A switching device that is part of a transformer in an underground residential power distribution circuit and provides fault isolation and restoration. The switching device includes a transformer interface for coupling the device to the transformer and a connector interface for coupling the device to a connector. The device also includes a vacuum interrupter having a fixed terminal and a movable terminal, where the fixed terminal is electrically coupled to the connector interface and the movable terminal is electrically coupled to the transformer interface. A control rod is coupled to the movable terminal, an actuator assembly is coupled to the control rod and is operable to move the control rod to open and close the vacuum interrupter. A capacitor is electrically coupled to the fixed terminal, and provides an interface for power line communications signals, voltage sensing, help determine power flow direction and help determine the distance to a fault.

A switch assembly that is part of a transformer in an underground residential power distribution circuit and that provides fault isolation and restoration. The switch assembly includes first and second switching devices each having an outer housing, a transformer interface electrically coupled to the transformer, a connector interface electrically coupled to a first connector and a first vacuum interrupter having a fixed contact and a movable contact, where the fixed contact is electrically coupled to the connector interface and the movable contact is electrically coupled to the transformer interface. A control board controls the first and second switching devices, where the control board is responsive to voltage signals from capacitors in the first and second switching devices.

A method for isolating a fault in an underground power distribution network. The network includes a power line, a plurality of transformers electrically coupled to and positioned along the power line, a first recloser connected to one end of the power line and a second recloser connected to an opposite end of the power line, where each transformer includes an upstream switching device and a downstream switching device, and where power is provided to both ends of the power line through the first and second reclosers and one of the switching devices is a normally open switching device. The method includes detecting overcurrent by some of the switching devices, detecting loss of voltage by some of the switching devices and sending clear to close messages to some of the switching devices to open and close certain ones of the switching devices to isolate the fault.

In a method and system, voltage and/or current signals on an electrical/power system is monitored. A power event is identified from the monitored voltage and/or current signals. In response to event identification, waveforms of the monitored voltage and/or current signals are captured. Energy-related signals are calculated and extracted from pre-event measurements, event measurements and post-event measurements using the captured waveforms. Additional information associated with the event is identified and calculated by comparing (a) the calculated and used energy-related signals from pre-event measurements, with (b) the calculated and used energy-related signals from post-event measurements.

A system includes an electrical apparatus configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of an electrical power distribution network; and a control system including more than one electronic processor, where the electronic processors are configured to cause the control system to interact with the electrical apparatus, an interaction between the control system and the electrical apparatus including one or more of the control system providing information to the electrical apparatus and the control system receiving information from the electrical apparatus, and if some of the electronic processors are unable to cause the control system to interact with the electrical apparatus, at least one of the other electronic processors is able to cause the control system to interact with the apparatus.

In a method and system, voltage and/or current signals on an electrical/power system is monitored. A power event is identified from the monitored voltage and/or current signals. In response to event identification, waveforms of the monitored voltage and/or current signals are captured. Energy-related signals are calculated and extracted from pre-event measurements, event measurements and post-event measurements using the captured waveforms. Additional information associated with the event is identified and calculated by comparing (a) the calculated and used energy-related signals from pre-event measurements, with (b) the calculated and used energy-related signals from post-event measurements.

A method for managing smart alarms in an electrical system includes processing electrical measurement data from or derived from energy-related signals captured or derived by at least one intelligent electronic device of a monitoring and control system to identify at least one of power events in the electrical system, or alarms triggered in response to any identified power events. Information related to the identified power events and the identified alarms may be aggregated, and relevant event and/or alarm management groups and/or relevant event and/or alarm periods may be identified from the aggregated information. One or more actions may be triggered, avoided or avoid triggering in response to the identified event management groups and/or the identified event and/or alarm periods. Systems for managing smart alarms are also provided herein.

In an embodiment, a power distribution automation applications network includes multiple intelligent nodes in communication with each other, each having a hardware and software platform, with data processing and communications functionality. The intelligent nodes are integrated or embedded with grid components. The nodes each implement a part or whole of a grid operating system that includes a set of software applications for automated and supervisory monitoring, control, protection, and optimization of an electric power system with embedded distributed energy resources and distributed information resources. The grid operating system both manages the grid and facilitates the integration of distributed energy resources and distributed information resources in an electric power 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.

Embodiments of present disclosure relates to a modular interconnection device (MID) and an electrical network system. The MID comprises a modular port assembly, a node, a converter and a local controller. The modular port assembly is configured to transmit alternating current and/or direct current. The node is coupled to an AC source via a first switch and the modular port assembly. The first switch is configured to selectively disconnect the modular interconnection device from the AC source. The converter is coupled to the node via a second switch and coupled to a DC source via a third switch. The converter is configured to convert the AC current into DC current or convert DC current into AC current. The local controller is coupled to the first, second and third switches and configured to control operation of the first, second and third switches.