SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING MEASUREMENT SIGNALS IN SPATIALLY EXTENSIVE SUPPLY NETWORKS

• US 20130054174A1
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: BLANK, Frederik, GAUDER, Markus, LAUXTERMANN, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,693,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/104
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Exemplary systems and methods for monitoring a current state of a spatially extensive supply network having at least one control station that monitors and controls the supply network and a plurality of sensors that transmit measurement values relating to operating behavior to the at least one control station. Current measurement values are measured at positions on the supply network corresponding to each sensor. Each sensor analyzes measured signal variations and signal trends of the measured current values via an evaluating unit. The measurement values of each respective sensor are transmitted to the at least one control station in data packets at a defined time. At each respective sensor, when the analysis detects an abnormal measurement signal variation, a frequency of transmission of the respective sensor and each adjacent sensor is increased, the respective sensor transmitting the measurement values to the at least one control station or to adjacent sensors to which the respective sensor is connected to through a common supply line and which measure an identical or physically similar quantity.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a current state of a spatially extensive supply network, comprising:

at least one control station that monitors and controls the supply network; and

a plurality of sensors for transmitting current measurement values relating to an operating behavior to the at least one control station over the supply network,

wherein each sensor is located at respective positions in the supply network for locally determining the current measurement values, and includes an evaluating unit that analyzes measured signal variations and trends, wherein in order to transmit respective measurement values to the at least one control station, a data transmission is provided which transmits the data in packets and at defined times and which is provided dynamically, and

wherein when a respective sensor detects an abnormal signal variation, a frequency of transmission of the respective sensor and each adjacent sensor is increased, wherein the respective sensor transmits the measurement values to the at least one control station or to adjacent sensors to which the respective sensor is connected by a common supply line and which measure an identical or physically similar quantity.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one control station configures the supply network to control which adjacent sensors are active for how long with what frequency of transmission for which disturbances.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective sensor allocates signal variations to different classes in dependence on a result of the evaluation.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the respective sensor of each measuring device defines a frequency of transmission for each signal variation in dependence on the classification.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the respective sensor reduces the frequency of transmission of a signal when the signals measured by the sensor diagnose a measurement signal variation that is normal within the context of regular operation.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective sensor models relationships between the positions of each sensor and the supply network to establish an intelligent sensor network.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the at least one control station and the evaluating unit of the respective sensor stores the modeled relationship.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sensor synchronizes with one another directly or via the at least one control station, wherein each sensor transmits when adjacent sensors are not transmitting.

9. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each sensor synchronizes with one another directly or via the at least one control station wherein each sensor transmits when adjacent sensors are not transmitting.

10. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each sensor synchronizes with one another directly or via the at least one control station wherein each sensor transmits when adjacent sensors are not transmitting.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sensor includes memory that stores the measured values and from which the stored signals are dispatched or called up in compressed form after a defined time.

12. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each sensor transmits the determined classification information and the transmitted signal to a decision support system of the at least one control station.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the decision support system is an alarm system that analyzes each signal individually.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the decision support system analyzes a status of the supply network in its entirety and supports operators by proposing actions in accordance with individual and merged signal measurement values, individual system states, information items obtained from the system, and learned expert knowledge.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein fault and diagnostic information items of each sensor and status information items of each sensor are transmitted to the decision support system for further processing.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the decision support system generates work orders.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each sensor has a signal preprocessing and diagnostic unit that detects and classifies erroneous signal states from the measured signals and monitors a state of a respective sensor and a state of a component connected to the respective sensor.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the component includes a battery.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a part of each sensor includes a signal transmitter and a signal receiver which allow bidirectional communication.

20. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein in order to conserve battery charge, each sensor selectively transmits and receives with a different utilization of battery capacity and in dependence on the battery capacity.

21. A method for monitoring a current state of a spatially extensive supply network having at least one control station for monitoring and controlling the supply network and a plurality of sensors for transmitting measurement values relating to operating behavior to the at least one control station, the method comprising:

measuring current measurement values at positions on the supply network corresponding to each sensor;

analyzing measured signal variations and signal trends of the measured current values via an evaluating unit of each respective sensor; and

transmitting respective measurement values to the at least one control station in data packets at a defined time,

wherein when the analysis detects an abnormal measurement signal variation, increasing a frequency of transmission of the respective sensor and each adjacent sensor, the respective sensor transmitting the measurement values to the at least one control station or to adjacent sensors to which the respective sensor is connected to through a common supply line and which measure an identical or physically similar quantity.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein each sensor defines classification features and classification limits such that a frequent measurement signal transmission due to faulty classification is avoided and the battery life of a respective sensor is significantly increased.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein when an alarm generated by a respective sensor is recognized and acknowledged by the operator at the at least one control station, the at least one control station sends an acknowledgement to the respective sensor, and

wherein the respective sensor reduces a frequency of transmitting a signal to save energy.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the transmission of respective measured values is a wireless transmission.

25. A computer readable medium having program code recorded thereon, which, when in communicable contact with a processor, causes the processor to execute a method for monitoring a current state of a spatially extensive supply network having at least one control station for monitoring and controlling the supply network and a plurality of sensors for transmitting measurement values relating to operating behavior to the at least one control station, each sensor having a respective processor, the method comprising:

measuring current measurement values at positions on the supply network corresponding to each sensor;

analyzing measured signal variations and signal trends of the measured current values via an evaluating unit of each respective sensor; and

transmitting, respective measurement values to the at least one control station in data packets at a defined time,

wherein when the analysis detects an abnormal measurement signal variation, increasing a frequency of transmission of the respective sensor and each adjacent sensor, the respective sensor transmitting the measurement values to the at least one control station or to adjacent sensors to which the respective sensor is connected to through a common supply line and which measure an identical or physically similar quantity.