Intelligent Power Today Magazine

News and Trends

Advanced protection against electromagnetic exposures and electric arc

HAZARDS AROUND

While working live in the energized grid, presence of voltage around the workers requires special attention. However, live-line (live working) techniques are widely applied for decades, several accidents in the past prove that the level of safety must be improved to minimize the number and seriousness of injuries in the future.
In the high voltage grid, bare-hand method is a common technique for safe live work. In the surroundings of any energized equipment,...

Buyer's Guide

News & Trends

Counterfeiting Kills

Each year, the counterfeiting of well-known brands and products continues to rise, creating an even more threatening problem. Such well-known counterfeited brands, including consumer safety and critical electrical products, are estimated to be five to seven percent of world trade. The International...

State of Industry

Illuminating Decisions: EPRI Lights the Way for Modern Lighting Adoption

Facility managers and operators understand the critical role lighting plays in their daily operations. Accounting for roughly 30% of a commercial building's energy load, lighting significantly impacts energy consumption and associated maintenance costs. However, focusing solely on the...

Introducing Intelligent Power Today

Welcome to Intelligent Power Today Magazine, our publication that explores and explains the who, what, where, when, why and how of intelligent electrical devices, a collection of complex mechanical devices and sophisticated control systems used in industrial, commercial, and institutional...

Electrical Protection

Monitoring Circuit Breakers

Monitoring circuit breakers: Reviewing current testing methodologies

BY FINLEY LEDBETTER, Group CBS

Circuit breakers, from low-voltage molded case to high-voltage SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) circuit breakers, all connect and isolate electrical loads from downstream machinery. While some breakers are used as disconnect switches, they are not designed for this purpose. Most breakers are used sparingly, giving technicians few opportunities to test the breaker’s operation without removing the breaker and downstream equipment from service.

To minimize downtime, maintain productivity, and improve personnel safety, electricians are constantly looking for faster, easier ways to verify that circuit breakers will perform to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications. Today, electrical testing technicians have a multitude of available test methods and sets available to them. Industry Essentials will look at those testing methods with a focus on the trend towards testing methodologies that are capable of providing frequent, operational data on the breaker without the need to...

Electrical Protection Articles

Motor Protection

Compatibility Issues with Generator-Backed Power Systems

Line-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems play a vital role in maintaining seamless operation during power outages. Their integration with backup generators, however, can pose challenges regarding synchronization and power quality. While both UPS systems and generators serve as...

Overcurrent and Short Circuit Protection

Maintaining System Stability: The Role of Protection in Preventing Cascading Outages

Modern electrical power grids are complex networks designed to deliver electricity efficiently and reliably. Maintaining grid stability is crucial to ensure uninterrupted power supply. Overcurrent and short circuit protection plays a vital role in achieving this stability by preventing localized...

Cybersecurity for Protective Devices

Cybersecurity in Electrical Protection Systems

The modern power grid is a complex network of interconnected systems, heavily reliant on sophisticated protective devices like relays and controllers to ensure reliable and safe operation. However, the growing sophistication of cyberattacks presents a significant challenge to the security of these...

Transformer Protection

Conventional Methods to AI-Based Solutions

Evolution of Transformer Protection The protection of electrical transformers is crucial for maintaining the stability and efficiency of power systems. Traditionally, protection schemes have relied on mechanical and analog devices to detect and mitigate faults. However, the landscape of...