Power distribution panel switch gear and a monitoring and control system having a distribution panel switch gear

• US 6,947,813 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Toru, Sugihara, Masashi, Ito, Akio, Shimizu, Katsuhito, Fukai, Masayuki, Namba, Shigeaki, Kusaka, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US10/777,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/292, 702/183, 324/424, 324/500
• US Class Current: 700/286
• 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 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A monitoring and control system is provided having a control device, arranged in a central controller room, which provides commands to power distribution panel switch gear located in the field. The switch gear transmits and receives controlling and monitoring signals through wireless communication applying an evanescent mode. The switch gear has a power circuit connected to a plurality of devices to be operated. The switch gear is a panel comprising metal and non-metal surfaces, so that a portion of wireless waves in the evanescent mode travel out of the panel. A receiver is provided for monitoring the wireless waves that travel out of the panel. The wireless signals are compared with information stored in a diagnostics database, and are diagnostically evaluated to determine whether the signals are within a known normal operating range.

Claims

1. An equipment diagnostic system comprising:

a power distribution panel switch gear arranged near a plurality of devices to be operated, said power distribution panel switch gear comprising a panel having metal and non-metal surfaces;

a communication module, arranged in the power distribution panel switch gear, for receiving and transmitting instructions to said plurality of devices using wireless communication in an evanescent mode;

a controller, arranged in a central control room, for transmitting instructions to said power distribution panel switch gear through wireless communication;

a receiver for receiving wireless communication waves, in an evanescent mode, emanting from said power distribution panel switch gear, and

a diagnostic judgment device for diagnosing whether information content of the wireless communication waves received by said receiver is within an operating range acknowledged to be a normal operating range.

2. The equipment diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic judgment device detects precursory indications of abnormality or deterioration by analyzing the information content of the wireless communication waves existing under normal operating conditions of said power distribution panel switch gear, and judges whether amounts of change of the information content of the wireless communication waves have deviated from a normal range.

3. The equipment diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic judgment device has a transmitter which can transmit test wireless signals in a single frequency band, in addition to the wireless communication wave signals, used inside said power distribution panel switch gear under the normal operating conditions thereof.

4. The equipment diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostic judgment device has a transmitter which can transmit test wireless signals in a non-single frequency band, in addition to the wireless wave communication signals, used inside said power distribution panel switch gear under the normal operating conditions thereof.

5. The equipment diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the metal surfaces in any section of the power distribution panel switch gear comprise a material which enables penetration of the wireless communication waves.

6. The equipment diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein, after information has been received from said power distribution panel switch gear, said diagnostic judgment device stores the information into a database and outputs the information according to a value-judging market price indicating a degree of usefulness of the information.