Protection techniques for an electric power system

A method, comprising:

• operating an electrical power system including a power generation subsystem comprising a generator and generator control circuitry, and a transfer switch with a first input coupled to the generator by conductors, and a second input electrically coupled to a power source, wherein the conductors comprise one of feeder conductors and branch circuit conductors;
• supplying electrical power from the generator to the transfer switch;
• monitoring an electrical output of the generator during the supplying of the electrical power;
• determining a shutdown condition with the generator control circuitry;
• and
• ceasing operation of the generator in response to the shutdown condition while maintaining electrical continuity between the generator and the transfer switch.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an electric power generation system including:
• a generator;
• generator control circuitry;
• at least one electric output sensor each structured to provide a sensor signal to the generator control circuitry representative of an electric output of the generator;
• electrical switching equipment structured to selectively couple the generator to an electrical load;
• electric power conductors electrically coupling the generator to the electrical switching equipment, wherein the conductors comprise one of feeder conductors and branch circuit conductors;
• and
• the generator control circuitry structured to:
• interpret an overcurrent protection profile, the overcurrent protection profile comprising a range of overcurrent level values corresponding to a range of overcurrent duration values for each of a plurality of power components, the power components comprising the generator, the conductors, and the electrical switching equipment;
• and
• determine if a shutdown condition exists in response to at least one provided sensor signal and the overcurrent protection profile.

A control system operative with an electrical power system including a generator, generator control circuitry, at least one electric output sensor each structured to provide a sensor signal to the generator control circuitry representative of an electric output of the generator, electrical switching equipment structured to selectively couple the generator to an electrical load, and electric power conductors comprising one of feeder conductors and branch circuit conductors, electrically coupling the generator to the electrical switching equipment, the electrical power system comprising a centralized processing unit (CPU), an instantiable computer program product for protecting the electric power system, and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions including a first executable portion having instructions being capable of:

• instructing operation of the electrical power system, controlling supply of electrical power to an electrical load from the generator through the electrical switching equipment, monitoring electrical output of the generator during supply of the electrical power to the electrical load, and determining a shutdown condition in relation to a predetermined protection profile for each one of the generator, the electrical switching equipment, and the electrical power conductors.