Abstract: The present technology relates to soft-starts of alternating current (AC) motors, and particularly, to controlling a soft-start of an AC motor using a configuration of transistors and diodes. A system may include processing circuitry and gating circuitry. The gating circuitry may include a first transistor coupled to an AC voltage supply, a second transistor coupled to the first transistor and to an AC motor, a first diode coupled across current path terminals of the first transistor, and a second diode coupled across current path terminals of the second transistor. The processing circuitry may be configured to monitor voltage and current of the AC voltage supply and provide gating signals to the control terminals of the first and second transistors to control operations of the first and second transistors based at least in part on one or more desired firing angles and the voltage or current of the AC voltage supply.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and techniques to modify operating voltages of an integrated circuit (IC). In at least one embodiment, health monitor information may be collected from one or more in-die health monitors to modify an operating voltage determined using a voltage-temperature function that is derived from two or more voltage-temperature data points.

Abstract: The present technology relates to circuit breaker devices having current sense transformers configured to protect loads against current overload and short circuit events. The current sense transformers include a core, a secondary winding, and a primary winding coupled to a power input. The secondary winding includes a first wire wrapped around the core a number of secondary winding turns. The primary winding includes a second wire wrapped around the core a number of primary winding turns. The number of primary winding turns includes a first number of primary winding turns in a first direction and a second number of primary winding turns in an opposite direction that magnetically cancel out the second number of primary winding turns in the first direction to generate an effective number of primary winding turns. The effective number of primary winding turns and the number of secondary winding turns make up a desired turns ratio.

Abstract: High purity carbon sorbent monoliths, particularly effective for the removal of trace-contaminants such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and methyl mercaptan from a gas flow, are fabricated by 3D-printing polymer monoliths, pre-oxidizing them in a flow of air at a temperature below the melting point of the polymer precursor, carbonizing them, and subsequently activating them to a weight loss of about 20 percent. The pre-oxidation step effectively prevents polymer-monolith swelling and melting during carbonization.

Abstract: The present technology relates to circuit breaker devices having current sense transformers. The current sense transformer includes a core, a secondary winding, and a primary winding coupled to the power input. The secondary winding includes a first wire wrapped around the core a number of secondary winding turns. The primary winding includes a second wire wrapped around the core a number of primary winding turns. The number of primary winding turns includes a first number of primary winding turns in a first direction and a second number of primary winding turns in an opposite direction that magnetically cancel out the second number of primary winding turns in the first direction to generate an effective number of primary winding turns. The effective number of primary winding turns and the number of secondary winding turns make up a desired turns ratio.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to reducing leakage current produced by solid-state switching devices of circuit breakers. A circuit breaker may include processing circuitry and switching circuitry coupled to the processing circuitry, to an AC voltage supply having three phase terminals, and to a load having three phase terminals. The switching circuitry includes three phase circuits each coupled to a phase terminal of the AC voltage supply and to a phase terminal of the load. Each phase circuit includes a first switch, a second switch, and two leakage current circuits. Each of the two leakage current circuits is coupled to a different one of two other phase terminals of the AC voltage supply. The processing circuitry controls current flow through the switching circuitry by providing gating signals to the two leakage current circuits of each phase circuit based on voltage potentials of the circuit breaker and a mode of the switching circuitry.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays, each having a first contact on an input side of the respective relay, the input side coupled to a power source, a second contact on a load side of the respective relay coupled to a load, and a spanner configured to close the first and second contacts of the respective relay when activated by a close signal. The load sides of each of the respective relays are coupled through their respective loads. The controller is configured to measure a voltage between a spanner of a first relay and an input side of a second relay. Based on the voltage between the spanner of the first relay and the input side of the second relay, the controller determines whether an electrical weld of one of the contacts of the first relay exists.

Abstract: High purity carbon sorbent monoliths, particularly effective for the removal of trace-contaminants such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and methyl mercaptan from a gas flow, are fabricated by 3D-printing polymer monoliths, pre-oxidizing them in a flow of air at a temperature below the melting point of the polymer precursor, carbonizing them, and subsequently activating them to a weight loss of about 20 percent. The pre-oxidation step effectively prevents polymer-monolith swelling and melting during carbonization.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays. The controller is configured to transmit a close signal to a first relay of the plurality of relays, and to transmit a pulse signal to a second relay of the plurality of relays. The pulse signal is configured to have a sufficient electrical magnitude and duration to close the second relay when the second relay has an electrical weld, and to have an insufficient electrical magnitude and duration to close the first contact and the second contact of the second relay when the second relay has no electrical weld. The controller is also configured to measure a current flow through the second relay in response to the pulse signal; and based on the current flow through the second relay, determine whether the electrical weld exists in the second relay.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to reducing leakage current produced by solid-state switching devices of circuit breakers flowing to loads. A circuit breaker may include switching circuitry coupled to a load and to an AC voltage supply. The switching circuitry may include first-phase, second-phase, and third-phase circuits each including a first switch coupled to a terminal of the load, a second switch coupled to the first switch and to a terminal of the voltage supply, a first leakage current circuit coupled to the first switch and to a first of two other terminals of the voltage supply, and a second leakage current circuit coupled to the first switch and to a second of the two other terminals of the voltage supply. In a standby mode, based on various states of the switches of the switching circuitry leakage current flows from the load to the voltage supply through the leakage current circuits.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays. The controller is configured to transmit a close signal to a first relay and a second relay of the plurality of relays. The close signal is configured to close the first contact and the second contact of each of the first relay and the second relay. The controller is also configured to measure a first close time between the transmission of the close signal to the first relay and a time when the first relay closes, and to measure a second close time between the transmission of the close signal to the second relay and a time when the second relay closes. The controller is further configured to determine whether an electrical weld exists in the first relay or the second relay, based on the first and second close times.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provide for detecting weld relay devices within a switching device by: closing one or more first relay devices, wherein the one or more first relay devices are configured to selectively connect and disconnect a first phase of electric power from a power source; opening one or more second relay devices and one or more third switches; detecting whether there is electric current through the one or more second relay devices; and in response to detecting that there is electric current through the one or more second relay devices, determining that the one or more second relay devices are welded.

Abstract: A method may include receiving, via at least one processor, a first set of data indicative of a fault being present and send a first signal to a breaker based on the first set of data. The first signal may cause the breaker to open a plurality of poles of the breaker. The method may then involve receiving a second set of data indicative of the fault being cleared and sending a second signal to the breaker based on the second set of data. The second signal may cause the breaker to close a first pole of the plurality of poles at a first time and close a second pole of the plurality of poles at a second time different from the first time.

Abstract: High purity carbon sorbent monoliths that are particularly effective for the adsorption and subsequent desorption of trace-contaminants, such as ammonia, are produced by 3D-printing polymer monoliths, carbonizing them, and subsequently activating them to produce an effective amount of at least one type of oxygen species on exposed carbon surfaces. The high purity carbon sorbent monoliths are vacuum-regenerable on a time scale of a few minutes.

Abstract: A relay device may include an armature that moves between a first position that electrically couples the armature to a first contact and a second position that electrically couples the armature to a second contact. The relay device may also include a relay coil that receives a voltage to magnetize the relay coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The relay device also includes an additional coil that couples in series with the relay coil via a switch. The relay device also includes a drive circuit that causes the switch to couple the additional coil to the relay coil in response to receiving a signal indicative of the relay coil energizing.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays. The controller is configured to transmit a close signal to a first relay of the plurality of relays, and to transmit a pulse signal to a second relay of the plurality of relays. The pulse signal is configured to have a sufficient electrical magnitude and duration to close the second relay when the second relay has an electrical weld, and to have an insufficient electrical magnitude and duration to close the first contact and the second contact of the second relay when the second relay has no electrical weld. The controller is also configured to measure a current flow through the second relay in response to the pulse signal; and based on the current flow through the second relay, determine whether the electrical weld exists in the second relay.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays, each having a first contact on an input side of the respective relay, the input side coupled to a power source, a second contact on a load side of the respective relay coupled to a load, and a spanner configured to close the first and second contacts of the respective relay when activated by a close signal. The load sides of each of the respective relays are coupled through their respective loads. The controller is configured to measure a voltage between a spanner of a first relay and an input side of a second relay. Based on the voltage between the spanner of the first relay and the input side of the second relay, the controller determines whether an electrical weld of one of the contacts of the first relay exists.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays. The controller is configured to transmit a close signal to a first relay and a second relay of the plurality of relays. The close signal is configured to close the first contact and the second contact of each of the first relay and the second relay. The controller is also configured to measure a first close time between the transmission of the close signal to the first relay and a time when the first relay closes, and to measure a second close time between the transmission of the close signal to the second relay and a time when the second relay closes. The controller is further configured to determine whether an electrical weld exists in the first relay or the second relay, based on the first and second close times.

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a relay having a first contact on an input side of the relay, the input side coupled to a power source, and a second contact on a load side of the relay coupled to a load. The controller is configured to monitor a current flow from the power source through the relay, transmit a close signal to the relay, and to transmit an open signal to the relay. Based on the current flow through the relay following the open signal, determine whether an electrical weld of one of the first contact and the second contact of the relay exists.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system including a mechanical switch and solid-state switching circuit. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs based on operations of the solid-state switching circuit. The solid-state switching circuit may draw arc currents of the electrical arcs by providing a second current path between the spanner and a fixed conductor of the mechanical switch. Moreover, the solid-state switching circuit may open the second current path and absorb electrical power of the electrical arc by one or more solid-state switches, a parallel voltage suppressor, or both.