Method for power distribution system components identification, characterization and rating

• US 6,909,942 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Berkcan, Ertugrul, Welles, Kenneth Brakeley, Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Sealing, Charles Scott, Pearlman, Marc Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US10/373,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/290, 361670-679
• US Class Current: 700/286
• 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 for operating a power distribution system is provided. The power distribution system includes a plurality of components, and at least one node electronics unit coupled to at least one control processing unit. The method includes associating a unique identifier with at least one component class of the power distribution system, identifying each component based on the identifier, determining a specification associated with each identifier, and operating at least one of the node electronics unit and the control processing unit based on the determined specification.

Claims

1. A method for operating a power distribution system wherein the power distribution system includes a plurality of components, and at least one node electronics unit coupled to at least one control processing unit, said method comprising:

associating a unique identifier with at least one component class of the power distribution system;

identifying each component based on the identifier;

determining a specification associated with each identifier;

reporting by said node electronics unit, a representation of each respective component specifications to at least one other node electronics unit, and the control processing unit; and

causing the power distribution system to operate at least one of the node electronics unit and the control processing unit based on the determined specification.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising operating a centrally controlled power distribution system wherein the at least one control processing unit is a central control processing unit.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising operating the centrally controlled power distribution system wherein the component class includes at least one of a circuit breaker, a current transformer, a potential transformer, a busbar, and a protective relay, and wherein each component is communicatively coupled to a respective node electronics unit.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining a specification associated with each identifier comprises determining a specification associated with each identifier by the associated node electronics unit, the method further comprising:

operating the power distribution system based on the reported specifications.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising locating an identified component operating history in a computer database.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising processing power distribution system control functions with the node electronics unit.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein associating a unique identifier comprises labeling at least one of the components with an identifier wherein the identifier includes at least one of an optically readable identifier, an electronically readable identifier, a magnetically readable identifier, an electro-magnetically readable identifier, and an acoustically readable identifier.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprises labeling at least one of the components with an identifier that is readable and writable, and wherein the identifier includes at least one of a component history, a present component health, a predicted component health, a calibration parameter, a component characterization, a component rating, an information translation instruction, a component setup instruction, a component operation instruction, and a component location.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein labeling at least one of the components with an identifier that includes a present component health comprises labeling at least one of the components with a health identifier that includes at least one of electrical stresses, mechanical stresses, thermal stresses, environmental stresses, operational quality metrics.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising derating components to operate at a reduced component rating based on the identifier.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising:

modifying a component parameter; and

writing the modification to the identifier.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 further comprising disabling further modification of the component identifier without an authorized intervention.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein derating comprises modifying a component parameter through a service interface communicatively coupled to at least one of the node electronics units.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprises authenticating modifications through at least one of an electronic authentication, a mechanical authentication, a electromechanical authentication, an optical authentication, a biological authentication, and a chemical authentication.

15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein derating comprises derating a component rating based on a parameter of a component external to the power distribution system.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising derating a component based on at least one of a power distribution system component wire size, a power distribution system component power consumption, a power distribution system component heat generation capability, and a power distribution system component current rating.

17. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising deducing a physical topology and an electrical topology of the power distribution system based component identifiers and component location.

18. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein reporting a representation of each respective component specifications comprises transmitting a representation of each respective component specifications to the CCPU though the network.

19. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

determining a characteristic of at least one of the plurality of components;

retrieving a plurality of component characteristics from a computer database; and

matching the determined characteristic to the retrieved characteristic.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 further comprising measuring component behavior during operation of the power distribution system.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein determining a characteristic comprises determining at least one of a physical characteristic a chemical characteristic, an electrical characteristic, and a thermal characteristic.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein determining an electrical characteristic comprises determining at least one of a primary coil voltage of a current transformer with a voltage applied to the secondary coil of the current transformer, a ratio of a primary voltage and a secondary voltage of a current transformer during normal power distribution system operation, a cross sectional area of a circuit breaker conductor, a circuit breaker conductor resistivity, a circuit breaker contact voltage drop, a busbar temperature, and an ejected particle characteristic.

23. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising:

exciting a component to facilitate identifying the component;

receiving excitation responses from excited components;

receiving observations from the excited components; and

determining at least one of a physical and electrical topology of the power distribution system based on at least one of the excitation responses and the observations.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein exciting a component comprises exciting the component from a component external to the power distribution system.

25. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein exciting a component comprises exciting the component at least one of electrically, magnetically, acoustically, optically, and electro-magnetically.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein exciting the component electro-magnetically comprises exciting the component using at least one of a power line carrier and a wireless transmission.

27. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein receiving observations comprises at least one of interfacing with a local database, interfacing with a remote database, a manual visual inspection, and an automated visual inspection.

28. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein operating at least one of the node electronics units further comprises modifying calibration constants in the node electronics unit based on at least one of a stored component specification and a component response to an excitation.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein modifying calibration constants in the node electronics unit based on a component response to an excitation comprises modifying calibration constants in the node electronics unit based on a component response to a plurality of excitations.

30. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein modifying calibration constants in the node electronics unit based on a component response to an excitation comprises modifying calibration constants in the node electronics unit based on a component response to an excitation from a component external to the power distribution system.

31. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising:

comparing each component specification to a valid specification based on the component location; and

generating an action response if a component specification is not valid for the component location.

32. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein generating an action response comprises at least one of logging an invalid specification, reporting an invalid specification, correcting a component specification, replacing a component specification failsafe values, operating the power distribution system in a modified mode, and suspending power distribution system operation.

33. A method for operating a centrally-controlled power distribution system wherein the power distribution system includes a plurality of components communicatively coupled to a respective node electronics unit, and at least one node electronics unit coupled to at least one central control processing unit, said method comprising:

associating a unique identifier with at least one component class of the power distribution system wherein the identifier includes at least one of an optically readable identifier, an electronically readable identifier, a magnetically readable identifier, an electro-magnetically readable identifier, and an acoustically readable identifier;

identifying each component based on the identifier;

determining a specification associated with each identifier;

reporting, by the associated node electronics unit, a representation of each respective component specifications to at least one other node electronics unit, and the at least one central control processing unit;

causing the power distribution system to operate based on the reported specifications; and

causing the cower distribution system to operate at least one of the node electronics unit and the control processing unit based on the determined specification.