Abstract: A method for prioritizing events on an electrical power system, including: (a) acquiring at least one data portion representative of the behavior of the electrical power system, the at least one data portion containing at least one power system event; (b) assigning at least one rank value to the at least one data portion based on the type of power system event, the rank value indicative of a priority of the event; and (c) conducting subsequent operations on the at least one data portion in accordance with the at least one rank value.

Abstract: A method of evaluating one or more capacitor banks in an electrical power system includes: (a) acquiring data representing a signal of interest of the power system, where the data describes a plurality of power system events; and (b) based on one or more patterns contained in the data, identifying at least one of the power system events as being associated with capacitor operation.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an electrical power system using fuzzy logic includes: (a) acquiring data representing a signal of interest of the power system; (b) analyzing the signal using at least one fuzzy logic rule; and (c) based on the analysis, detecting and classifying at least one power system event within the power system.

Abstract: A system for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system includes: a) a data acquisition unit that is electrically connected to an electrical power system, wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to monitor signals indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system, wherein the signal includes a normal load component; and b) a computing device operably connected to the data acquisition unit. The computing device is programmed to: i) obtain first data from the data acquisition unit indicative of the temporal behavior of the first signal; ii) remove the normal load component from the first data; and iii) determine that an arcing event is present on the electrical power system when the at least one burst within the first data presents a generally sinusoidal shape which includes generally flat regions which are present where the generally sinusoidal shape crosses over a zero-magnitude line.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an electrical power system includes analyzing data representing a signal of interest of the power system, the data containing at least one power system event; and based on the analysis, associating the power system event with a root cause. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an electrical power system using fuzzy logic includes: (a) acquiring data representing a signal of interest of the power system; (b) analyzing the signal using at least one fuzzy logic rule, wherein the fuzzy logic rules include: (1) phase level rules which are based on features extracted from a particular phase on the electric power system; (2) segment level rules which are evaluated using information from different phases; and (3) capture level rules which combine truth values obtained from one or more segments; and (c) based on the analysis, detecting and classifying at least one power system event within the power system.

Abstract: Methods for processing a signal of interest in an electrical power system are provided, as well as systems and computer program products for carrying out the methods. The methods include obtaining a representative window of data points from the signal of interest; obtaining a window of interest containing data points from the signal of interest; and comparing a phase drift compensated window to the representative window, wherein the compensated window is calculated in accordance with the window of interest and a phase drift that is present in the window of interest relative to the representative window.

Abstract: A system for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system includes: a) a data acquisition unit that is electrically connected to an electrical power system, wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to monitor signals indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system, wherein the signal includes a normal load component; and b) a computing device operably connected to the data acquisition unit. The computing device is programmed to: i) obtain first data from the data acquisition unit indicative of the temporal behavior of the first signal; ii) remove the normal load component from the first data; and iii) determine that an arcing event is present on the electrical power system when the at least one burst within the first data presents a generally sinusoidal shape which includes generally flat regions which are present where the generally sinusoidal shape crosses over a zero-magnitude line.

Abstract: Methods for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system are provided, as well as systems and computer program products for carrying out the method. The method includes the steps of: a) obtaining data indicative of the temporal behavior of a signal which is indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system; and b) determining whether an arcing event is present on the electrical power system based on the shape observed in the first data.

Abstract: A method of evaluating one or more capacitor banks in an electrical power system includes: (a) acquiring data representing a signal of interest of the power system, where the data describes a plurality of power system events; and (b) based on one or more patterns contained in the data, identifying at least one of the power system events as being associated with capacitor operation.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an electrical power system using fuzzy logic includes: (a) acquiring data representing a signal of interest of the power system; (b) analyzing the signal using at least one fuzzy logic rule; and (c) based on the analysis, detecting and classifying at least one power system event within the power system.

Abstract: A method for prioritizing events on an electrical power system, including: (a) acquiring at least one data portion representative of the behavior of the electrical power system, the at least one data portion containing at least one power system event; (b) assigning at least one rank value to the at least one data portion based on the type of power system event, the rank value indicative of a priority of the event; and (c) conducting subsequent operations on the at least one data portion in accordance with the at least one rank value.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an electrical power system includes analyzing data representing a signal of interest of the power system, the data containing at least one power system event; and based on the analysis, associating the power system event with a root cause. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Methods for processing a signal of interest in an electrical power system are provided, as well as systems and computer program products for carrying out the methods. The methods include obtaining a representative window of data points from the signal of interest; obtaining a window of interest containing data points from the signal of interest; and comparing a phase drift compensated window to the representative window, wherein the compensated window is calculated in accordance with the window of interest and a phase drift that is present in the window of interest relative to the representative window.

Abstract: Methods for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system are provided, as well as systems and computer program products for carrying out the method. The method includes the steps of: a) obtaining data indicative of the temporal behavior of a signal which is indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system; and b) determining whether an arcing event is present on the electrical power system based on the shape observed in the first data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. Parameters indicative of power flow and possible fault events on the line, such as voltage and load current, are monitored and analyzed for an arc burst pattern exhibited by arcing faults in a power system. These arcing faults are detected by identifying bursts of each half-cycle of the fundamental current. Bursts occurring at or near a voltage peak indicate arcing on that phase. Once a faulted phase line is identified, a comparison of the current and voltage reveals whether the fault is located in a downstream direction of power flow toward customers, or upstream toward a generation station. If the fault is located downstream, the line is de-energized, and if located upstream, the line may remain energized to prevent unnecessary power outages.

Abstract: To prevent unnecessary power outages, and to remove feeder lines from service only when certain hazardous fault conditions occur, a load analysis system including an apparatus and method, monitors the load level of a feeder line and determines the presence of any arcing on the feeder line. In a two stage load pattern analysis, the presence of arcing and load current level changes are used to discriminate high impedance, low current conditions including a downed conductor, a broken and dangling conductor, a tree or object contact with the feeder line, overcurrent activities, and normal switching events such as recloser operation. The load analysis system also provides output commands including wait, alarm, trip-ready, trip and normal, depending upon which status is diagnosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors, compiles and analyzes sample parameters taken from successive cycles of the power line load signal indicative of power flow and possible fault events on the line, such as voltage or load current. The analyzed sample parameter is then used to determine a normal parameter corresponding to a normal load pattern for the line. The normal load parameter is extracted from the compiled sample parameter data, and the resulting difference signal waveform has a magnitude value which changes in amplitude corresponding to the load-extracted data which is used to determine whether a fault exists on the power line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a fault on a power line carrying a line parameter such as a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain an energy value. The energy value is compared to a threshold value stored in a buffer. If the energy value is greater than the threshold value a counter is incremented. If the energy value is greater than a high value threshold or less than a low value threshold then a second counter is incremented. If the difference between two subsequent energy values is greater than a constant then a third counter is incremented. A fault signal is issued if the counter is greater than a counter limit value and either the second counter is greater than a second limit value or the third counter is greater than a third limit value.