IED Power Perturbation Analysis for Equipment Restart Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power quality issues, such as voltage sags, swells, and transients, significantly impact electrical equipment, leading to costly equipment restarts and reduced operational life, with existing methods failing to effectively manage and mitigate these disturbances in a customized and cost-effective manner.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) that process energy-related signals to identify and quantify the effects of electrical perturbations, using dynamic tolerance curves to analyze and communicate the impact of these events, allowing for proactive control measures to reduce equipment stress and extend operational life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power quality issues are monitored using conventional methods, then basic detection is achieved, but effective management and mitigation of disturbances cannot be implemented in a customized and cost-effective manner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment operational reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the monitoring function into multiple intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) distributed throughout the electrical system. Each IED independently monitors local power quality parameters and communicates findings to a central system, enabling customized mitigation strategies for different equipment without requiring a monolithic complex monitoring infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where IEDs monitor power quality parameters, analyze disturbances using dynamic tolerance curves, and automatically trigger mitigation actions. This closed-loop feedback enables effective management of disturbances while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If dynamic tolerance curves are used to analyze electrical perturbations, then real-time identification and quantification of effects is achieved, but additional processing requirements increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperturbation effect measurement precisionVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Dynamic tolerance curves are pre-calculated and stored in the IEDs before disturbances occur. When electrical perturbations are detected, the system simply compares measured parameters against these pre-established curves to rapidly identify and quantify effects, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations during actual events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic tolerance curves act as an intermediary reference standard between the raw electrical measurements and the interpretation of disturbance effects. This intermediary layer simplifies the analysis by providing predefined thresholds and characteristics against which all perturbations are measured, reducing processing complexity while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If equipment restarts are prevented through proactive control measures, then equipment life is extended, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment operational lifeVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IEDs are equipped with embedded logic to automatically detect disturbances, compare them against dynamic tolerance curves, and trigger mitigation actions without human intervention. The system serves itself by making autonomous decisions to prevent equipment restarts, extending equipment life while maintaining control system simplicity through self-contained intelligent devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary protective actions by detecting early signs of harmful perturbations and automatically initiating mitigation measures before equipment damage or restart occurs. This proactive approach extends equipment operational life by preventing stress events, while the automated nature of the preliminary actions keeps control system complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3818386B1Systems and methods for analyzing effects of electrical perturbations on equipment in an electrical system
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA INC
  • EP3818386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3818386B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3818386B1 patent drawingFigure 1B

AI summary

A method for analyzing effects of electrical perturbations on equipment in an electrical system includes processing energy-related signals from at least one intelligent electronic device in the electrical system to identify an electrical perturbation in the electrical system. An end time of the electrical perturbation may be determined, and electrical measurement data from prior to, during and/or after the end time of the electrical perturbation may be analyzed to identify and quantify the effects of the electrical perturbation on equipment in the electrical system. The effects may include, for example, equipment restarts/re-energizations due to the electrical perturbation. One or more actions may be taken or performed to reduce the effects of the electrical perturbation and extend the life of the equipment. The actions may include, for example, at least one of communicating the equipment restarts/re-energizations and controlling at least one component in the electrical system.