By Spark Or Arc Discharge Patents (Class 324/536)
  • Patent number: 9502885
    Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting arcing in DC power systems that can differentiate between DC arcs and load-switching noise. The systems and methods can determine, within a plurality of predetermined time intervals, at least the pulse count (PC) per predetermined time interval, and the pulse duration (PD) per predetermined time interval, in which the PC and the PD can correspond to the number and the intensity of potential arcing events in a DC power system, respectively. The systems and methods can process the PC and PD using one or more arc fault detection algorithms, thereby differentiating between DC arcs and load-switching noise with increased reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Martin, Jianhong Kang, Christian V. Pellon, Keith W. Kawate
  • Patent number: 9482697
    Abstract: A combined measuring and detection system is disclosed which includes an electronic evaluation unit for analyzing a broad frequency spectrum of measured quantities and one or more measuring devices for measurement of one or more of a magnetic field, an electric field, a current, and a voltage. The measuring devices are operatively connected to the electronic evaluation unit, which is provided with at least one frequency splitter dividing the measured quantities into a low frequency component and into a high frequency component. Low frequency components are used for measurement and protection analysis and high frequency components are used to detect partial discharges activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Radek Javora, Carlo Gemme, Gabriele Valentino De Natale
  • Patent number: 9478967
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying, based on a first signature of a power converter, an arc fault; determining, based on the first signature, a type of the arc fault; and performing an action on the power converter based on the type of the arc fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Marv Dargatz, Martin Fornage
  • Patent number: 9465909
    Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting arcing in DC power systems that can differentiate between DC arcs and load-switching noise. The systems and methods can determine, within a plurality of predetermined time intervals, at least the pulse count (PC) per predetermined time interval, and the pulse duration (PD) per predetermined time interval, in which the PC and the PD can correspond to the number and the intensity of potential arcing events in a DC power system, respectively. The systems and methods can process the PC and PD using one or more arc fault detection algorithms, thereby differentiating between DC arcs and load-switching noise with increased reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith W. Kawate, Jianhong Kang
  • Patent number: 9455569
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrical circuit is described herein. The circuit includes a power converter having a plurality of switches and two capacitors that are parallel to the switches. The plurality of switches and the two capacitors are connected in series. The power converter has two AC voltage-sided connections and a measuring resistor is connected to the ground. A ground fault is detected by measuring a voltage drop in a measuring resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Saniter, Marco Boni, Sebastian Hildebrandt, Jörg Janning, Roland Jakob
  • Patent number: 9372172
    Abstract: A system for detecting partial discharge in electrical components may include a control system that may operate a drive in an industrial automation system. The industrial automation system may include the electrical components being analyzed for partial discharge. The system may also include one or more acoustic sensors that may detect one or more acoustic waveforms generated within at least one of the electrical components. The system may also include a monitoring system that may receive the acoustic waveforms from the acoustic sensors and determine whether the one electrical component is experiencing partial discharge based on the acoustic waveforms. The monitoring system may then send a notification to the control system when the one electrical component is determined to be experiencing partial discharge, such that the notification indicates that the one electrical component is experiencing partial discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongyuan Cheng, Catalin F. Gemanaru, Navid Reza Zargari, Robert N. Bickford
  • Patent number: 9343028
    Abstract: A method of driving a gate line includes: charging one of a scan start signal and a carry signal provided from a previous stage to a first node of a present stage; outputting a gate signal through a gate node of the present stage by pulling up a high level of a first clock signal at the first node to boost up a voltage potential of the first node; discharging the voltage potential of the first node and a voltage potential of the gate node to hold the first node and the gate node at a first power voltage as the first clock signal is shifted to a low level; and receiving a voltage potential signal of a second node of the previous stage, the second node holding a gate signal outputted from the previous stage, to reduce a ripple generated at the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-Hyeon Ki, Ho-Kyoon Kwon, Ju-Hee Lee, Byoung-Sun Na
  • Patent number: 9329220
    Abstract: A method for detecting an arc event occurring in an electrical system includes sensing a voltage using a voltage sensing device coupled to a component of the electrical system, producing a signal waveform representative of the sensed voltage using the voltage sensing device, and sampling at a predetermined frequency the voltage signal waveform to generate a plurality of sample waveforms. The method further includes applying a wavelet transform to each sample waveform to decompose them into a predetermined number of detailed waveforms using a corresponding number of successive wavelet components, dividing each detailed waveform into a plurality of segments, analyzing the plurality of segments to detect a change in one or more of the properties of the corresponding detailed waveform, and determining an occurrence of the arc event based on the duration of the detected change of one or more of characteristics of the corresponding detailed waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventor: Robert S. Balog
  • Patent number: 9329221
    Abstract: A partial discharge sensor includes a top-loading monopole antenna including a disc and a post to be installed even in a branch pipe with a small diameter such that a length between the disc and a structure is adjusted to set thereto a frequency band to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukasawa, Hiroaki Miyashita, Takashi Itoh
  • Patent number: 9313870
    Abstract: Systems and methods for arc handling in plasma processing operations are disclosed. The method includes providing current with a power supply to a plasma load at a first voltage polarity and energizing an energy storage device so when it is energized, the energy storage device applies a reverse polarity voltage that has a magnitude that is as least as great as the first voltage polarity. When an arc is detected, power is applied from the energy storage device to the plasma load with a reverse polarity voltage that has a polarity that is opposite of the first voltage polarity, the application of the reverse polarity voltage to the plasma load decreases a level of the current that is provided to the plasma load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrik Walde, Joshua Brian Pankratz, David Christie, Brian D. Kowal
  • Patent number: 9304111
    Abstract: A system for detecting partial discharge in electrical components may include a control system that may operate a drive in an industrial automation system. The industrial automation system may include the electrical components being analyzed for partial discharge. The system may also include one or more acoustic sensors that may detect one or more acoustic waveforms generated within at least one of the electrical components. The system may also include a monitoring system that may receive the acoustic waveforms from the acoustic sensors and determine whether the one electrical component is experiencing partial discharge based on the acoustic waveforms. The monitoring system may then send a notification to the control system when the one electrical component is determined to be experiencing partial discharge, such that the notification indicates that the one electrical component is experiencing partial discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongyuan Cheng, Catalin F. Gemanaru, Navid Reza Zargari, Robert N. Bickford
  • Patent number: 9229042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system of monitoring partial discharges occurring in an electrical system, and to a method of measuring or analyzing partial discharges occurring in an electrical system. The method comprising receiving a signal or impulse, or information associated therewith, from the electrical system; breaking the received signal or impulse into predefined frequency components; and displaying a peak of the received signal or impulse on a scatter plot with other peaks associated with similar predefined frequency components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Eskom Holdings SOC Limited
    Inventor: Simon Higgins
  • Patent number: 9182447
    Abstract: A discharge location determination unit includes: discharge detection circuits connected to metal electrodes, respectively, and to which a signal due to discharge is input; and a calculation circuit to which signals output from the discharge detection circuits are input, wherein, if the intensity difference or intensity ratio between the two output signals is within a predetermined value, the calculation circuit determines that the discharge location is inside a tank, otherwise the calculation circuit determines that the discharge location is outside the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Abe, Shinji Sato, Tomoko Tanabe, Naoaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9170290
    Abstract: A method for measuring acoustic impulse response of a Device Under Test (DUT) addresses sample rate variations by determining clock rate differences between the DUT and test system, and making adjustments to compensate for the different clock rates. An interrogation signal is generated with two “events” spaced a known number of samples apart, at the nominal sampling rate of the DUT. The interrogation signal is played through the DUT and recorded by a measurement system. The number of samples between the two “events” is measured in the sampled signal to determine the shift introduced by the different clock rates. The adjustment is then applied to either the original frequency response measurement signal by adjusting the sampling rate of a frequency response measurement signal to compensate for the different clock rates, or to the measured signal before averaging, to align the samples and prevent cancelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: AUDYSSEY LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Clark
  • Patent number: 9158023
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus provide targeted guidance for a user to locate and trace-out the path of a buried electrical cable, and to locate a cable fault along the cable. A current pulse is applied to the cable, whereby a magnetic field is generated around the cable and an acoustic signal is emitted from the cable fault. The apparatus detects and measures magnetic field information to locate the cable. The apparatus measures a time delay between detecting the magnetic signal and detecting the acoustic signal. By comparing successive time delays at successive measuring positions, a relative proximity to the cable fault is determined. The cable location information and the cable fault distance information are combined to produce a direction indication for the user. Tracing the cable layout and determining the cable fault location can be carried out in a single procedure using a single apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hagenuk KMT Kabelmesstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Stephan
  • Patent number: 9153421
    Abstract: A method for detecting plasma instability within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The method includes collecting a set of process data, the process data including a set of induced current signals flowing through a measuring capacitor. The method further includes converting the set of induced current signals into a set of analog voltage signals and converting the set of analog voltage signals into a set of digital signals. The method also includes analyzing the set of digital signals to detect high frequency perturbations, the high frequency perturbations indicating the plasma instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Booth, Mikio Nagai, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 9128119
    Abstract: An electronics system module includes a primary electrical circuit including input connectors and output connectors and a filter circuit connected between the primary electrical circuit and ground. The module also includes a switch element connected between the primary electrical circuit and ground. The switch element is configured to be engaged by a test connector to open the switch to disconnect the primary electrical circuit from ground. The test connector includes electrical connectors configured to connect to the input connectors and the output connectors of the primary electrical circuit. The switch element is configured to automatically close based on the test connector being disengaged from the switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Waleed M. Said
  • Patent number: 9116211
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting a state of a load overcurrent protector are disclosed. The above-mentioned device includes: an input module (22), configured to be connected with two ends of the load overcurrent protector, and generate two output signals respectively at two output ends thereof; a high level signal gating module (24), configured to receive the two output signals generated by the input module (22), and gate and output a high level signal according to the above-mentioned two output signals; a low level signal gating module (26), configured to receive the two output signals generated by the input module (22), and gate and output a low level signal according to the above-mentioned two output signals; and a detecting module (28), configured to detect a voltage difference between the above-mentioned high level signal and the low level signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Baohang Zhou, Yanni Meng, Mingming Liu, Lin Li, Lingqiao Teng, Shuwang Wei, Hui Rong
  • Patent number: 9070797
    Abstract: A photovoltaic installation includes a photovoltaic generator, electrical connector lines, an enabling signal source, and an arc discharge detector. The generator is configured to generate a DC voltage when an enable signal is applied to the generator. The electrical connector lines connect the generator to a voltage converter for the voltage converter to receive the DC voltage from the generator. The enabling signal source is configured to apply the enable signal to the generator. The arc discharge detector is configured to detect for an arc discharge by detecting for the presence on the connector lines of an AC voltage signal having characteristics indicative of an arc discharge. The arc discharge detector is further configured to cause the enabling signal source to stop applying the enable signal to the generator when an arc discharge is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Kostal Industrie Elektrik GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Burghardt, Mirko Haardt, Andreas Forck
  • Patent number: 9058952
    Abstract: This invention discloses a type of intelligent magnetic-hold miniature circuit breaker, comprising a casing, a magnetic-hold relay, and a drive circuit, wherein said drive circuit receives control signal and then drives operation of said magnetic-hold relay; said magnetic-hold relay comprises a dynamic spring assembly, a static spring assembly, a deflector rod, a pushing piece, and a magnetic steel assembly; rotation of said magnetic steel assembly drives said deflector rod and then closing or opening of contacts of said dynamic spring assembly and said static spring assembly via said pushing piece; said miniature circuit breaker also includes a central processor, a communication chip, a mutual inductance module, and a current conditioning circuit. Said mutual inductance module is installed on the extension wire of the dynamic spring assembly. Said current conditioning circuit is connected to said central processor and said mutual inductance module respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Zhenyang Liu
  • Patent number: 9046391
    Abstract: An method for automatically testing an arc flash detection system by periodically or continually transmitting electro-optical (EO) radiation through one or more transmission cables electro-optically coupled to respective EO radiation collectors. A test EO signal may pass through the EO radiation collector to be received by an EO sensor. An attenuation of the EO signal may be determined by comparing the intensity of the transmitted EO signal to an intensity of the received EO signal. A self-test failure may be detected if the attenuation exceeds a threshold. EO signals may be transmitted according to a particular pattern (e.g., a coded signal) to allow an arc flash detection system to distinguish the test EO radiation from EO radiation indicative of an arc flash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Veselin Skendzic, Gary W. Scheer, James R. Kesler, Douglas M. Trout, Dhruba P. Das
  • Patent number: 9046563
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Karthick Muthu-Mannivannan, Carl L. Benner, Peng Xu, B. Don Russell
  • Patent number: 9025287
    Abstract: An arc fault detection circuit includes a current sensing circuit coupled to a line conductor carrying a current. The current sensing circuit operates to sense current and output data indicative of the sensed current. A processing circuit implements a frequency transform algorithm to transform the output data to frequency data in a low frequency range and with a high spectral resolution where a minimum short time observation window is concerned. The processing circuit identifies an arc fault condition on the line conductor by identifying differences in said frequency data between at least two subsequent observation windows and identifying characteristics which exceed thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Privitera, Antonio Cataliotti, Valentina Cosentino, Giovanni Artale
  • Patent number: 8981761
    Abstract: A partial discharge detector for gas-insulated electric apparatus of an embodiment detects an electromagnetic wave ascribable to partial discharge in a gas-insulated electric apparatus which is filled with insulating gas, and in which a conductor to which high voltage is applied is supported in conductor supporting holes provided at centers of a plurality of disk-shaped insulating plates, and a plurality of flanged-conductive pipes form a hermetically sealed container, with flange portions thereof pressingly sandwiching and holding peripheral edge portions of the insulating plates from both surface sides. The partial discharge detector for gas-insulated electric apparatus of this embodiment is characterized in that an antenna detecting the electromagnetic wave is disposed in close contact on a portion, of each of the insulating plates, exposed from the flange portions of the flanged conductive pipes, via an elastic member capable of transmitting the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shiro Maruyama, Toshihiro Hoshino, Takaaki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8963555
    Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor head including an acoustic detector configured to receive light from a first light source and to reflect the light upon incidence of acoustic waves. The sensor also includes at least one optical fiber and at least one fluorescent material within at least one of the sensor head and the at least one optical fiber. The at least one fluorescent material is configured to receive light from a second light source external to the sensor and emit visible light in response to the light received from the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Juntao Wu, Glenn Alan Forman, Michael Shane Pilon, Zhihong Roy Mao, Chun Zhan, Maxine Marie Gibeau, Lubomir Hristov Sevov
  • Patent number: 8913370
    Abstract: A spout assembly is provided. The spout assembly includes a spout and a spout base. The spout base has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a spout sized to enclose an electrical switching apparatus electrical coupling. That is, the spout base includes a CT support surface with a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the spout cross-sectional area. Current transformers are disposed upon the spout base CT support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Brad Robert Leccia, Steven Z. Chen
  • Publication number: 20140340096
    Abstract: A method for identifying one or more simultaneously occurring partial discharge sources from partial discharge measurement signals of an electrical device to which an AC voltage is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Olaf Rudolph
  • Patent number: 8890537
    Abstract: An arc detection system includes a radio frequency (RF) signal probe that senses a RF signal at an input of a RF plasma chamber and that generates a signal based on at least one of the voltage, current, and power of the RF signal. A signal analyzer receives the signal, monitors the signal for frequency components that have a frequency greater than or equal to a fundamental frequency of the RF signal, and generates an output signal based on the frequency components. The output signal indicates that an arc is occurring in the RF plasma chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John Valcore, Jr., Yufeng Han, Jonathan Smyka, Salvatore Polizzo, Aaron T. Radomski
  • Patent number: 8884180
    Abstract: A system and method for managing power delivered to a processing chamber is described. In one embodiment current is drawn away from the plasma processing chamber while initiating an application of power to the plasma processing chamber during an initial period of time, the amount of current being drawn away decreasing during the initial period of time so as to increase the amount of power applied to the plasma processing chamber during the initial period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Milan Ilic
  • Patent number: 8878546
    Abstract: An apparatus for quickly determining a fault in an electric power system includes a current transformer, a current determination unit and a fault determination unit. The current transformer detects current supplied to the electric power system and outputs a current detection voltage. The current determination unit respectively compares the current detection voltage, the first-order differential voltage of the current detection voltage and the second-order differential voltage of the current detection voltage with predetermined first, second and third reference voltages. The fault determination unit determines whether a fault occurs based on the compared result of the current determination unit and generates a trip signal when it is determined that the fault has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Woo Jeong, Hyun Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 8866486
    Abstract: A device for detecting and locating at least one electric discharge in equipment insulated by fluid contained in an electrically-conductive housing. The equipment includes a plurality of grounding lines connected between the housing and ground. The device includes a plurality of Rogowski coil type current detectors and a mechanism synchronously comparing signals delivered by the current detectors. The coil of each detector is placed around a respective one of the lines. Each detector delivers a signal representative of current flowing in the line, with occurrence of an electric discharge giving rise to a sudden variation in the current, and with electric discharge being located within an inside zone of the housing situated in proximity of the line that is surrounded by the detector that was first to deliver the sudden variation of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grieshaber, Alain Fanget
  • Patent number: 8843349
    Abstract: An apparatus being capable of quickly removing noise from a partial discharge signal generated from the electrical power facility such as a gas insulated switchgear (GIS) and the like, and an apparatus for detecting a partial discharge generated section. The apparatus for removing noise from a partial discharge signal comprises a PD signal detection unit configured to detect a PD signal of the power facility and to detect and output peaks of the PD signal in respective preset time intervals, a noise signal detection unit configured to detect a noise signal outside the power facility and to detect and output peaks of the noise signal in the respective preset time intervals, and a noise removal unit configured to eliminate the peaks of the PD signal output in time intervals identical to those in which the peaks of the noise signal detection unit are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Power System Diagnosis Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Chang-Won Kang, Jae-Ok Choi, Yeung-Noh Kim, Chul-Min Hwang, Chul-Kwang Choi
  • Publication number: 20140239969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for locating an event transmitting a signal, including a set of sensors (Ai-Am) to measure the response times of the said signal, and processing means (3) to solve a system of equations defining distances between the said sensors and the said event as a function of a speed of propagation of the said signal and of an offset of the said response times relative to a reference time, where the device also includes: processing means (3) to recommence multiple times the solution of the system of equations, each time modifying the response time of at least one of the said sensors according to a local variation, and processing means (3) to determine the location of the event as a function of the positions obtained when the different solutions of the system of equations are found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Raphaël Lebreton
  • Patent number: 8816694
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for partial discharge detection of turn-to-turn insulation in motor has a surge generator for generating a surge voltage to the windings of the motor by applying a pulse voltage, and a partial discharge current detector for detecting partial discharge currents between the winding turns of the motor. The surge generator generates in and between the windings of the motor the surge voltage that has the rise time and fall time corresponding to the rise time of the surge voltage observed at the motor terminal when the motor is driven by an inverter, and that is repeated at a frequency of 50 Hz to 20 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Obata, Keiji Fukushi, Takeshi Obata, Koichiro Saito, Tadahiro Shimozono
  • Patent number: 8816700
    Abstract: A partial discharge detection device for detecting and measuring partial discharges in electric systems or components, which delivers signals having a form much resembling that of the radiated pulse, for improved identification and analysis. The device is of small size, totally insulated and self-powered, and allows measurements to be performed with the highest safety with no need for direct connection, thereby allowing operators to stand at a distance and avoid any system shutdown while making measurements. Furthermore, it can also detect and deliver the sync signal, which is obtained by picking up the supply voltage of the discharge generating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Prysmian S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Di Stefano, Roberto Candela, Giuseppe Costantino Giaconia, Giuseppe Fiscelli
  • Patent number: 8810254
    Abstract: An apparatus including a portable receiver with an acoustic sensor and a magnetic field sensor is adapted for locating a fault in an underground electrical line by evaluating ground-borne acoustic signals and electromagnetic signals emitted from a succession of sparking arc-overs caused at the fault location by voltage pulses fed into the electrical line. The apparatus further includes an arrangement for eliminating interference noises from the acoustic signals, wherein the acoustic received signals are delivered to and stored in a memory, and then a respective acoustic signal is processed with reference to or in combination with a previous stored acoustic signal by a processing algorithm in a processing unit so as to reduce or suppress the acoustic interference noises in the acoustic signals. Start time points of the individual acoustic signals are synchronized with reference to associated electromagnetic signals. A result of the processing algorithm is supplied to an evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hagenuk KMT Kabelmesstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Kuettner, Marco Stephan
  • Patent number: 8797045
    Abstract: A device for determining partial discharge in an insulation system of a rotating electrical machine with low capacitance decoupling has a coupler as a high pass and an adapter device connected or connectable to the coupler. The adapter device has a frequency separating filter for dividing a decoupled signal provided by the coupler into a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mixer is provided for the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal for converting the high frequency signal. An output is provided where the converted high frequency signal is tapped for evaluation by an evaluation device connectable to the adapter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Doble Lemke GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Elze, Stefan Kornhuber
  • Patent number: 8766645
    Abstract: A method for tracking the deterioration of the insulators in a rotating machine, a method for preventive maintenance of these machines using this tracking and devices using the tracking method is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gérard Friedrich, Marie Jaillet-Delclaud, Emilie Renouard-Mouren, David Laurent, Bernard Mineur, Emmanuel Odic
  • Patent number: 8760171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining partial discharges at an electrical component (10). In the case of the method, an electrical signal that comprises partial discharge pulses due to the partial discharges at the electrical component (10) is detected. Through filtering of the electrical signal by means of n filters (18-20) having n differing filter characteristics, n filtered partial discharge signals are generated. Respectively one of the filtered partial discharge signals is assigned, respectively, to one of the n filters (18-20), n being greater than or equal to two. Finally, the partial discharges are determined by linking the n filtered partial discharge signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Omicron Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Caspar Steineke, Harald Emanuel, Ronald Plath
  • Publication number: 20140062498
    Abstract: A device for monitoring internal arc in gas insulated switchgear. The device includes: at least one or more partial discharge sensors that electronic wave signals of partial discharge generated by internal arc in a gas section of the gas insulated switchgear; at least one or more gas pressure wave sensors that measure pressure wave signals due to expansion of a gas produced by internal arc in the gas section of the gas insulated switchgear; a data acquiring unit that receives the electronic wave signals measured by the partial discharge sensors and the pressure wave signals measured by the gas pressure sensors, finds out internal arc on the basis of the received sensor measure information, and determines the reason and the position of the internal ark; and a transmitting unit that transmits the sensor measurement information and determination information from the data acquiring unit to a super-system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Heavy Industries CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Woon MIN, Hyung Ryun PARK, Chang Sun PARK
  • Patent number: 8664961
    Abstract: An arc flash validation unit may generate stimulus to be received by an arc flash detection unit (AFDU) and observe the response of the AFDU thereto. The response of the AFDU to the stimulus may allow for validation of the AFDU (e.g., validation that the AFDU is operating as expected). In addition, the arc flash validation unit may determine the response time of the AFDU. Different types of stimulus may be provided to the AFDU, including electro-optical (EO) stimulus (e.g., visible light), current stimulus, and the like. Results of the validation may be displayed on a human-machine interface, which may display an estimate of the total energy that would be released in an actual arc flash event. The estimate may be used to define appropriate safety parameters for the equipment monitored by the AFDU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Mark L. Zeller, Angelo D'Aversa, Gary W. Scheer
  • Patent number: 8653841
    Abstract: A high-voltage discharge circuit diagnostic system includes a high voltage DC link with a positive DC link and a negative DC link, a first resistor selectably connectable between the positive DC link and the negative DC link, and a second resistor connected between the positive DC link and the negative DC link. A control module connects the first resistor between the positive DC link and the negative DC link until the high voltage DC link discharges to a first voltage after which the control module disconnects the first resistor from between the positive DC link and the negative DC link to permit continued discharge of the high voltage DC link through the second resistor to a second voltage through an elapsed time period. The control module diagnoses a fault in the second resistor based upon the first voltage, the second voltage, and the elapsed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Li-Pen J. Ho, David P. Tasky
  • Patent number: 8618811
    Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter test circuit is disclosed. The test circuit incorporates a controller along with at least one power transistor, a current sense circuit and a voltage sense circuit. When the power transistor is operated, the current flowing through the transistor is sensed, and if the current is not at least equal to a threshold value, the voltage at which the power transistor is operated is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Unique Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Berland, Paul Berland, Mitch Budniak
  • Patent number: 8604799
    Abstract: A method for determining damaged faulty and/or weak points in a structural seal. The seal is provided with an electrically conductive layer arranged inside or outside the structural seal and extends over substantially the entire surface of the structural seal and to which layer an electrical test voltage is applied. To establish the damaged, faulty and/or weak points, a further electrically conductive layer is used, which is electrically separated from the aforementioned electrically conductive layer by the structural seal and extends over substantially the entire surface of the structural seal. The level of the test voltage between the electrically conductive layers charged with voltage is selected such that when at least one electrically non-conductive damaged, faulty and/or weak point is present in the structural seal, the electrical disruptive strength is exceeded and an electric spark or arc is formed at the location of the damaged, faulty and/or weak point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Progeo Monitoring GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Rödel, Norbert Komma
  • Patent number: 8587325
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a measuring bearing currents in an electrical machine. According to exemplary embodiments, radio frequency signals that are generated by electric discharges are detected by an antenna near the bearing. A synchronizing signal is combined with the origin of the bearing current and signal triggered by the synchronizing signal is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jari Pekola, Tapio Haring, Petri Mäki-Ontto
  • Patent number: 8581597
    Abstract: An arc detection system for a plasma generation system includes a radio frequency (RF) sensor that generates first and second signals based on a respective electrical properties of (RF) power that is in communication with a plasma chamber. A correlation module generates an arc detect signal based on the first and second signals. The arc detect signal indicates whether an arc is occurring in the plasma chamber and is employed to vary an aspect of the RF power to extinguish the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: MSK Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Coumou
  • Patent number: 8575916
    Abstract: A power equipment protection system includes a first circuit monitoring device configured to monitor a first circuit, a second circuit monitoring device configured to monitor a second circuit that is electrically coupled to the first circuit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first circuit monitoring device and the second circuit monitoring device. The processor is configured to receive a signal indicative of a fault from at least one of the first circuit monitoring device and the second circuit monitoring device, determine whether the fault occurred in the first circuit or in the second circuit, and if the fault occurred in the second circuit, determine whether the fault is an arc event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: George William Roscoe
  • Patent number: 8575943
    Abstract: A calibrator apparatus for calibrating the performance of partial discharge measurements at electrical components, such as high voltage cables or transformators, comprises a housing (1) and an external electrode (4) to be mounted at the housing (1). A control unit (2) generates a defined charge pulse (QS) depending on a stray capacitance (CS) of the external electrode (4) against ground, which is supplied to the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mtronix Precision Measuring Instruments GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Emanuel, Vincent Boschet
  • Patent number: 8564303
    Abstract: An anomaly on an elongate conductive member is detected by causing a source electromagnetic wave to propagate in a first direction along the elongate conductive member such that the source electromagnetic wave passes through the at least one anomaly. The anomaly causes a reflected electromagnetic wave to propagate in a second direction along the elongate conductive member. The second direction is opposite the first direction. The electric field of the reflected electromagnetic wave is sensed. The magnetic field of the reflected electromagnetic wave is sensed. A direction of propagation of the reflected electromagnetic wave is determined based on the electric field of the reflected electromagnetic wave and the magnetic field of the reflected electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: WaveTrue, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Frost, Ronald J Focia
  • Patent number: 8564307
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting the occurrence of arcing of a conductor by monitoring the current on an AC power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David Kolker, Roger M. Bradley, Ross Mernyk