Imaging Unit Detects Relay Abnormalities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power distribution network monitoring systems are vulnerable to data collection relay failures, theft, or damage due to natural phenomena or malicious activities, which can disrupt the detection of abnormalities in power distribution networks.
Innovation Solution
A power distribution network monitoring system comprising measuring instruments, data collection relays, imaging units, and abnormality detectors that capture images of the relays to detect changes, allowing for the identification of abnormalities such as damage or theft by comparing image data over time intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data collection relays are deployed on power lines for monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but vulnerability to damage, theft, or failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces imaging units as intermediary devices that capture images of data collection relays and transmit them to management centers. This intermediary imaging system allows monitoring of the relays' status without requiring physical access or direct connection to the vulnerable relays themselves, thus preserving measurement capability while reducing direct exposure to damage and theft risks.
2Reliability
If imaging units are added to monitor data collection relays, then abnormality detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where imaging units continuously capture images of data collection relays and transmit them to management centers. The management center compares sequential images to detect changes in the relays' appearance or status. This feedback loop enables automatic abnormality detection without requiring complex manual monitoring systems, as the system self-regulates by comparing current images with historical data.
3Speed
If images are captured at regular time intervals for monitoring, then abnormality detection speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by capturing images at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. The imaging units take snapshots at regular intervals and transmit only when changes are detected or at scheduled times. This periodic monitoring approach maintains fast abnormality detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous imaging and transmission, as the system remains inactive between scheduled capture intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A power distribution network monitoring system includes a plurality of measuring instruments that are installed at predetermined positions on power lines constituting a power distribution network and configured to perform electrical measurement of the power lines; a data collection relay configured to receive data related to measurement results from the plurality of measuring instruments; an imaging unit that is disposed near the data collection relay and configured to capture an image including the data collection relay; an abnormality detector configured to use the image captured by the imaging unit to detect an abnormality in the data collection relay; and a storage unit configured to store image data taken by the imaging unit. The image data consists of a single image previously captured by the imaging unit. The abnormality detector compares the latest image captured by the imaging unit and the image data stored by the storage unit and determines whether or not an appearance of the data collection relay changes. If it is determined that there is no change in the appearance of the data collection relay, the image data in the storage unit is updated with the latest image captured by the imaging unit.