Dynamic adaptive overcurrent protection

A method comprising:

• determining, by a computing device comprising at least one processor, based on one or more steady state system parameters that define a state of a power distribution system, a value of a voltage at a protective device in the power distribution system, and a value of a current at the protective device, an estimated minimum fault current for the protective device;
• determining, by the computing device, based on the estimated minimum fault current and a rated load current for the protective device, an adaptive pickup setting for the protective device;
• and
• responsive to determining that an updated value of the current at the protective device exceeds the adaptive pickup setting, causing, by the computing device, the protective device to trip a circuit breaker.

A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a computing device to:

• determine, based on one or more steady state system parameters that define a state of a power distribution system, a value of a voltage at a protective device in the power distribution system, and a value of a current at the protective device, an estimated minimum fault current for the protective device;
• determine, based on the estimated minimum fault current and a rated load current for the protective device, an adaptive pickup setting for the protective device;
• and
• responsive to determining that an updated value of the current at the protective device exceeds the adaptive pickup setting, cause the protective device to trip a circuit breaker.