H02H7/222

Control and operation of power distribution system
11710960 · 2023-07-25 · ·

Provided herein is a power distribution system comprising a main power bus, sub-buses coupled to the main power bus, and a controller. The sub-buses provide power to electrical components of a vehicle. Each of the sub-buses includes an electrically programmable fuse in series with a relay. The controller is configured to detect a fault in a sub-bus of the sub-buses, determine a fault type associated with the fault, and in response to determining the fault type, generate a command to cause the relay to change a relay state.

Electronic fuse for a power supply
11569653 · 2023-01-31 · ·

An electronic fuse for a power supply includes at least two switching elements and a regulation unit, wherein a first switching element is arranged in a main branch, where the regulation unit is switches off the first switching element when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded by a prevailing current value, and a second switching element that is also actuated by the regulation unit, which is arranged in an auxiliary branch parallel to the first switching element and assumes a substantial proportion of a resulting power loss when an overload occurs, and the second switching element, which is arranged in at least one auxiliary branch, is configured or optimized for linear operation, and where the at least two switching elements are configured such that the line resistance of the second switching element is at least twice the line resistance of the first switching element.

Thermal capacity control for relative temperature-based thermal shutdown

A device includes a relative temperature detector configured to determine a temperature difference between a device temperature sensed near a switch device and an ambient temperature sensed outside the switch device. The relative temperature detector is configured to generate a relative temperature output signal based on comparing the temperature difference to a relative temperature threshold. A power detector is configured to generate a power level signal based on comparing an indication of switch power of the switch device to a power threshold. The power level signal specifies whether the indication of switch power is above or below the power threshold. A thermal capacity control is configured to disable the switch device based on the power level signal specifying that the indication of switch power is above the power threshold and based on the relative temperature output signal indicating the temperature difference is above the relative temperature threshold.

Circuit for protecting a switch

The present invention relates to a circuit for protecting a switch of an electrical system, said protecting circuit comprising a variable electronic component having a physical characteristic the value of which varies by at least 10% as a function of temperature, the protecting circuit being configured to prohibit a current from passing through said switch when the intensity of said current exceeds a maximum allowed intensity threshold, said variable electronic component being connected in the protecting circuit such that the value of the maximum allowed intensity threshold is directly a function of said physical characteristic.

Time-Admittance Fault Detection and Isolation System
20220376491 · 2022-11-24 ·

A time-admittance fault detection and isolation system includes a series of time-admittance switches spaced apart along the power line, each including a respective time-admittance function. Together, the time-admittance functions define a cascade trip sequence in a downstream-to-upstream direction, which autonomously causes a closest upstream time-admittance switch to a fault to trip to isolate the fault on an upstream side of the fault without communication with the time-admittance switches. The fault detection and isolation system may also include a radio communicating a trip signal from the closest upstream time-admittance switch to the fault to a closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault. The trip signal causes the closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault to trip to isolate the fault on a downstream side of the fault. A tie switch closes to back-feed a portion of the electric power line downstream from the closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault.

Error Detecting Method of Charging Switch Unit and Battery System Using the Same
20220368148 · 2022-11-17 · ·

An error detecting method of a charging switch unit including a first charging switch and a second charging switch connected to a charging line of a battery, including: first switching one of the first charging switch and the second charging switch according to a switch control command; determining whether voltages at opposite ends of the second charging switch are similar when the switch control command indicates open and the first charging switch is opened first; determining that the first charging switch is normal when the voltages at the opposite ends of the second charging switch are similar; determining whether the voltages at the opposite ends of the first charging switch are similar when the switch control command indicates closed and the first charging switch is closed first; and determining that the first charging switch is normal when the voltages at the opposite ends of the first charging switch are similar.

Switchgear arrestor system with isolators
11502503 · 2022-11-15 ·

A switch gear system is described. In some implementations, a switch gear arrestor system can include a switch gear and one or more arrestors mounted on a non-conductive insulated bar. The one or more arrestors can be connected to one or more isolators through a respective aperture in the non-conductive insulated bar. Each arrestor can be connected to one of the one or more electrical energy sources at a first end and can be connected to one of the one or more isolators at a second end. The switch gear arrestor system can further include one or more ground leads. Each ground lead can connect one of the one or more isolators to a conductive grounding bar.

POWER SWITCH REVERSE CURRENT PROTECTION SYSTEMS

One example described herein includes a power switch control system. The system includes a first monitoring terminal coupled to a first terminal of a power transistor and a second monitoring terminal coupled to a second terminal of the power transistor. The power transistor and the power switch control system can form an ideal diode between the first monitoring terminal arranged as an anode and the second monitoring terminal arranged as a cathode. The system further includes a reverse current controller coupled to the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal and is configured to control activation of the power transistor to conduct a reverse current from the second monitoring terminal to the first monitoring terminal in response to a reverse voltage arranged as a cathode voltage at the second monitoring terminal being greater than an anode voltage at the first monitoring terminal.

POWER CONVERTER
20230033392 · 2023-02-02 · ·

To provide a power converter which can detect occurrence of excess current in early stage without providing a blanking time when the detection of excess current is not performed after the turn on of the switching device, and which can protect the power converter. A power converter includes a time change detection circuit that outputs a detection signal according to a time change rate of a main voltage; an excess current determination circuit that generates an excess current occurrence signal of normal current state when the detection signal is less than a first threshold value, and generates the excess current occurrence signal of excess current state when the detection signal is not less than the first threshold value; and a driving circuit that generates the driving voltage of OFF state when the drive command signal is ON state and the excess current occurrence signal is excess current state.

Fuse clearing apparatus for medium-voltage substation applications

An apparatus includes at least one fuse clearing switch operable to create a fault on at least one AC line between a fuse and a transformer of a substation. The apparatus further includes a control system configured to be coupled to an arc detector and to operate the at least one fuse clearing switch responsive to a control signal produced by the arc detector.