A solar power generation network shut-off unit includes a first circuit breaker and second circuit breakers. The first circuit breaker is provided to a power line connecting a plurality of solar power generation modules and a power conditioner in series, and shut-off the supply of power from the solar power generation modules through the power line and transmits an emergency shut-off signal when an emergency shut-off button is pressed. The second circuit breakers are provided to each of a plurality of solar power generation modules, and shut-off the supply of power from the plurality of solar power generation modules through the power line and transmit a shut-off completion signal to the first circuit breaker when an emergency shut-off signal is received from the first circuit breaker.

A method for protecting at least a part of a network segment of an electrical power distribution network has: detecting voltage dips at the intermediate feeding devices of the line arrangements by the voltage dip detection devices; generating and feeding an electrical signal into the line arrangement by the signal generating device at each intermediate feeding device at which one of the voltage dips is detected, the electrical signals having frequencies different from a network frequency of the network segment; receiving the electrical signals via the line arrangements by the receiving devices of the line protection devices; detecting electrical faults on the line arrangement using the electrical signals received by the triggering device of the respective line protection device; and triggering the disconnecting device of the line protection device of the line arrangement, where an electric fault is detected, by the triggering device so that the line arrangement is electrically disconnected from the further element.

The present disclosure relates to a recloser control that provides autosynchronization of a microgrid to an area electric power system (EPS). For example, a recloser control may include an output connector that is communicatively coupled to a recloser at a point of common coupling (PCC) between the area EPS and the microgrid. The recloser control may include a processor that acquires a first set of measurements indicating electrical characteristics of the area EPS and acquires a second set of measurements indicating electrical characteristics of the microgrid. The recloser control may send synchronization signals to one or more distributed energy resource (DER) controllers to synchronize one or more DERs to the area EPS based on the first set of measurements and the second set of measurements.

A solar power generation network shut-off unit comprises a first circuit breaker and second circuit breakers. The first circuit breaker is provided to a power line connecting a plurality of solar power generation modules and a power conditioner in series. When an emergency shut-off button is pressed, the supply of power from the solar power generation modules through the power line is shut-off, and an emergency shut-off signal is transmitted. The second circuit breakers are provided to each of a plurality of solar power generation modules, and when an emergency shut-off signal is received from the first circuit breaker, the supply of power from the plurality of solar power generation modules through the power line is shut-off.

A system and method for allowing islanding in an underground power distribution network when power is lost to the network. The network includes transformers having source side and load side switching devices and servicing a transformer section. The method includes detecting loss of voltage to the network, opening the source side and the load side switching devices in all of the transformers and allowing distributed power generation sources in the sections serviced by the transformers to provide power to the section. The method also includes closing one or both of the source side switching device and the load side switching device of a transformer that services a section that has power generation sources providing excess power, and closing a source side switching device or a load side switching device in an adjacent transformer to the transformer section providing excess power to provide power to the adjacent section.

A system and method for controlling an operation of devices in a power distribution network. The method determines that there is a power loss in the network as a result of a fault and one or more teams is not receiving power and performs a switching process in switching devices to prevent fault current from flowing to the fault. The method initiates a power restoration process to control the open and closed status of switching devices to isolate the fault and performs the power restoration process by the leader device in a division that the fault is occurring that includes opening and closing switching devices so that power is provided to all of the teams except the team that the fault is in. The method reconfigures the divisions based on which switching devices are now open and selects new leader devices based on the reconfiguration of the divisions.

A system and method for restoring power in a power distribution network. The network includes at least two power sources, at least one feeder and a plurality of switching devices positioned along the at least one feeder and being in communications with each other. The method determines that one or more of network sections is not receiving power, and determining a plurality of possible power restoration solutions that identify what sections each of the power sources that are available to provide power can provide power to based on a power capacity of the sources and a load requirement of the sections. The method applies predetermined selection criteria to the plurality of possible solutions to determine which of the possible solutions will be used as an actual solution, and selectively switches the switching devices between open and closed states to apply the actual solution.

A system and method for restoring power in a closed-loop power distribution network. The network includes at least two power sources, at least one feeder and a plurality of switching devices positioned along the at least one feeder and being in communications with each other. The method performs a radial restoration process for restoring power and then determines that at least one of the sections is not receiving power after the radial restoration process has been performed. The method estimates power flow through each switching device and determines an available power capacity from each switching device. The method then determines if the unpowered sections can be powered by any of their neighbor and non-neighbor devices. The method virtually closes the switching devices to power the unpowered sections and updates the estimation of power flow through each switching device and determination of available power capacity from each switching device.

A fault interrupting 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 vacuum interrupter having a fixed terminal and a movable terminal, where the fixed terminal is electrically coupled to a transformer interface and the movable terminal is electrically coupled to a connector interface. A control rod is coupled to the movable terminal and an actuator assembly is coupled to the control rod and is operable to move the control rod to open and close the vacuum interrupter. An electronics assembly electrically is coupled to the movable terminal, and includes a high voltage capacitor and an energy storage capacitor, where the high voltage capacitor provides power to operate the actuator when the vacuum interrupter is open and the energy storage capacitor provides power to the electronics assembly when the vacuum interrupter is closed.

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.