Integrated protection, monitoring, and control system

• US 20030205938A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Premerlani, William James, Berkcan, Ertugrul, Sexton, Daniel White, Evans, Scott Charles, Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Schnore, Austars Raymond Jr., Sealing, Charles Scott, Jiang, Mingxiao, Topka, Terry Michael, Pearlman, Marc Robert, Wang, Wendai
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/05 Digital input using the sampling of an analogue quantity at regular intervals of time , input from a/d converter or output to d/a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/20 operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0061 concerning transmission of signals transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/05 with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements for logic circuits H03K19/003
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/262 involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/263 involving transmissions of measured values comparison of currents or voltages using pilot wires H02H3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/30 Staggered disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00012 using an auxiliary transmission line
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 : involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 : Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 : Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/001 : Methods to deal with contingencies, e.g. abnormalities, faults or failures
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/007 : Arrangements for selectively connecting the load or loads to one or several among a plurality of power lines or power sources for providing uninterruptable power supply H02J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 : for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0658 : Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 : using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 : by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0018 : based on latency requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 : using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 : Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 : Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 : Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 : Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers and a plurality of node electronic units. Each node electronic unit is mounted remotely from an associated circuit breaker that is electrically coupled with one of the node electronic units. The system also includes a first digital network, and a first central control unit. The first central control unit and the plurality of node electronic units are communicatively coupled to the first digital network. The method includes receiving digital signals from each node electronic unit at the central control unit, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital signal, and transmitting digital signals to the plurality of node electronic units such that the circuit breakers are operable from the first central control unit.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system, said method comprising:

transmitting a first signal from at least one of a plurality of node electronic units to a central control unit, each of said plurality of node electronic units being remote from and in communication with a respective circuit breaker; and

transmitting a second signal to the plurality of node electronic units such that the circuit breakers are operable from the first central control unit.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first signal is a digital signal representative a parameter selected from the group consisting of:

an operational state of each node electronic unit, an operational state of each circuit breaker, a power condition of power in the power distribution system, and any combination of the foregoing.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first signal is representative of at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a line voltage, a load current, and a status of the circuit breaker.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the circuit breaker is a three phase circuit breaker

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first signal is a raw operational state data signal.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining an operational state of the power distribution system based on said first signal.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising determining a set of said central control unit commands and actions.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said set of central control unit commands and actions are at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a protection function, a relay function, a monitor function, a meter function, a control function, and a protection curve function.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said protection function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an instantaneous overcurrent action, a short time overcurrent action, a long time overcurrent action, a ground fault action, and a zone selective interlock action.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said relay function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage action, a frequency action, a ground fault relay action, and a bus differential action.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8 said monitor function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a circuit breaker current, a circuit breaker voltage, a power system event, a set of power quality parameters, and a health/availability indication.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said power system event is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a load warning, a trip indication, a pickup, and a waveform capture.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said meter function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an energy flow and an energy demand.

14. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein determining a control function comprises determining at least one of a basic function, and a system function.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said basic function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a manual function, a startup function, and a maintenance function.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said system function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an automatic throwover function, a balanced power supply function, a load shedding function, and a load pickup function.

17. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said protective curve function is a remote protective curve function and/or a local protective curve function.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said remote protective curve comprises determining a plurality of first current limit setpoints, each of said first current limit setpoints corresponding to a first time delay value.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein determining a local protective curve comprises determining a plurality of second current limit setpoints, each of said second current limit setpoints corresponding to a second time delay value wherein each of said first current limit setpoints is greater than each of said second current limit setpoints.

20. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said relay function is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a reverse power function, an under frequency function, an over voltage function, an under voltage function, an over current function, and differential relaying function.

21. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second signal is at least one digital signal selected from the group consisting of:

a system status signal, a set of central control unit command and action signals, and a local action block signal.

22. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second signal is selected from the group consisting of:

a ground fault current limit setting, an over voltage limit setting, under voltage limit setting, and a breaker local protective curve.

23. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining a set of local protection commands and actions in the node electronic unit.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising:

determining a set of actuation commands based on at least one of the actuation commands selected from the group consisting of;

central control unit commands and actions, local protection commands and actions, and local action block signal; and

operating the associated circuit breaker based on the set of actuation commands.

25. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second signal comprises a digital signal that includes data addressed to each of the plurality of node electronics units.

26. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving said second signal at each node electronic unit and extracting all data addressed to the respective node electronic unit from said second signal.

27. A power distribution system comprising:

a plurality of circuit breakers connectable to a power source of the power distribution system;

a respective node electronic unit remote from and in communication with a respective one of said plurality of circuit breakers;

a communication network in communication with each of said node electronic units and a first central control unit communicatively coupled to said plurality of circuit breakers by said communications network so that said first central control unit can operate said plurality of circuit breakers.

28. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said first central control unit can operate said respective one of said plurality of circuit breakers based on information only from said respective one of said plurality of circuit breakers.

29. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said first central control unit can operate said respective one of said plurality of circuit breakers based on information from one or more of said plurality of circuit breakers.

30. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 27 further comprising a sensor for connecting each of said plurality of circuit breakers to said power source of the power distribution system.

31. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and any combination thereof.

32. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said node electronic unit transmits at least one digital signal representative of an operational state to said first central control unit.

33. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said at least one digital signal is selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage, a current, an status of said respective one of said plurality of circuit breaker, a local system state, a logical state, and a health status of said node electronic unit, associated circuit breaker and any combination thereof.

34. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said at least one digital signal is a raw operational state data signal.

35. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said first central control unit is further configured to determine a set of central control unit commands and actions based on said operational state.

36. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said set of central control unit commands and actions is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an automatic throwover function, a balanced power supply function, a load shedding function, and a load pickup set.

37. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said digital signal is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a system status, a set of central control unit commands and actions based on said operational state of said power distribution system, a local action block signal, and a breaker local protective curve.

38. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 37 wherein said node electronic unit determines a set of local protection commands and actions based on said digital signal.

39. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said digital signal includes data addressed to each of said plurality of node electronics units.

40. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 39 wherein each of said plurality of node electronic units parse said digital signal to extract all said data addressed to said respective node electronic unit.

41. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said power distribution system further comprises:

a second communication network; and

a second central control unit.