Auxiliary Relay Contact Multiplication for Substation Data Acquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional high voltage equipment protection, supervision, and monitoring systems face increased complexity, cost, and space requirements due to the need for numerous outlet contacts and extensive cabling as the number of contacts to be monitored grows, leading to more vulnerable points and potential failures.

Innovation Solution

A system that integrates auxiliary relays for contact multiplication and digital data acquisition, allowing direct digital acquisition of contact statuses within devices using simple circuits, reducing the need for multiple inlets and cabling by transmitting information digitally over a single communication channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of outlet contacts in auxiliary relays is increased to serve multiple systems, then the information coverage is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal data acquisition module that can read contact status information and transmit it to multiple systems through a single communication channel. This multi-functional module replaces the need for multiple dedicated outlet contacts, allowing one contact to serve multiple purposes and systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining information coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a data acquisition module as an intermediary between the auxiliary relay contacts and the multiple receiving systems. This intermediary reads the contact status and redistributes the information to various systems through a standardized communication interface, eliminating the need for each system to have dedicated contacts while ensuring comprehensive information distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the number of inlets in data acquisition equipment is increased to monitor more contacts, then the measurement capability is improved, but the equipment cost and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidequipment cost and space
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data acquisition module is designed with a universal interface that can monitor multiple contact statuses through a single inlet. The module internally processes and identifies the status of each contact, providing comprehensive measurement capability without requiring proportional increases in the number of physical inlets, thus reducing equipment cost and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating physical copies of inlet connections for each contact to be monitored, the patent uses a single inlet that reads the contact status and creates digital representations of the signal state. This digital copying approach allows unlimited monitoring capability from a single physical connection, eliminating the need for multiple expensive inlet connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If extensive cabling is used to connect auxiliary relays to data acquisition equipment, then the information transmission capability is improved, but the installation cost and potential failure points increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transmission capabilityVSAvoidpotential failure points
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a data acquisition module as an intermediary that consolidates multiple information transmission paths into a single communication channel. Instead of requiring separate cables for each contact to each system, the module reads all contact statuses and transmits them through one standardized communication interface, dramatically reducing cabling while maintaining full transmission capability and reducing potential failure points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple separate communication paths into a single integrated data transmission channel. By combining the information from all contacts into one standardized digital stream, the system eliminates the need for extensive individual cabling while preserving the ability to transmit all information to all required systems, thus improving reliability by reducing connection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2135338B1System for acquisition of data and multiplication of signalling and protection contacts in equipments of substations and electric power plants and similar
Publication Date: 2016.08.03 SANTOS EDUARDO PEDROSA
  • EP2135338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2135338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2135338B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

System for acquisition of data and multiplication of signalling and protection contacts in equipments of substations and electric power plants and similar, it consists in the utilization of auxiliary relays (4) for contacts multiplication (2) of devices (1) of protection and supervision as a way of entrance of the information for digital acquisition of data, also making possible that the digital acquisition of the state of the contacts (2) of the protection and supervision devices is accomplished directly in the devices properly said by means of the incorporation of simple circuits at the same.