System Protection (e.g., Circuit Interrupter, Circuit Limiter, Voltage Suppressor) Patents (Class 700/292)
  • Publication number: 20130204453
    Abstract: A nuclear power control system includes: a safety protection apparatus which outputs a first safety mode operating signal while outputting a first unsafety mode operating signal; a CCF apparatus that outputs a second safety mode operating signal; and a signal input/output circuit that is connected to the safety protection apparatus and the CCF apparatus. The signal input/output circuit includes an OR circuit that outputs a third safety mode operating signal based on the presence or absence of an input of the first safety mode operating signal and the second safety mode operating signal; a NOT circuit that is connected to the output side of the OR circuit; and an AND circuit that outputs a third unsafety mode operating signal, and the presence and absence of an input of a first unsafety mode operating signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujimoto, Hironobu Shinohara, Yasutake Akizuki, Toshiki Fukui, Yuichi Tanaka, Shinji Kiuchi, Hiroshi Shirasawa
  • Publication number: 20130204452
    Abstract: An information communication device is provided with a monitoring unit, a communication unit, a storage, a switching unit, an acquisition unit, a creation unit, and a transmission unit. In the event that the monitoring unit detects trouble in the basic network, the switching unit switches the communication function of the communication unit from a first communication function to a second communication function. In the event that the monitoring unit detects trouble in the basic network, the creation unit creates notification information about the trouble in the basic network. The transmission unit transmits the created notification information via the switched-to communication function to a contact retrieved from the storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
  • Patent number: 8504214
    Abstract: A method for determining a self-healing power grid status is presented. The method includes receiving respective real-time monitoring data corresponding to one or more power grid components, wherein one or more agents are coupled to the power grid components. The method includes the steps of determining a respective current infectiousness state based upon the received respective real-time monitoring data, determining respective output data based upon the respective current infectiousness state, exchanging the respective output data with one or more neighboring agents, and generating a respective new infectiousness state based upon the respective exchanged output data and a state transition diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sahika Genc, Ibrahim Gokcen
  • Patent number: 8504213
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed that enable the regulation of the temperature of transmission equipment connected to a generating plant. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a temperature of transmission equipment connected to a generating plant and regulating the output of the generating plant in response to the temperature exceeding a threshold level to reduce the temperature of the transmission equipment to below the threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 8498752
    Abstract: A power system controller using a 2×2 decoupling controller, a model reference, and feedback with delay. Embodiments provide control of microgrid frequency F and voltage V. In addition, this technique can also be used to control the real and reactive power delivered from the microgrid to the connected macrogrid. The control engineering approach is the same in both cases, but the roles of the four variables involved are reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: OSIsoft, LLC
    Inventor: Charles H. Wells
  • Patent number: 8494686
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method consisting of one or more networked modular sensors Nodes and a data processing/display system for use to monitor and control electrical appliance loads at a premises. Together, the modular sensor Nodes and the processing/display system to detect, process, manage and present both real-time and historic electrical energy usage data for the premises, thus allowing the intelligent management of energy usage by a user of the system through both manual and automated usage controls. The sensor Nodes are integrated into the standardized form-factor (i.e., the standard physical configuration) of components typical of household and commercial electrical interfaces, such as circuit breakers, wall outlets, light switches, plug ends, power strips, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Enmetric Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert Masters, Marcos B. Pernia
  • Patent number: 8494684
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a substation automatic control system. An automatic power adjusting apparatus activates an automatic voltage adjusting apparatus when a phase tap is controlled. The automatic voltage adjusting apparatus activates the automatic power adjusting apparatus when a voltage tap is controlled. The automatic power adjusting apparatus suppresses the effective power on a transmission line to the value smaller than the prescribed value while the automatic voltage adjusting apparatus is performing an automatic control, thereby maintaining transmission-side system voltage within a tolerant system voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wataru Yamamori, Hirotoshi Saotome, Koichi Tomaru
  • Publication number: 20130184889
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a coordinated distribution optimization (CDO) system. The CDO system includes a processor configured to coordinate execution of a plurality of independent electrical network applications. Each of the plurality of independent electrical network applications is configured to alter one or more operational parameters of a power grid based on one or more respective objectives and based on power grid operational data, and the execution of the plurality of independent electrical network applications is coordinated by the CDO system to block the power grid from entering an abnormal state. The CDO system further comprises a network interface configured to receive the power grid operational data from a controller of the power grid, and wherein the power grid operational data comprises current values for the one or more operational parameters of the power grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Fan, Jiyuan Fan, Paul Backscheider, John Douglas McDonald
  • Patent number: 8488311
    Abstract: A container data center includes a mobile container and a number of servers. The mobile container includes a main room receiving the servers, and an air shower room isolated from the main room. The air shower room includes an outer door, an inner door, a blower, and a dust absorber. The outer door connects the air shower room and is used to separate the air shower room from the outer environment. The inner door connects the air shower room and is used to separate the air shower room from the main room. The blower and the dust absorber are secured on two opposite walls of the air shower room respectively, the blower being configured for blowing air towards the dust absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Shang Tsai
  • Publication number: 20130178994
    Abstract: A power measurement device for monitoring power delivered from a source of electrical power to a load, includes a controller configured to receive a line voltage supply input and a current input, the current input being indicative of a current drawn by the load, a load control device coupled between the controller and the load and configured to interrupt power supplied to the load through the measurement device, and a configuration module coupled to the controller and configured to enable rule-based configuration of the measurement device. The controller includes a memory in communication with a processor, the memory including program instructions for execution by the processor to calculate a value of power consumed by the load, compare the value of the power consumed to at least one predetermined control parameter, and enable the load control device to interrupt power to the load based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Nagaraju Valluri, Timothy Worthington, John K. Besore, Joshua Blake Huff
  • Publication number: 20130173076
    Abstract: In one embodiment, electrical appliances in a household are connected to a power supply through power limiters that are further coupled to a controller. The power limiters include power sensors. Abnormal power consumption situations are detected by the power sensors. A communication unit coupled to the controller is triggered to communicate the abnormal situations to a personal computing and communication device of in a communication network. A user may send instructions to the controller to change operation modes of the appliances. In another embodiment, subsystems of an electrical appliance are connected to a power supply through power limiters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventor: Yang Pan
  • Publication number: 20130158734
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for protection of distribution networks against overcurrents caused by faults in residential circuits. In an embodiment, a smart meter monitors a circuit for a particular condition and may adjust the power to a circuit when the condition is detected. In an embodiment, when an overcurrent condition is detected in a residential circuit, the residential circuit may be disconnected by a smart meter from a distribution network before it is seen by a recloser and therefore may isolate an outage to a single home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hyoung Jhang
  • Patent number: 8456331
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and a method for hardware encoding and decoding according to the Limpel Ziv STAC (LZS) and Deflate protocols based upon a configuration bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Cavium, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20130123997
    Abstract: An electrical power system having an electricity meter connected to power lines on one side and a load on the other side, the electricity meter having a processor and memory, a communications module, a sensor, and a service disconnect switch. The system has a communications and control system adapted to send information to the electricity meter and receive information from the electricity meter. The service disconnect switch is locally operable based on a preprogrammed time delay stored in the memory of the electricity meter to restore power in a controlled fashion following a power outage. Electricity meters and electricity reconnection methods are described, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Slaboszewicz King, Larsh Maur Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130123998
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution system having an electricity meter connected to power lines on one side and a load on the other side, the electricity meter enabling automatic disconnection and/or reconnection as determined by one or more thresholds stored in memory of the electricity meter. Electricity meters having an automatic disconnect feature are disclosed as are methods of connecting the electrical power distribution system. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Slaboszewicz King, Larsh Maur Johnson
  • Patent number: 8442660
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device having an audible and visual interface for providing audible and visual instructions to a user in an event of an alarm or trouble indication in the electrical power system. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor configured for measuring at least one power parameter of an electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and detecting at least one event occurring in the electrical circuit; and an interface configured for providing instructions associated to the at least one detected event. The instructions may be in the form of text, audio and/or video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
    Inventor: Erran Kagan
  • Publication number: 20130116843
    Abstract: An outage schedule management apparatus and a method are provided, wherein a topology change is executed in response to an outage schedule set up by a user input, and a validity determination is executed to system operation standard to approve an outage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LSIS CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8437881
    Abstract: Methods of placing computer equipment within a server room. The methods may comprise receiving a reservation request for a first piece of computer equipment and selecting a first zone of the server room. The reservation request may specify a type of the first piece of computer equipment. Also, the power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus a power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment may be less than a maximum power capacity of the first zone. The methods may also comprise selecting a first cabinet within the first zone. The first cabinet may comprise free physical space sufficient for the first piece of computer equipment. In addition, the methods may comprise reserving a portion of the first cabinet for the first piece of computer equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Sawczak, Todd Komlenic, Michael Adams
  • Patent number: 8437883
    Abstract: A voltage control and conservation (VCC) system is provided, which includes three subsystems, including an energy delivery (ED) system, an energy control (EC) system and an energy regulation (ER) system. The VCC system is configured to monitor energy usage at the ED system and determine one or more energy delivery parameters at the EC system. The EC system may then provide the one or more energy delivery parameters to the ER system to adjust the energy delivered to a plurality of users for maximum energy conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Dominion Resources, Inc, Virginia Electric and Power Company
    Inventors: Phillip W. Powell, Steven K. Parker, Melissa A. Bollbach, Mark L. Pruett
  • Patent number: 8433451
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a redundancy scheme for bay protection in Substation Automation (SA) that prevents a single failing Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) of the SA system from impairing the operation of a bay of a substation. A protection IED assigned to a home or host bay of a substation of an electric power system performs the protection functions of the bay to which it is assigned, plus protection functions of at least one of its neighboring bays. As a result, each bay can be managed by two different protection IEDs, wherein redundancy is achieved without a dedicated redundant protection IED for each bay. Whenever required to do so, the protection IED receives, from appropriate sensors, information about a status or value of a process quantity from the neighboring bay, computes or executes protection functionality such as overcurrent, overvoltage or earth fault on behalf of the neighboring bay, and issues commands directed to actuators of said neighboring bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Tournier, Thomas Werner
  • Publication number: 20130103219
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for monitoring electrical disturbance (e.g., surges, outages, etc.) possibilities, and then automatically isolating electronic devices (also referred to herein as electronics) for the duration of the disturbance (or threat thereof). In a typical embodiment, a probability of an electrical disturbance occurring at a specified location will be determined. Then, a set of device protection profiles will be accessed. The set of device protection profiles comprises a set of thresholds and a corresponding set of device topologies associated with a set of electronic devices positioned. The set of thresholds in the set of device protection profiles will then be compared to the probability to identify a matching device topology from the set of device topologies. According to the matching device topology, at least one electronic device will be isolated from an electrical power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason L. Anderson, Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, JR.
  • Patent number: 8428787
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic device having a power management module and a power management method thereof. Within the power management method is used for an electronic device, which has a first power module, a second power module and the loads. The power management method comprises the following step: (1) monitoring the first power module and the second power module; (2) if the first power module and the second power module are activated at the same time, sequentially stopping a supply of electric power to at least one of the loads until the electronic device has total load current smaller than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Inventec Appliances (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Inventec Appliances Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Feng Wu, Wen-Cheng Hus
  • Patent number: 8417392
    Abstract: A qualification system for determining the effects of one or more upgrades or modifications to a chilled water plant is disclosed herein. The qualification system my collect various data from operating logs of a chilled water plant. The data may be collected in stages, where at least one first stage may be used to collect data used to identify representative log data. The representative log data may then be used to perform an accurate analysis to determine the effects of one or more upgrades or modifications. In this manner, the qualification system provides accurate analysis while reducing data entry. In addition, the qualification system may accept varying amounts of data such as to reduce percentage error or the like in its analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Higgins
  • Patent number: 8412384
    Abstract: Quick recovery or recovery support of a faulty power generating facility by real time diagnoses such as facility failure diagnosis, supervision for failure symptoms, facility diagnosis by evaluation of performance using databases between the power generating facilities and an operation control system. The operation control system transfers information on operating status and secular characteristic changes of apparatus from power generating facilities or information from operators of selected power generating facilities. The level of a failure of a power generating facility which has a failure is evaluated and repairing information (e.g. recovery procedures, processes, required parts, inventory of the parts, possible failure causes, etc.) is automatically created from repairing information prepared in advance for each evaluation condition. The repairing information is then sent to the operation supporting section of the power generating facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nagafuchi, Yasushi Iwai, Hiraku Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8412385
    Abstract: Communicating a power control feedback signal from a system is disclosed. In some embodiments, upon determining how to control input power which may be based at least in part, for example, on an in situ measurement of an operating condition in an operating environment, an appropriate symbol is constructed based upon the determination and is transmitted on a single line. In some embodiments, the single line corresponds to the reference voltage of an associated power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Silego Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Brumett, Jr., Ian Chen, Ilbok Lee, Marcelo Martinez
  • Publication number: 20130079942
    Abstract: An energy management system for providing sequential application of power to electrical loads contains a series of electrical loads and at least one unit controller, wherein each unit controller connects to at least one electrical load and controls power application to the at least one electrical load. Each individual unit controller has a unique identification to allow for communication with the individual unit controller, wherein each unique identification has a unique power-on delay. The unit controller contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to: determine if a power-off condition has occurred, being followed by a power-on condition, referred to as a powerup event; and enable delivery of power, after a powerup event, to the at least one electrical load in accordance with the unique power-on delay of the unit controller. A building controller or central server may instead provide sequential application of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Smola, Bruce Daryl Duhamel
  • Publication number: 20130073483
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for protecting power transformers. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for protecting a power transformer from overload. The method can include receiving transformer power rating information; receiving load information from individual meters supplied by the power transformer; summing the received load information; comparing the summed load information to the received transformer power rating information; and determining spare load capacity associated with the power transformer based at least in part on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Christopher Boot, Kenneth Caird
  • Publication number: 20130063280
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods, devices and systems of phase functionality for a meter. One aspect comprises a method of phase functionality for a meter. One embodiment of the method comprises determining a load value for each phase of a poly-phase electrical system; comparing, using a processor, the load value for each phase of a poly-phase electrical system with a respective threshold value for each phase of the poly-phase electrical system; and opening or closing one or more relays based on the comparison, wherein the one or more relays are each associated with respective phase of the poly-phase electrical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Balakrishna Pamulaparthy, George Paul Gerdan
  • Patent number: 8396098
    Abstract: Provided is a high-precision and highly functional digital protective relay device and a data transmission device for a digital protective relay device, by enabling transmission of large amounts of system electrical quantity data. The data transmission device for a digital protective relay device, the transmission device comprising: an analog/digital conversion portion 6, which, after sampling a system electrical quantity signal acquired from an electric power system at m times the fundamental frequency f0 (m>12) thereof, performs conversion into n-bit digital data (n>12); a data processing portion 7, which converts m sampling data of n bits with frequency m·f0, obtained by the analog/digital conversion portion, into k sampling data with frequency k·f0 (k?m) at or below the former frequency; and a transmitting portion 8, which transmits k sampling data obtained by the data processing portion to another protective relay device in a prescribed transmission format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuto Fukushima, Hideaki Sugiura, Masamichi Saga
  • Patent number: 8392129
    Abstract: A method is provided for managing a fault event in a network for distributing low-voltage or high-voltage electrical energy, which comprises at least one voltage source and a load. The method includes performing at least one step of a first procedure for detecting the existence of fault conditions in the load and performing at least one step of a second procedure for determining, on the basis of the evolution in time of the derivative of the instantaneous current in the load, the state of execution of an interruption manoeuvre started by at least one protection device adapted to interrupt locally the passage of current in the load. An electronic protection unit is also provided that is able to execute the aforesaid method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Maria Gabello, Massimo Pozzi
  • Publication number: 20130054042
    Abstract: A fault interrupt device is tripped by a fault in a power distribution network. A distributed automation controller (DAC) determines a location of and isolates the fault. Power is restored upstream of the fault and downstream power requirement vs. power availability from a secondary source(s) is assessed. The secondary source(s) is connected to the downstream portion if power available is sufficient or after nodes are deactivated to bring power requirements below power available. If a second fault occurs, it is also located and isolated, such as by communication between affected partition DACs of the power distribution network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Willem Hendrik du Toit, Jiyuan Fan, Bogdan Cristian Popescu
  • Publication number: 20130041517
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered by a power source (16) to a power line (32). An energy storage unit (38) receives portions of energy generated by the source and provides stored energy to supplement power output from the source to the power line. Maximum and minimum limits define a range of change in the power delivered to the power line by the power subsystem. An amount of power to be delivered by each of the source and the energy storage unit to the power line is based on (i) a determined amount of power available for delivery directly to the power line from the power source, (ii) a determined level of energy in the storage unit available for delivery to the power line, and (iii) the limits in the range of change in the power to be delivered by the power source to the power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Bryan T. Lin
  • Patent number: 8375249
    Abstract: A method for testing a battery backup unit used to power electronic components stored in an enclosure, such enclosure including a cooling system have a fan, such electrical components and fan being powered by a power supply electronic components stored in an enclosure, such enclosure including a cooling system have a fan, such electrical components and fan being powered by a power supply and, in the event of a detected failure of the power supply to provide proper power, the battery backup unit. The method includes periodically interrupting the power from the power supply to the fan while the fan is supplied power from the battery backup unit to test the battery backup unit while the power supply maintains power to the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony J. LoRusso
  • Publication number: 20130030586
    Abstract: Devices and methods for the decentralized, coordinated control of the voltage of an electrical distribution system are provided. For example, a controller may include a network interface and data processing circuitry. The network interface may receive first measurements associated with a segment of an electrical distribution system and transmit a control signal configured to control equipment of the segment of the electrical distribution system. The data processing circuitry may run digital simulations of the segment of the electrical distribution system in various equipment configurations, selecting from among the various equipment configurations an equipment configuration that is expected to cause the voltage deviation of the segment to approach a desired value. The data processing circuitry then may generate the control signal, which may cause the equipment of the segment of the electrical distribution system to conform to the equipment configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Borka Milosevic, Willem Hendrik Du Toit, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Publication number: 20130030587
    Abstract: A power curtailment system is electrically coupled to a power converter and configured to control the power converter to adjust output power of the power converter in response to a power curtailment requirement condition. The power curtailment system includes at least one sensor configured to measure at least one environmental factor in an environment of the power converter over time. The power curtailment system further includes a controller configured to adjust a power curve over time based on the at least one environmental factor and, upon the power curtailment requirement condition, control the power converter to provide an adjusted output power based on data from the power curve and the power curtailment requirement condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Said Farouk Said El-Barbari, Juan Manuel de Bedout, David Smith, Anthony William Galbraith
  • Publication number: 20130024039
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for blocking a switch which is upstream when viewed from an electrical supply, downstream of which is connected a switch, wherein the switching contacts of the switches open automatically when a current threshold value is exceeded. In order to achieve a rapid detection of a short circuit in the electrical network with little outlay, in at least one embodiment it is proposed that the current is sampled, digitalized, and wavelet coefficients of at least one segmentation level are in each case calculated for a fixed specified number of immediately successive digitalized current values via a wavelet transform and compared with a wavelet threshold, and that the blocking signal is sent to the upstream switch when a specified number of immediately successive wavelet coefficients exceeds the associated wavelet threshold value in each case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Josef Götz, Thomas Kiendl, Cornelia Nerl
  • Publication number: 20130024038
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a lock-and-key system for an electrical power plant. The system includes a plurality of locks and a smart key. A respective lock is installed with a standardized lock core, and the lock is associated with a lock identifier (ID). The smart key includes a key head that matches the standardized lock core; a lock-ID detector configured to detect the lock ID; a rotation stopper which, when enabled, is configured to prevent rotation of the key head while the key head is inserted into the standardized lock core; and a control module configured to disable the rotation stopper based on the detected lock ID, thereby facilitating the smart key to unlock the lock by rotating the key head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: YOUTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Shuqiang Jin, Qing Chang, Hongwei Qiao, Lei Ji, Shuiping Liao
  • Publication number: 20130024037
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a computer system for preventing switching errors in a power system that includes a plurality of switching devices. The system includes a topology-extraction mechanism configured to extract topology information associated with the power system; a status database configured to store status information associated with the switching devices; a rule database configured to store user-definable operation rules associated with the switching devices; a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request for performing a switching operation on a device; a simulation mechanism configured to perform a simulation based on the extracted topology information, the status information, and a rule associated with the device; a determination mechanism configured to determine whether the switching operation is allowed based on an outcome of the simulation; and a display mechanism configured to display an output of the determination mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: YOUTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Shuqiang Jin, Lingzhi Pang, Liguo Wan, Jiandong Huang, Hongping Jiang
  • Publication number: 20130024034
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrical quantity adjusting apparatus connected to an electrical facility includes a memory unit that stores a target level which is a target electrical quantity, a presenting level deciding unit that decides a presenting level to an exterior, the presenting level being an electrical quantity relating to the electrical facility and corresponding to at least a part at the target level, a presenting level output unit that outputs the presenting level decided by the presenting level deciding unit to the exterior via a communication network, a presenting level receiving unit that receives a presenting level from the exterior via the communication network, and an adjusting unit that adjusts the electrical quantity relating to the electrical facility based on the target level, the presenting level decided by the presenting level deciding unit, and the presenting level received by the presenting level receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yutaka IINO, Kyosuke Katayama, Yoshiaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8358035
    Abstract: An electrical generator arrangement comprising a distribution network having a first generator and a second generator, the first generator arranged to provide electrical power to a transmitter source, the second generator coupled to the distribution network by a switch to enable isolation of the second generator, the switch associated with an electrical characteristic comparator to compare the phase and/or frequency of the voltage provided by the second generator with the incidental modulation of a transmitter signal from the transmitter due to variations in the phase and/or frequency of the voltage provided by the first generator to the transmitter, the comparator arranged to operate the switch to isolate or connect the second generator to the distribution network dependent upon a variation in the change of the phase and/or frequency of the voltage provided by the second generator and the incidental modulation of the transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventor: Christopher G Bright
  • Publication number: 20130018518
    Abstract: Controlling localized load conditions to extend electrical distribution system component life includes forming a load-dependent time-to-failure estimate for at least one of the components, creating an operating load to be experienced by the at least one of the components, and generating an instruction that causes power to be diverted away from the at least one of the components when a required power through the at least one of the components exceeds the operating load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Publication number: 20130015663
    Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling power generation are provided. For example, such a system may include an electrical generator controller. The controller may include a filter component, a frequency response schedule component, and a rate limiter component. The filter component may receive a power grid frequency signal and output the frequency signal when the frequency signal is outside a frequency band. The frequency response schedule component may determine an ultimate target power contribution using the filtered frequency signal, the ultimate target power contribution representing an ultimate amount of power contribution that the electrical generator should provide in a primary frequency response. The rate limiter component may determine an immediate target power contribution signal that varies over time and approaches the ultimate target power contribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mario Joao Kumula, Roman Freidl
  • Patent number: 8355689
    Abstract: The invention relates to an autarkic field device or an autarkic radio adapter (2) for a field device (1), of automation technology fed with limited energy via an energy supply unit (3) associated, or associable, with the field device (1) or the radio adapter (2), characterized in that, between the energy supply unit (3) and an internal voltage source (4), whose voltage exceeds, or at times can exceed, the voltage of the energy supply unit (3), a barrier (5a; 5b) of at least one diode group having at least two diodes (6) connected in parallel is arranged, which blocks flow of electrical current from the internal voltage source (4) to the energy supply unit (3) or to the connection terminals (7) of the field device (1) or of the radio adapter (2) for the energy supply unit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Process Solutions AG
    Inventors: Stefan Probst, Marc Fiedler
  • Patent number: 8352092
    Abstract: A method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management. The method includes receiving a request to perform a task at a site powered by connection to an AC power grid, the task comprising either data processing or manufacturing an article; measuring an AC frequency of the AC power grid to obtain a current AC frequency; and performing or not performing the task at the site based on the current AC frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Jensen Boss, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Julianne Frances Haugh, Anne R. Sand
  • Publication number: 20130006433
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the A/D conversion unit includes a ?? modulating device which samples the analog electric quantity provided by the electric power system with a predetermined modulation frequency and outputs a bit stream changing over time of single bit obtained by performing ?? modulation, and the digital operation processing unit includes one or more digital filters which inputs the bit stream from the ?? modulating device and of which frequency characteristics differ according to a type of protection control operation, and one or more operation processing elements which perform different kinds of protection control operation processing, based on the bit stream provided by the digital filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Daiju ITAGAKI, Shogo Miura, Katsuhiko Sekiguchi, Satoshi Hirano
  • Patent number: 8346402
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device is operable to use a signal derived from an electrical power delivery system to effectively detect an islanding condition. The intelligent electronic device is configured to compare a frequency deviation (from nominal frequency) and a rate-of-change of frequency of the electrical power delivery system to a protection characteristic of the intelligent electronic device to quickly and securely detect islanding conditions thereby enhancing power protection, automation, control, and monitoring performance. The intelligent electronic device uses local measurements of the electrical power deliver system to provide reliable and economical means to properly separate a generation site from the remainder of the electrical power delivery system. Such may be useful to prevent reclosing out of synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, Marcos A. Donolo
  • Patent number: 8346377
    Abstract: An electronic control apparatus 100A is configured in such a way that a CPU 110A reads the conduction current of an opening/closing device 140n in an IPM 190A, by way of serial-parallel converters 114a and 114b and a second multi-channel A/D converter 116b; the opening/closing device 140n is opening/closing-controlled through a serial control signal SRn or a parallel control signal PWMn; and a reading timing control circuit 170n adjusts the reading timing in such a way that, regardless of the kind of the control signal, reading is performed during the period in which the opening/closing device 140n is driven to be closed. As a result, the serial-parallel converter can reduce the number of wiring leads between the IPM and the microprocessor, and the digital conversion value is accurately read, by adjusting the error between the serial-signal timing and the parallel-signal timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Yuji Zushi, Shinsuke Suzuki, Akihiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120330474
    Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating simultaneously the effects of multiple, interdependent heat-exchanger degradation modes for a heat exchanger of a power plant in the context of a series of alternative heat-exchanger remediation strategies. The method includes calculating time-varying predicted future progressions of heat exchanger performance metrics for a plurality of alternative heat-exchanger remediation strategies, and calculating time-varying predicted future progressions of financial metrics describing the accumulated financial benefit of each of the strategies. The calculations may be provided in probabilistic terms. A strategy may then be chosen based, at least in part, on the calculated results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Marc A. Kreider, Robert D. Varrin, JR., Glenn A. White, Velvet D. Moroney
  • Publication number: 20120330475
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an active cloud power management system for a secondary battery. This power management system is able to actively handle electrical properties of the secondary battery and provide a user with a general status message or a real time early warning message about the secondary battery, so that an efficiency of use and safety of the secondary battery can be maintained by active monitoring and reminding services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Fu-Chieh Chen
  • Publication number: 20120323388
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes a plurality of node devices and a computer communicatively coupled to the node devices. The computer includes a memory area configured to store at least one operating parameter of each of the node devices, and a processor that is programmed to determine a desired operating limitation of the power distribution system to be optimized, calculate an effect on the operating limitation based on a modification of the operating parameter of at least one of the node devices, and transmit a command to the node device to cause the node device to modify the operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Nathan Bowman Littrell, James Joseph Schmid