PROTECTIVE RELAY MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMPARING BEHAVIOR PATTERNS

• US 20110012603A1
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated), Softstuf, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated), Softstuf, Inc.
• Inventors: Giuliante, Anthony T., Makki, Amir, Bose, Sanjay
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3274 Details related to measuring, e.g. sensing, displaying or computing; Measuring of variables related to the contact pieces, e.g. wear, position or resistance measuring contact resistance G01R27/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24568 Data stream processing; Continuous queries

Abstract

A system for collecting data and monitoring the operation of electrical circuits, such as branch circuits at a substation is provided. The system collects data from a plurality of sensors coupled to a plurality of electrical equipment associated with a circuit. The data from the sensors is collected and used to identify signatures in the data to ascertain potential issues in the electrical protective circuit. The data is further analyzed to determine signatures of abnormal operating conditions. The signatures are compared to reference signatures to identify the abnormal conditions and corrective action is initiated.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a protective relay system comprising:

sensing a first signal current flowing from a protective relay;

storing said first signal current;

identifying a first signature portion of said first signal current;

comparing said first signature portion against a reference signature; and

,

identifying an undesired operating condition from said first signature portion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said reference signature is a database including a plurality of reference signatures, wherein each of said plurality of reference signatures is associated with a different undesired operating condition.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said plurality of reference signatures includes a first reference signature representing a shorted signal wire.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said plurality of reference signatures includes a second reference signature representing a crossover current.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing of said first signal current includes measuring a peak current.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising initiating an alarm if said peak current is below a threshold current.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

sensing a second signal current flowing from said protective relay;

storing said second signal current;

identifying a second signature portion of said second signal current;

comparing said second signature portion against said first signature portion comparing said second signature portion against said database of reference signatures; and

,

determining a change in a behavior pattern of said first signature portion and said second signature portion;

comparing said change in behavior pattern to said database of reference signatures, and initiating corrective action when said change in behavior pattern indicates an undesired operating condition.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said first signature portion includes a second signature portion and a third signature portion.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

comparing said second signature portion against said database of reference signatures;

comparing said third signature portion against said database of reference signatures; and

,

identifying an undesired operating condition from said second signature portion.

10. A protective relay system coupled to an electrical distribution device comprising:

at least one protective relay coupled to communicate a first signal to said electrical distribution device in response to a first event;

a sensor coupled to said at least one protective relay to sense said first signal, said sensor transmitting a second signal indicative of said first signal current in response to sensing said first signal; and

,

a controller electrically coupled to said sensor to receive said second signal, said controller having a processor responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for comparing said second signal to a database of reference signals and initiating a first alarm when said second signal substantially matches a signature in said database of reference signals.

11. The protective relay system of claim 10 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for analyzing said second signal when said second signal does not substantially match a signature in said database of reference signals.

12. The protective relay system of claim 11 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for determining a peak current level of said first signal current and initiating a second alarm when said peak current level is less then a threshold.

13. The protective relay system of claim 12 wherein:

said at least one protective relay communicates a third signal in response to a second event;

said sensor transmits a fourth signal in response to sensing said third signal; and

,

said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for determining a change in behavior pattern in said second signal and said fourth signal and comparing said change in behavior pattern to said database of reference signatures, said processor further initiating an alarm when said change in behavior pattern indicates an undesired operating condition.

14. The protective relay system of claim 10 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for determining a first signature portion and a second signature portion of said second signal and for comparing said first signature portion and said second signature portion to said database of reference signals.

15. The protective relay system of claim 14 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for initiating an alarm when either said first signature portion or said second signature portion substantially matches a signature in said database of reference signals.