An integrated component for protecting against temporary power surges comprises a first conductive lead and a second conductive lead, each of which mounted on an electrical circuit; a gas discharge tube; a thermally protected varistor and a thermal fuse. The thermally protected varistor comprises a varistor body, a first varistor electrode and a second varistor electrode that are positioned on either side of the varistor body. The varistor body rises in temperature when the voltage imposed between the first and the second varistor electrodes exceeds a voltage threshold. An electrical connection is made via the thermal fuse.

A detection scheme for temporary overvoltages and/or ground fault overvoltages in electric power systems is described. Current passing through a surge arrestor component of the power system is monitored. An algorithm for identifying one or more frequency components of the measured current signal is performed to screen out unwanted harmonics. In some embodiments, this is a frequency domain analysis. The frequency component(s) of the current signal is then compared to a calculated pickup current or pickup voltage of the system to determine if system protection steps should be undertaken.

A transient voltage suppressor (TVS) can include an input line, a return line, and a plurality of TVS diodes disposed in series between the input line and the return line. The TVS can include a switch assembly operatively connected to the plurality of TVS diodes and configured to bypass at least one of the plurality of TVS diodes to allow a remainder of the plurality of TVS diodes to be tested at a voltage that is lower than if the switch assembly were not employed.

An overvoltage absorption circuit and a single-phase HERIC topology are provided. The overvoltage absorption circuit is applicable to the single-phase HERIC topology, and includes a clamping capacitor, an absorption resistor, a first diode, and a second diode. One terminal of the clamping capacitor and one terminal of the absorption resistor are each connected to collectors of two cross transistors in the single-phase HERIC topology. The other terminal of the clamping capacitor and the other terminal of the absorption resistor are each connected to the anodes of the first diode and the second diode. The cathode of the first diode is connected to the emitter of one of the two cross transistors. The cathode of the second diode is connected to the emitter of the other of the two cross transistors.

Transient overvoltage suppression is provided by discharging through a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) and Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) which are connected in series between power supply lines. The SCR has a gate that receives a trigger signal generated by a triggering circuit coupled to the power supply lines. A trigger voltage of the triggering circuit is set by a Transil avalanche diode.

In an electrical circuit arrangement, which is formed by an RC-snubber element monolithically integrated into a semiconductor substrate, a first capacitor and a resistor of the RC-snubber element are vertically formed in a semiconductor region of a first type of doping of the semiconductor substrate. At least one further capacitor is connected in series with the first capacitor. The further capacitor is integrated laterally with the first capacitor in a semiconductor region of a second type of doping, which adjoins the semiconductor region of the first type of doping, and by virtue of the different type of doping electrically insulates the further capacitor from the semiconductor region of the first type of doping. This circuit arrangement forms a low inductance RC-snubber element with high dielectric strength, which has high heat dissipation and integration density.

A lightning protection apparatus disposed in a photovoltaic power generation system includes first lightning protection units in a one-to-one correspondence with phase lines at a to-be-protected location in the photovoltaic power generation system and a second lightning protection unit connected in series to the first lightning protection units. A first terminal of each first lightning protection unit is connected to a corresponding to-be-protected phase line, and a second terminal of each first lightning protection unit is connected to a first terminal of the second lightning protection unit. A second terminal of the second lightning protection unit is connected to an earth wire. The second lightning protection unit includes at least one gas discharge tube.

A method for reducing and/or managing energy-related stress in an electrical system includes processing electrical measurement data from or derived from energy-related signals captured by at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) in the electrical system to identify and track at least one energy-related transient in the electrical system. An impact of the at least one energy-related transient on equipment in the electrical system is quantified, and one or more transient-related alarms are generated in response to the impact of the at least one energy-related transient being near, within or above a predetermined range of the stress tolerance of the equipment. The transient-related alarms are prioritized based in part on at least one of the stress tolerance of the equipment, the stress associated with one or more transient events, and accumulated energy-related stress on the equipment. One or more actions are taken in the electrical system in response to the transient-related alarms to reduce energy-related stress on the equipment in the electrical system.

A method for reducing and/or managing energy-related stress in an electrical system includes processing electrical measurement data from or derived from energy-related signals captured by at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) in the electrical system to identify and track at least one energy-related transient in the electrical system. An impact of the at least one energy-related transient on equipment in the electrical system is quantified, and one or more transient-related alarms are generated in response to the impact of the at least one energy-related transient being near, within or above a predetermined range of the stress tolerance of the equipment. The transient-related alarms are prioritized based in part on at least one of the stress tolerance of the equipment, the stress associated with one or more transient events, and accumulated energy-related stress on the equipment. One or more actions are taken in the electrical system in response to the transient-related alarms to reduce energy-related stress on the equipment in the electrical system.

An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.