Method and apparatus for node electronics unit architecture

• US 20030222509A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wang, Changting, Berkcan, Ertugrul, Sexton, Daniel White, Rao, Ramakrishna, Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Schnore, Austars Raymond Jr., Basavaraj, Somashekhar, Pearlman, Marc Robert, Rao, Samantha, Orlowski, Eugene Joseph Jr., Gore, Rahul
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/139
• 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 apparatus for operating a power distribution system circuit breaker is provided. The circuit breaker includes an associated node electronics unit wherein a node electronics unit redundancy requirement is predetermined. The method includes monitoring electrical system parameters associated with the circuit breaker with the node electronics unit, communicating the electrical system parameters over a digital network to at least one central control processing unit, receiving commands and actions from the at least one central control processing unit over the digital network, determining circuit breaker actuation commands based at least partially on the received commands and actions, and operating the circuit breaker based on the circuit breaker actuation commands.

Claims

1. A method of operating a power distribution system circuit, said method comprising:

monitoring electrical system parameters of a plurality of circuit breakers in the power distribution system, each circuit breaker of said plurality of circuit breakers being in electrical communication with a node electronics unit;

communicating said electrical system parameters from said node electronics unit to a central control processing unit;

determining circuit breaker actuation commands based at least partially on said electrical system parameters; and

communicating said circuit breaker actuation commands from said central control processing unit to said node electronics unit so that said node electronics unit operates each circuit breaker of said plurality of circuit breakers based on said circuit breaker actuation commands.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical system parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

a load current, a voltage potential, a position of a circuit breaker auxiliary switch, and a status of a circuit breaker operating spring charge.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said load current is monitored with a device located remote from each circuit breaker of the plurality of circuit breakers.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plurality of circuit breakers is a plurality of three phase circuit breakers.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said voltage potential is monitored a device located remote from each circuit breaker of said plurality of circuit breakers.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein communicating said electrical system parameters and said circuit breaker actuation commands are communicated over a digital network.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said digital network uses a Fast Ethernet protocol.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said digital network has a data transfer rate of at least about 100 Mbps.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said data transfer rate is about 1 Gbps.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein further comprises:

determining local circuit breaker commands and actions in said node electronics unit based on said electrical system parameters.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said local circuit breaker commands and actions replaces said circuit breaker actuation commands when communications is lost between the node electronics unit and said central control processing unit.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising resolving conflicts between said circuit breaker actuation commands and said local circuit breaker commands and actions.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 further comprising transmitting said local circuit breaker commands and actions to each circuit breaker of said plurality of circuit breakers.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said node electronics unit is powered from a control power supply circuit and includes at least one node processor that is configured to operate at a first clock speed, said method further comprises operating in a reduced power mode when the control power supply fails.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said reduced power mode comprises operating with power supplied from a self-power supply circuit.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said reduced power mode comprises operating the at least one node processors at a second clock speed, the second clock speed is slower than the first clock speed.

17. A node electronics unit comprising:

at least one network communications interface for communicating with the at least one central control processing unit;

at least one processor including a memory, a communication processor and a command interpreter, said at least one processor being coupled to said at least one network communications interface;

a signal conditioner module coupled to said processor, said signal conditioner for receiving electrical signals from a plurality of sensors adapted to be coupled to a circuit breaker, said plurality of sensors located remote from said node electronics unit;

a status input module coupled to said processor, said status input module for receiving status signals from said circuit breaker, said processor being configured to communicate said electrical signals and said status signals to said central control processing unit and being configured to receive circuit breaker actuation commands from said central control processing unit based on said electrical signals and/or said status signals; and

an actuation power module coupled to said processor, said actuation power module for supplying said circuit breaker actuation commands to said circuit breaker.

18. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 17 wherein said plurality of sensor comprises a circuit breaker load current sensor and a circuit breaker voltage sensor.

19. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one network communications interface is configured for Fast Ethernet network protocol.

20. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one processor is configured to determine when communications is lost between said node electronics unit and said central control processing unit.

21. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one processor is configured to determine said circuit breaker actuation commands and transmit said circuit breaker actuation commands to said circuit breaker.

22. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said node electronics unit is powered from a control power supply circuit, and wherein said at least one processor comprises at least one self-powered processor.

23. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 22 wherein said at least one self-powered processor is configured to operate said node electronics unit during a loss of said control power supply circuit.

24. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 22 wherein said at least one self-powered processor comprises a self-power circuit electrically coupled to said circuit breaker load current sensor output.

25. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 24, said self-power circuit comprising a rectifier circuit electrically coupled to an energy storage circuit, said energy storage circuit electrically coupled to a voltage regulation circuit for providing said self-powered processor with power.

26. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 17 wherein said electrical signals from said plurality of sensors are analog signals representative of electrical system parameters associated with said circuit breaker.

27. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 17 wherein said node electronics unit further comprises an analog/digital (A/D) converter, a digital/analog (D/A) converter, and an actuation relay.

28. A node electronics unit in accordance with claim 27 wherein said A/D converter comprises a sample and hold feature for synchronizing A/D converter output with a node processor synchronizing signal from said central control processing unit.

29. A power distribution system comprising:

a plurality of circuit breakers;

a node electronics unit in communication with each circuit breaker of said plurality of circuit breakers;

a digital network communicatively coupled to each said node electronics unit; and

at least one central control unit communicatively coupled to said digital network, said digital network communicating transmissions between each said node electronics unit and said at least one central control unit, said at least one central control unit operating any of said plurality of circuit breakers based on said transmissions.

30. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 29 wherein each said node electronics unit comprises a node processor, said node processor further comprises at least one of a command interpreter and a communication processor, said node processor electrically coupled to a memory unit that stores at least one of program instructions, program data, breaker time delay curves, and calibration constants.

31. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said memory unit comprises at least one of a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory (FLASH), a programmable read only memory (PROM), and an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

32. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said node processor is further electrically coupled to a communications interface, said communications interface between said node processor and said network, said communications interface coupling said node processor to said digital network.

33. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said communications interface has a data transmission rate of at least about 100 Mbps.

34. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said node processor is further configured to receive digital input signals from an analog/digital converter (A/D) and to receive logical signals from a status input module, said node processor electrically coupled to said analog/digital converter (A/D) and said status input module.

35. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 34 wherein said analog/digital converter (A/D) is electrically coupled to a signal conditioner, said signal conditioned configured to receive analog signals from at least one electrical parameter sensor.

36. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said signal conditioner is configured to match an impedance of an input signal to an impedance of said analog input signals, said signal conditioner further configured to receive signals representative of at least one of three phase voltage, three phase current, and ground current.

37. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 34 wherein said analog/digital converter (A/D) is electrically coupled to a status input module, said status input module configured to receive status signals from said circuit breaker.

38. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 37 wherein said status signals comprise at least one of a position of at least one circuit breaker auxiliary switch, and a status of an circuit breaker operating spring charge.

39. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said node processor is further configured to transmit breaker command signals to said circuit breaker, said node processor electrically coupled to an actuation relay, said actuation relay electrically coupled to an actuation power module.

40. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said actuation relay is configured to energize at least one of a circuit breaker close coil, a circuit breaker trip coil, and a circuit breaker operating spring charge device.

41. A power distribution system in accordance with claim 29 wherein each said node electronics unit comprises a plurality of node processors, a first node processor configured to execute a first program code segment that controls at least one of communications functions, input functions, and output functions, a second node processor configured to execute a second program code segment that determines local control and protection actions, said second node processor powered from an electrical source onboard said node electronics unit.