Improving the management of protection and control system assets by using a platform concept

Abstract

Throughout the history of power system protection, improvements have continuously been made to all aspects of protection equipment. The most important advances were made possible with the introduction of static technology, and more recently numerical technology. Microprocessor technology has been utilised in power system protection, control and measurement equipment for some years now. Multiple-function numerical protection relays are currently available from many protection equipment manufacturers, providing user-configurable inputs and outputs, substation control system interfaces, disturbance recording, etc. The most recent developments employ a common software and hardware platform for various protection and control products. This paper outlines the principles upon which such a platform is designed and considers the factors that will influence future equipment development. Such platforms are characterised by a modular hardware architecture, running modular application software from a library of functions. The rapid development of microelectronics technology has had a great influence on the life-cycle of systems in which it is employed and thereby on the management of protection and control equipment assets. When updating e.g. processor module hardware and software, a platform approach allows an increase in processing power respectively protection and control functionality and an extension to system life-times. A platform approach also allows appreciable long-term economic and technical benefits for both manufacturers and users alike. For example, users profit from the fact that, for a complete range of products, the number of spare parts is practically reduced to that of one equipment. The amount of training for testing, maintenance, and operation of the man-machine interface etc. is also correspondingly reduced.