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Read what GE's experts have to say regarding key industry issues and recent innovations. Learn which solutions can help you solve your toughest application challenges.

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Electric Vehicles

General Design/Safety/Arc Flash

	A Case for the Separated Double Tie Discusses the use of single tie breakers versus double tie breakers and the safety aspects associated with each scenario.
	A Comparison of Aluminum vs. Copper as used in Electrical Equipment The intended purpose is to provide the user with the information necessary to make an informed decision on the selection of copper or aluminum conductors within electrical equipment.
	Application Considerations for Series Combination Overcurrent Protective Devices (OCPD) in New Installations Proper applications of series combinations of OCPD are critical to meet minimum reliability and safety considerations.
	Arc Flash and Low Voltage/ Over-Current Protective Devices (OCPDs) An overview of the importance of conducting Arc Flash studies and how to interpret the results. You'll also learn about the different types of over-current protective devices and their role in mitigating the Arc Flash Hazard or reducing the Hazard Risk Category (HRC).
	Design for SAFETY This is part 1 of an ongoing series intended to give tips and suggestions to the electrical design engineer to design electrical distribution systems with safety for the end user as the primary concern. The concern with the worker's safety continues to increase and there are numerous items which can be specified and designs which can be implemented which will increase a worker's safety.
	Design for SAFETY- Part 2 Part 2 is aimed toward electrical distribution systems, which utilize services with overcurrent devices rated greater than 1200A. To enhance a workers safety, the designer must consider devices that remove the technician from hazardous conditions.
	Direct Current (DC) - Critical Infrastructure Power Systems DC power has been a proven technology since the days of Thomas Edison.
	GE Arc Vault™ Protection System To address the increasing concerns and standards around arcing faults, GE challenged our Global Research Center to develop a new, "active" method of detecting & removing an arcing fault.
	Power Distribution Systems for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games This paper addresses some power distribution solutions for the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games.
	The Basics of Arc Flash The goal of this article is to give the reader a basic understanding of what occurs during an arc flash incident, and an understanding of some of the terms used in qualifying the danger associated with such events.
	The Three A�s of Arc Flash In 2007 GE conducted a survey of industry professionals working in facilities related to the oil and gas industry, pulp and paper industry, and power generation. The study results revealed what we called the problematic three A�s of arc flash.

Ground Fault Protection

	A Look at Value-Engineering Ground Fault Protection Here is a look at how to reduce the price of a typical ground fault project while keeping it sound and possibly even improving on it from a technical engineering perspective.
	Avoiding GF Problems when Designing for Multiple Low Voltage Sources The purpose of this article is to point out some of the problems associated with meeting the requirements of providing equipment ground fault protection on multiple-source low voltage distribution equipment, both switchgear and switchboards, and how to contend with them.
	Coordinating Ground Fault Protection with Phase Overcurrent Protection This document examines the possibility of achieving selectivity between ground fault devices and standard downstream phase overcurrent protection.
	Equipment Ground Fault Protection - Where It's NOT Required or Permitted Having only a partial understanding of applying ground fault protection can result in added project cost, increased liability and defeating the very intent of the code.
	Ground Fault Protection for Solidly Grounded Low Voltage Systems The intent of this publication is to provide a clearer understanding of the many considerations associated with ground fault protection to solidly grounded, low voltage systems.
	Resistance Grounding Systems Basics Resistance Grounding Systems are used in industrial electrical power distribution facilities to limit phase-to-ground fault currents.

Integrated Low Voltage Switchgear System - Entellisys

	Arc Flash Mitigation with Entellisys� Most customers and end users are concerned with safety, and the Entellisys switchgear safety features have some of the most comprehensive tools in the industry today.
	Ground Fault Detection in Multiple Source Solidly Grounded Systems via the Single-Processor Concept for Circuit Protection Modern power distribution systems, such as the common double-ended substation, contain multiple power sources integrated within one system. This presents significant complexity to the designer attempting to design a protection system that will not be fooled by circulating neutral currents. This paper describes how the "Single Processor Concept for Circuit Breaker Protection and Control" provides ways to address this sensing problem.
	Innovation to Reality-Introducing State-of-the-Art Protection and Monitoring to Existing Low-Voltage Switchgear In this paper, the authors discuss a unique approach to low-voltage switchgear protection and the process of transitioning this concept to a realworld application. The paper describes the architecture and functionality of this approach and explains how a centrally controlled system can provide advanced monitoring and protection functions much more effectively than existing systems.
	Protection, Control, Reliability and Diagnostic Improvements via Single-Processor Control of Circuit Breakers in Low Voltage Switchgear In this paper, the authors explore a protection-and-control architecture based on a single processor that provides all the protection and control functions for a lineup of low-voltage switchgear. How this method of protection changes the paradigm from individual circuit protection to system protection, while cost-effectively and significantly increasing system reliability and protection is discussed.

Metering

	Electronic Power Meters - Guide for their Selection and Specification Electronic power meters vary widely in features and this range of features determines the price level of the meter. The purpose of this article is to help the reader select the right meter from the vast number of choices for their customers, matching the function and need of the meter with the value to the customer.
	Insights into Starting-up Electronic Meters Use of electronic meters is widespread today for many good reasons, but few users realize these meters should undergo a startup process. Here are some insights from a field engineer's perspective as to what may be needed in order to have a successful installation.
	OPC the "Enabling" Software Today's demands on software interfacing capabilities far exceeds anything imagined when the market began supporting Windows' dynamic data exchange (DDE) programming interface for communication with devices. This paper will provide an insight into these developments and describe the new king on the block, OPC.
	Submetering - A Practical Approach More than ever, submetering is being applied in industrial as well as the traditional commercial and residential applications to encourage conservation and increase productivity. This article will describe what it is, why it's important and how to effectively apply it.
	Unlocking the Proprietary Mess Who would possibly invest in equipment that restricts all their future purchases to that same initial manufacturer? Well, it happens every day and it could easily happen to you. The ability for equipment to communicate is so prevalent today most specifiers feel confident in specking it. But how does it communicate and what will understand it? Unless you are aware of the pitfalls, you could tumble in. And if you already have, this article will help you dig out.

Motor Control Centers

Panelboards

Photovoltaic Systems

Power Monitoring and Control

Power Quality and Reliability

	Applying Voltage Disturbance Remediation Systems This Application Note presents an overview of voltage disturbance remediation systems and a guide to their appropriate applications.
	Assessing the Cost of Voltage Disturbances While the quality of the incoming power supply voltage is fundamentally a technical problem, it is ultimately necessary to make a business decision prior to implementing a fix. This document goes over the three major cost elements of voltage disturbances.
	The Importance of Reliable Control Power While the advent of microprocessors has the potential to make power systems more reliable, easier to maintain, and simpler to diagnose, the underlying implementation of an appropriate power system design is often lagging, especially when it comes to supplying a reliable source of control power.
	Paralleling Temporary Power at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games A brief insight and overview of some of the considerations made in order to provide the high level of reliability needed to add paralleling capability to the switchgear and meet the demands required by the power bureau and other key entities involved.
	Service Capabilities for UPS Uninterruptible Power Supplies, UPS equipment is used to maintain service to critical loads and improve uptime. Proper maintenance of the UPS should provide the owner with an Uninterrupted Revenue Stream, lower capital expenditures and lower long-term maintenance cost.
	Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Abatement Techniques Guidance on the use of harmonic mitigation solutions with GE AF-600 FP and AF-650 GP drives.

Protective Relaying

	CT Saturation in Industrial Applications - Analysis and Application Guidelines This exploratory analysis shows that severely saturated CTs only slightly reduce short circuit tripping capabilities of GE Multilin's relays. Given the typically applied settings, there is no danger of a failure to trip from intantenous overcurrent functions even in extreme cases of very high short-circuit currents and low-ratio CTs.
	Distribution System Feeder Overcurrent Protection The intent of this publication is to give a better understanding of distribution overcurrent protection problems and some of the methods being used to solve them.
	Generating Station Protection This guide is concerned primarily with short circuit protection and protection for abnormal operating conditions for generating stations.
	Inter and Intra Substation Communications: Requirements and Solutions This paper presents an outline of the communication requirements of the myriad of Intelligent Electrical Devices in existence in the substation today as well as the expectations of what second generation microprocessor based devices might be able to do.
	Protection of Synchronous Generators during Unbalanced System Conditions This paper reviews the unbalanced current capabilities of generators, the system unbalance conditions that produce negative sequence currents and discusses the protection of generators for these conditions.
	Shunt Capacitor Bank Fundamentals and Protection This paper reviews principles of shunt capacitor bank design for substation installation and basic protection techniques.
	Substation Transients and Solid State Control The general nature and origin of control circuit transients are now fairly well understood. Also much progress has been made in identifying the features of station layout and solid state equipment design to eliminate this problem.
	The Art and Science of Protective Relaying A textbook on protective relaying by C. Russell Mason.
	UCA 2.0: The GE Experience This paper details the hardware and software considerations, issues encountered, and benefits enjoyed by GE and others in implementing the substation profile of UCA in a digital device.
	Upgrading and Enhancing the Generator Protection System by Making Use of Digital Systems Considering a digital enhancement or upgrade offers the owner of installed generation equipment several unique advantages. These include more complete machine protection, diagnostics capabilities for greater productivity and maintenance optimization, life extension with minimal implementation, and the operational advantages of sequence of events, present values and communications capabilities.

Selectivity

Short Circuit

Switchgear and switchboard

Training and Education

Transient Voltage Surge

Transformers

	Dielectric Fluids for Transformer Cooling, History and Types This article is intended to provide the reader with some level of insight into the appropriate selection and application of dielectric fluids used in transformer cooling.
	DOE Regulation Changes With more and more emphasis being placed on energy conservation for political, economic, and environmental reasons, it is incumbent on the design professional to be informed of the changes in codes, standards, and regulations/laws that will impact the recommendations and application of products they specify on projects.
	Selecting Current Transformers - Part 1 This paper offers a window into the complexity of selecting the correct current transformer for the application.
	The Whyes of the Wyes - The Behavior of Transformer Y Connections The earliest transformers were of course single phase. With the advent of the three-phase system, two alternative methods of connection for transformers were offered - the delta and the Y. The Y connection must have appealed to the operators then, as it does now. It however didn't take the industry long to discover one problem after another arising out of the Y-Y connection with the primary neutral floating.
	What You Should Know about Paralleling Power Transformers One electrical design decision that must frequently be made concerns paralleling transformers. In most cases, we find economy is the key factor in this decision.
	Zig-Zag Transformers This article addresses the use of the Zig-Zag transformer

UL and NEC