Network protector for secondary distribution network that includes distributed energy resources
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsHossein Ghassempour Aghamolki, Swaroop Gajare, Amal Thomas, Amit Govind Kolge
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Abstract
A network protector includes a resettable switching apparatus configured to electrically connect to a low-voltage feeder of a secondary distribution network; a switch control configured to control a state of the resettable switching apparatus to thereby determine whether electrical current flows through the switching apparatus; and a controller configured to: determine whether a fault condition exists; and if a fault condition does not exist, allow electrical power to flow through the resettable switching apparatus in any direction.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a network protector comprising:
- a resettable switching apparatus configured to control an electrical connection between a distribution transformer and a first electrical feeder of a secondary electrical distribution network, the secondary distribution network electrically connected to one or more distributed energy resources (DERs);
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine, after a test signal is provided to the secondary electrical distribution network, whether the secondary electrical distribution network has a radial structure or a mesh structure;
- if the secondary electrical distribution network has a radial structure, control the resettable switching apparatus to open and disconnect the distribution transformer from the first electrical feeder of the secondary electrical distribution network;
- and
- if the secondary electrical distribution network has a mesh structure, control the resettable switching apparatus such that the distribution transformer and the first electrical feeder are connected to thereby allow one or more of the DERs to provide electrical power to the secondary electrical distribution network.
A network protector comprising:
- a resettable switching apparatus configured to electrically connect to a low-voltage feeder of a secondary distribution network;
- a switch control configured to control a state of the resettable switching apparatus to thereby determine whether electrical current flows through the switching apparatus;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine whether a fault condition exists;
- and
- if a fault condition does not exist, allow electrical power to flow through the resettable switching apparatus in any direction.
A method of operating a network protector, the method comprising:
- detecting reverse power flow from a load toward a source on a low-voltage electrical feeder of a secondary electrical distribution network;
- causing a test signal to be provided to the low-voltage electrical feeder of the secondary electrical distribution network;
- analyzing a response of the secondary electrical distribution system to the test signal;
- and
- determining whether to allow the reverse power to flow based on the analysis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.