QUALITY SWITCH INC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase II: 05b

Description

This project involves development of a new version of a protective device for the low voltage underground grid type networks and network equipment. The new version will ensure a more safe and reliable operation of the grid by adding sensing devices to avoid improper operation, signal operating conditions beyond predetermined boundaries, and degradation of equipment parameters as specified in topic 5b for advanced protective relaying technologies and tools. A specific function of the device will be whereupon the device, sensing a degradation in the quality of contacts within the protective device, will signal for the end user to remove the device from service and replace said contacts before catastrophic failures create outages or endanger utility workers and/or the public. Additional functions will include interfacing and monitoring of sensors on attached equipment to correlate proper functioning of said equipment and signaling, as in the previous case, the degradation of the equipment or an abnormal value of a specific characteristic so that the monitoring utility can dispatch employees to determine necessary action in as timely a manner as the specific characteristic requires. By being proactive in this manner, the device will increase the life span of the attached equipment beyond 30 years as specified in topic 5b. The new protection device will utilize a concept for current and fault interruption that will limit exposure of electrical workers to arc flash via speed of operation of the interruption and said concept will extend the life of the arcing contacts. During Phase I, the contact type (shape and material) for current interruption device were developed. Phase II plans work on responsiveness and endurance testing of the mechanism to control the contacts developed during Phase I. Additionally, during Phase II, the device operating mechanism will be fitted with a control scheme flexible enough to be adapted to various utility supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) architecture and lead toward development of a production prototype into Phase III.