System Protection (e.g., Circuit Interrupter, Circuit Limiter, Voltage Suppressor) Patents (Class 700/292)
  • Patent number: 7826932
    Abstract: A switch-gear system having a central controller for operating a plurality of circuit breakers, a first interface device, a second interface device, and an update system in communication with the first and second interface devices is provided. The first interface device can modify a lineup parameter of the plurality of circuit breakers in and display a first graphical representation of the lineup parameter. The second interface device can modify the lineup parameter and display a second graphical representation of the lineup parameter. The update system can save a modification to the lineup parameter at the first or second interface device and to publish the modification to the other of the first or second interface devices so that the first and second graphical representations are identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Claudio Cargnelli, Gabriel Tomsa
  • Publication number: 20100268579
    Abstract: The operation of a power distribution network is modeled. At least one quality of the operation of the power distribution network is measured. The future operational performance of the power distribution network is predicted based at least in part upon the modeling. When the at least one measure of the quality of the operation of the power distribution network or the predicted future operational performance do not meet the predetermined performance criteria, corrective action is taken with respect to the power distribution network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: James Momoh
  • Publication number: 20100268396
    Abstract: A system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, an analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system. The analytics server is communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and an arc flash simulation engine. The arc flash simulation engine is configured to utilize the virtual system model to forecast an aspect of the arc flash event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: EDSA MICRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adib Nasle, Ali Nasle
  • Publication number: 20100262309
    Abstract: A method for defining one or more ANM zones in an electricity network that has at least one energy producing/consuming device that has an output that has to be regulated. The method comprises determining the maximum power and/or current transmittable to or from a node or branch in the network at which an energy producing/consuming device that has to be regulated is to be added; determining the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through that node or branch; and defining a zone (zone 1, zone 2) including the node or branch and regulated energy producing/consuming device that requires to be actively managed, in the event that the maximum power and/or current transmittable to the node or branch exceeds the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: University of Strathclyde
    Inventors: Robert Alastair Fraser Currie, Graham William Ault
  • Patent number: 7813842
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods for implementing and controlling local power line communication (PLC) networks. Some embodiments include a central controller communicationally coupled with a PLC power line, a sensor adaptor coupled between the PLC power line and a consumer product, with the sensor adaptor comprising a current detector that detects a current usage level passed through the sensor adaptor, a PLC interface through which the current usage level is communicated over the PLC power line to the central controller, and an adaptor switch that interrupts current flow to the consumer product in response to a command received over the PLC power line from the central controller when the current usage through the sensor adaptor has a predetermined relationship to a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Iwamura
  • Publication number: 20100256831
    Abstract: A wireless power infrastructure for delivering wireless power from a wireless network to mobile devices. The infrastructure includes a plurality of power transmission hubs, each hub having: a first capacitor for transmitting a signature frequency for a defined range; and a set of second capacitors, each for transmitting resonant wireless power within the defined range at a selectable frequency. A mobile device for obtaining wireless resonant the plurality of power transmission hubs is also described, and includes: a first variable capacitor for detecting a signature frequency associated with a proximately located power transmission hub; a second variable capacitor for receiving wireless resonant capacitor from the proximately located power transmission hub; and a synchronization system for setting the second variable capacitor to a frequency that is synchronized with a wireless resonant power transmission of the proximately located power transmission hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Keith Abramo, Joshua R. Kinlaw, Joseph C. Leong, Adrian X. Rodriguez, Gregory B. Woloschyn
  • Patent number: 7808400
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of (1) providing continuous monitoring of various operating and environmental characteristics using RFID technology or similar wireless technology and (2) capturing data on historical events that have occurred on the circuits used for the transmission and distribution of electric power. The invention has the additional capability to communicate the information to operators at the site, in remote locations, or to other equipment (peer to peer). The invention provides a low cost method and apparatus to monitor and store operating characteristics and events on the electric power distribution circuit. The information can be used to reduce the duration of outages, for improving system reliability, to study the impact on the power grid of various environmental factors, to enhance the ability to react to operating conditions such as overloads, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Marmon Utility LLC
    Inventor: Norman D. McCollough
  • Publication number: 20100250014
    Abstract: A system and method that analyzes at least one aspect of the power grid for demand response in order to reduce feeder circuit losses is provided. The system and method may use a demand response model to select one or more factors for the demand response, such as selecting a subset of customers for demand response from a larger pool of available demand response customers. The demand response model may include a grid structure component, such as an indication of the particular customer's position in the grid, and a dynamic operation component, such as a real-time measurement of current in the feeder circuit. By using the demand response model, feeder circuit losses may thereby reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Taft
  • Patent number: 7801648
    Abstract: An automatic trip device, a network system using it and control method thereof is related to providing the prediction of a potential electrical accident, in which measuring data including a temperature and a current from each of temperature and current sensors is received, the measuring data is stored in a data memory, the measuring data and a setting data are compared with each another and analyzed, an indicating portion display the life spans of an appliance equipment and mechanism and a power line section accommodating the interrupter, a temperature resistance coefficient based on the temperature stored is calculated, the temperature resistance coefficient is compared with one previously stored for the warning, the power line is interrupted and a warning portion is controlled to generate a warning signal if the calculated temperature resistance coefficient is higher than the warning temperature resistance one, thereby interrupting an accidental high current, rapidly, to protect persons and installments in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hanbit Tech Inc.
    Inventor: Gi-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7801647
    Abstract: A method for analyzing historical outages at the customer level for the purposes of determining root-cause and possible corrective actions is described herein. The present invention enables a utility to identify problem areas and prevent future outages from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: FirstEnergy, Corp.
    Inventors: Karl J. Fickey, David V. Homsher
  • Patent number: 7797061
    Abstract: A redundant fieldbus system provides power and communications in a parallel physical configuration between the host system and attached field devices irrespective of any single point failure in the network. In case of a fault, the redundant fieldbus system automatically eliminates the faulty section of the network, switches power and communications to the healthy portion of the network and terminates the network for signal integrity. A device coupler for the system may include a fault detector coupled to an auto-termination circuit that terminates a fieldbus cable when a fault is detected. The device coupler may include fault detection and isolation coupled to each set of spur terminals used to connect field devices to the device coupler. A field device for the system may include circuitry for deselecting a faulty cable while maintaining connection to a healthy cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Moore Industries International, Inc.
    Inventor: Hassan M. El-Sayed
  • Patent number: 7797083
    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: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Silego Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Brumett, Jr., Ian Chen, Ilbok Lee, Marcelo Martinez
  • Publication number: 20100228402
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An apparatus includes a synchronous circuit including a first subcircuit powered by a first power plane having a first power plane voltage and a second subcircuit powered by a second power plane having a second power plane voltage. The apparatus also includes an error detector operable to detect an incidence of a computational error occurring in the first subcircuit. The apparatus includes a controller operable to change the first power plane voltage based upon the detected incidence of a computational error. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to electrically couple with a portable power source and operable to provide a selected one of at least two voltages to the first power plane in response to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: William Henry Mangione-Smith
  • Publication number: 20100222936
    Abstract: A modular system for transmitting power and data between a control processor that receives and transmits signals along a trunk of a distributed control network, and one or more field devices located in a hazardous area includes a backplane bus and a trunk module connected to the backplane and interconnecting the trunk and backplane. Intrinsically safe spur modules are removably attached to the backplane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Brenton Eugene Helfrick, Aaron Richard Kreider, Brian James Vogt, Davis Mathews
  • Patent number: 7787995
    Abstract: A system (400) and method for controlling an operation of an electrical power network (420) is described. The method includes configuring an allowable performance of an electrical power network over a predetermined time period as a probability expression comprising a historical term and a future term having an electrical power network operating condition variable. The method also includes calculating a network performance target value (300) according to the probability expression by using a historical electrical power network operating condition value for the electrical power network operating condition variable. The method further includes using the performance target value for controlling the electrical power network effective to achieve the allowable performance. The system includes a database (406), a processor (404) coupled to the database, and a monitoring and control module (410) coupled to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Dingguo Chen
  • Patent number: 7778738
    Abstract: A system and method that analyzes at least one aspect of the power grid for demand response in order to reduce feeder circuit losses is provided. The system and method may use a demand response model to select one or more factors for the demand response, such as selecting a subset of customers for demand response from a larger pool of available demand response customers. The demand response model may include a grid structure component, such as an indication of the particular customer's position in the grid and a dynamic operation component, such as a real-time measurement of current in the feeder circuit. By using the demand response model, feeder circuit losses may thereby reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Taft
  • Publication number: 20100204846
    Abstract: Data from a digitizing unit is stored in a time-series data buffer, via a data receiving circuit. The data on which a digital filtering process is performed by a digital filtering processing circuit is stored in time series in a time-series instantaneous-value data storing circuit. A digital computing unit sets a time of temporally oldest data from among a group of latest time data stored in a latest time-data storing circuit as a reference time, extracts time data having the same time as the reference time from the time-series instantaneous-value data storing circuit, and then performs a digital computation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masaji USUI
  • Patent number: 7774282
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and media for controlling supply of a utility service to a load are disclosed. Generally, the embodiments may involve receiving representation of utility service supply to a load, receiving and storing in a computer data storage device a usage range representation comprising at least one expected value of utility input to the load and/or at least one expected value of output from the load, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service supply controlling device when usage is outside of usage range representation. Control signal can be operable to cause the utility service supply controlling device to restrict or interrupt the supply of the utility service to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Smart Disaster Response Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammad Reza Baraty
  • Publication number: 20100198421
    Abstract: Methods and systems for energy management are disclosed. An example system includes a first port connected to an energy storage device for bidirectional flow of energy, a second port connected to an energy source device for unidirectional flow of energy, a third port connected to a utility grid for bidirectional flow of energy, and a unified control system with control logic configured to simultaneously control energy flow between the first, second, and third ports based on at least two factors from the group consisting of: a state of charge of the energy storage device, a state of the energy source device, and a state of the utility grid. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Babak Fahimi, Wei Jiang
  • Publication number: 20100198423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided in which the use or provision of a resource or service can be optimised based on data indicative of the benefits of using or providing the resource or service at one or more future times. The service could be the provision of electricity to an appliance or device. A retailer or distributor of the electricity could transmit future prices of the electricity based on the expected supply and demand for the electricity. An apparatus could receive the future prices and set a timing of an appliance or device to use or provide the electricity in order to optimise the cost of the use or provision of electricity. Other resources and services are also applicable, such as road network usage, telecoms or gas provision or usage. The usage or provision of the resource or service by the appliance or device can be metered and the amount of resource or service used or provided can be billed using the given indication of a benefit at particular future times, e.g. using the given future prices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: RESPONSIVELOAD LIMITED
    Inventor: David R. Hirst
  • Publication number: 20100191386
    Abstract: A differential protection system has a differential protection device at each end of a line section of an electrical power transmission line, such that it can selectively identify and safely disconnect even high-impedance faults on the monitored line section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Tevfik Sezi
  • Patent number: 7765034
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating a disturbance event within a power grid includes a series of frequency disturbance recorders (FDRs) taking measurements in the power grid at dispersed points of the power grid, an information management system, configured to receive data from the series of FDRs and analyze the received data and a communications network interconnecting the series of FDRs and the information management system. The information management system is configured to examine orders and patterns of receipt of frequency changes at the FDRs in the data caused by the disturbance event and to triangulate a location of the disturbance event based on the orders and patterns of receipt of the frequency changes. Example methods of detection and location of disturbance events are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Gardner, Zhian Zhong, Yilu Liu
  • Publication number: 20100185338
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution system for distributing electrical power from a source. The system includes one or more network circuits electrically connected to the source and one or more load devices electrically connectable to the network circuit. The system also includes one or more controllers for monitoring one or more preselected parameters of the electrical power. Each controller includes means for determining actual values of the preselected parameter, means for comparing the actual value to a preselected threshold value of the preselected parameter to determine a difference, and means for disconnecting the load device if the difference is equal to or exceeds a predetermined difference amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Montgomery, Nicolas Jones
  • Publication number: 20100174417
    Abstract: A power supply system 10 comprises a power supply 100 which supplies power to a load device 200; an electrical storage device 300 which supplies power to the load device 200 in place of the power supply 100 when the power supply 100 is stopped; and a power supply control device 500 which controls the supply of power from the electrical storage device 300 to the load device 200 by monitoring a state of the electrical storage device 300 and detecting an abnormal state of the electrical storage device 300. Upon acquiring disaster information predicting stoppage of the power supply 100, the power supply control device 500 shortens a monitoring period for monitoring the state of the electrical storage device 300, so that the state of the electrical storage device 300 can be reliably monitored during stoppage of the power supply 100, and thereby backup functions can be continued over as long a time period as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Takuma Iida, Tadao Kimura
  • Patent number: 7751943
    Abstract: In a process for protection of a gas turbine (1) from damage caused by pressure pulsations (P), pressure pulsations (P) occurring during the operation of the gas turbine (1) are measured, from the measured pressure pulsations (P), a pulsation-time signal (PZS) is generated, the pulsation-time signal (PZS) is transformed into a pulsation-frequency signal (PFS), from the pulsation-frequency signal (PFS), a pulsation level (PL) is determined for at least one specified monitoring frequency band (12), the pulsation level (PL) is monitored for the occurrence of at least one specified trigger condition, and, when the at least one trigger condition occurs, a specified protective action (16) is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Heinz Bollhalder, Michael Habermann, Hanspeter Zinn
  • Publication number: 20100168931
    Abstract: A system for filtering and interpreting real-time sensory data from an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component acquires real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine, and a decision engine. The virtual system modeling engine generates predicted data output for the electrical system. The analytics engine monitors real-time data output and predicted data output of the electrical system. The decision engine compares the real-time data output against the predicted data output to filter out and interpret indicia of electrical system health and performance. The client terminal is communicatively connected to the power analytics server and configured to display the filtered and interpreted indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: EDSA MICRO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adib Nasle
  • Patent number: 7747356
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers and a plurality of node electronic units. Each node electronic unit is mounted remotely from an associated circuit breaker that is electrically coupled with one of the node electronic units. The system also includes a first digital network, and a first central control unit. The first central control unit and the plurality of node electronic units are communicatively coupled to the first digital network. The method includes receiving digital signals from each node electronic unit at the central control unit, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital signal, and transmitting digital signals to the plurality of node electronic units such that the circuit breakers are operable from the first central control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Daniel White Sexton, Scott Charles Evans, Marc Robert Pearlman, Austars Raymond Schnore, Jr., Charles Scott Sealing, William James Premerlani, Ertugrul Berkcan, Wendai Wang, Terry Michael Topka, Mingxiao Jiang
  • Patent number: 7738999
    Abstract: An intelligent network demand control system provides a system and method for controlling demand in an energy delivery system. The intelligent network demand control system employs a transceiver network with a plurality transceivers coupled to meters and appliances residing at a plurality of customer premises. Control room operators instruct a customer premises (CP) energy management controller to implement a reduction in system demand. A demand reduction control signal is relayed out to a predefined group of transceivers to bring their respective controlled generators on line. The predefined transceivers, identified by their identification codes, are specified in the demand reduction control signal. When the transceivers bring the generators on line in response to a broadcasted demand reduction control signal, the actual demand reduction is metered and relayed back to the CP energy management controller. The total demand reduction is aggregated into a single number and then communicated to the operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hunt Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Petite
  • Publication number: 20100145535
    Abstract: The E-Grid Sub-Network Load Manager operates to regulate the demands presented by vehicles to the associated Sub-Network thereby to spread the load presented to the service disconnect over time to enable controllable charging of a large number of vehicles. Load management can be implemented by a number of methodologies, including: queuing requests and serving each request in sequence until satisfaction; queuing requests and cycling through the requests, partially serving each one, then proceeding to the next until the cyclic partial charging service has satisfied all of the requests; ordering requests pursuant to a percentage of recharge required measurement; ordering requests on an estimated connection time metric; ordering requests on a predetermined level of service basis; and the like. It is evident that a number of these methods can be concurrently employed thereby to serve all of the vehicles in the most efficient manner that can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Richard M. Tyler, Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
  • Publication number: 20100145536
    Abstract: Disclosed is power management system based on a “smart” wire-device installable in an electric power line (i.e., the “drop-grid” or “micro-grid”) at a premises, such as a business or residence. The “smart” wire-device includes a management node integrated into the form of a typical electrical power outlet, circuit breaker or switch as would be found in such a premises, and is installable in the power line in a manner similar to existing wire-device. The “smart” wire-device requires no special skill to install beyond that of an ordinary skilled electrician. The present wire-device is “smart” in that the node has a detector circuit that senses the electrical characteristic(s) of the power line at the point at which it is installed. The node's communications circuit signals what it detects to a spatially separated remote controller device, and receives instructions from one or more spatially separated remote controller devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MASTERS, Marcos S. Pernia
  • Publication number: 20100138064
    Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack including an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of ultracapacitors in series; a plurality of interconnections for mechanically and electrically interconnecting the ultracapacitors; and a plurality of balancing resistors, each balancing resistor in parallel with each ultracapacitor to form a resistor divider network that automatically discharges and equalizes each ultracapacitor over time, thereby balancing the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly, and each balancing resistor directly mechanically and electrically connected to an associated interconnection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: ISE Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Wilk, Kevin T. Stone
  • Publication number: 20100138060
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a wind driven machine. According to one embodiment, a system including a wind driven machine with at least one component can be provided. The system can also include at least one data collection module for collecting operating data from the at least one component and for providing the operating data to at least one data processing module. The operating data can comprise an electrical characteristic associated with the at least one component. The data processing module can receive the operating data, determine whether the operating data indicates the component is operating in an alert condition and can provide an indicator when the component is operating in an alert condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Meng Gao, Haiqi Zhao, Zheng Wan
  • Publication number: 20100138072
    Abstract: A power management apparatus for a hybridized energy device includes a hybridized energy device including a plurality of units. The units include electrical energy storage and/or gathering cells, in series or in parallel to form a module. A plurality of the modules in series or in parallel form a pack. The power management apparatus also includes a central management apparatus (CMA) interconnecting a plurality of module management apparatus (MMAs) by means of either wired or wireless connections and a plurality of MMAs. Each MMA interconnects with a plurality of unit management apparatuses by means of either wireless or wired communication circuits. The power management apparatus further includes a plurality of units management apparatuses (UMAs), each wired, connected with, or deposited on a unit. Furthermore, the power management apparatus includes a rechargeable battery power source for a CMA, a plurality of MMAs, and a plurality of UMAs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia Wei Wang, Ann Marie Sastry, Fabio Albano
  • Patent number: 7729811
    Abstract: The use of electrical energy storage unit (EESU) technology can provide power averaging for utility grids. Such EESUs can also be used to construct a system capable of storing electrical energy over specified periods (e.g., 24 hours) to provide peak power to homes, commercial sites, and industrial sites. By charging these power averaging units during non-peak times and then delivering the energy during peak-demands times, more efficient utilization of the present utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines will be accomplished. These systems also have the capability of isolating users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: EEStor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Weir, Carl W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7729808
    Abstract: A system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, an analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system. The analytics server is communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and an arc flash simulation engine. The arc flash simulation engine is configured to utilize the virtual system model to forecast an aspect of the arc flash event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: EDSA Micro Corporation
    Inventors: Adib Nasle, Ali Nasle
  • Patent number: 7725295
    Abstract: A cable fault detection component (168) receives input data indicative of a fault in an electrical power system. The component (168) analyzes the input data to determine if the fault is indicative of a temporary or self-clearing cable fault and generates corresponding output data (276). In one implementation, the cable fault detection component (168) is implemented as a software module which operates on a computer (105) of a substation intelligence system (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: James Stoupis, Ajay C. Madwesh, David Lubkeman, Mirrasoul Mousavi
  • Publication number: 20100114393
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power system control area according to a first and a second control performance standard, wherein operation of the control area determines area control parameter values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Dingguo Chen
  • Publication number: 20100114390
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the operation of a load in an electrical power distribution system comprises selecting a parameter representing operation of the load, determining an expected characteristic of the parameter during normal operation of the load, and comparing measured values of the parameter with the expected characteristic to detect potential abnormal operation of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: SQUARE D COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas S. Stevenson, John C. van Gorp, Matthew Stanlake, Vincent Wruck, Jacques Van Campen, Douglas Cope
  • Publication number: 20100114391
    Abstract: System for acquisition of data and multiplication of signalling and protection contacts in equipments of substations and electric power plants and similar, it consists in the utilization of auxiliary relays (4) for contacts multiplication (2) of devices (1) of protection and supervision as a way of entrance of the information for digital acquisition of data, also making possible that the digital acquisition of the state of the contacts (2) of the protection and supervision devices is accomplished directly in the devices properly said by means of the incorporation of simple circuits at the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Eduardo Pedrosa Santos
  • Publication number: 20100114392
    Abstract: Real-time power line rating may be provided. First, sensor data may be received corresponding to a conductor of a power line. The sensor data may provide real-time weather conditions for the conductor's environment. The sensor data may be received from a sensor device configured to collect the sensor data. The sensor data may correspond to the weather conditions at a location of the sensor device on the power line. Next, design limitations for the power line having the conductor may be received. The conductor of the power line may have a design ampacity based upon the design limitations and assumed weather conditions for the conductor's environment. Then a dynamic ampacity may be calculated for the power line based upon the received sensor data and the received design limitations for the power line. The power line may then be operated according to the calculated dynamic ampacity instead of the design ampacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Mark Lancaster
  • Patent number: 7711651
    Abstract: Media and apparatus for managing usage of utilities are disclosed. Generally, each involves receiving representation of utility service usage at a load, receiving and storing in a storage device a usage range representation comprising at least one expected value of utility input to the load and/or at least one expected value of output from the load, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service controller when usage is outside of usage range representation. Control signal is operable to cause the utility service controller to regulate or interrupt the supply of the utility service to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Smart Disaster Response Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammad Reza Baraty
  • Publication number: 20100106338
    Abstract: Provided is an optimized system voltage control method through coordinated control of reactive power source, which analyzes the location for reactive power compensation and the effect of applying compensation equipment by calculating the reactive power and voltage sensitivity of a power system, thus improving the voltage quality of the power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Su-Chul NAM, Jeong-Hoon SHIN, Seung-Tae CHA, Jae-Gul LEE, Tae-Kyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20100106339
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring, measuring and recording the operating values of each of a plurality of inter-connected AC PV modules and performing a diagnostic analysis, including comparing the those operating values to each other and to operating values recorded at an earlier time to determine laminate degradation and the performance-attenuating effect of temperature, soiling, shading, and snow cover on the modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Ruel Davenport Little, Zachary Adam King
  • Patent number: 7706927
    Abstract: A circuit breaker configuration contains a number of circuit breakers each to be connected via lines to a system component of a power distribution system and a plurality of control buttons with a respective one of the control buttons connected to a respective one of the circuit breakers. The respective control button for the respective circuit breaker passes through a control panel and is actuated from a front side of the control panel. A coupling element accessible from the front side of the control panel is provided for an interchange of diagnosis data and/or parameterization data. The coupling element is associated with the circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Naumann, Markus Miklis, Peter Meckler, Patric Gross
  • Publication number: 20100100251
    Abstract: The invention relates to the fault tree analysis system for a nuclear power plant with advanced boiling water reactor. The full digital instrument control system uses six different modes to simulate the transmission of the digital signals and the analog signals from the detection units. It is to develop the fault tree for various signal transmission modes to support the nuclear power plant in probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) and meet requirements for simulated signal detection, transmission, logic operation and equipment actuation. Thus, the digital instrument control flow process can fit into PRA model and properly reflect its importance in risk assessment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Chun-Chang Chao, Meng-Chi Cehn
  • Publication number: 20100094475
    Abstract: A system and method consisting of networked modular sensors and a data processing/display system to detect, process, manage and present both real-time and historic electrical energy usage data (metrics, statistics, etc), additionally allowing the intelligent management of energy usage through consumer education as well as both manual and automated usage controls. Wherein sensors are integrated into the standardized form-factor components typical of household and commercial electrical interfaces, such as circuit breakers, wall outlets, light switches, plug ends, power strips, etc, additionally allowing integration with appliances or other load devices and being capable of processing data; Wherein sensors and the associated processing, display and management systems are capable of communicating with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Gilbert Masters, Marcos B. Pernia
  • Publication number: 20100090542
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a node that includes an outlet or switch and a first set of contacts. An appliance may be provided including a second set of contacts configured to engage the first set of contacts to provide power and/or communication to the appliance. The disclosure also relates to a method of providing load identification wherein a node capable of monitoring current may be provided, current may be drawn from an AC power distribution network through the node, current may be modulated by a device associated with the node and an identifiable sequence of incremental current pulses may be created. The modulated current may be measured by the node and a serial number identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: OUTSMART POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Johnson, Paul C. M. Hilton
  • Publication number: 20100087961
    Abstract: Examples of systems and methods are provided for a hybrid electrical system for supplying power to an external load. The system may include an external load bus configured to be coupled to an external load. The system may include a first bus coupled to the external load bus. The system may include a first battery coupled to the first bus. The system may include a second bus coupled to the first bus and the external load bus. The second battery may be coupled to the second bus. The second battery may have a higher extracted specific power output value than the first battery and a faster energy transfer rate than the first battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. VELEZ
  • Publication number: 20100087962
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a transferable feeder system on an electrical distribution system is provided. The system includes a controller that is disposed in communication with switches associated with feeders of a first substation and circuit breakers associated with a second substation. The first substation and second substation are electrically coupled in a manner to allow load transfer from the first substation to the second substation. The system is arranged to disconnect a first pair of circuits from the first substation before connecting the pair of circuits to the second substation while leaving a third circuit coupled to the first substation. During the entire process of transferring load from one substation to the second substation, customer load does not experience any interruption in electrical service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.
    Inventors: Abdol Reza Ghafurian, Noel Rivera
  • Patent number: 7693608
    Abstract: A system for filtering and interpreting real-time sensory data from an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component acquires real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics sewer is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine, and a decision engine. The virtual system modeling engine generates predicted data output for the electrical system. The analytics engine monitors real-lime data output and predicted data output of the electrical system. The decision engine compares the real-time data output against the predicted data output to filter out and interpret indicia of electrical system health and performance. The client terminal is communicatively connected to the power analytics server and configured to display the filtered and interpreted indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: EDSA Micro Corporation
    Inventor: Adib Nasle