Method and system for controlling a power distribution system

• US 8,032,260 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Valdes, Marcelo, Hill, Theodore D. III, Narel, Radoslaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki; Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US11/290,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,134 Days
• Field of Search: 700/292, 700/286, 700/22, 700/295, 361/42, 361/114, 361/3, 361/102, 361/116, 324/511, 714113-717
• US Class Current: 700/293
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/006 Provisions for user interfaces for electrical protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0061 concerning transmission of signals transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection

Abstract

A method and system for a power distribution system are provided. The method includes determining at a central controller normal mode configuration settings for a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system and determining at the central controller alternate mode configuration settings for the plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system. The method further includes controlling with the central controller the operation of the plurality of circuit breakers based on the normal mode configuration settings and the alternate mode configuration settings.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a power distribution system, said method comprising:

defining at a central controller at least one normal mode configuration setting for at least one of a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system;

defining at the central controller at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system, wherein the at least one alternate mode configuration setting includes a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting;

selecting with the central controller one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event; and

automatically operating the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using said one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting, wherein the at least one normal mode configuration setting provides that, upon a trip condition, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers trips after a normal mode tripping delay, and wherein the RELT mode setting provides that, upon a trip condition, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers trips faster than the normal mode tripping delay.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising communicating with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using the central controller associated with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving at the central controller an indication of the at least one event, and wherein the at least one event includes a predetermined RELT condition from a sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, proximity sensor, door switch, maintenance switch, input from a programmable logic controller (PLC), and an auxiliary contact on a motor starter.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the RELT mode setting defines a RELT mode tripping delay, and and wherein the normal mode tripping delay is longer than the RELT mode tripping delay.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising defining a trigger point according to a sensed condition such that the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is used to control the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers associated with the trigger point.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input, at a user interface of the central controller, to modify one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one alternate mode configuration setting comprises at least one of instantaneous switching settings, short time switching settings, and ground fault switching settings.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising automatically controlling the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on predetermined criteria at the central controller.

10. A controller for a power distribution system, said controller comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system; and

a processor configured to;

select one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event, the at least one normal mode configuration setting defining a normal mode tripping delay, wherein the alternate mode configuration setting is a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode configuration setting;

automatically operate the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using the selected one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting; and

upon a trip condition, in the event the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is selected, trip the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers faster than the normal mode tripping delay.

11. The controller in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a user interface configured to receive user modifications to at least one of the at least one normal mode setting and the RELT mode configuration setting.

12. A method for controlling a power distribution system including a plurality of circuit breakers, said method comprising:

selecting, with a central controller, one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event, the at least one normal mode configuration setting defining a normal mode tripping delay, the at least one alternate mode configuration setting including a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting; and

upon a trip condition, in the event the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is selected, automatically tripping, with the central controller, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers faster than the normal mode tripping delay.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the RELT mode setting defines a RELT mode tripping delay.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the normal mode tripping delay is longer than the RELT mode tripping delay.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the RELT mode setting defines an instantaneous switching setting.

16. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the at least one event comprises a condition of a sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, proximity sensor, door switch, maintenance switch, input from a programmable logic controller (PLC), and an auxiliary contact on a motor starter.

18. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising receiving a user input, at a user interface of the central controller, to modify at least one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting.