The present disclosure provides techniques for predicting failure of power switches and taking action based on the predictions. In an example, a method can include controlling the at least two parallel-connected power switches via a first driver and a second driver, the first a second driver responsive to a single command signal, measuring a failure characteristic of a first power switch, and disabling a first driver of the first power switch when the first failure characteristic exceeds a failure precursor threshold.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a sensor facility for determining a switching state of an electromechanical switching element. The sensor facility may include: connection elements for electrically contacting respective connection contacts of the switching element; a coupling capacitor having two capacitor connections, wherein the first is coupled to a first connection element; a voltage generator providing a temporally variable electrical voltage, coupled to the second capacitor connection; a first overvoltage protection circuit coupled to a second connection element and blocking an electrical voltage greater than a maximum value of the temporally variable electrical voltage of the voltage generator; and a detector circuit coupled to the first overvoltage protection circuit and detecting electrical voltage to determine the switching state of the electromechanical switching element by evaluating the detected electrical voltage.

Systems and methods for contact erosion mitigation are provided. To perform contact erosion mitigation, an order of opening/closing poles and/or contact relays of particular poles is altered, resulting in a sharing of potential arcing conditions amongst the poles/contact relays of these poles.

A relay diagnosis apparatus for a parallel pack assembly including a first battery pack having a first battery module and a first positive relay and a second battery pack having a second battery module and a second positive relay includes a diagnosis unit including a diagnosis switch and a diagnosis resistor connected between first and second battery pack terminals, a first detector to detect a current of the first battery module, a second detector to detect a current of the second battery module, and a control unit to collect a first and second detection values from the first and second detectors, respectively, during a first diagnosis period in which the first and second positive relays are open and the diagnosis switch is closed. The control unit determines a stuck-closed fault of the first or second positive relays based on the first and second detection values and a first threshold.

A relay diagnosis apparatus for a parallel pack assembly including a first battery pack having a first battery module and a first positive relay and a second battery pack having a second battery module and a second positive relay includes a diagnosis unit including a diagnosis switch and a diagnosis resistor connected between first and second battery pack terminals, a first detector to detect a current of the first battery module, a second detector to detect a current of the second battery module, and a control unit to collect a first and second detection values from the first and second detectors, respectively, during a first diagnosis period in which the first and second positive relays are open and the diagnosis switch is closed. The control unit determines a stuck-closed fault of the first or second positive relays based on the first and second detection values and a first threshold.

The invention relates to a control unit for a medium voltage switching apparatus. The control unit is adapted to carry out a diagnostic method to check operating conditions of one or more components of said electric poles. The diagnostic method includes the following steps: basing on a selected ideal position curve, obtaining one or more first curves indicative of an ideal behaviour of said switching apparatus, during an opening manoeuvre or closing manoeuvre of the switching apparatus; basing on detection signals provided by a closed-loop control arrangement of said control unit, calculating one or more second curves indicative of an actual behaviour of said switching apparatus, during an opening manoeuvre or closing manoeuvre of said switching apparatus; and carrying out a comparison procedure among said first and second curves.

Ground-fault circuit interrupter positioned between energy controlled supply circuit and load circuit which includes fault detection circuit that senses ground path current leakage to the load circuit, fault processing circuit that detects presence of fault and generates fault output signal when fault detected, and control circuit switch connected to fault processing signal output, wherein control circuit switch is opened by presence of fault output signal, thus isolating load circuit from supply circuit. Preferably fault processing circuit and control circuit are optically linked, such that when fault is detected, control circuit switch is opened by optical fault output signal, thus isolating load circuit from the supply circuit. Circuit interrupter may couple another circuit interrupter via power distribution control unit, optionally manageable remotely via automated control interface.

A relay failure detection circuit includes a first voltage acquiring section configured to acquire an AC voltage input to a power supply circuit and output the AC voltage as a first voltage signal, a second voltage acquiring section configured to acquire an inter-terminal voltage of a relay provided in the power supply circuit and output the inter-terminal voltage as a second voltage signal, a comparing section configured to compare a waveform of the first voltage signal and a waveform of the second voltage signal, and a determining section configured to determine a failure of the relay according to a result of the comparison.

A circuit breaking apparatus comprises a circuit breaker, a motor drive system, and a controller. The circuit breaker is electrically connectable to a power line. The motor drive system is mechanically coupled to the circuit breaker and configured to operate the circuit breaker such as to perform a movement including at least an opening movement from a closed position to an open position, thereby electrically interrupting the power line. The controller includes a model of at least one of the motor drive system and the circuit breaker.

The controller is configured to receive reference travel curve information of the movement; generate actuator information from the reference travel curve information based on the model; and output the actuator information.

The present disclosure provides a method for modifying a gas density relay and a gas density relay having an online self-check function and a check method therefor. The gas density relay having an online self-check function is used for high-voltage and medium-voltage electrical devices, and includes a gas density relay body, a gas density detection sensor, a gas path blocking pressure regulation mechanism, an online check contact signal sampling unit and an intelligent control unit. The intelligent control unit controls a blocking member of the gas path blocking pressure regulation mechanism to move, so as to block a gas path between a first interface and a second interface. Moreover, a volume of a sealed cavity changes, a gas pressure of the gas density relay body slowly falls, thereby generating contact action, the contact action is transmitted to the intelligent control unit by means of the online check contact signal sampling unit, and the intelligent control unit detects an alarm and/or blocking contact signal action value and/or return value according to a density value during the contact action, such that check can be completed without maintenance personnel on site, and the reliability and efficiency of a power grid are greatly improved while cost is lowered.