Patents by Inventor Marcos A. Donolo
Marcos A. Donolo 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).
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Publication number: 20240250518Abstract: A system for high-impedance differential protection for power systems using a variety of signals from the power system. A fault may be detected using filtered phase current or filtered phase voltage magnitudes from current transformers (CTs) connected in parallel by phase. A fault may be detected using filtered phase voltages and raw phase voltages from the CTs. A fault may be detected using raw phase currents and raw phase voltages from the CTs. A fault may be detected using filtered phase currents and raw phase currents. A fault may be detected using raw phase currents and raw neutral currents. The embodiments herein maintain dependability and security of a differential element even when low-class CTs are used. The embodiments herein may allow users to optimize pickup settings even when low-class CTs are used.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Normann Fischer, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Jay Hartshorn, Marcos A. Donolo
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Publication number: 20240204513Abstract: A system for high impedance bus protection that includes a safety module to divert excess current away from a protective element of an intelligent electronic device. The safety module may include a variable resistor and a bypass relay in parallel across secondaries of one or more current transformers. The bypass relay may be configured to close upon detection of excess current through the secondaries to divert the excess current away from the variable resistor and the protective element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2023Publication date: June 20, 2024Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Pallavi Kulkarni, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 11754602Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to measure a frequency of a power delivery system and/or of a supply signal transmitted to a load. A system may record an input waveform, determine a frequency of the input waveform at a present time based at least in part on the input waveform and a derivative of the input waveform, and control an operation of a power delivery system based at least in part on the determined frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 11736051Abstract: A system to reconfigure a motor from induction mode to synchronous mode at a zero crossing of the field voltage during startup using only stator current signals is described herein. The zero crossing may be detected by asymmetry induced in the stator currents by a current asymmetry inducing module of the motor. The current asymmetry inducing module may include a resistor and diode in series and in parallel with a discharge resistor of the field windings. Asymmetry is induced in the current obtained from the stator, and used to determine a zero crossing of the field voltage. Upon the rotor reaching a startup frequency and the detected zero-crossing of the field voltage, the motor may be reconfigured from induction mode to synchronous mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Pallavi Kulkarni
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Publication number: 20230170685Abstract: Signal transducers in electrical communication with shorted leads of current transformers are used to provide monitoring and protection functions to an electric power delivery system. Differential protection is performed by comparing a predetermined threshold against a voltage signal from series-connected leads of signal transducers in electrical communication with shorted leads of current transformers. The signal transducers may be Rogowski coils. Signal transducers in communication with shorted leads may be used to improve safety and increase performance of the current transformers by decreasing susceptibility to saturation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Pallavi Kulkarni, Veselin Skendzic, Vinod K. Yedidi, Subhash C. Patel, Angelo D'Aversa
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Patent number: 11588432Abstract: Residual voltage measurements taken after removal of electric power to an electric motor are used to improve the functioning of an electric motor monitoring system. For example, an intelligent electronic device (IED) may acquire residual voltage measurements of a motor after disconnected electric power to the motor. The IED may determine a thermal condition of the motor based at least in part on the residual voltage measurement. The IED may prevent starting of the motor based at least in part on the thermal condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo
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Publication number: 20230038317Abstract: A system to reconfigure a motor from induction mode to synchronous mode at a zero crossing of the field voltage during startup using only stator current signals is described herein. The zero crossing may be detected by asymmetry induced in the stator currents by a current asymmetry inducing module of the motor. The current asymmetry inducing module may include a resistor and diode in series and in parallel with a discharge resistor of the field windings. Asymmetry is induced in the current obtained from the stator, and used to determine a zero crossing of the field voltage. Upon the rotor reaching a startup frequency and the detected zero-crossing of the field voltage, the motor may be reconfigured from induction mode to synchronous mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Pallavi Kulkarni
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Patent number: 11469588Abstract: Differential protection of electric power delivery system equipment using a compensated operating signal under spurious conditions is disclosed herein. Current transformers (CTs) may provide spurious current signals under certain operating conditions resulting in unintended operation of differential protection. The present disclosure uses a compensated operating signal during such conditions. The compensated operating signal is calculated using operate current and a difference between direct current content of currents obtained from the CTs. Switching between use of the operate current and the compensated operating signal is based on a comparison of the average direct current content of the CTs and a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Andrea Di Tomasso, Yusuf Zafer Korkmaz, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 11381084Abstract: A method includes receiving electrical measurements of an input signal of a power system. The method includes determining an estimated frequency of the power system using a rate of change of phase of the power system and using zero crossings of the power system. Selection between using the rate of change of phase of the power system and using zero crossings of the power system is based on a comparison between an estimated phase angle and a measured phase angle of the power system.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn, Veselin Skendzic, Chandrasekaran Swaminathan, Vinod K. Yedidi, Angelo D'Aversa, Hang Li, Subhash C. Patel
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Publication number: 20220099717Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to measure a frequency of a power delivery system and/or of a supply signal transmitted to a load. A system may record an input waveform, determine a frequency of the input waveform at a present time based at least in part on the input waveform and a derivative of the input waveform, and control an operation of a power delivery system based at least in part on the determined frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Publication number: 20220069566Abstract: Differential protection of electric power delivery system equipment using a compensated operating signal under spurious conditions is disclosed herein. Current transformers (CTs) may provide spurious current signals under certain operating conditions resulting in unintended operation of differential protection. The present disclosure uses a compensated operating signal during such conditions. The compensated operating signal is calculated using operate current and a difference between direct current content of currents obtained from the CTs. Switching between use of the operate current and the compensated operating signal is based on a comparison of the average direct current content of the CTs and a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Andrea Di Tomasso, Yusuf Zafer Korkmaz, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 11231449Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to measure a frequency of a power delivery system and/or of a supply signal transmitted to a load. A system may record an input waveform, determine a frequency of the input waveform at a present time based at least in part on the input waveform and a derivative of the input waveform, and control an operation of a power delivery system based at least in part on the determined frequency.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 11218103Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn, Subhash C. Patel, Vinod K. Yedidi, Jianchun Qin
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Patent number: 11018497Abstract: In-phase transfer of an electric power source to a load bus from a first feeder to a second feeder is disclosed herein. Voltage phase difference, voltage frequency difference, and voltage rate-of-change of frequency difference, between the second feeder and the load bus are used along with a breaker delay time to determine whether the breaker will close while the phase of the second feeder and the load bus are within an acceptable range. One or more breaker close time checks may be performed, including a breaker close time consistency check and a breaker close time uncertainty check.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Publication number: 20210111653Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn, Subhash C. Patel, Vinod K. Yedidi, Jianchun Qin
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Patent number: 10848092Abstract: Monitoring conditions of an electric motor using stator current and voltage signals from power supplied to the motor is disclosed herein. The stator voltage and current signals may be used to calculate instantaneous power values which may be used to calculate slip. The slip may be used to monitor for a locked rotor condition during startup of the motor. The slip value may be used to provide thermal protection to the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Publication number: 20200328591Abstract: In-phase transfer of an electric power source to a load bus from a first feeder to a second feeder is disclosed herein. Voltage phase difference, voltage frequency difference, and voltage rate-of-change of frequency difference, between the second feeder and the load bus are used along with a breaker delay time to determine whether the breaker will close while the phase of the second feeder and the load bus are within an acceptable range. One or more breaker close time checks may be performed, including a breaker close time consistency check and a breaker close time uncertainty check.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 10732223Abstract: Monitoring a health status of a current interruption device, such as a circuit breaker, is disclosed herein. For example, a device for monitoring a current interruption device may include a processor and a memory. The processor may execute instructions stored in the memory to cause the processor to monitor one or more current measurements of current from an electrical conductor that delivers electrical energy to a load. The processor may provide a signal indicating a health status of the current interruption device based at least in part on the one or more current measurements.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Scott M. Manson
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Publication number: 20200096546Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to measure a frequency of a power delivery system and/or of a supply signal transmitted to a load. A system may record an input waveform, determine a frequency of the input waveform at a present time based at least in part on the input waveform and a derivative of the input waveform, and control an operation of a power delivery system based at least in part on the determined frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
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Patent number: 10523150Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for monitoring and detecting a loss of synchronism in an electric motor, such as a synchronous motor. A monitoring system may compare a measured or provided electric power system frequency with a measured rotational frequency of the rotor of the electric motor. The rotational frequency of the rotor may be obtained from a shaft-mounted device. The monitoring system may determine a slip condition and/or a loss of synchronism of the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo