US 8,265,908 B2 · System level testing for substation automation systems

Abstract

Protection, measurement and control IEDs in a substation compute if switches they control may be operated safely, according to interlocking rules or physical principles as well as the dynamic topology of the substation. The IEDs have access to the substation electrical topology, to real-time information generated by other IEDs, and to the rules for interlocking. A standardized Substation Configuration Description (SCD) of the substation for which a Substation Automation system is intended, and a standardized description of the implemented device functions or capabilities of an individual IED are utilized. The substation topology is available from SCD file, real time information about the position of switches and line voltage/current can be obtained via an appropriate protocol, and the interlocking rules are available in script form. These features apply both to simulated and real devices, and increase system testing possibilities by supporting an efficient configuration of a simulation.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of testing an interlocking functionality of a first Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) connected to a communication network and adapted to control a first switching device of a substation of an electric power system, the method comprising:

preparing, by the first IED, an interlocking response indicating at least one of a release and blocking property of the first switching device;
determining, by a testing device different from the first IED, an interlocking status indicating at least one of a release and blocking property of the first switching device;
and
determining, in the testing device, a dynamic substation topology that is representative of at least a part of the substation and inferred from a standardized description of a static substation topology and from a dynamic switch status of a second switching device of the substation,
wherein the testing device determines the interlocking status based on the determined dynamic substation topology and interlocking rules.

2 more elements

A test environment comprising:

a first Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) connected to a communication network and adapted to control a first switching device of a substation of an electric power system;
and
a testing device connected to the first IED via the communication network, wherein:
the first IED is configured to prepare an interlocking response indicating at least one of a release and blocking property of the first switching device;
the testing device is configured to
determine a dynamic substation topology that is representative of at least a part of the substation and inferred from a standardized description of a static substation topology and from a dynamic switch status of a second switching device of the substation, and
determine an interlocking status indicating at least one of a release and blocking property of the first switching device, based on the determined dynamic substation topology and interlocking rules.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System level testing for substation automation systems

Life of this patent

System level testing for substation automation systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16