Communication-Based Fault Recording Device for Power Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording devices in electrical power systems struggle to effectively record both analog and digitally encoded signals, particularly in environments where digital communication channels are used, due to limitations in data storage, trustworthiness of primary devices, and the need for generic recording functions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that receive, digitize, and store analog signals along with digitally encoded information using a user-programmable triggering mechanism, incorporating a hosting device with data acquisition, synchronization, and packet acquisition units to record signals from various communication ports, including non-volatile memory for fault and sequence of events records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If protection and control devices use digital data packets exchanged over communication channels, then information exchange efficiency is improved, but recording and analysis complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication-based recording device as an intermediary component that sits between the digital communication channels and the analysis system. This device captures data packets from communication channels (Ethernet, fiber optic, serial ports), decodes them, and stores them in a structured format, thereby simplifying the recording and analysis process while maintaining the efficiency benefits of digital communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording device creates copies of digital data packets from communication channels and stores them in non-volatile memory. This copying mechanism allows the original communication system to continue operating efficiently while the recorded copies are available for later analysis without interfering with real-time data exchange.
2Reliability
If independent recording devices are used for both fault recording and sequence of events recording, then recording reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges fault recording and sequence of events recording functions into a single integrated device. The system simultaneously captures analog fault waveforms and digital sequence of events from multiple communication channels, storing them together with synchronized timing information. This consolidation maintains reliability by independently recording both types of data while reducing the number of separate devices needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple signal types (analog and digital) from various communication protocols simultaneously. It can record fault data, sequence of events, and communication packet data through a single device interface, eliminating the need for separate specialized recorders for each function.
3Reliability
If digital data packets with re-sending and integrity checks are used, then data transmission reliability is improved, but recording data volume and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The recording device implements selective recording of digital data packets by focusing on capturing only the essential information needed for fault analysis and sequence of events reconstruction. Rather than recording every single packet including redundant re-sends and integrity check data, the system intelligently filters and records only the critical portions, thereby reducing overall data volume while maintaining transmission reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for recording analog signals and digitally encoded information associated with primary and secondary devices of an electric power system includes: receiving a plurality of analog output signals and a plurality of ON/OFF status signals from the electric power system; receiving a time-synchronization analog signal and/or a time-synchronization data packet from a time synchronization source; maintaining an internal clock synchronized with the synchronization source; sampling and digitizing the plurality of analog output signals; monitoring a status and/or a change of status of the plurality of ON/OFF status signals; receiving digitally encoded information signals as incoming data packets; decoding and analyzing the incoming data packets; analyzing the plurality of analog output signals and digitally encoded information signals using a triggering algorithm; and storing digitized analog output signals and digitally encoded information signals together with corresponding timing information in a record as fault and sequence of events records.