Switchyard equipment monitoring system and communications network therefor

• US 5,859,596 A
• Filed: 08/30/1996
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CSI Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: CSI Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: McRae, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/705,395
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/638, 340/310.01, 324/424, 324/537, 364/483, 364/492, 361/62, 361/64, 361/66
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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

Abstract

A plurality of monitoring devices are connected to respective pieces of switchyard equipment and associated with a common communications network. A remote host computer is connected to the network to bidirectionally communicate with each monitoring device. The communications network is the existing power line used for delivering power and control signals to the switchyard equipment. Each monitoring device includes testing and/or monitoring circuitry for testing and/or monitoring one or more conditions of the piece of switchyard equipment and generating condition data therefrom, a storage device for storing the generated data, and a transmitter adapted to transmit the data to the remote location via the power line. The remote host computer receives the data transmitted to the remote location and stores the received data therein in a database format. The monitoring device can request previously sent data from the remote host computer. The monitoring includes an RS-232 port for accepting a local computer which conducts tests of the switchyard equipment, analyzes the results, compares the results with previous tests, and reprograms alarm parameters and baseline values associated with the switchyard equipment.

Claims

1. A switchyard equipment monitoring system, the switchyard equipment receiving power and control signals from a remote location via a power line, the system comprising:

(a) plurality of monitoring devices, each monitoring device connected to a piece of switchyard equipment, each monitoring device including,

(i) testing and/or monitoring circuitry for testing and/or monitoring one or more conditions of the piece of switchyard equipment and generating condition data therefrom, wherein said circuitry accepts a plurality of analog and digital input signals from the switchyard equipment, at least one of the analog input signals being a response signal to an excitation or test signal sent from the monitoring device to the monitored piece of switchyard equipment,

(ii) a storage device for storing the condition data, and

(iii) a transmitter adapted to transmit the condition data to the remote location via the power line;

(b) a communications node at the remote location, the node being connected to the power line; and

(c) a remote host computer connected to the communications node for receiving the condition data transmitted to the remote location and storing the received condition data therein.

2. A switchyard equipment monitoring system, the switchyard equipment including circuit breakers and receiving power and control signals from a remote location via a power line, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of monitoring devices, each monitoring device connected to a piece of switchyard equipment, each monitoring device including,

(i) testing and/or monitoring circuitry for testing and/or monitoring one or more conditions of the piece of switchyard equipment and generating condition data therefrom,

(ii) a storage device for storing the condition data, and

(iii) a transmitter adapted to transmit the condition data to the remote location via the power line;

(b) a communications node at the remote location, the node being connected to the power line; and

(c) a remote host computer connected to the communications node for receiving the condition data transmitted to the remote location and storing the received condition data therein, said remote host computer including,

(i) a database for storing data received from the plurality of monitoring devices, said data including one or more of the following for each circuit breaker;

time of fault initiation, if a fault occurs;

current on each phase when the circuit breaker is operated;

time of trip/close coil energization;

time of arc extinction;

ambient temperature in mechanism cabinet;

accumulator air pressure; and

gas pressure on compressors; and

(ii) a data analyzer for analyzing the data in the database to determine equipment performance, determine remaining life span of the equipment, or develop predictive maintenance schedules for the equipment.

3. A monitoring device for switchyard equipment, wherein the switchyard equipment receives power and control signals from a remote location via a power line, the monitoring device comprising:

(a) testing and/or monitoring circuitry for testing and/or monitoring one or more conditions of the switchyard equipment and generating condition data therefrom, wherein said circuitry accepts a plurality of analog and digital input signals, at least one of the analog input signals being a response signal to an excitation or test signal sent from the monitoring device to the monitored piece of switchyard equipment,

(b) a storage device for storing the condition data; and

(c) a transmitter adapted to transmit the condition data to a remotely located computer via the power line.

4. A monitoring device having a test mode for testing a piece of switchyard equipment, wherein the switchyard equipment receives power and control signals from a remote location via a power line, the monitoring device comprising:

(a) testing and/or monitoring circuitry for testing and/or monitoring one or more conditions of the switchyard equipment and generating condition data therefrom,

(b) a storage device for storing the condition data;

(c) a transmitter adapted to transmit the condition data to a remotely located computer via the power line;

(d) an interface for interfacing the monitoring device with a local computer, the local computer initiating and controlling the testing and receiving the generated test data;

(e) an excitation voltage generator and output for producing an excitation voltage, said generator adapted for connection to line and load sides of a plural phase circuit breaker; and

(f) a circuit adapted to receive test trip event and test close event data, including breaker mechanism movement data, upon application of the excitation voltage.

5. A single monitoring device connected to power line for testing a plural phase circuit breaker to obtain breaker response time, the power line being used by switchyard equipment for receiving power and control signals from a remote location, the monitoring device including:

(a) an excitation voltage generator and output adapted for connection to line and load sides of the plural breaker phases;

(b) a circuit adapted to receive test trip event and test close event data, including breaker mechanism movement data, upon application of the excitation voltage;

(c) a transceiver for connection to the power line, the transceiver adapted to communicate via the power line with a computer at the remote location; and

(d) means for requesting previous data related to the circuit breaker which is stored in the remote computer, the transceiver and power line being used to send the request for previous data and receive the previous data therefrom.

6. A single monitoring device according to claim 5 further comprising:

(e) an interface for interfacing with a local computer, the local computer initiating and controlling the testing performed by the monitoring device, initiating the request for previous data made by the monitoring device, and receiving the generated test data and previous test data for analysis therein.