Centralized fault detection with fault recovery system and method
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorsAndi Jakupi, Chad R. Mittelstadt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system are provided for load or branch circuit recovery from a fault(s) on an electrical system. The method and system energize, at a branch device, a branch circuit after expiry of a predetermined disconnection period of time that was initiated in response to a detected arc fault on the branch circuit. The method and system update a data value representing a number of times an attempt has been made to energize the branch circuit in response to detected arc faults on the branch circuit. Upon determining that the data value satisfies or crosses an attempt threshold, the method and system prevent or delay at the branch device the energizing of the branch circuit.
Claims31
A method of load or branch circuit recovery from a fault(s) on an electrical system, comprising:
- de-energizing an entire branch circuit if two or more branch devices from a plurality of branch devices on a branch circuit detect an arc fault on the branch circuit;
- energizing, at a branch device of the two or more branch devices, the branch circuit after expiry of a predetermined disconnection period of time that was initiated in response to the detected arc fault on the branch circuit;
- updating, using one or more computer processors, a data value representing a number of times an attempt has been made to energize the branch circuit in response to detected arc faults on the branch circuit;
- and
- upon determining that the data value satisfies or crosses an attempt threshold, preventing or delaying at the branch device the energizing of the branch circuit.
A system for load or branch circuit recovery from a fault(s) on an electrical system, comprising:
- a memory;
- a processor(s) configured to perform or control:
- detect, at a branch device or at a central monitoring device on behalf of the branch device, an arc fault on a branch circuit, the branch device being a branch device from a plurality of branch devices on the branch circuit;
- de-energize at the branch device the branch circuit in response to the detected arc fault on the branch circuit, wherein a de-energization or trip response time for performing de-energization or tripping operation at the branch device to de-energize the branch circuit is based on at least a size of or current being drawn by a load(s) connected to the branch circuit via the branch device;
- energize, at the branch device, the branch circuit after expiry of a predetermined disconnection period of time that was initiated in response to the detected arc fault on the branch circuit;
- update a data value representing a number of times an attempt has been made to energize the branch circuit in response to detected arc faults on the branch circuit;
- and
- upon determining that the data value satisfies or crosses an attempt threshold, prevent or delay at the branch device the energizing of the branch circuit.
A system for load or branch circuit recovery from a fault(s) on an electrical system, comprising:
- a memory;
- a processor(s) configured to perform or control:
- de-energize an entire branch circuit if two or more branch devices from a plurality of branch devices on a branch circuit detect an arc fault on the branch circuit;
- energize, at a branch device of the two or more branch devices, the branch circuit after expiry of a predetermined disconnection period of time that was initiated in response to the detected arc fault on the branch circuit;
- update a data value representing a number of times an attempt has been made to energize the branch circuit in response to the detected arc faults on the branch circuit;
- and
- upon determining that the data value satisfies or crosses an attempt threshold, prevent or delay at the branch device the energizing of the branch circuit.
A non-transitory computer medium storing computer executable code, which when executed by one or more processors, is configured to implement a method comprising:
- controlling energizing, at a branch device, a branch circuit after expiry of a predetermined disconnection period of time that was initiated in response to a detected arc fault on the branch circuit;
- detecting a relative location of the detected arc fault along the branch circuit based on a detected presence or absence of an arc fault by other branch devices on the branch circuit;
- updating a data value representing a number of times an attempt has been made to energize the branch circuit in response to detected arc faults on the branch circuit;
- and
- upon determining that the data value satisfies or crosses an attempt threshold, preventing or delaying at the branch device the energizing of the branch circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.