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).

  • Patent number: 11754602
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 11736051
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Pallavi Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20230170685
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 11588432
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo
  • Publication number: 20230038317
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Anushka M. Dissanayake, Pallavi Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11469588
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Andrea Di Tomasso, Yusuf Zafer Korkmaz, Jay Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 11381084
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20220099717
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Publication number: 20220069566
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Andrea Di Tomasso, Yusuf Zafer Korkmaz, Jay Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 11231449
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 11218103
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn, Subhash C. Patel, Vinod K. Yedidi, Jianchun Qin
  • Patent number: 11018497
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Publication number: 20210111653
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn, Subhash C. Patel, Vinod K. Yedidi, Jianchun Qin
  • Patent number: 10848092
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Publication number: 20200328591
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 10732223
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Scott M. Manson
  • Publication number: 20200096546
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos A. Donolo, Jay Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 10523150
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo
  • Patent number: 10473701
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for utilizing two or more magnetometers for current measurements. The systems and methods may include two or more multi-axis magnetometer sensors to monitor a high-voltage three-phase alternating current (AC) transmission line carrying a current, I. The magnetometers may be positioned at varying distances from the transmission line. The systems and methods may isolate or otherwise account for external magnetic fields, such as the earth's magnetic field, to generate accurate current measurements in a conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo
  • Publication number: 20190158010
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo