A chip-level software and hardware cooperative relay protection device is provided. The device includes: a control chip, wherein a first control unit, a second control unit, and multiple logic circuits are integrated on the control chip; and the logic circuits perform microsecond-level rapid calculation on electrical signals of a protected electrical device, obtain fault feature parameters of the protected electrical device are and transmit same to the first control unit, then perform millisecond-level real-time protection logic determination according to the fault feature parameters of the protected electrical device to obtain relay protection results of the protected electrical device, and protect the protected electrical device by controlling an external relay according to the relay protection results. When the first control unit protects the protected electrical device, the second control unit performs second-level quasi-real-time management communication function processing on operation data generated by the first control unit and the logic circuits.

Safety power disconnection for remote power distribution in power distribution systems is disclosed. The power distribution system includes one or more power distribution circuits each configured to remotely distribute power from a power source over current carrying power conductors to remote units to provide power for remote unit operations. A remote unit is configured to decouple power from the power conductors thereby disconnecting the load of the remote unit from the power distribution system. A current measurement circuit in the power distribution system measures current flowing on the power conductors and provides a current measurement to the controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to disconnect the power source from the power conductors for safety reasons in response to detecting a current from the power source in excess of a threshold current level indicating a load.

A circuit protection device for an electrical distribution system includes a trip unit, a network interface, a processor, and a memory device. The trip unit is configured to selectively trip to prevent a flow of electrical current through the circuit protection device. The network interface is configured for communicative coupling to a communication network. The memory device stories instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit, using the network interface, zones selective interlocking (ZSI) data to another circuit protection device coupled to the communication network. The ZSI data is formatted according to a network communication protocol of the communication network.

Fault detection, isolation and restoration systems for electric power systems using smart switch points that autonomously coordinate operations to minimize the number of customers affected by outages and their durations, without relying on communications with a central controller or between the smart switch points. Each smart recloser can be individually programmed to operate as a tie-switch, a Type-A (normal or default type) sectionalizer, or a Type-B (special type) sectionalizer. The Type-A recloser automatically opens when it detects a fault, uses a direction-to-fault and zone-based distance-to-fault operating protocol, and stays as is with no automatic opening when power (voltage) is lost on both sides of the switch. The Type-B sectionalizer does the same thing and is further configured to automatically open when it detects that it is deenergized on both sides for a pre-defined time period, and to operate like a tie-switch once open.

Electric power Fault detection, isolation and restoration (FDIR) systems using smart switches that autonomously coordinate operations to minimize the number of customers affected by outages and their durations, without relying on communications with a central controller or between the smart switch points. The smart switches typically operate during the substation breaker reclose cycles while the substation breakers are open, which enables the substation breakers to reclose successfully to restore service within their normal reclosing cycles. Alternatively, the smart switch may be timed to operate before the substation breakers trip to effectively remove the substation breakers from the fault isolation process. Both approaches allow the FDIR system to be installed with minimal reconfiguration of the substation protection scheme.

A power distribution system for a vehicle includes a plurality of switching devices arranged in a circuit to selectively control power flow between a plurality of buses operating within a same voltage range. The power distribution system further includes a controller programmed to, in response to the switching devices being in a state to transfer power between the buses and a current flowing through one of the buses exceeding a predetermined current, operate the switching devices to isolate the buses.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for protecting an electrical power system connected to a power grid. The electrical power system includes at least one cluster of electrical power subsystems. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. The converter power path includes a partial power transformer. The electrical power system further includes a subsystem switch configured with each of the electrical power subsystems and a cluster transformer connecting each cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. A cluster switch is configured with the cluster transformer. A controller is communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems. Thus, the controller monitors the electrical power system for faults, and if a fault is detected in the cluster, sends, via one of the subsystem switches or the power converters, a block signal to the cluster switch.

A method is for locating a ground fault in a DC system to which a plurality of load zones can be connected. The method includes specifying a time window and, after the ground fault is detected, assigning the ground fault to a load zone which was connected to the DC system within the time window before the detection of the ground fault.

A method for fault positioning and recovery of a voltage source converter includes following steps. Locking a converter station when it is detected that an alternating-current voltage contains a zero sequence voltage or a direct-current voltage contains an unbalanced voltage. Positioning a fault by continuing to detect the zero sequence voltage of an alternating-current side of the converter. Recovering operation of each station after the fault is positioned. The method for fault positioning and recovery is simple, practical, has high reliability, and can effectively detect the problems that each station contains a zero sequence voltage of an alternating-current side and cannot easily position a fault caused due to transmission of the zero sequence voltage of the alternating-current side to an opposite-side alternating-current system via a voltage source converter.

An electrical system includes first, second and third busses; a first interrupter electrically connected between the first and second busses; at least one of a shorting apparatus operatively associated with the first or second bus, and the first interrupter comprising a trip coil; a current sensor to sense a fault current flowing in the first bus and responsively output a first signal; a number of light sensors to sense an arc flash operatively associated with a number of the first, second or third busses and responsively output a second signal; a second interrupter electrically connected between the second and third power busses and output a third signal; and a circuit to invert the third signal to provide a fourth signal, and to operate the at least one of the shorting apparatus and the trip coil responsive to an AND of the first, second and fourth signals.