Abstract: A method of monitoring main contact conditions of main contacts in an automatic transfer switch is provided. The automatic transfer switch is coupled to a plurality of electrical power sources and an electrical load. The method includes: measuring, by sensors, temperatures of a plurality of main contacts coupled to the plurality of power sources; determining if the measured temperatures indicate a temperature rise at one or more main contacts of the plurality of main contacts; in response to determining that the measured temperatures indicate a temperature rise at the one or more main contacts, comparing a current value of the temperature rise with stored temperature rise values that represent main contact damages; and determining an amount of main contact damage at the one or more main contacts based on the comparison.

Abstract: A network protector includes a resettable switching apparatus configured to electrically connect to a low-voltage feeder of a secondary distribution network; a switch control configured to control a state of the resettable switching apparatus to thereby determine whether electrical current flows through the switching apparatus; and a controller configured to: determine whether a fault condition exists; and if a fault condition does not exist, allow electrical power to flow through the resettable switching apparatus in any direction.

Abstract: A network protector includes: a resettable switching apparatus configured to control an electrical connection between a first distribution transformer and a first electrical feeder of a secondary electrical distribution network; a sensor apparatus configured to sense one or more properties of electrical power in the first electrical feeder; and a controller configured to: analyze one or more of the sensed properties of the electrical power in the first electrical feeder to determine whether an error condition exists in the secondary electrical distribution network; and open the resettable switching apparatus if an error condition exists.

Abstract: A switch device includes: a resettable switching apparatus, the resettable switching apparatus is configured control an electrical connection between a first electrical feeder of an electrical distribution network and a load; and a controller configured to: cause a test signal to be provided to the first electrical feeder; determine, after a test signal is provided to the first electrical feeder, whether the electrical distribution network has a radial structure; and if the electrical distribution network has a radial structure, open the resettable switching apparatus to disconnect the load from the first electrical feeder of the electrical distribution network.

Abstract: A network protector includes: a first resettable switching apparatus configured to control an electrical connection between a distribution transformer and a first electrical feeder of a secondary electrical distribution network; a first communications interface; and a first controller configured to: determine a direction of power flow in the first electrical feeder; cause the first communications interface to provide a first indication of the direction of power flow in the first electrical feeder to a second network protector; and receive a second indication from the second network protector. The second indication includes an indication of the direction of power flow in a second electrical feeder of the secondary electrical distribution network.

Abstract: A multi-layer architecture for control of distributed energy resources (DER) includes a forecasting and optimization system and one or more site-level controllers. The forecasting and optimization system generates predictions of optimal set points and communicate the optimal set points to a site-level controller. The site-level controller includes stored instructions that, when executed, direct the site-level controller to perform a boundary check and a real-time static economic dispatch, which can include steps of receiving optimal set points from the forecasting and optimization system; comparing received optimal set points with local conditions; outputting dispatch commands for DER control according to the optimal set points when the optimal set points are within appropriate limits with respect to the local conditions; and when the optimal set points exceed the appropriate limits, generating adjusted dispatch commands and outputting the adjusted dispatch commands for the DER control.