An art fault mitigator includes a sensor structured to detect at least one of a user within vicinity of the power system protection device, a light within the power system protection device and an overcurrent within the power system protection device; a mechanical switching device including a fast mechanical circuit interrupter and an actuator; a power electronics circuit coupled to the mechanical switching device in parallel and including a current commutator structured to commutate current from the fast mechanical circuit interrupter to the power electronics circuit upon turning OFF of the fast mechanical circuit interrupter, a power electronic circuit interrupter structured to allow the current to ride there-through up to a threshold current, and a current limiter structured to limit the current flowing through the power electronics circuit interrupter; and a controller including a trip control structured to control operations of the mechanical switching device and the power electronics circuit.

An apparatus may include a sensor housing, a light sensor disposed within the sensor housing, the light sensor arranged to generate a detection signal when light impinges on the light sensor, a sensor lens disposed at least partially outside the sensor housing, wherein a distal portion of the sensor lens extends a first distance above the sensor housing, the sensor lens being transparent, wherein light received from outside the sensor housing is transmitted to the light sensor; and a light emitter assembly disposed outside the sensor housing at a second distance above the housing less than the first distance.

A computerized monitoring system and method for detecting electrical equipment failure. The system includes a sensor that detects a sound level representative of ultrasonic emissions radiating from electrical equipment to be monitored. A computer system in communication with the sensor is programmed to determine whether the electrical equipment is experiencing one or more of arcing, tracking, or corona based on the sound level detected by the sensor. In some embodiments, the computer system continuously monitors for these conditions based on the sound level detected by the sensor.

A method of detecting an electric arc in an electrical system from a signal originating from at least one sensor detecting acoustic waves in the system, including: a) calculating by means of a processing device, over a sliding window of signal samples, at least one statistical parameter selected from the skewness and the kurtosis of the signal; b) detecting a possible occurrence of an event by taking into account said at least one statistical parameter; and c) performing a frequency analysis of the signal enabling to identify an electric arc when an event is detected at step b).

A method and associated device for detecting arcs in a photovoltaic system with an inverter and with a plurality of current collector circuits connected in parallel with the inverter via collector lines, wherein a plurality of strings of photovoltaic modules are connected in parallel with each current collector circuit via string lines. The method includes acquiring measured values of electrical variables and analyzing the measured values of the electrical variables for the presence of signs of an arc in the photovoltaic system using an analysis circuit and generating an arc signal which indicates the presence of an arc if the analyzed measured values meet predefined criteria. The method also includes acquiring measured values of acoustic variables using one or more acoustic sensors, and analyzing the measured values of the acoustic variables for the presence of signs of an arc in the photovoltaic system using the analysis circuit.

A method of containing arc faults in a power distribution unit includes in response to a bus bar temperature exceeding a bus bar temperature threshold, thermally opening a conductive element extending between an energizing coil of a contactor, a bus bar, and a controller. The controller is configured to selectively open and close the contactor. The conductive element is electrically connected to the energizing coil of the contactor and the controller. The conductive element is electrically isolated from a power source electrically connected to the first bus bar through the contactor.

The present invention relates to an arc flash detection device for detecting the generation of an arc flash in a power receiving and distributing facility and for generating a trip signal upon the generation of the arc flash, including: optical fiber cables for transmitting an arc flash detection optical signal and receiving an arc flash optical signal converted by the arc flash; a lens part having a reflection element adapted to reflect the arc flash detection optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber cables and the arc flash optical signal converted by the arc flash if the arc flash is generated; and an optical detection part for transmitting the arc flash detection optical signal through the optical fiber cables and comparing the arc flash optical signal received through the lateral periphery of one side optical fiber cable and the arc flash optical signal reflected on the lens part with the arc flash detection optical signal to output an arc flash generation signal as a difference signal between the compared results.

An method for automatically testing an arc flash detection system by periodically or continually transmitting electro-optical (EO) radiation through one or more transmission cables electro-optically coupled to respective EO radiation collectors. A test EO signal may pass through the EO radiation collector to be received by an EO sensor. An attenuation of the EO signal may be determined by comparing the intensity of the transmitted EO signal to an intensity of the received EO signal. A self-test failure may be detected if the attenuation exceeds a threshold. EO signals may be transmitted according to a particular pattern (e.g., a coded signal) to allow an arc flash detection system to distinguish the test EO radiation from EO radiation indicative of an arc flash event.

A system and method for preventing a transformer from catching the fire due to internal faults is provided. The system includes a first set of sensors, a timer connected to the first set of sensors, a first breaker, a set of relays and a controller. The first set of sensors is configured to sense the generation of arc. As soon as the arc is detected, incoming supply to the transformer is isolated and the timer is triggered for a pre-determined time to measure the duration for which the faulty condition is persisting in the transformer. This faulty condition will be sensed through the set of relays. When such an abnormal condition persists for a duration set on the trigger of the system, beyond which the controller issues a signal to isolate the power supply. A method of using the system for preventing fire due to internal faults is also disclosed.

A computerized monitoring system and method for detecting electrical equipment failure. The system includes a sensor that detects a sound level representative of ultrasonic emissions radiating from electrical equipment to be monitored. A computer system in communication with the sensor is programmed to determine whether the electrical equipment is experiencing one or more of arcing, tracking, or corona based on the sound level detected by the sensor. In some embodiments, the computer system continuously monitors for these conditions based on the sound level detected by the sensor.