Abstract: The invention relates to a removable stabilizer for a spacer casing (24a-24f) of an electrical installation of the GIS type (20), the spacer casing (24a-24f) comprising a first opening (33) as well as a conductor (30b) provided with a bore (34), the removable stabilizer (29) comprising a plug (29a) configured to be introduced via the first opening (33) into the spacer casing (24a-24f), the plug being designed to penetrate into the bore (34) of the conductor (30b) so as to block said conductor (30b) against moving in translation after said spacer casing (24a-24f) has been put to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A protection system for an electrical variable speed doubly fed induction machine having a stator and a rotor, comprising: instrument transformers capable of measuring low frequency signals from the rotor and stator, in particular low frequency signals in the range of 0.1 Hz to 6 Hz; a protection relay which is configured to receive measurement values from the instrument transformers and to sample said measurements values at a constant sampling rate.

Abstract: The invention provides a voltage sensor for a very high-voltage direct current line comprising two voltage divider stages connected in series, the sensor being characterized in that a first voltage divider stage (E1) that divides the very high voltage to an intermediate voltage is constituted by at least two elementary voltage divider stages (Em) connected in series and distributed in a composite insulator (I), each elementary stage (Em) comprising a resistor Re in parallel with a capacitor Ce, the second voltage divider stage (E2) that delivers the intermediate voltage being constituted by electronic components comprising capacitors and/or interchangeable resistors.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating operational and financial performance for dispatchers in power grid control centers associated with utility systems. A comprehensive operating plan is provided that applies after the fact analysis for performance metrics, root-cause impacts and process re-engineering. after the fact analysis of past events and practices is performed. Actual system and resource conditions are captured. the system and resource conditions are supplied to a relational database. A scheduler engine receives the actual system and resource conditions from the relational database and processes it to calculate system performance.

Abstract: A solar receiver configuration (receiver) adapted to include a plurality of receiver heat transfer passes. Each pass includes a plurality of panels. Further, each panel includes a plurality of tubes, tangentially arranged, vertically extending between horizontally placed lower and upper headers. The headers, which are pipe assemblies with closed ends, of adjacent panels are horizontally and vertically offset one to another to form a substantially continuous tube surface. Such continuous tube surface enables solar heating of the fluid flow therefrom in at least a parallel flow arrangement and a serpentine flow arrangement.

Abstract: Methods are provided for assessing potentially compromising situations of a utility company. One or more source displays of a site are accessed. A fly-out or data lensing is used to bring forward a portion of the source displays. The fly-out or data lensing is used to draw attention to a potentially compromising situation and direct the operator's attention without loosing perspective of a whole power system of the utility company.

Abstract: A method and a device for locating internal arcing that occurs in a compartment (CPi) of a gas-insulated line (L), each compartment being provided with at least one pressure sensor (Pi). The method comprises: triggering pressure measurements in a compartment as soon as the difference between the currents that flow through two current toroids (TCi) around two adjacent compartments exceeds a threshold value indicating the occurrence of internal arcing in the compartment; calculating a period ?t that separates the time at which the pressure detector began to detect a pressure variation and the time at which the internal arcing occurred; and calculating a distance d that separates the place at which the internal arc is formed from the position of the pressure sensor using the equation d=V/?t in which V is the speed of sound in the gas.

Abstract: A solar thermal power system includes a solar receiver for heating thermal energy storage fluid to be stored and utilized from a thermal energy storage arrangement having hot and cold storage tanks. The system includes a steam generator arrangement, which utilizes the heat of the thermal energy storage fluid to produce steam to run a turbine. The arrangement includes a bypass line configured to bypass the hot storage tank from the steam generator arrangement, and to supply the hot thermal energy storage fluid from the solar receiver directly to the steam generator arrangement, during day times, when the solar receiver the steam generator arrangement are both in operating mode, thereby recovering stored potential energy available in the down corner hot thermal energy storage fluid from the solar receiver.

Abstract: A merging unit for substation automation includes at least one input interface for receiving input data characterizing at least one voltage and/or current related to a component of a power system, and a timing synchronization mechanism which includes an interface to an external synchronization network operating according to one of Inter Range Instrumentation Group, IRIG, -B standard, the 1PPS standard and the Institute of Electrical and the Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 1588 standard. The merging unit is configured to implement logical nodes according to the International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC, 61850-7 standard. The merging unit is configured to map information to and/or from at least one of the logical nodes; to the IEC 61850-9-2 sampled measured values, SMV, communication protocol.

Abstract: The control device possesses a rigid main part combining most of the functional elements of this type of control device. It is made up of two portions of a rotary shaft, having placed between them a cam and a support arm that are connected together by a pivot that is offset relative to the axis of rotation. A toothed wheel having an inner set of teeth is placed around the support arm that is provided with a rachet system. The toothed wheel has an outer set of teeth-driven by a motor, via an intermediate gearwheel. The pivot controls the compression of the actuator spring by the assembly rotating. The device is applicable to high and medium voltage circuit breakers and switches.

Abstract: A gas exhaust diffuser for a circuit breaker, comprising a first casing extending longitudinally along a principal axis with an open end to allow gas to enter and a closed end, and a second casing coaxial to the first casing, extending along the principal axis, with at least one outlet to allow gas to escape, the closed end of the first casing being arranged in the second casing and the first casing having at least two radial openings near its closed end to provide a fluid communication between the first and second casing. A plurality of incurved elements are positioned radially in the second casing at the at least one radial opening to create a rotation of an entering exhaust flow in a plan perpendicular to the principal axis, thereby generating a substantially helicoidally-shaped exhaust flow path in the second casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a full Bridge module, for connecting an electrical device such as a DC capacitor to an electrical circuit. The full bridge module comprises: a first and a second terminal to connect to the electrical circuit; a third and a fourth terminal to connect to the electrical device. The full bridge module further comprises a first to a fourth switch that connect the first and the second terminal to the third and fourth terminal. The first and the second switches are arranged on a first surface, the third and the fourth switches being arranged on a second surface that is parallel to the first surface. The invention relates also to a Voltage-source converter.

Abstract: A method of preventive detection of a fault in at least one device under surveillance of a group comprising at least two devices, the device under surveillance having at least one first parameter correlated with at least one second parameter of at least one second device in the group, said parameters representing state variables of said devices. The method includes the following steps: predicting a value of the first parameter from a measured value of the second parameter; comparing the predicted value of the first parameter and a measured value of the first parameter; and analyzing the result of the comparison effected in the comparison step to detect a potential fault. The invention also relates to a computer program, an installation, and a module for preventive detection of a fault in a device.

Abstract: A solar boiler 300 includes first and second primary receiver panels 500, 600 spaced apart by a gap 700. Each panel 500, 600 include a plurality of primary boiler tubes 510, 610 for receiving solar flux. The boiler 300 includes at least one secondary receiver arrangement 800 disposed across the gap 700 for receiving solar flux incident thereacross. The arrangement 800 includes at least one secondary boiler tube 810, and at least one support member 820 supported thereto. The arrangement 800 is configured relative to the primary panels 500, 600 such that endmost primary boiler tubes 510a, 610a are supported over the support member 820 in spaced relation ‘S’ to the secondary boiler tube 810 for enabling transverse and lateral thermal expansion of the tubes 510, 610, 810 without bending out. Further, a panel joining attachment 900 is provided for attaching the panels 500, 600 and the arrangement 800.

Abstract: The subject specification comprises enhanced communication infrastructure for a multi-tier hierarchical smart distribution grid (SDG). The SDG comprises a specified number of distribution network node controller (DNNC) components employed to desirably control communications and power distribution between respective tiers of the SDG to facilitate efficient power distribution. When communication between the a DNNC in one tier and another DNNC in another tier, is desired, the DNNC can identify available communication channels and respective communication conditions of the available communication channels, and can dynamically select a subset of available data and preferred communication channel, based at least in part on predefined control criteria, to control data transmission loads in the network and facilitate real time control of the SDG. Data can be communicated via the selected communication channel.

Abstract: A solar thermal power system can include a solar receiver steam generator, a thermal energy storage arrangement utilizing a thermal energy storage fluid, and a multistage steam turbine for driving an electrical generator to produce electrical power. The solar thermal power system has a first operating mode in which steam is generated by the solar receiver steam generator and is supplied both to the thermal energy storage arrangement and to a high pressure turbine inlet of the multistage steam turbine. In a second operating mode, steam is generated by recovering stored thermal energy from the thermal energy storage fluid of the thermal energy storage arrangement for injection into the multistage steam turbine at a location or turbine stage downstream of the high pressure turbine inlet.

Abstract: Air core reactor includes a coil connected between first and second terminals. The coil is made of a succession of bundles of conductor (B1, B2, B3, . . . , BN) connected in series along an axis between the first terminal and the second terminal. Each bundle is made of one wire wound around the axis to form a multi-layer winding having a cross-section of N winding layers in a direction perpendicular to the axis, from a winding layer of rank 1 which is the closest to the axis to a winding layer of rank N which is the furthest from the axis. Each perpendicular winding layer includes several winding layers in the direction of the axis. The number of axial winding of the perpendicular winding layer of rank j (j=2, . . . , N) is equal or less than the number of axial winding layers of the perpendicular winding layer of rank j?1.

Abstract: The invention provides a control device for regulating and balancing currents, for DC/DC converters, between first and second voltage sources, the device comprising: n converters (C1, C2, . . . Cn) that are connected in parallel to the first voltage source (11); n inductors (L1, L2, . . . Ln) that have their outlets connected to the second voltage source (R) via n connections; n current sensors (22) that are arranged on respective ones of the connections; and a single regulator system that has its inputs connected to respective ones of the n current sensors (22), and its output connected to the n converters (C1, C2, . . . Cn).

Abstract: A signal processor device comprising: first input means intended to be connected, via a measurement sensor, to a high-voltage signal of an electrical installation; and processor means for analyzing the signal measured by said sensor; the device further comprising: changeover means that are configured to cause the operation of the device to change between a test mode in which the device is disconnected from said high-voltage signal so as to be connected to a test signal, and an operating mode in which the device is disconnected from said test signal so as to be reconnected to said high-voltage signal; and second input means that are connected to said processor means, said processor means being configured to actuate said changeover means so that the device operates in test mode or in operating mode depending on whether the second input means are activated or de-activated respectively.

Abstract: A solar thermal power plant comprises a solar radiation receiver mounted on a tower surrounded by a heliostat field to receive solar radiation reflected by heliostats. A power generation circuit includes a steam turbine for driving an electrical generator to produce electrical power, and water in the power generation circuit is heated directly by solar radiation reflected onto the solar radiation receiver by the heliostat field to generate steam to drive the steam turbine. An energy storage circuit includes a thermal energy storage fluid, such as molten salt, which is capable of being heated directly by solar radiation reflected by the heliostat field. A heat exchanger is also provided for recovering thermal energy from the thermal energy storage fluid. The recovered thermal energy may then be used to generate steam to drive the steam turbine.