Power Grid Component Status Detection Using Harmonic Waveform Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for monitoring the operational status of power grid components are incomplete, limited in timeliness and accuracy, and expensive, making it difficult for market participants to manage supply and demand in real-time, which can lead to reliability issues and price volatility.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses harmonic frequencies and waveform anomalies to determine the operational status of power grid components, employing monitoring devices that sample voltage and current signals and transmit them to a processing system for analysis, allowing for near-real-time reporting and prediction of grid events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If magnetic field monitors and electromagnetic field measurement components are used to measure power generation and transmission, then measurement capability is provided, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function by using simple voltage and current sensors instead of complex electromagnetic field measurement systems. The monitoring system focuses on measuring electrical parameters directly rather than inferring power flow from magnetic and electric field measurements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses phasor measurement units (PMUs) that create digital representations (copies) of the electrical state at different locations. These phasor measurements are mathematical models that replicate the behavior of the power system without requiring physical sensors at every point, reducing the overall device complexity while providing comprehensive measurement coverage.
2Loss of information
If real-time data collection from multiple locations is implemented, then information completeness improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional monitoring system where PMUs perform multiple functions: measuring voltage and current phasors, synchronizing data across the grid using GPS timing, detecting power flow changes, and providing location information. This universal approach consolidates multiple measurement and communication functions into integrated units, reducing overall system complexity while improving information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central server as an intermediary that receives phasor measurements from multiple PMUs, performs centralized data processing and correlation, and generates comprehensive grid status information. This intermediary approach allows distributed simple sensors to achieve centralized intelligence, improving information completeness without requiring each local device to be complex.
3Measurement precision
If harmonic frequency analysis is used to determine operational status, then detection accuracy improves, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic signal filtering systems with digital signal processing. PMUs use digital algorithms to analyze phasor measurements and detect harmonic frequencies, power flow changes, and operational status. This substitution of digital processing for analog or mechanical systems reduces physical device complexity while improving detection accuracy through sophisticated computational methods.
Data Source
AI summary
The application discloses a method and apparatus for determining an operational status of one or more power grid components (35) of a power grid (30). The grid components (35) have component signatures representative of the operational status of the power grid component (35). The method includes obtaining, using a monitor (20), at least one of a current waveform or a voltage waveform at a location, analyzing the obtained one of the current waveform or the voltage waveform, establishing one or more waveform data values of the waveform, accessing a database having a plurality of component signatures, and by comparison of the waveform data values with the component signatures producing one or more results representative of the operational status.