Granted Patent B2

US 8,494,830 · App. 12/506,216 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, the system comprising:

a data acquisition component communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system; and

an analytics server communicatively connected to the data acquisition component, the analytics server comprising

a virtual system modeling engine configured to generate predicted data output for the electrical system using a virtual system model of the electrical system,

an analytics engine configured to monitor the real-time data output and the predicted data output of the electrical system, and

an arc flash simulation engine configured to use the virtual system model updated based in the real-time data to forecast an aspect of the arc flash event;

wherein the analytics server is configured to perform steps comprising

updating the virtual system model based on the real-time data output,

switching all observable models in the virtual system model to an ON position or OFF position,

transferring all uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) equipped with a transfer switch in the virtual system model that is in the by-pass mode,

setting all unobservable motors in the virtual system model to the ON position in the virtual model,

calculating arcing energy for all significant locations in the virtual system model,

setting all unobservable motors in the virtual system model to the OFF position,

calculating arcing energy for all significant locations in the virtual system model,

comparing the two calculations for each significant location, and

storing the highest calculated arcing energy for each significant location.

2. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a client terminal communicatively connected to the analytics server and configured to communicate the forecasted aspect.

3. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 2 , wherein the forecasted aspect is communicated by way of graphics on a display interfaced with the client terminal.

4. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 2 , wherein the forecasted aspect is communicated by way of text on a display interfaced with the client terminal.

5. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 2 , wherein the forecasted aspect is communicated by way of synthesized speech generated by the client terminal.

6. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 2 , wherein the forecasted aspect is communicated by way of a paper report generated by a printing device interfaced with the client terminal.

7. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the analytics engine is further configured to initiate a calibration and synchronization operation to update the virtual system model when a difference between the real-time data output and the predicted data output exceeds a threshold.

8. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc flash event is a direct current (DC) arc flash event.

9. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc flash event is an alternating current (AC) arc flash event.

10. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc flash simulation engine applies Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1584 standards to forecast the aspect.

11. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc flash simulation engine applies National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E standards to forecast the aspect.

12. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the forecasted aspect is a worst case arc flash event for a component within the electrical system over a specified time period.

13. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 12 , wherein the component is a protective device.

14. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 13 , wherein the protective device is a switch.

15. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 13 , wherein the protective device is a circuit breaker.

16. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 13 , wherein the protective device is a fuse.

17. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 13 , wherein the protective device is a relay.

18. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the analytics server is further configured to transfer all the UPS' s in the virtual system model back to the correct position, wait a predetermined delay time, and repeat the steps.

19. The system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the analytics server is further configured to present the worst case arcing energy for any of the significant locations over the last 30 days when requested.

Assignments (11)