Adaptive light detection for arc mitigation systems
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorsBarry Rodgers, Henry Patrick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller-based detection system configured to adaptively learn to distinguish between detected light that is indicative of an arc fault event and detected light that is not related to an arc fault event. In particular, the detection system is configured to observe the electrical power system as it is operated under various conditions to induce light events that are unrelated to arc fault events. Using the observed information about the light events that are unrelated to arc fault events, the detection system determines one or more detection algorithms. During normal operation of the electrical power system, the adaptively determined one or more detection algorithms are utilized to identify arc fault events in the electrical power system.
Claims22
An arc fault protection system for an electrical power system, the arc fault protection system comprising:
- a light sensor configured to detect a first visible light event and generate a first light signal indicative of the detected first visible light event, the first visible light event being a non-arc fault event triggered via operation of the system, the light sensor further configured to detect a second light visible event and generate a second light signal indicative of the detected second visible light event;
- a controller in communication with the light sensor, the controller being configured to:
- receive and process the first light signal to determine an arc detection algorithm,
- receive and process the second light signal to determine whether the second light signal is indicative of an arc fault event using the arc detection algorithm, and
- generate an arc fault signal in response to the controller determining that the second light signal is indicative of an arc fault event;
- and
- a protection device in communication with the controller, the protection device being configured to mitigate the arc fault event in response to the protection device receiving the arc fault signal from the controller.
A method for adaptively identifying an arc fault event in an electrical power system, the method comprising:
- operating the electrical power system to generate a first visible light event triggered by a non-arc fault event;
- detecting the first visible light event with a light sensor;
- generating a first light signal indicative of the detected first visible light event;
- processing, using a controller, the first light signal to determine an arc fault criterion;
- operating the electrical power system to generate a second visible light event;
- detecting the second visible light event with the light sensor;
- generating a second light signal indicative of the second visible light event;
- processing the second light signal to determine a characteristic of the second light signal;
- and
- comparing the characteristic to the arc fault criterion to determine whether the second light signal is indicative of an arc fault event.
An arc fault protection system for an electrical power system, the arc fault protection system comprising:
- a light sensor configured to detect a first light event and generate a first light signal indicative of the detected first light event, the first light event being a non-arc fault event, the light sensor further configured to detect a second light event and generate a second light signal indicative of the detected second light event;
- a controller in communication with the light sensor, the controller being configured to:
- determine an arc detection algorithm based on the first light signal,
- verify the arc detection algorithm based on an induced non-arc fault light event, the verification including an error signal that is generated if the induced non-arc fault light event is determined to be an arc fault light event based on the arc detection algorithm;
- and
- determine whether the second light signal is indicative of the arc fault event based on the arc detection algorithm and generate a fault signal if the controller determines that the second signal is indicative of the arc fault event;
- and
- a protection device in communication with the controller, the protection device being configured to mitigate the arc fault event in response to the protection device receiving the fault signal from the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.