Oscillation Hazard Detection in Power Grids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply network monitoring systems face challenges in accurately and efficiently identifying critical power swings, leading to potential network failures and blackouts due to the overwhelming number of measured values and the need for differentiated alarm signals that do not overwhelm operators.

Innovation Solution

A method that synchronously detects current and/or voltage vector measured values at multiple points in the network, calculates state variables characterizing oscillations, determines amplitude and damping characteristics, and outputs signals based on hazard parameters to provide differentiated risk information to operators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of measuring points and sampling intervals is increased to improve monitoring precision, then the measurement precision and reliability improve, but the quantity of measured values increases rapidly making it difficult for operators to process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring precisionVSAvoidnumber of measured values
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and monitors only the most critical parameters (amplitude and damping factor of power swings) from the large volume of measured data, filtering out unnecessary information to present only essential alarm signals to operators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the large number of raw measured values into a small set of meaningful parameters (amplitude characteristic values and damping factors) through mathematical evaluation, making the data manageable and actionable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If simple threshold value systems are used to reduce complexity, then the device complexity decreases, but the ability to accurately identify critical power swings and differentiate alarm levels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidpower swing detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic alarm system that adapts threshold values based on the damping factor calculations, allowing the system to automatically adjust its sensitivity and differentiate between critical and non-critical power swings without increasing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If all measured values are monitored and displayed to ensure complete information, then the reliability of monitoring improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to operator overload from excessive alarm signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring reliabilityVSAvoidoperator workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different monitoring strategies to different power swing scenarios by calculating damping factors and comparing them against threshold values, providing localized, context-specific alarm signals rather than uniform monitoring of all data points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automated evaluation system that acts as an intermediary between the measured values and operators, automatically processing the data and presenting only essential alarm information to reduce operator workload while maintaining monitoring reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2774242B1Method for generating a signal indicating an oscillation in an electrical energy supply network
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2774242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2774242B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2774242B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to provide the operating personnel of a control centre of an electrical energy supply in a suitable manner with information about any oscillations that have occurred in the energy supply network. Said aim is achieved by a method for generating a signal indicating an oscillation of an electrical variable in an electrical energy supply network. In said method, a state variable characterising an oscillation state of the electrical variable is calculated from measured values of current indicators and/or voltage indicators. If an oscillation exists, an amplitude characteristic value (A) indicating the amplitude of the course of the state variable and a damping characteristic value (xi) indicating a damping of an oscillation of the course of the state variable are additionally determined. The position of a particular value pair consisting of an amplitude characteristic value and an associated damping characteristic value is compared with hazard ranges, which are present in a value range (44a-c) and indicate a particular hazard level of the oscillation in the energy supply network, to determine a hazard parameter, and the signal indicating the oscillation is output on the basis of the particular hazard parameter.