Reconfigurable Differential Protection Scheme for Power Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current differential protection schemes in electrical power networks face challenges in efficiently reconfiguring to accommodate changes in terminal configurations, such as adding or removing terminals, which can lead to errors and damage if not managed properly, especially in networks with multiple terminals where direct point-to-point communication becomes impractical due to cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable differential protection scheme that utilizes a communications network, such as a daisy-chain, ring, meshed, star, bus, or tree network, to communicate reconfiguration information among terminals, allowing for scalable and efficient addition or removal of terminals without the need for direct point-to-point connections, enabling the scheme to adapt dynamically and maintain reliable protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct point-to-point communication links are used between all terminals, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The communication network is segmented into hierarchical levels with master terminals and slave terminals. Instead of direct point-to-point links between all terminals, communication is routed through master terminals that act as intermediaries, dividing the communication task into manageable segments and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Master terminals serve as intermediaries between slave terminals and the differential protection scheme. The master terminal receives control data from slave terminals, processes it, and communicates with the protection scheme, eliminating the need for direct communication links between all terminals while maintaining communication reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the differential protection scheme is made reconfigurable to accommodate terminal changes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The differential protection scheme is made dynamic and reconfigurable through the master terminal, which can identify and adapt to changes in the number of slave terminals. The system automatically adjusts its configuration by detecting terminal additions or removals and updating its operation accordingly, allowing flexibility without requiring complex manual reconfiguration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The master terminal performs self-service by automatically identifying changes in the slave terminal configuration and adapting the differential protection scheme accordingly. This self-identifying capability eliminates the need for external intervention or complex reconfiguration procedures, achieving adaptability with minimal added complexity.
3Reliability
If the system must identify and adapt to changes in terminal configuration, then reliability is improved, but the time required for reconfiguration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master terminal continuously monitors and identifies slave terminals in advance, maintaining an updated configuration state. When changes occur, the system is already prepared to adapt quickly because the master terminal has been actively tracking terminal presence and status, reducing the time required for reconfiguration while maintaining protection reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2a
AI summary
There is provided a method of operating a reconfigurable differential protection scheme for carrying out differential protection of an electrical power network (10), the electrical power network (10) comprising a plurality of terminals (12, 14, 16, 18), each of the plurality of terminals (12, 14, 16, 18) configured to be in communication with each other of the plurality of terminals (12, 14, 16, 18) within a communications network, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the differential protection scheme to deactivate the differential protection; selecting a terminal (14) to be configured out of or into the differential protection scheme; communicating reconfiguration information among the plurality of terminals (12, 14, 16, 18) via the communications network, the reconfiguration information including the selection of the terminal (14) to be configured out of or into the differential protection scheme, wherein the communications network is any one of: a daisy-chain communications network; a ring communications network; a meshed communications network; a star communications network; a bus communications network; a tree communications network; or a hybrid thereof; after communicating the reconfiguration information among the plurality of terminals (12, 14, 16, 18), modifying a respective differential protection algorithm at each of the non-selected terminals (12, 16, 18) so as to configure the selected terminal (14) out of or into the differential protection scheme; and controlling the differential protection scheme to reactivate the differential protection.