Redundant computers and computer communication networks in a high-voltage power transmission system

• US 8,493,866 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Energy Limited
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Bjrklund, Hans, Nyberg, Krister
• Primary Examiner(s): GHOWRWAL, OMAR J
• Application Number:
  US12/600,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20100158001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370389-390, 370229-230, 370/231, 370/235, 370/236, 709/248, 709223-224, 709/238, 709243-244, 709/249, 709/250, 340/500, 340/531, 340/533, 340/538, 363/13, 363/34, 363/35, 363/50, 363/51
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1675 Temporal synchronisation or re-synchronisation of redundant processing components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2033 switching over of hardware resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component

Abstract

A method for sending signals from an active computer in a high-voltage power transmission system including active protection computers and active and standby control computers in a hierarchical structure having at least two hierarchical levels. A high-voltage power transmission system and a control station for at least a part of such a transmission system. In the system all computers on the various hierarchical levels are connected to at least two separate computer communication networks. An active computer sends signals that are to be received by at least one other computer at the same or another hierarchical level simultaneously on the two separate computer communication networks to which it is connected.

Claims

1. A method for sending protection or control signals from an active computer in a high-voltage power transmission system comprising a hierarchical structure comprising at least two hierarchical levels including a pole level and a converter level and active protection computers and active and standby control computers in the hierarchical structure, at least two power converters operatively interconnected with a direct current power line and connected to the control computers, and at least two separate computer communication networks to which all of the active protection computers and active and standby control computers are operatively connected, the method comprising:

sending, from said active computer in the high-voltage power transmission system, protection or control signals that are to be received by at least one other computer at a same or another hierarchical level simultaneously on said at least two separate computer communication networks to which said active computer is connected; and

synchronizing said sending of said protection or control signals with processing being performed in relation to said protection or control signals in said active computer,

wherein the sending comprises sending at least some of said protection or control signals using a broadcasting or multicasting scheme so that more than one other computer can receive said protection or control signals via said two separate networks.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending comprises sending at least some protection or control signals using a direct addressing scheme.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein all computers on all hierarchical levels are connected to the same computer communication networks.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein all computers in a first group of neighboring levels are connected to a first and a second separate computer communication network, all computers in a first section of a second group of neighboring levels are connected to a third and a fourth separate computer communication network and all computers in a second section of the second group of neighboring levels are connected to a fifth and a sixth separate computer communication network.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the computers on one level are provided in both the first and the second group.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control computers in the various hierarchical levels are provided for closed-loop control of system elements.

7. A high-voltage power transmission system, comprising:

a hierarchical structure comprising at least two hierarchical levels including a pole level and a converter level,

active protection computers and active and standby control computers in the hierarchical structure,

at least two power converters operatively connected to the control computers,

a direct current power line operatively interconnecting the at least two power converters,

and

at least two separate computer communication networks to which all of the active protection computers and active and standby control computers are operatively connected,

wherein an active computer is arranged to send the same protection or control signals that are to be received by at least one other computer at a same or another hierarchical level synchronized with processing being performed in relation to said protection or control signals in said active computer simultaneously on said at least two separate computer communication networks to which said active computer is connected and is arranged to send at least some of said protection or control signals using a broadcasting or multicasting scheme so that more than one other computer can receive protection or control signals via said two separate networks.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the active computer is arranged to send at least some protection or control signals using a direct addressing scheme.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein all computers on all hierarchical levels are connected to the same computer communication networks.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein all computers in a first group of neighboring levels are connected to a first and a second separate computer communication network, all computers in a first section of a second group of neighboring levels are connected to a third and a fourth separate computer communication network and all computers in a second section of the second group of neighboring levels are connected to a fifth and a sixth separate computer communication network.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the computers on one level are provided in both the first and the second group.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the control computers in the various hierarchical levels are provided for closed-loop control of system elements.

13. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a router interconnecting the at least two separate computer communication networks.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system is a DC power transmission system.

15. The system according to claim 7, wherein the system operates at voltages around 800 kV.

16. A control station for monitoring or protecting at least a part of a high-voltage power transmission system, the control station comprising:

a hierarchical structure comprising at least two hierarchical levels including a pole level and a converter level,

active protection computers and active and standby control computers in the hierarchical structure,

at least two power converters operatively connected to the control computers,

a direct current power line operatively interconnecting the at least two power converters,

and

at least two separate computer communication networks to which all of the active protection computers and active and standby control computers are operatively connected,

wherein an active computer is arranged to send protection or control signals that are to be received by at least one other computer at the same or another hierarchical level synchronized with processing being performed in relation to said protection or control signals in said active computer simultaneously on said at least two separate computer communication networks to which it is connected and is arranged to send at least some of said protection or control signals using a broadcasting or multicasting scheme so that more than one other computer can receive protection or control signals via said two separate networks.