Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and techniques of assembly of discrete modules of a control panel are disclosed. The modules can be independently wired, tested, and installed into a control panel. Module definitions are defined specifying components to perform the electrical function, a mechanical arrangement of the components, electrical connections, and logical interactions of the module. A bill of materials can be generated based on a designation of a set of modules for a control panel and the module definitions. Modularly assembled control panels are disclosed. An assembly frame is described herein for temporarily mounting components of a module for independent assembly of a control module and for eventual removal and installation into a control panel frame. The assembly frame may include a faceplate frame and side frames and temporary mounting features.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and techniques of assembly of discrete modules of a control panel are disclosed. The modules can be independently wired, tested, and installed into a control panel. Module definitions are defined specifying components to perform the electrical function, a mechanical arrangement of the components, electrical connections, and logical interactions of the module. A bill of materials can be generated based on a designation of a set of modules for a control panel and the module definitions. Modularly assembled control panels are disclosed. An assembly frame is described herein for temporarily mounting components of a module for independent assembly of a control module and for eventual removal and installation into a control panel frame. The assembly frame may include a faceplate frame and side frames and temporary mounting features.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a recloser control that detects islanding based on a continuous analysis of frequency and rate of change of frequency. For example, a recloser control may include protection circuitry that is communicatively coupled to a recloser. The recloser control may receive measurements of an electrical characteristic in an electric power delivery system. The recloser control may determine frequency (F) and a rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) based on the received measurements. The recloser control may detect islanding of a microgrid in the electric power delivery system based at least in part on F and ROCOF. The recloser control may send a signal to the recloser to trip the recloser based on the islanding of the microgrid.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) according to the present disclosure can estimate a full load rotor resistance value as a function of motor positive-sequence resistance. The IED may estimate the full load rotor resistance value by measuring zero-crossings of voltage after a motor disconnect. The IED may also acquire motor current and voltage measurements and calculate motor slip using the acquired motor current and voltage measurements and the estimated full load rotor resistance value.

Abstract: Distance protection for electric power systems disclosed herein uses an operating signal and a sequence polarizing signal made up of a supervised sequence current and a supervised sequence voltage. The polarizing signal may be determined based on the fault type and may be weighted toward sequence currents or sequence voltages depending on the power system conditions. For phase-to-ground faults, the sequence currents may include negative-sequence and zero-sequence currents. For phase-to-phase faults, the sequence currents may include negative-sequence currents. The current portion of the sequence polarizing signal may be weighted based on detection of insufficient negative-sequence current magnitude, standing unbalance, current transformer saturation, open pole, three-phase fault, and the like. The distance elements described herein provides improved protection during real-world power system conditions and changes.

Abstract: Systems and methods may mitigate risk of fire caused by an electric power system. In one embodiment, a system may include an intelligent electronic device (IED). The IED includes a communication subsystem to receive a signal from a sensor related to a condition of the electric conductor. A processing subsystem in communication with the communication subsystem may operate in at least two modes comprising a high security mode and a fire prevention mode. In the fire prevention mode, the IED may interrupt a flow of electric current based on the signal from the at least one sensor associated with the electric conductor. In the high security mode, the system may interrupt a flow of electric current based on the signal from the at least one sensor associated with the electric conductor and based on a second condition relating to the electric conductor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitor bank control system that uses a combination of line post sensors and wireless current sensors for control operations. For example, a capacitor bank controller may include one or more inputs that electrically couple to a line post sensor to allow the capacitor bank controller to obtain line post sensor measurements. The capacitor bank controller may include a transceiver that receives wireless current sensor measurements from first and second wireless current sensors. The capacitor bank controller may include a processor that controls one or more switching devices of a capacitor bank based at least in part on a combination of line post sensor measurements and wireless current sensor measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating a period and frequency of a waveform. In one embodiment a system may comprise an input configured to receive a signal comprising a representation of the waveform. A period determination subsystem may calculate an estimated period of the signal based on a period determination function. An estimated period adjustment subsystem may determine an adjustment to the estimated period based on a result of the period determination function. A quality indicator subsystem configured to evaluate a measurement quality indictor function based on the estimated period, and to selectively update the period of the waveform based on the measurement quality indicator. A control action subsystem configured to implement a control action based on the period of the waveform.

Abstract: A network communication system may include intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in a dual-ring communication network. A software-defined network (SDN) device may be programmed by a removable or disconnectable SDN controller to control the flow path of data packets to the IEDs in the dual-ring network. A first ring of the dual-ring communication network may be dedicated to high priority data packets, and a second ring of the dual-ring communication network may be dedicated to low priority data packets. The SDN device may implement various levels of redundancy depending on the number and location of link failures detected. A first level of redundancy may direct high priority data packets in the opposite direction, and a second level of redundancy may direct high priority data packets onto the other ring normally used for low priority data packets.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a recloser control that monitors compliance of a standard for distributed energy resources (DERs). For example, a method includes obtaining power system measurements between a microgrid and an area electronic power system (EPS). The method includes determining a rate of change of power (RoCoP) based on the power system measurements. The method includes determining that a DER exceeded a threshold of the area EPS based at least in part on the RoCoP. The method includes sending a signal indicating that the DER has violated the threshold.

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: Systems for interfacing a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) adapter module to a receiver housing are provided. The receiver housing may have a first interface mounted on the receiver housing via a first mount and the PCBA adapter module may have a second interface mounted on the adapter module via a second mount. One of the interfaces has a protruding feature that aligns the interfaces when matingly engaged, while the other interface has a centering hole opposite the protruding feature. The first centering hole is enlarged with respect to an axis of an insertion-angle plane such that the protruding feature substantially clears the centering hole without causing either interface to exceed a limit of free-play between that interface and its respective mount.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for monitoring a capacitance-coupled voltage transformer (CCVT) in electrical communication with the electric power delivery system, the CCVT comprising a stack of capacitors and an electrical contact to a first ground connection. A first current transformer is disposed between the stack of capacitors and the first ground connection. The current transformer provides an electrical signal corresponding to a current associated with the CCVT. A second current transformer is disposed between a primary winding of a step-down transformer associated with the CCVT and a second ground connection. An intelligent electronic device (IED) in electrical communication with the current measurement devices monitors a ratio of magnitudes from the current transformers at a single frequency. The ratio is compared against an acceptable range. When the ratio exceeds the acceptable range, an alarm is generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods to test an electric power delivery system include a communication subsystem to transmit test signals to one or more merging units, a test subsystem to transmit a test data stream to the one or more merging units via the communication subsystem, and a processor subsystem to receive looped back data from the one or more merging unit in response to the transmitted test data stream and to determine an operating condition based on the looped back data.

Abstract: Systems and methods to estimate trapped charge for a controlled automatic reclose of a power line using a ganged switching device are described herein. For example, an intelligent electronic device (IED) may calculate a voltage amount associated with trapped charge of each phase of a power line based on voltage measurements of the power line. The IED may send a signal to close a ganged switching device at a time based at least in part on the trapped charge of each phase of a power line.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include protective functions in an electrical power system. For example, a processing subsystem may include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor and the second processor may operate independently. A memory subsystem may comprise a first memory section and a second memory section. A memory management subsystem may enable memory access between the first processor and the first memory section and disable memory access between the first processor and the second memory section. The memory management subsystem may further enable memory access between the second processor and the second memory section and disable memory access between the second processor and the first memory section. A protection subsystem may include the first processor and the first memory section and enable a protection function. The second processor and the second memory section may provide a second function that operates independently of the protection function.

Abstract: A transformer system including a transformer including a set of wye windings, a three-phase current transformer, a neutral-current transformer, and a controller. The three-phase current transformer outputs a first signal indicative of a three-phase current conducting through the set of wye windings and the three-phase current transformer. The neutral-current transformer couples the current flowing from the ground to the neutral node of the transformer, and outputs a second signal indicative of a neutral current conducting from the ground node to the neutral node of the transformer. The controller receives the first signal and the second signal, determines whether an external ground fault condition or an internal ground fault condition is present based on the three-phase current and the neutral current, and determines whether a wiring error is present for the three-phase current transformer or the neutral-current transformer based on the three-phase current and the neutral current.

Abstract: A power system simulator may calculate mechanical power of at least one generator at a second time in a simulated power system based at least in part on electrical power of the at least one generator at a first time. The power system simulator may calculate system frequency at second time based on system dynamic model that models the electrical power and the mechanical power of the simulated power system, frequency and voltage characteristics in the simulated power system, and inertia of the at least one generator. The power system simulator may provide simulated power system measurements based on the active power values to a power system controller to allow testing of the power system controller.

Abstract: A frequency tracking system may use shaft speed and electrical frequency to estimate a frequency of a monitored machine. The frequency tracking system may convert shaft speed to a mechanical frequency and blend the electrical frequency and the mechanical frequency together to determine an estimated frequency. The frequency tracking system may blend the frequencies based on an operating state of the monitored machine and the frequency sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for monitoring electrical arc events in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a system may comprise an arc flash detection (AFD) unit to detect electromagnetic radiation generated by an electrical arc event, a primary protection relay to generate measurements of an electric current, and an integrator. In various embodiments, the integrator may comprise a communication port to receive the detection of the electrical arc event and the measurements of the electric current. The integrator may also comprise a processing subsystem to validate the detection of the electrical arc and generate protective actions to interrupt the flow of the current to the electrical arc event.