Motor relay with integrated arc-flash detection

摘要

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of devices and related methods for detecting an electrical arc event using a motor management relay and for suppressing the electrical arc event. The motor management relay may incorporate an optical arc-flash sensor configured to detect an optical event. Control logic may analyze the optical event and determine whether the optical event corresponds to an electrical arc event. When an electrical arc event is detected an instruction may be issued via a control port in communication with the control logic to implement a protective action. According to various embodiments, a plurality of sensors for monitoring electrical characteristics of a motor may also be in communication with the control logic. Input from the sensors may be analyzed in order to determine whether the optical event corresponds to an electrical arc event.

主权项

1. A motor management relay, comprising:
a plurality of current sensors configured to monitor the flow of electrical current to a motor; a housing comprising a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures is associated with at least one of the plurality of current sensors, the plurality of current sensors integrated within the housing, wherein conductors conducting the electrical current to the motor pass through the plurality of apertures and the plurality of current sensors; an optical arc-flash sensor integrated within the housing of the motor management relay, configured to detect an optical event; control logic integrated within the housing and configured to analyze the optical event and determine whether the optical event corresponds to an electrical arc event; and a control port integrated within the housing and in communication with the control logic, the control port configured to issue an instruction to an associated protective device to implement a protective action based on a determination that the optical event corresponds to an electrical arc event; wherein the housing comprises a form factor for installation of the motor management relay in one of a motor control center bucket and an International Electrotechnical Commission drawer.