The present disclosure relates to systems and methods to coordinate protective elements in an electric power system (EPS). In one embodiment, a system may include a Time vs Normalized Impedance Length subsystem to determine a first plurality of times of operation of a first protective element for a plurality of fault locations in the EPS and to determine a second plurality of times of operation of a second protective element for the plurality of fault locations in the EPS. A protective action subsystem may coordinate a response of the first protective element and the second protective element. The protective action subsystem may establish a pickup and a protective action for the second protective element. Upon detection of a fault in the EPS, one of the first protective action and the second protective action may be implemented based on one of the first pickup and the second pickup.

An electrical circuit breaker system including an input terminal connecting an electrical current source and a plurality of output terminals for connecting electrical loads. Each output terminal includes an electrical switch and a current measuring unit. The circuit breaker system includes a current acquiring unit for acquiring current magnitudes measured at the output terminals and for determining a total current magnitude. A temperature acquiring unit acquires a temperature, and a computing unit is configured to determine a total current limit as a function of the acquired temperature. Further, a control unit is configured to select one of the plurality of output terminals based on a ranking of the output terminals and to interrupt the current supply at the selected output terminal by means of the corresponding electrical switch when the total current magnitude exceeds the determined total current limit.

Described are apparatus and methods for control of multi-channel load switches with synchronized power up/down timing sequences. The slew rate control methods of the PMOS load switches contained in the N Multi-channel configuration is also described. A preferred slew rate control circuit includes a power PMOS transistor that is capable of handling load currents of several amperes along with an integrated controller. The integrated controller allows the user to program the power on/off sequences of each of the load switch channels by simply using a single or multiple input enable input pins.

A conductor-mounted device (CMD) used to signal an intelligent electronic device (IED) of the existence of a fault on a portion of the electric power delivery system is described herein. The CMD may provide a heartbeat signal to the IED. The CMD may provide a fault signal to the IED. The CMD may be powered via a parasitic current draw on the conductor to which it is mounted. An IED may use a fault signal and/or LOC signal from a CMD to coordinate a high-impedance fault detection and/or downed line events.

Circuit protection devices, power distribution systems, and methods of monitoring circuit protection devices are described. In one example, a method of monitoring a circuit protection device in a zone selective interlocking (ZSI) system includes monitoring a variable associated with operation of the circuit protection device, determining, based at least in part on the monitored variable, when a likelihood of a malfunction of the circuit protection device exceeds a predetermined threshold, and preventing the circuit protection device from outputting a ZSI blocking signal when the likelihood of the malfunction of the circuit protection device exceeds the threshold.

A power restoration system comprising a feeder, a plurality of power sources available to provide power to the feeder, a plurality of normally closed reclosing devices electrically coupled along the feeder, at least one normally open recloser electrically coupled to the feeder, and a plurality of normally closed switches electrically coupled along the feeder between each adjacent pairs of normally closed reclosing devices. Each switch is assigned a position code having a value for each of the plurality of power sources that determines when the switch will open in response to the fault current and which power source the switch is currently receiving power from, where timing control between the reclosing devices and the switches allows the switch to be selectively opened to isolate the fault within a single feeder section between each pair of adjacent switches or between each switch and a reclosing device.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for safe electric power delivery protection within a high-risk area while maintaining electric power availability in non-faulted areas. Fault signals from wireless sensors are used at a recloser to block reclosing onto a faulted high-risk zone. Fault signals from wireless sensors are used at a recloser to permit reclosing when the reclosing operation will not close onto a fault location within the high-risk zone. Portions of the power system may be selectively openable by sectionalizers. When a fault is reported by a wireless sensor as being on a portion of the power system selectively openable, a recloser may be permitted to attempt a reclose operation affecting the high-risk zone and the selectively openable portion.

Electrical fuse element 12 comprising a switchable load path 22 and a switchable fuse path 36, wherein the load path 22 and the fuse path 36 are short-circuited with their respective inputs 14. The load path 22 and the fuse path 36 are in mechanical connection with each other in such a way that an electrical opening of the load path 22 causes an electrical closing of the fuse path 36 and that a melting fuse 38 arranged in the fuse path 36 is triggered at the moment of closing of the fuse path 36.

A microcontroller unit for controlling a three-level inverter including delayed fault protection is provided. The microcontroller unit includes an input port configured to receive a trip signal from a fault detection module, and a plurality of EPWM modules, each configured to control a power switch within the three-level inverter. The microcontroller unit includes an auxiliary EPWM module configured to receive the trip signal and produce a delayed trip signal, and processing circuitry coupled with the input port, the plurality of EPWM modules, and the auxiliary EPWM module. The processing circuitry is configured to, in response to activation of the trip signal, direct one of the plurality of EPWM modules to shut off its corresponding power switch upon activation of the trip signal, and to direct a different one of the plurality of EPWM modules to shut off its corresponding power switch upon activation of the delayed trip signal.

A hybrid circuit breaker includes a semiconductor circuit breaker, connected between a first output end of a converter of a power supply or a source branch and a first end of a damping module; a first mechanical circuit breaker, connected in parallel to the semiconductor circuit breaker, an energy absorber, connected in parallel to the semiconductor circuit breaker, and a controller coupled to the semiconductor circuit breaker and the first mechanical circuit breaker, and when a current flowing through the converter is greater than a safe current, the controller is configured to control the first mechanical circuit breaker to be disconnected, and control the semiconductor circuit breaker to be closed.