Patents by Inventor Normann Fischer

Normann Fischer 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: 8275485
    Abstract: A system for controlling and automating an electric power delivery system by executing time coordinated instruction sets to achieve a desired result. A communication master may implement the execution of time coordinated instruction sets in a variety of circumstances. The communication may be embodied as an automation controller in communication with intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The communication master may also be embodied as an IED that is configured to coordinate the actions of other IEDs. The time coordinated instruction sets may include steps for checking status of power system equipment before executing. The time coordinated instruction sets may include reactionary steps to execute if one of the steps fails. The time coordinated instruction sets may also be implemented based on a condition detected in the electric power delivery system, or may be implemented through high level systems, such as a SCADA system or a wide area control and situational awareness system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Normann Fischer, Robert E. Morris
  • Patent number: 8275486
    Abstract: A system for controlling and automating an electric power delivery system by executing time coordinated instruction sets to achieve a desired result. A communication master may implement the execution of time coordinated instruction sets in a variety of circumstances. The communication may be embodied as an automation controller in communication with intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The communication master may also be embodied as an IED that is configured to coordinate the actions of other IEDs. The time coordinated instruction sets may include steps for checking status of power system equipment before executing. The time coordinated instruction sets may include reactionary steps to execute if one of the steps fails. The time coordinated instruction sets may also be implemented based on a condition detected in the electric power delivery system, or may be implemented through high level systems, such as a SCADA system or a wide area control and situational awareness system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Normann Fischer, Robert E. Morris
  • Patent number: 8275487
    Abstract: A system for controlling and automating an electric power delivery system by executing time coordinated instruction sets to achieve a desired result. A communication master may implement the execution of time coordinated instruction sets in a variety of circumstances. The communication may be embodied as an automation controller in communication with intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The communication master may also be embodied as an IED that is configured to coordinate the actions of other IEDs. The time coordinated instruction sets may include steps for checking status of power system equipment before executing. The time coordinated instruction sets may include reactionary steps to execute if one of the steps fails. The time coordinated instruction sets may also be implemented based on a condition detected in the electric power delivery system, or may be implemented through high level systems, such as a SCADA system or a wide area control and situational awareness system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Normann Fischer, Robert E. Morris
  • Publication number: 20120162843
    Abstract: A line current differential protection system that uses an external time reference continues providing protection to a power apparatus upon the loss of the external time reference. An external time reference synchronization mode and a channel based synchronization mode may be selectively applied on a per channel basis such that only those channels in the system that are not guaranteed to stay symmetrical use external time reference synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Normann Fischer, Luther S. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20120166141
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for validating electric power delivery monitoring systems, including, but not limited to, current transformers (CTs) and voltage potential transformers (PTs). According to various embodiments, a first IED monitors a portion of an electric power delivery system via one or more CTs and/or PTs. A second IED monitors the portion of the electric power delivery system via one or more additional CTs and/or PTs. Each IED may generate an event report, containing measurement data, associated with each respective measurement equipment. A validation module may compare the event reports in order to validate that the IEDs and/or the underlying measurement equipment are functioning correctly. According to various embodiments, the validation module may be configured to align the event reports from two IEDs using an event trigger common to both IEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew B. Watkins, Normann Fischer, David M. Prestwich
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8154836
    Abstract: A line current differential protection system that uses an external time reference continues providing protection to a power apparatus upon the loss of the external time reference. An external time reference synchronization mode and a channel based synchronization mode may be selectively applied on a per channel basis such that only those channels in the system that are not guaranteed to stay symmetrical use external time reference synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Normann Fischer, Luther S. Anderson
  • 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: 7940054
    Abstract: A ground return path is determined to be impaired when no zero-sequence current is measured in the neutral return path, but zero-sequence current is detected in other suitable measuring points that include the windings of an autotransformer, or in a magnetically coupled delta-configured tertiary winding, or potential transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Casper A. Labuschagne, Normann Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110063766
    Abstract: A line current differential protection system that uses an external time reference continues providing protection to a power apparatus upon the loss of the external time reference. An external time reference synchronization mode and a channel based synchronization mode may be selectively applied on a per channel basis such that only those channels in the system that are not guaranteed to stay symmetrical use external time reference synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Normann Fischer, Luther S. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20110063767
    Abstract: Current differential protection with charging current compensation is provided for a power apparatus, such as a power transmission line. Individual terminals dynamically determine their respective contributions, if any, to the charging current compensation value as availability of one or more voltage sources dynamically changes within the power apparatus. Respective terminals calculate local contributions to a charging current compensation value based on local voltage measurements. A loss of a voltage source is handled by adjusting multipliers for the remaining compensation points to reflect the total charging current. A local contribution is suppressed when the local voltage source is no longer available. After applying the local contributions, an alpha plane analysis may be used to determine when to trip the power apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Normann Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110063769
    Abstract: Current differential protection is provided for a multi-terminal power apparatus, such as a power transmission line. Currents measured at each of the multiple terminals are used to calculate a differential current and a restraining current, which are then converted into a first equivalent current and a second equivalent current of an equivalent two-terminal power apparatus. In the equivalent two-terminal power apparatus, a differential current derived from the first and second equivalent currents is substantially equal to the differential current of the original multi-terminal power apparatus. Similarly, a restraining current derived from the first and second equivalent currents is substantially equal to the restraining current of the original multi-terminal power apparatus. The first and second equivalent currents may be used in an alpha plane analysis to determine whether or not to trip the multi-terminal power apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Normann Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110063761
    Abstract: Transformer differential protection is provided by measuring a plurality of currents corresponding to a first set of windings and a second set of windings of a transformer, and compensating the currents based on their respective flows through either the first set of windings or the second set of windings. The compensated currents may be intentionally augmented to compensate for magnetizing inrush and/or stationary overexcitation conditions associated with the transformer. Augmentation based on stationary overexcitation, for example, may be based on either harmonic restraint or an addition of a V/Hz ratio to a restraining signal. A complex current ratio is calculated corresponding to the plurality of compensated currents. The complex current ratio may be based on a two-terminal equivalent power apparatus. Then, an alpha plane analysis is applied to the complex current ratio. Based on the alpha plane analysis, a power apparatus that includes the transformer is selectively tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Bogdan Z. Kasztenny, Normann Fischer
  • Patent number: 7903381
    Abstract: A negative sequence differential element may detect a fault in an electrical power system by computing a differential between negative sequence values derived from a first phase-current measurement and a second phase-current measurement. A transformer may be disposed between the first phase-current and second phase-current measurement location. The first phase-current measurement and the second phase-current measurement may be normalized and a negative sequence current may be calculated therefrom. The negative sequence currents may be used to calculate an operating quantity, which may be an absolute value of the sum of the first and second negative sequence currents, and a restraint quantity comprising a maximum of the first and second negative sequence currents. The restraint quantity may be scaled by a slope factor. A fault may be detected if the operating quantity exceeds the scaled restraint quantity and a pickup current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Normann Fischer, Casper A. Labuschagne
  • Publication number: 20110035076
    Abstract: A system for controlling and automating an electric power delivery system by executing time coordinated instruction sets to achieve a desired result. A communication master may implement the execution of time coordinated instruction sets in a variety of circumstances. The communication may be embodied as an automation controller in communication with intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The communication master may also be embodied as an IED that is configured to coordinate the actions of other IEDs. The time coordinated instruction sets may include steps for checking status of power system equipment before executing. The time coordinated instruction sets may include reactionary steps to execute if one of the steps fails. The time coordinated instruction sets may also be implemented based on a condition detected in the electric power delivery system, or may be implemented through high level systems, such as a SCADA system or a wide area control and situational awareness system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Normann Fischer, Robert E. Morris
  • Publication number: 20110035065
    Abstract: A system for controlling and automating an electric power delivery system by executing time coordinated instruction sets to achieve a desired result. A communication master may implement the execution of time coordinated instruction sets in a variety of circumstances. The communication may be embodied as an automation controller in communication with intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The communication master may also be embodied as an IED that is configured to coordinate the actions of other IEDs. The time coordinated instruction sets may include steps for checking status of power system equipment before executing. The time coordinated instruction sets may include reactionary steps to execute if one of the steps fails. The time coordinated instruction sets may also be implemented based on a condition detected in the electric power delivery system, or may be implemented through high level systems, such as a SCADA system or a wide area control and situational awareness system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Normann Fischer, Robert E. Morris
  • Publication number: 20110035066
    Abstract: A system for controlling and automating an electric power delivery system by executing time coordinated instruction sets to achieve a desired result. A communication master may implement the execution of time coordinated instruction sets in a variety of circumstances. The communication may be embodied as an automation controller in communication with intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The communication master may also be embodied as an IED that is configured to coordinate the actions of other IEDs. The time coordinated instruction sets may include steps for checking status of power system equipment before executing. The time coordinated instruction sets may include reactionary steps to execute if one of the steps fails. The time coordinated instruction sets may also be implemented based on a condition detected in the electric power delivery system, or may be implemented through high level systems, such as a SCADA system or a wide area control and situational awareness system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Normann Fischer, Robert E. Morris
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100125373
    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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Casper A. Labuschagne, Normann Fischer, Satish Samineni, Armando Guzman-Casillas
  • Publication number: 20090231769
    Abstract: A negative sequence differential element may detect a fault in an electrical power system by computing a differential between negative sequence values derived from a first phase-current measurement and a second phase-current measurement. A transformer may be disposed between the first phase-current and second phase-current measurement location. The first phase-current measurement and the second phase-current measurement may be normalized and a negative sequence current may be calculated therefrom. The negative sequence currents may be used to calculate an operating quantity, which may be an absolute value of the sum of the first and second negative sequence currents, and a restraint quantity comprising a maximum of the first and second negative sequence currents. The restraint quantity may be scaled by a slope factor. A fault may be detected if the operating quantity exceeds the scaled restraint quantity and a pickup current threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Normann Fischer, Casper A. Labuschagne