Patents by Inventor Armando Guzman-Casillas

Armando Guzman-Casillas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8525522
    Abstract: Accurately calculating location of a fault even on a branched, non-homogenous, radial electric power distribution system. The calculation includes determining a calculated reactance or impedance to the fault, and uses the line parameters to determine locations on the system that match the calculated reactance to the fault. The calculation may further include a determination of faulted phase and eliminate fault location possibilities based on absence of the faulted phase at those locations. The calculation may further use data reported from line monitors such as faulted circuit indicators (FCIs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Yanfeng Gong, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Patent number: 8494795
    Abstract: An apparatus and method estimates a plurality of synchronized phasors at predetermined times referenced to a common time standard in an electrical power system. The method includes acquiring and determining a frequency of a power system signal, sampling the power system signal at a sampling interval rate based on a frequency of the power system signal to form signal samples, and generating a plurality of acquisition time values based on an occurrence of each of the signal samples at a corresponding plurality of different times referenced to the common time standard. The method further includes adjusting a phasor of each of the signal samples based on a time difference between a corresponding selected acquisition time value and a predetermined time referenced to a common time standard to form the plurality of synchronized phasors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Gregary C. Zweigle, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Luther S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8410785
    Abstract: A quadrilateral distance module may be used to detect faults in an electrical power system. A resistive coverage of the quadrilateral distance module may be defined by an adaptive resistance blinder. The adaptive resistance blinder may be adapted to certain power system conditions, such as forward load flow and/or reverse load flow. A forward adaptive resistance blinder may be calculated in parallel with a reverse adaptive resistance blinder. The forward adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for forward load flow conditions, and the reverse adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for reverse load flow conditions. Fault detection may be performed by comparing both the forward and reverse adaptive resistance blinders to power system stimulus and detecting a fault when the stimulus satisfy either blinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Jorge Fernando Calero, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Gabriel Benmouyal
  • Patent number: 8405944
    Abstract: A distributed busbar protection system using time-stamped data gathered from measurement devices in an electrical power system bus arrangement by respective intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The IEDs may derive the timestamp information from a clock or other time source, which may be synchronized to a common time source and/or an absolute time. The time-stamped measurement data may be used by a protection device to monitor and/or protect the electrical power system. The protection device may include a real-time vector processor, which may time-align the time-stamped data, determine one or more bus differential protection zones, and implement a differential protection function within each of the protection zones. One or more protective control signals may be transmitted to the IEDs to trip the corresponding breakers and clear the bus fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Edmund O. Schweitzer, III
  • Patent number: 8346402
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device is operable to use a signal derived from an electrical power delivery system to effectively detect an islanding condition. The intelligent electronic device is configured to compare a frequency deviation (from nominal frequency) and a rate-of-change of frequency of the electrical power delivery system to a protection characteristic of the intelligent electronic device to quickly and securely detect islanding conditions thereby enhancing power protection, automation, control, and monitoring performance. The intelligent electronic device uses local measurements of the electrical power deliver system to provide reliable and economical means to properly separate a generation site from the remainder of the electrical power delivery system. Such may be useful to prevent reclosing out of synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, Marcos A. Donolo
  • Patent number: 8321162
    Abstract: A power system may comprise two or more transformers operating in parallel. A voltage differential may exist between the transformers, which may create a circulating current in the power system. The system voltage of the power system may be modified by performing a tap change operation on one or more of the transformers. The tap change operation may be configured to minimize the circulating current. The circulating current may be minimized by determining the bias between the transformers using an angular difference between the transformer currents. The angular difference may be calculated using time-aligned measurement data. A tap change operation configured to modify the system voltage, while minimizing circulating current, may be determined using the transformer bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Casper A. Labuschagne, Normann Fischer, Satish Samineni, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Patent number: 8194374
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) provides harmonic blocking and harmonic restraint differential protection operating in parallel. The IED includes a harmonically-blocked differential element supervised by one or more even harmonics of a raw operating current (a current comprising the fundamental operating current and the harmonics thereof). The IED also includes a parallel, harmonically-restrained differential element, which is restrained by harmonics of the raw operating current. Tripping signals output by the parallel harmonically-blocked differential element and the harmonically-restrained differential element may be selectively combined into a single tripping signal output. An additional harmonic blocking element may supervise both differential elements and/or the combined tripping signal. The additional harmonic blocking element may provide odd-harmonic blocking, such as harmonic blocking based on a fifth harmonic of the raw operating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzser Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Normann Fischer
  • Publication number: 20120068717
    Abstract: Fault location on a non-homogeneous electric power line that includes a plurality of sections by determining a section in which negative-sequence voltage magnitude profiles calculated from each terminal of the power line intersect. The fault location may determine the faulted section and determine the location of the fault within the faulted section. To determine the fault location, the negative-sequence voltage magnitude profiles may be calculated from measurements taken at each terminal of the power line and compared to determine a point where the profiles intersect. The profiles may be calculated using power line properties and measurements from each terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Yanfeng Gong, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, Richard M. Edge
  • Patent number: 8112235
    Abstract: A State and Topology Processor (STP) may be communicatively coupled to one or more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) communicatively coupled to a electrical power system to obtain one or more current measurements, voltage measurements, and dynamic topology data therefrom. The STP may receive the measurement data and may determine a current topology and a voltage topology therefrom. A current processor may use the current topology and the current measurements to refine the measurements, perform KCL, unbalance, symmetrical component, and consistency checks on the electrical power system. The voltage processor may use the voltage topology and the voltage measurements to perform similar checks on the electrical power system. One or more alarms may be generated responsive to the checks. The data may be displayed to a user in a display of a human machine interface and/or may be transmitted to a user programmable task module, and/or an external control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Marcos A. Donolo, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Publication number: 20110264389
    Abstract: Accurately calculating location of a phase-to-phase fault even on a branched, non-homogenous, radial electric power distribution system. The calculation includes determining a calculated reactance to the fault without using positive-sequence current measurements, and uses the line parameters to determine locations on the system that match the calculated reactance to the fault. The calculation may further include a determination of faulted phase and eliminate fault location possibilities based on absence of the faulted phase at those locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, Yanfeng Gong, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Publication number: 20110264388
    Abstract: Accurately calculating location of a fault even on a branched, non-homogenous, radial electric power distribution system. The calculation includes determining a calculated reactance or impedance to the fault, and uses the line parameters to determine locations on the system that match the calculated reactance to the fault. The calculation may further include a determination of faulted phase and eliminate fault location possibilities based on absence of the faulted phase at those locations. The calculation may further use data reported from line monitors such as faulted circuit indicators (FCIs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Yanfeng Gong, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Patent number: 8031447
    Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring through-fault current in an electric transformer on an electrical power system. The device generally includes a magnitude calculator for calculating the magnitude of current (e.g., a root means square value of current or magnitude of a fundamental of current) based on the current through the electric transformer. A through-fault energy calculator is further provided which is coupled to the magnitude calculator for calculating a through-fault energy value based on the magnitude of current or the calculated current through the transformer. An accumulator is coupled to the through-fault energy calculator for accumulating a plurality of through-fault energy values, and an alarm coupled to the accumulator for indicating that the accumulated through-fault energy values exceed a selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Normann Fischer
  • Patent number: 7987059
    Abstract: A power system oscillation detection device is provided for use in an electric power system. A plurality of sample signals are acquired from the electrical power system via a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in communication with the power system. The power system oscillation detection device includes a real-time modal analysis module, a real-time mode identification module, and real-time decision and control logic. The real-time modal analysis module calculates modes of at least one of the signals, each mode including mode information. The real-time mode identification module together with the real-time decision and control logic determines, from the mode information, whether there is an undesirable oscillation in the electric power system and activates a remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc
    Inventors: Yanfeng Gong, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Patent number: 7930117
    Abstract: A first intelligent electric device (IED) may be placed at a first location in an electrical power system and a second IED may be placed at a second location in the electrical power system. Voltage measurements may be received from the first and second IEDs. The measurements may be time aligned and used to calculate an angle difference between the first location and the second location in the electrical power system. A slip frequency and acceleration may be derived from the angle difference. The angle difference, slip frequency, and acceleration may be used to detect an out-of-step (OOS) condition in the electrical power system and/or a power swing between the first location and the second location in the electrical power system. The angle difference, slip frequency, and acceleration may also be used to predicatively detect OOS conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Publication number: 20110077885
    Abstract: An apparatus and method estimates a plurality of synchronized phasors at predetermined times referenced to a common time standard in an electrical power system. The method includes acquiring and determining a frequency of a power system signal, sampling the power system signal at a sampling interval rate based on a frequency of the power system signal to form signal samples, and generating a plurality of acquisition time values based on an occurrence of each of the signal samples at a corresponding plurality of different times referenced to the common time standard. The method further includes adjusting a phasor of each of the signal samples based on a time difference between a corresponding selected acquisition time value and a predetermined time referenced to a common time standard to form the plurality of synchronized phasors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Gregary C. Zweigle, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Luther S. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20110068803
    Abstract: A quadrilateral distance module may be used to detect faults in an electrical power system. A resistive coverage of the quadrilateral distance module may be defined by an adaptive resistance blinder. The adaptive resistance blinder may be adapted to certain power system conditions, such as forward load flow and/or reverse load flow. A forward adaptive resistance blinder may be calculated in parallel with a reverse adaptive resistance blinder. The forward adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for forward load flow conditions, and the reverse adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for reverse load flow conditions. Fault detection may comprise comparing both the forward and reverse adaptive resistance blinders to power system stimulus and detecting a fault when the stimulus satisfy either blinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Jorge Fernando Calero, Armando Guzman-Casillas, Gabriel Benmouyal
  • Publication number: 20110004425
    Abstract: A State and Topology Processor (STP) may be communicatively coupled to one or more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) communicatively coupled to a electrical power system to obtain one or more current measurements, voltage measurements, and dynamic topology data therefrom. The STP may receive the measurement data and may determine a current topology and a voltage topology therefrom. A current processor may use the current topology and the current measurements to refine the measurements, perform KCL, unbalance, symmetrical component, and consistency checks on the electrical power system. The voltage processor may use the voltage topology and the voltage measurements to perform similar checks on the electrical power system. One or more alarms may be generated responsive to the checks. The data may be displayed to a user in a display of a human machine interface and/or may be transmitted to a user programmable task module, and/or an external control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Marcos A. Donolo, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Patent number: 7856327
    Abstract: A State and Topology Processor (STP) may be communicatively coupled to one or more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) communicatively coupled to a electrical power system to obtain one or more current measurements, voltage measurements, and dynamic topology data therefrom. The STP may receive the measurement data and may determine a current topology and a voltage topology therefrom. A current processor may use the current topology and the current measurements to refine the measurements, perform KCL, unbalance, symmetrical component, and consistency checks on the electrical power system. The voltage processor may use the voltage topology and the voltage measurements to perform similar checks on the electrical power system. One or more alarms may be generated responsive to the checks. The data may be displayed to a user in a display of a human machine interface and/or may be transmitted to a user programmable task module, and/or an external control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Marcos A. Donolo, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Publication number: 20100286838
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device is operable to use a signal derived from an electrical power delivery system to effectively detect an islanding condition. The intelligent electronic device is configured to compare a frequency deviation (from nominal frequency) and a rate-of-change of frequency of the electrical power delivery system to a protection characteristic of the intelligent electronic device to quickly and securely detect islanding conditions thereby enhancing power protection, automation, control, and monitoring performance. The intelligent electronic device uses local measurements of the electrical power deliver system to provide reliable and economical means to properly separate a generation site from the remainder of the electrical power delivery system. Such may be useful to prevent reclosing out of synchronism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Mangapathirao Venkat Mynam, Marcos A. Donolo
  • Publication number: 20100264749
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) provides harmonic blocking and harmonic restraint differential protection operating in parallel. The IED includes a harmonically-blocked differential element supervised by one or more even harmonics of a raw operating current (a current comprising the fundamental operating current and the harmonics thereof). The IED also includes a parallel, harmonically-restrained differential element, which is restrained by harmonics of the raw operating current. Tripping signals output by the parallel harmonically-blocked differential element and the harmonically-restrained differential element may be selectively combined into a single tripping signal output. An additional harmonic blocking element may supervise both differential elements and/or the combined tripping signal. The additional harmonic blocking element may provide odd-harmonic blocking, such as harmonic blocking based on a fifth harmonic of the raw operating current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Normann Fischer