement subsystem to receive a plurality of split-phase measurements of branch currents associated with the at least one generator. A split-phase transverse differential monitoring subsystem may receive the plurality of split-phase measurements of branch currents associated with the at least one generator and may generate an offset value representing a standing split-phase current. A protective action subsystem may generate a first protective action based on the phasor operating current.

Abstract: Breaker control units (BCUs) may include an output to selectively cause a circuit breaker (CB) to open and close a circuit, a voltage input to monitor a voltage of at least one of a bus and a line, a processor to calculate a point-on-wave switching time, and a remote input configured to be coupled to a remote intelligent electronic device (IED) to receive commands to selectively open and close the CB at a specified optimal time. Electric power systems may include such BCUs. Methods of switching CBs may include monitoring at least one of a bus and a line with a BCU and controlling switching of the CB at a predetermined point-on-wave value with onboard electronics of the BCU. The methods may additionally include calculating a trapped charge and/or a residual flux with an IED and causing the BCU to switch the CB at a specific optimum point-on-wave value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for protecting against and mitigating the effects of over-excitation of elements in electric power systems. In one embodiment, a system consistent with the present disclosure may comprise a point pair subsystem to receive a plurality of point pairs that define an over-excitation curve for a piece of monitored equipment. The system may receive a plurality of measurements corresponding to electrical conditions associated with the piece of monitored equipment. A logarithmic interpolation subsystem may determine a logarithmic interpolation corresponding to one of the plurality of measurements based on the plurality of point pairs. An over-excitation detection subsystem may detect an over-excitation condition based on the logarithmic interpolation, and a protective action subsystem may implement a protective action based on the over-excitation condition.

Abstract: Detection of, and protection against faults within a restricted earth fault (REF) zone of a transformer or a generator is disclosed herein. Security of the REF protection element uses comparison of a negative-sequence reference quantity. The REF condition is only detected when there is sufficient ground involvement and a fault in the reverse detection has not been detected. Dependability of the REF protection element in low-impedance grounded systems is improved by ensuring that the element operates when a zero-sequence reference quantity and a neutral operate quantity are orthogonal to each other. The REF protection element further determines an open CT condition and blocks detection of an REF fault upon determination of the open CT condition. A tripping subsystem may issue a trip command based upon detection of the REF condition.

Abstract: Detection of, and protection against faults within a restricted earth fault (REF) zone of a transformer or a generator is disclosed herein. Security of the REF protection element uses comparison of a negative-sequence reference quantity. The REF condition is only detected when there is sufficient ground involvement and a fault in the reverse detection has not been detected. Dependability of the REF protection element in low-impedance grounded systems is improved by ensuring that the element operates when a zero-sequence reference quantity and a neutral operate quantity are orthogonal to each other. The REF protection element further determines an open CT condition and blocks detection of an REF fault upon determination of the open CT condition. A tripping subsystem may issue a trip command based upon detection of the REF condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for protecting against and mitigating the effects of over-excitation of elements in electric power systems. In one embodiment, a system consistent with the present disclosure may comprise a point pair subsystem to receive a plurality of point pairs that define an over-excitation curve for a piece of monitored equipment. The system may receive a plurality of measurements corresponding to electrical conditions associated with the piece of monitored equipment. A logarithmic interpolation subsystem may determine a logarithmic interpolation corresponding to one of the plurality of measurements based on the plurality of point pairs. An over-excitation detection subsystem may detect an over-excitation condition based on the logarithmic interpolation, and a protective action subsystem may implement a protective action based on the over-excitation condition.

Abstract: Detection and protection against electric power generator rotor turn-to-turn faults, rotor multi-point-to-ground faults, and rotor permanent magnet faults is provided herein. A fractional harmonic signal is used to determine the rotor fault condition. The fractional harmonic signal may be a fractional harmonic magnitude of the circulating current of one phase. The fractional harmonic may be a fractional harmonic magnitude of a neutral voltage. A tripping subsystem may issue a trip command based upon detection of a rotor turn-to-turn fault condition.

Abstract: Protection devices prevent damage to synchronous generators during loss-of-field events. In various embodiments, a first protective element is associated with a first protection zone to protect a generator from a loss-of-field event at full load. A second protective element is associated with a second protection zone to prevent thermal overload during underexcited operation of the generator and to protect from loss-of-filed at light load. A third protective element associated with a third protection zone limits operation of the generator within the generator's specific steady-state stability limits. A fourth protective element is associated with a fourth protection zone to provide an alarm prior to operation of the second protective element.

Abstract: Detection and protection against electric power generator rotor turn-to-turn faults, rotor multi-point-to-ground faults, and rotor permanent magnet faults is provided herein. A fractional harmonic signal is used to determine the rotor fault condition. The fractional harmonic signal may be a fractional harmonic magnitude of the circulating current of one phase. The fractional harmonic may be a fractional harmonic magnitude of a neutral voltage. A tripping subsystem may issue a trip command based upon detection of a rotor turn-to-turn fault condition.

Abstract: Detection of electric power generator stator ground fault conditions and protection of the generator due to such conditions is provided herein. In one embodiment, a generator protection element may calculate generator third harmonic voltage quantities using measurements from the generator terminals, and determine a stator ground fault condition using the calculated generator third harmonic voltage quantity. A tripping subsystem may issue a trip command based upon detection of a stator ground fault condition.

Abstract: Electric power generator protection is secured by detecting wiring errors to an intelligent electronic device using terminal third voltages at the terminal (VT3) and third harmonic voltages at the neutral (VN3). When an angle between VT3 and VN3 is outside of an acceptable range, a wiring defect is detected, and certain protective operations are blocked. An alarm may be generated, facilitating personnel to identify and rectify the wiring defect. Wiring defects may further be detected when a torque calculated using VT3 and VN3 exceeds a predetermined error threshold. Security of protection elements is increased by detection of wiring defects that may have resulted in misoperation of the protection elements.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to determine a direction to a fault of an electrical generator using sensitive current. A ground fault is determined using voltage signals from the generator installation. Incremental residual values of the sensitive current, along with the voltage, are used to determine a direction to the fault. The generator may be high-impedance grounded. The systems and methods further indicate the direction to a fault where multiple generators are connected using a common generation bus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting transient high-torque events associated with rotating machinery in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a relay may include an electrical parameters module that receives a representation of a voltage and a current at a terminal of rotating machinery in an electric power system. A torque calculation module may continuously determine a calculated torque value for the rotating machinery using the representation of the voltage and the current at the terminal of the rotating machinery and compare each calculated torque value to a threshold. An action module may generate an alarm when the calculated torque value exceeds the threshold. A log module may generate a log comprising a peak of the calculated torque value and a time at which the peak torque value occurs.

Abstract: Protection devices prevent damage to synchronous generators during loss-of-field events. In various embodiments, a first protective element is associated with a first protection zone to protect a generator from a loss-of-field event at full load. A second protective element is associated with a second protection zone to prevent thermal overload during underexcited operation of the generator and to protect from loss-of-filed at light load. A third protective element associated with a third protection zone limits operation of the generator within the generator's specific steady-state stability limits. A fourth protective element is associated with a fourth protection zone to provide an alarm prior to operation of the second protective element.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to determine an overexcitation condition on electric power delivery system equipment that includes a magnetizing core. Overexcitation conditions are determined even during sub-synchronous resonance, ferro-resonance, and other complex events. Power system voltage is integrated and normalized to determine a flux on the magnetizing core. The flux is compared with a protection model to determine the overexcitation condition on the magnetizing core. Once an overexcitation condition is detected, a protective action may be taken to remove power from the effected power delivery system equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to determine a direction to a fault of an electrical generator using sensitive current. A ground fault is determined using voltage signals from the generator installation. Incremental residual values of the sensitive current, along with the voltage, are used to determine a direction to the fault. The generator may be high-impedance grounded. The systems and methods further indicate the direction to a fault where multiple generators are connected using a common generation bus.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to determine an overexcitation condition on electric power delivery system equipment that includes a magnetizing core. Overexcitation conditions are determined even during sub-synchronous resonance, ferro-resonance, and other complex events. Power system voltage is integrated and normalized to determine a flux on the magnetizing core. The flux is compared with a protection model to determine the overexcitation condition on the magnetizing core. Once an overexcitation condition is detected, a protective action may be taken to remove power from the effected power delivery system equipment.

Abstract: Detection and protection against electric power generator stator ground fault conditions in multiple-generator high-impedance grounded installations is provided herein. In one embodiment, a generator protection element may block a determination of a fault using third harmonic voltages when the third harmonic voltage from the generator is less than a factor of the maximum third harmonic voltage from all of the generators on the common bus. A tripping subsystem may issue a trip command based upon detection of a stator ground fault condition.

Abstract: Protection of an electrical generator includes determining a rotor and stator components using rotor and stator electrical signals, calculating a unbalance and/or differential component using the stator and rotor components, and determining a stator or rotor fault based on the unbalance and/or differential component. Further, the faulted phase and/or zone of a stator fault may be determined using the stator positive sequence voltage and negative sequence current.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting transient high-torque events associated with rotating machinery in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a relay may comprise an electrical parameters module configured to receive a representation of a voltage and a current at a terminal of rotating machinery in an electric power system. A torque calculation module may be configured to continuously determine a calculated torque value for the rotating machinery using the representation of the voltage and the current at the terminal of the rotating machinery; and to compare each calculated torque value to a threshold. An action module may be configured to generate an alarm when the calculated torque value exceeds the threshold. A log module may be configured to generate a log comprising a peak of the calculated torque value and a time at which the peak torque value occurs.