Abstract: A power electronics device with an improved IGBT protection mechanism is provided. More specifically, systems and methods are provided for shortening the duration of a shutdown test pulse, such that the power output to the load is substantially unaffected.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting operation of a plant or process receive an input value from the plant or process. An integrity of a non-linear model corresponding to a local input space of the input value may be determined. The non-linear model may include an empirical representation of the plant or process. If the integrity is above a first threshold, non-linear model may be used to provide a first output value. However, if the integrity is below the first threshold, a linearized first principles model may be used to provide a second output value. The linearized first principles model may include an analytic representation of the plant or process. Additionally, the analytic representation of the plant or process may be independent of the empirical representation of the plant or process. The first output value and/or the second output value may be usable to manage the plant or process.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for asymmetrically controlling a process parameter based upon the direction of a prediction error between a predicted value determined using an inferential model and a laboratory measurement of the parameter. The present technique provides for the adaptive biasing of the predicted value based upon the direction of the prediction error. In one embodiment, a biasing factor may be determined by filtering the prediction error, such that the prediction error is emphasized more heavily in the biasing factor if the prediction error is in a less tolerable direction and emphasized less heavily if the prediction error is in the opposite direction. The biasing factor may further be determined as a function of a previous biasing factor computed during the process. Asymmetric control of the process parameter may be performed by controlling the parameter using model predictive control techniques based on the biased predicted values of the parameter.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for reducing an error in a controlled variable via model predictive control. A predicted error in the controlled variable is determined for a forward-looking control horizon based upon measured or computed variables. The integral of the predicted error is computed. If the error or the integral exceed a tolerance for a determined time period, the model predictive control algorithm is modified to drive the error or the integral to within a tolerance. The modifications to the control algorithm may include changes to coefficients for terms based upon the error and/or the integral of the error.

Abstract: System and method for modeling a nonlinear process. A combined model for predictive optimization or control of a nonlinear process includes a nonlinear approximator, coupled to a parameterized dynamic or static model, operable to model the nonlinear process. The nonlinear approximator receives process inputs, and generates parameters for the parameterized dynamic model. The parameterized dynamic model receives the parameters and process inputs, and generates predicted process outputs based on the parameters and process inputs, where the predicted process outputs are useable to analyze and/or control the nonlinear process. The combined model may be trained in an integrated manner, e.g.

Abstract: Provided is an electrical apparatus comprising a magnetic core, a conductive coil wound around at least a part of the core, a cooling element configured to receive a cooling fluid to cool the core and the coil during operation, and at least one biasing element operatively associated with the core to urge the core and the coil into engagement with the cooling element despite differential expansion or contraction of the core and the coil and manufacturing tolerances. Further provided is a method for making an electrical apparatus comprising disposing a conductive coil wound around at least a part of a magnetic core, disposing a cooling element between the core and the coil, the cooling element configured to receive a cooling fluid to cool the core and the coil during operation, and urging the core and the coil into engagement with the cooling element despite differential expansion or contraction of the core and the coil and manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: An RF based state indicator for indicating the state of a control device is provided. The RF-based state indicator indicates the position of a control mechanism by using the position of the control mechanism to enable or disable an RF tag. An RF reader acquires RF transmitted data from enabled RF tags and uses the data to indicate or control an operation aspect of a device.

Abstract: An electrical device may be configured by coupling the device to a human machine interface (HMI) that is equipped with software for interacting with a configuration station. The software may include components that can enumerate properties of objects on the device to be configured. The device to be configured provides a file to the server-enabled HMI, such as a schema file. The server-enabled HMI then enumerates properties of the objects or otherwise provides an indication of the properties to the configuration station. The properties may be altered by a user at the configuration station. The reconfigured properties are then transmitted from the server-enabled HMI back to the device to be configured.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a fault condition by a relay is provided. The system includes means for detecting phase currents through three electrical phases, means for detecting a ground fault current, a processor configured to perform a current-based function based upon at least one of the phase currents and a filter. The processor is configured to perform current-based functions based on whether the filter is enabled or disabled.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including a ground-fault sensor that has a plurality of conductors each disposed one inside of another except for an outer conductor and a field sensor configured to sense an electric field, a magnetic field, or both. In some embodiments, the field sensor is disposed adjacent the outer conductor.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including a ground-fault sensor that has a plurality of conductors each disposed one inside of another except for an outer conductor and a field sensor configured to sense an electric field, a magnetic field, or both. In some embodiments, the field sensor is disposed adjacent the outer conductor.

Abstract: A configurable HMI is coupled to a configuration station and to one or more networked components, such as an industrial controller. Connections may be established with the networked component, such as to read from or write to registers within the component. A list of available connections or registers is accessed from the component by the HMI. The HMI then tabulates or otherwise presents the information in a listing to the configuration station. The configuration station may then be used to select a connection from the listing to alter programming of the HMI to establish the connection.

Abstract: A modular conveyor system is disclosed in which components of each conveyor module is designed for wireless mesh communication. The communications may be within a module or between modules. Certain of the components may be powered by battery, such that the components may be completely wireless. The network may be entirely self-configuring such that the modules may be assembled and the network established in a straightforward manner.

Abstract: System and method for managing a biofuel production process. An integrated dynamic multivariate predictive model is provided that includes a continuous process model representing a continuous process of the biofuel production process, a batch process model representing a batch process of the biofuel production process, and a continuous simulation framework. The batch process model interacts with the continuous process model as a nonlinear continuous process via the framework using bridging equations. An objective is received, as is constraint information specifying constraints for the biofuel production process, where the constraints are in terms of the framework, and process information related to the batch and continuous processes.

Abstract: A dynamic condition monitoring system is disclosed, such as for monitoring vibrations in complex machine systems. The system includes monitors on which server software is provided. The server software may access pre-defined graphical user interface pages that can be populated and served directly from the monitors. The data may be accessed via conventional networks for viewing and analyzing monitored data, as well as for configuration of the individual dynamic condition monitors.

Abstract: A technique is provided for adapting or “relegending” interface device views. The views include static content and dynamic content. At least a part of the static content defined a look and feel of the interface screens, including screens in a design-time environment and a run-time environment. The adaptable static content may be loaded as bitmaps, JPEG files, and so forth, such as in HTML standard style sheets. The static content may be changed for various original equipment manufacturers, applications, and so forth, while allowing dynamic content to vary depending upon the software and application running on the interface device.

Abstract: The invention includes a motor controller and method for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a permanent magnet motor is controlled by, among other things, receiving a torque command, determining a normalized torque command by normalizing the torque command to a characteristic current of the motor, determining a normalized maximum available voltage, determining an inductance ratio of the motor, and determining a direct-axis current based upon the normalized torque command, the normalized maximum available voltage, and the inductance ratio of the motor.

Abstract: A fan assembly and mounting method is provided for mounting a fan within an electrical enclosure. The assembly includes a mounting assembly which houses the fan and can be removed from the exterior of the enclosure. The fan assembly also includes an interior mounting plate which can be detached from the mounting assembly to allow fan removal from the interior of the enclosure. Thus, the fan assembly allows the fan to be accessed from both the interior and exterior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A sensing and switching device, such as an overload relay, is provided which includes a processor configured to make measurements and control operation (e.g., tripping) of the device. The processor regulates measurement of voltage and/or current, and the supply of power to power supplies. The power supplies store charge to provide operational power for the processor and that can be used for tripping and resetting contacts within the device. The processor opens a burden resistor measurement circuit when charge is being stored in the power supplies, and opens switches in the power supplies while closing the burden resistor switch to permit measurements. By alternatively switching for charging of the power supplies and making of measurements, the processor is able to reliably make measurements, control the device, and store sufficient power for operation of the device despite a demanding power budget.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for cooling resistive elements, such as brake resistors used in motor drives, as well as other resistors. A phase change heat spreader is thermally coupled to the resistive element and a continuous phase change cycle takes place in the heat spreader to extract heat from the resistive element. The element and heat spreader may be packaged as a modular unit or may be integrated into a system.