In aspects of the present disclosure, a circuit interrupter includes a housing, a conductive path, a switch which selectively interrupts the conductive path, sensor(s), memory, and a controller within the housing. The sensor(s) measure electrical characteristic(s) of the conductive path. The memory stores an arc detection program that implements a machine learning model and includes a field-updatable program portion and a non-field-updatable program portion, where the field-updatable program portion includes program parameters used by the non-field-updatable program portion to decide between presence or absence of an arc fault. The controller executes the arc detection program to compute input data for the machine learning model based on the sensor measurements, decide between presence of an arc event or absence of an arc event based on the input data, and cause the switch to interrupt the conductive path when the decision indicates presence of an arc event.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for high-speed falling conductor protection in electric distribution systems. An example method may include calculating, by a processor, at a first time, and for each phase, one or more first impedance values associated with one or more terminals of a transmission line. The example method may also include calculating, by the processor, at a second time, and for each phase, one or more second impedance values associated with the one or more terminals. The example method may also include determining, by the processor, that a rate of change of an impedance of the one or more terminals is greater than a threshold rate of change. The example method may also include determining, by the processor and based on the determination that the rate of change of the one or more terminals is greater than the threshold rate of change, that the transmission line has broken. The example method may also include sending, by the processor and based on the determination that the transmission line has broken, a signal to de-energize the transmission line before a broken conductor reaches a ground surface.

A protection circuit is disclosed. The protection circuit includes a direct current (DC) blocking component electrically connected between a neutral of the transformer and a ground, and an overvoltage protection device electrically connected in parallel with the DC blocking component. The overvoltage protection device is constructed to repeatably and reliably provide overvoltage protection in response to a voltage at the transformer neutral above a threshold. The DC blocking component has an impedance below a predetermined value, thereby effectively grounding the neutral of the transformer. The DC blocking component is persistently maintained in connection to the transformer neutral.

A method and system are provided for transferring a load between a primary power source and a secondary power source. In accordance with the disclosure, a controller senses, via a sensor, an electrical signal providing power from the primary power source to the load. The controller also detects a non-conforming power event by determining that a parameter of the electrical signal is either more or less than a first threshold value. Responsive to the detection of the non-conforming power event, the controller determines a quantity of non-conforming power events that occur during a first time interval. The controller further can compares the determined quantity of non-conforming power events to a second threshold value. Responsive to the determined quantity of non-conforming power events being either greater or lesser than the second threshold value, the controller initiates a control signal, such as a control signal to initiate a load transfer.

A method and system are provided for transferring a load between a primary power source and a secondary power source. In accordance with the disclosure, a controller senses, via a sensor, an electrical signal providing power from the primary power source to the load. The controller also detects a non-conforming power event by determining that a parameter of the electrical signal is either more or less than a first threshold value. Responsive to the detection of the non-conforming power event, the controller determines a quantity of non-conforming power events that occur during a first time interval. The controller further can compares the determined quantity of non-conforming power events to a second threshold value. Responsive to the determined quantity of non-conforming power events being either greater or lesser than the second threshold value, the controller initiates a control signal, such as a control signal to initiate a load transfer.

A conductor-mounted device (CMD) used to signal an intelligent electronic device (IED) of the existence of a fault on a portion of the electric power delivery system is described herein. The CMD may provide a heartbeat signal to the IED. The CMD may provide a fault signal to the IED. The CMD may be powered via a parasitic current draw on the conductor to which it is mounted. An IED may use a fault signal and/or LOC signal from a CMD to coordinate a high-impedance fault detection and/or downed line events.

A conductor-mounted device (CMD) used to signal an intelligent electronic device (IED) of the existence of a fault on a portion of the electric power delivery system is described herein. The CMD may provide a heartbeat signal to the IED. The CMD may provide a fault signal to the IED. The CMD may be powered via a parasitic current draw on the conductor to which it is mounted. An IED may use a fault signal and/or LOC signal from a CMD to coordinate a high-impedance fault detection and/or downed line events.

In a method for detection of an arc in a current path of a converter arrangement (2) for converting a DC input power to an output power, an arc is detected by sensing the current (4) in the current path by means of a current transformer (11), filtering the current signal (4′) with an analog band pass filter (14), converting the analog filtered current signal (4″) into a digital current signal (4′″), determining the harmonic content (19) of the digital current signal (4′″) and then deciding whether an arc exists if the harmonic content (19) exceeds a threshold, where the threshold is determined at the beginning as a multiple of the average harmonic content during a certain period of time of the current signal.

The present invention relates to a system for distributing electrical energy, comprising an electricity grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage.

The present invention relates to a system for distributing electrical energy, comprising an electricity grid configured to supply electrical energy to end users, characterized in that the grid is operated on a direct voltage.