U.S. patent application number 09/751970 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for system and method to provide maintenance for an electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system.
Invention is credited to Gundersen, Lars S., Kleivi, Roald, Midtgard, Ole-Morten, Moen, Ragnar, Nysveen, Arne, Tveit, Tor Andreas.
Application Number | 20020087220 09/751970 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25024287 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020087220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tveit, Tor Andreas ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
System and method to provide maintenance for an electrical power
generation, transmission and distribution system
Abstract
A method for providing maintenance to an electrical power
generation, transmission and distribution system, and an
information system and one or more computer program software means
for carrying out same. A method to provide maintenance to an
electrical power generation facility and/or an electrical power
transmission and distribution network system operated by a Utility.
Maintenance personnel visit a site to inspect a condition of said
apparatus, and examine information from an Information System
operated in co-ordination with a Help Desk. The method comprises
further steps such as preparing a report of the apparatus with a
mobile web camera, making a report comprising a graphic image of
the condition of said apparatus, receiving at said Help Desk and
Information System the report and graphic image from the
inspector/repairman, finding stored information about said
apparatus and/or said system in said Information System, comparing
said stored information with the report and/or graphic image, the
inspector/repairman making in consultation with the Help Desk an
assessment of the condition of said apparatus and providing a
recommendation such as a repair, a temporary repair or making a
plan for a repair at a later time.
Inventors: |
Tveit, Tor Andreas; (Oslo,
NO) ; Kleivi, Roald; (Oslo, NO) ; Moen,
Ragnar; (Oslo, NO) ; Midtgard, Ole-Morten;
(Billingstad, NO) ; Gundersen, Lars S.;
(Billingstad, NO) ; Nysveen, Arne; (Billingstad,
NO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JENKENS & GILCHRIST
3200 Fountain Place
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas
TX
75202-2799
US
|
Family ID: |
25024287 |
Appl. No.: |
09/751970 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 20/14 20130101;
Y04S 10/50 20130101; G06Q 10/063 20130101; Y04S 10/60 20130101;
G05B 23/0283 20130101; G06Q 50/06 20130101; G06Q 10/06311
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/22 |
International
Class: |
G05B 011/01 |
Claims
1. A method to provide maintenance to an electrical power
generation facility and/or an electrical power transmission and
distribution network system and apparatus connected to said system,
operated by a Utility, whereby maintenance personnel visit a site
where a said apparatus is located to inspect a condition of said
apparatus, and examine information from an information system,
wherein said method comprises the further steps of: having the
inspector/repairman examine said apparatus with an inspection means
and prepare a report comprising at least one graphic image of the
condition of said apparatus, receiving at said help desk and
Information System the report and graphic image from the
inspector/repairman, finding stored information about said
apparatus and/or said system in said Information System, comparing
said stored information with the report and/or graphic image,
making an assessment of the condition of said apparatus and
providing a recommendation for a maintenance measure such as a
repair.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of making a
decision for the inspector/repairman to carry out a repair in
consultation with the Help Desk.
3. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of that the
inspector/repairman carries out a temporary repair in consultation
with the Help Desk.
4. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of that the
repair carried out is documented by inspector/repairman in
consultation with the Help Desk and a report of that repair is
stored in the Information System.
5. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of that the
inspector/repairman in consultation with the Help Desk makes a plan
to repair a fault at a later time.
6. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of that the
inspector/repairman in consultation with the Help Desk documents
the plan to repair a fault at a later time in full.
7. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of that the
plan to repair a fault at a later time comprises a guaranty.
8. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of taking
action to place purchase and/or procurement orders for spare parts
and or new equipment.
9. A method according to claim 1, comprising a stop of taking
action to place one or more work orders to procure and schedule
work according to a plan for repair to an equipment or to a part of
the power network.
10. A method according to claim 1, comprising that information
about a condition of an equipment or part of the power network is
transmitted at least in part over the Internet.
11. A method according to claim 1, comprising that the Help Desk is
implemented as one or more engineers with mobile communications,
mobile computers, and mobile access to data communication networks
including the Internet.
12. A method according to claim 1, is that the Help Desk is
implemented further comprising one or more computer programs of an
expert system type configured so as to enable an
inspector/repairman to input information concerning an equipment
and retrieve further technical information about maintenance of the
equipment.
13. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further steps of
selecting a possible action for a repair of temporary measure such
as switching in or out a load, inputting technical details such as
an electrical load and/or an electrical configuration to one or
more computer programs for modelling and/or simulating individual
equipment and/or a part of a power network according to the
possible repair or temporary measure, examining the modelling
result and appraising the merits of the possible repair or
temporary measure.
14. A method according to claim 13, comprising the further steps of
modelling an effect of any of; disconnecting lines, disconnection
of a complete or partial of load, reconfiguring the power network
by for example disconnecting one switch and connecting another,
operation of an equipment such as a transformer at reduced load,
operation of an equipment such as a transformer at increased
load.
15. A method according to claim 13, comprising the further step of
evaluating a possible result of a maintenance action such as: a
consequence for electrical power consumers, and a reduction of
life-time (service life or average service life) of a
component.
16. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of receiving
from the Utility notice of a condition of an equipment or part of
the power network.
17. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of receiving
from the power network information reporting a condition of an
equipment or part of the power network.
18. A method according to claim 17, comprising the step of
receiving from the power network information reporting a condition
of an equipment or part of the power network dependent on an
analysis of a signal from a camera at a site or other location of
the power network.
19. A power system information system to provide maintenance for an
electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system
and apparatus connected to said power system, said Information
System comprising one or more databases, and communication links to
maintenance personnel located elsewhere, wherein said information
system comprises: an engineering/service Help Desk, mobile
inspection means to make a graphic image for an inspection report,
communication means at the Help Desk to receive a inspection report
comprising a graphic image, display means at the Help desk to
examine the report and/or the graphic image, mobile terminal,
computer and display mans to retrieve information from the one or
more databases, computer and display means to compare the graphic
image and/or inspection report with retrieved information.
20. A power system information system according to claim 19, in
which the inspection means comprises a web camera arranged to send
pictures in a format such as TCP/IP suitable for transmission over
a network such as the Internet.
21. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises a communication means enabling two-way voice
communication between an inspector at a site and the Help Desk.
22. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises storage means to document details of a decision to
provide maintenance service.
23. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises reporting and storage means to document details of a plan
to provide maintenance service at a later time.
24. A power system information system according to claim 23, which
comprises ordering and scheduling means to issue purchase orders
and work orders in respect of the plan to provide maintenance
service at a later time.
25. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises computer program and/or software means to match a
identified apparatus to details of the apparatus stored as files in
a database of the system, the files comprising any of text,
graphic, interactive multimedia, a sound recording.
26. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises software means to log-on a registered or identified
representative of the Utility to examine operations of the power
system information database.
27. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises software means to log-on a registered or identified
representative of the Utility to examine operations of the
engineering Help Desk in real time.
28. A power system information system according to claim 19, which
comprises computer program and/or software means to model and or
simulate an effect on the power system of any of the following: a
disconnection; a partial disconnection; a reconfiguring or
switching in of one part and switching out of another part; an
increased load on an equipment; a reduced load on an equipment.
29. Use of a system according to claims 19-28 to provide a
condition monitoring system to monitor the condition of a location
for an equipment of a power generation, transmission and
distribution system.
30. Use of a system according to claims 19-28 to provide a
maintenance service to a power generation, transmission and
distribution system.
31. Use of a system according to claims 19-28 to provide
maintenance service for a power generation, transmission and
distribution system associated with an type of industrial plant as
diverse as plants such as an airport, a hospital, a paper mill, a
petroleum refinery or a vehicle assembly plant.
32. A computer program product comprising computer code means or
software code portions to make a computer or a processor operate in
Information System comprising one or more databases and a Help Desk
to provide maintenance for an electrical power generation,
transmission and distribution system and apparatus connected to
said power system, wherein said computer or processor is made to
carry out actions to provide maintenance for said power system
including to: receive a data input representing at least one
maintenance report, match the data input to an apparatus connected
to a Power System network with information stored in a database,
receive a second input documenting a maintenance repair action,
link the second documented repair action to the apparatus and
network, store the documented repair action.
33. A computer program product according to claim 32, which
comprises software means for carrying out a further action to:
update status reports for the apparatus and network.
34. A computer program product according to claim 32, which
comprises software means for carrying out a further action to: send
a signal in the form of a purchase order comprising details for
replacement apparatus of spare parts to a parts supplier.
35. A computer program product according to claim 32, which
comprises software means for carrying out a further action to: send
a signal comprising details for work orders dependent on the
documented repair action to a maintenance Service Provider company
(3).
36. The computer program code element of claim 32, which comprises
computer code means or software code portions including executable
parts formed written as one or more object oriented programs and
accessible and implementable over a network such as the
Internet.
37. A computer program contained in a computer readable medium,
comprising computer program code means to make a computer or
processor carry out the steps according to any of claims 1-18 or
claims 32-36.
38. A web site comprising means for providing access to a database
of a Power System Information System, which database includes
information about an electrical power generation, transmission and
distribution system and apparatus connected to said power system,
which web site comprises computer program means interoperable with
means such as HTML, cHTML, XHMTL or XML compatible code wherein in
said web site includes computer program means for executing actions
to carry out any of the methods of claims 1-18.
39. A web site according to claim 38, further comprising software
means for executing actions to issue or receive electronic document
orders for apparatus such as spare parts which documents conform to
one or more standards for electronic document interchange EDI such
as EDIFACT, ASC X12, or other standards such as XHTML 1.0, DOM
level 3, SWIFT EDI.
40. A first computer data signal embodied for communication in a
computerised system, the communication being associated with
maintenance of an apparatus of a system for electrical power
generation, transmission and distribution, wherein that the first
data signal: is transmitted from a location of said electrical
power generation, transmission and distribution system to an
information system for said electrical power generation,
transmission and distribution system and the first data signal
comprises a graphic image representing a condition of said
apparatus for maintenance purposes.
41. A second computer data signal embodied for communication in a
computerized system, the communication being associated with
maintenance of an apparatus of a system for electrical power
generation, transmission and distribution, wherein that the second
data signal: is transmitted from an information system for said
electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system
to a maintenance provider company and comprises information
associated with a maintenance specification of said apparatus in
the information system regarding a plan to provide maintenance for
said apparatus.
42. A computer data signal as claimed in claim 41, wherein that it
is sent to a maintenance provider company and comprises information
associated with a maintenance specification of said apparatus a
request to purchase spare parts and/or replacement equipment for
said apparatus.
43. A computer data signal as claimed in claim 41, wherein that the
information in said data signal comprises at least one part
identifying said apparatus and one part identifying sender of the
purchase request.
44. A computer data signal as claimed in claim 41, wherein that the
computer data signal is generated by an automatic maintenance
providing procedure of the information system.
45. A computer data signal as claimed in claim 41, wherein that the
computerized system is adapted to create and send a purchase order
to purchase, based on the computer data signal, spare parts and/or
replacement equipment.
Description
TECHNICAL AREA
[0001] The present invention relates to providing maintenance for
an electrical power transmission and distribution network, as well
as for power generation installations. In particular the present
invention is a device and a system, and a method to provide
maintenance for all parts of an electrical power system. According
to other aspects of the invention a database means, an inspection
means, a Help Desk means, and a web site are also provided.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Electrical power generation, transmission and distribution
relies on a number of transmission and distribution networks to
transfer electrical power to a series of end users, as well as the
generating equipment itself. Generating equipment includes the
devices for generating the electrical power, most often an
electrical machine such as for example a synchronous generator.
Generating equipment also includes fuel cells, batteries such as
used in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), solar cells etc. It
also includes the devices necessary for actually bringing the power
to the transmission or distribution networks, such as power
transformers, instrument transformers, circuit breakers of various
kinds, surge arresters etc., as well as secondary devices such as
transducers, sensors and other devices needed for controlling the
system. A transmission network can include high voltage lines or
cables, both AC and DC, and a diversity of equipment meant to
ensure the secure and reliable transmission of power, for example
reactors, capacitors, Synchronous Condensers, Static Var
Compensators, FACTS components, etc., and secondary devices as
referred to above. Whereas transmission refers to the highest level
in the hierarchy of systems that eventually deliver electrical
power to end consumers, distribution networks are systems that are
closer to end users, including both high voltage, medium voltage,
and low voltage systems, medium voltage being defined as the lower
levels of high voltage. A distribution network on high or medium
voltage level will be similar to a transmission network. On the
lowest levels of distribution, the voltage is typically transformed
from medium voltage to low voltage, which is the level that
ordinary consumers see. Such systems typically include medium
voltage, low voltage and feeder sections with a diversity of
switching equipment, substations, transformers, breakers, fuses,
measuring and other electrical equipment situated in a diversity of
locations, buildings and yards. This includes distribution
equipment to more or less specialised equipment for industrial and
commercial consumers, factories etc., as well as ordinary household
consumers.
[0003] The background of this invention is in electrical power
transmission and distribution networks, and in electrical power
generation. The invention specifically also relates to generation
and distribution functions of plants including smaller and less
traditional generation means such as micro turbines, wind farms,
Combined Heat and Power plants (CHP) and other often privately
owned generators that supply power to the network in a distributed
fashion.
[0004] Operations and operational service criteria may be
classified not only by type of consumer, large or small for
example. Factors of location such as rural, urban or city;
criticality of supply, that is, supply for a hospital versus supply
for a warehouse contribute to a diverse range of requirements for
delivery of electrical power. The operation of such transmission
and distribution networks demands a broad diversity of know how,
organisation, maintenance, financing, development or expansion,
spare parts, access to new equipment and technically skilled
labour.
[0005] By tradition, and under conditions of a regulated market
with state or community owned monopolies, a utility company is a
company that operates and usually owns generating and/or
transmission/distribution equipment. The utility company carries
out a range of functions including maintenance of a network in
accord with both present and future requirements. This is typically
based on the utilities own business plan and carried out using
primarily in-house engineering staff and other specialist
professionals, supplemented as needed by outside sub-contractors
and/or consultants to perform specific maintenance or more often
installation tasks. As a result of a specific plan for maintenance
for the network, maintenance work is carried out to ensure a
planned level of service availability for the network and it's
several power generation, distribution and power supply parts. In
practice assets are owned and maintenance staff employed or
allocated as or when needed to execute a maintenance plan designed
to meet a present or forecast demand for electrical power.
[0006] However under de-regulation market conditions have led to a
refocussing of priorities as regards the requirement for
maintenance of a transmission and distribution network to better
meet present requirements and future requirements. First,
maintenance is expected to be carried out under a more cost
effective and predictable cost regime. Second, emphasis on meeting
stringent power levels, power availability and power quality
requirements set by regulatory authorities, together with a
generally reduced investment in installed plant throughout the
industry, demands maintenance that shall provide solutions that
comply with both stringent technical and financial demands. One
such approach is called RCM--Reliability Centred Maintenance.
[0007] Third, the increased focus on distributed, environmentally
friendly generation, is leading to growing numbers of smaller and
unconventional power plants such as micro turbines, Combined Heat
and Power (CHP) plants, wind farms, tidal water or ocean wave
plants, solar cell plants, and Fuel Cell plants, being connected to
power grids. At the same time, components such as power lines and
transformers are increasingly being operated closer to their
physical, often thermal, limits. This makes the power system
itself, and its operation and maintenance, more complex. For
example, operating power lines closer to their thermal limits at
the same time as new asynchronous wind parks are connected to the
grid destabilises the power system, and increases the risk of
error. Another example is that the connection of a large number of
small, often single phase, generators makes it more difficult to
carry out network control functions such as balancing loads in
parts of the network, thereby also increasing the risk of
error.
[0008] Fourthly under de-regulated market conditions the owner or
operator of a power distribution network may not be a traditional
utility company with experience of running and maintaining such
networks. For such a new owner/operator the provision of
maintenance in an effective and economic way without the benefit of
access to internal know-how may be difficult.
[0009] Thus, utilities and operators are faced with the challenge
of delivering high quality, reliable electric power at competitive
rates to their customers using limited manpower and resources. This
calls for devices, systems and methods that can provide maintenance
of a power system in a cost-effective and reliable way.
[0010] A document available from enervista.com (Trade Mark)
describes an approach to substation management for municipal
utilities and rural co-operatives that includes the use of
Internet-technology. A system is described with modules with names
such as eSCADA and eEXPERT. With an eSCADA module, substations are
equipped with a Universal Relay provided by General Electric (GE),
and monitored via a Web-interface. When an error in the system
occurs, an alarm and error message appears in a Web-browser
included in eSCADA, and certain information on the fault is
available. Associated with the fault information is the eEXPERT
module, which is a knowledge base with public documents and
internet links to websites of standards, application papers, notes
and diagnosis guides, as well as proprietary procedures and
documents. One advantage is stated to be a significant speed-up of
outage restoration by less-experienced staff. It is also mentioned
that if a fault or early warning is detected by a regional
operator, an engineer could be contacted to access settings, events
at time of trip etc to assist in recommending suitable corrective
actions. It also is described that a repair crew, prior to heading
out, can get exact details of what equipment has failed, where it
is, and the nature of the problem. It is also mentioned that the
crew can call up and print stored documents such as network
configuration, wiring diagrams and maintenance procedures.
[0011] The advantage of the system described seems to be limited to
that the Utility itself has a presumably cheaper software system
for substation management, cheaper because of the utilisation of
the ubiquitous Internet-technology instead of expensive proprietary
SCADA software and custom programming. However in a context of
providing cost-effective maintenance to ensure a reliable supply of
high quality electrical power the description is limited in that it
only addresses response to power outages of the sort caused by
weather damage to equipment. For example, the description does not
describe how less-experienced staff may be enabled to carry out
repair or maintenance tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a system and
method for a third party to provide maintenance service for an
electrical power generation, transmission and distribution system
to a Utility or other operator of a power system.
[0013] This and other objects are fulfilled by the present
invention according to a method described in claim 1 and a system
described in claim 19. Advantageous embodiments are described in
sub-claims to the above independent claims. In addition, further
and advantageous aspects of the invention are described as a
computer program product in claim 32 and a computer data signal in
claims 40 and 41.
[0014] The principal advantage of the invention is that maintenance
service for a transmission and distribution network and power
plants may be carried out to assure quality and continuity of
supply in a more effective and cost effective way. In addition, the
invention reduces the need for the Utility to employ, train and
maintain a large staff of own Maintenance and Engineering
experts.
[0015] Further, these experts may instead be provided by a third
party company according to aspects of the invention, which company
may have several customers, making the utilization of such
personnel much better, both in terms of building up and maintaining
their competence, and in terms of utilizing their time more
efficiently.
[0016] Another advantage of the invention is that updated component
and system documentation is available 24/7 by means of an
embodiment of the invention, to any Internet-enabled device
operated by an registered user. Said documentation during use of
the method and system according to an embodiment of the invention
also comprises up to date reports on the maintenance status of the
power network, reports of repairs carried out and/or reports of
maintenance planned to rectify, amongst others, reported
faults.
[0017] A further object is to provide, according to other aspects
of the invention, a web site and computer software or computer
program means for carrying out the methods of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] A more complete understanding of the system and apparatus of
the present invention may be had by reference to the following
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an Information System
for a power generation, distribution and transmission system
according to an embodiment of the invention
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram to provide maintenance
services to a power generation, distribution and transmission
system, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for a method to provide planned
maintenance according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for a method to provide maintenance
for a reported fault according to a second embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a Utility 1, a Service Provider company 2, a
Power Transmission & Distribution (T&D) System Information
System 3, a Help Desk 4 provided by the Service Provider company 2,
an inspector 5 from the Utility, with an Online Inspection Kit 6. A
component 10 with a fault is shown schematically.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the Power System Information System 3, and the
Help Desk 4, the Inspector 5, a skilled Help Desk engineer 8, a
Service Provider (SP) company spare parts warehouse 12, a vehicle
14 and a building 13. Connections between all of these people
and/or functions to the Internet 11 are indicated by means of
arrows, such as the double ended arrow signifying two-way
communication between Inspector 5 and Help Desk engineer 8.
[0025] The Service Provider Company 2 operates and maintains the
Power System Information System 3 and provides maintenance services
for a Utility 1. The Utility may be a traditional utility company
or any other operator or owner of a whole or part of an electrical
power generation, transmission and distribution network. The
Utility has access to all information about it's power network in
the Information System via Web-technology, and may also have the
possiblity to update that information, depending on an agreement
with the Service Provider Company. The system according to the
invention includes:
[0026] The Help Desk 4 provided by the Service Provider Company,
always available and manned by highly skilled technical expertise,
such as a skilled Help Desk engineer 8.
[0027] An Online Inspection Kit (OIK) 6 provided to the utility by
the Service Provider Company as part of a service agreement.
[0028] The OIK 6 preferably includes a web camera and an operator
computer terminal, each effectively equipped with a communication
link to the Power T & D System Information System 3. At the
same time, the Help Desk has access to all information retrieved by
the OIK. This is enabled using Web-technology.
[0029] The Power System Information System 3, contains information
about the power distribution network and equipment, stored in such
forms as:
[0030] Computer aided design (CAD) documents,
[0031] Schematic electrical drawings, other schematics,
[0032] scanned paper documents,
[0033] scanned drawings,
[0034] text documents,
[0035] multimedia documents or files containing information stored
as any one or combination of text, video clips, pictures and
sounds. Many of the stored files contain active links, such as
embedded HTML, cHTML or XML links to other parts of the same
documentation or to other documents containing information
asociated with a subject matter. This facilitates finding related
or more detailed information about a component, network or part
thereof.
[0036] In general when the utility discovers there is something
wrong with a component, such as component 10, an Inspector 5 is
sent out to the site where the fault has been located. The
inspector, or inspector/repairman, uses the OIK to make an
inspection and communicates with the Help Desk. With the help of
one or more pictures provided by the OIK, the Help Desk is provided
with an oportunity to examine the same indications, symptoms or
conditions as the inspector. Both have access to the Power System
Information System, according to another aspect of the invention,
where detailed information about the component and related parts of
the Power T&D network the component is a part of are stored. In
this interaction between Inspector and Help Desk, the Help Desk
comes up with a solution to the problem, and takes proper action.
If the problem can be solved immediately, the Help Desk guides the
inspector on site in the repair and/or re-connection or re-booting
of the component. If not, the Help Desk identifies spare parts
needed, repairs or other actions that must be taken. The Help Desk
may be connected directly to the Service Provider Company's Spare
Part System Database 12 and Engineering Staff (also by the use of
Web-technology), and use these resources to specify a schedule for
re-engineering of the component, with a guaranteed response time,
included in the warranty, to the utility. Purchases and Work Orders
are generated to carry out the planned repair, preferably generated
and transmitted using web technology. Depending on the complexity
of the situation, the actual planning may take place off-line, but
when it is done, the steps to be taken, the work orders, purchase
orders and associated warranty etc. are documented in the
Information System.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows the steps of a method according to an
embodiment of the invention. It comprises a log-in step 100a, a
visit to a site 102a, a status check on site 103, a status decision
step 104. A Yes decision following 104 leads to an electronic
inspection report step 109. Decision step 110, all stations
checked, may follow step 109, and log-out step 112 may follow a Yes
decision to decision step 110.
[0038] A No decision following status decision step 104 leads to an
inspection step 105 in which the inspection result including
picture information is communicated with the Help Desk. This leads
to a decision step 106a, is immediate repair possible. A Yes
decision to step 106a leads to a repair step 108a, carried out by
the Inspector with help from Help Desk. A No decision following
decision step 106a results in step 107a in which the Inspector and
the Help Desk make a plan for repair. A planned repair logged in
the information system will almost always include a guaranty
dependent on the terms of the service agreement.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows an example for an exemplary example of standard
planned maintenance, periodic maintenance. This could be periodic
maintenance of a (primary or secondary) distribution substation,
including pad mounted transformers, and/or pole mounted
transformers (eg in USA). The utility has a maintenance and
inspection plan for distribution substations stored in the Power
T&D System Information System. This plan may have been
developed by Service Provider company 2, or Utility itself 1, it
depends on the Utility's level of outsourcing.
[0040] Maintenance personell, such as the inspector 5, either
employed by Utility or the Service Provider company, drives out to
the distribution substation, and checks status on various
substation components according to the plan, step 103 of FIG. 3.
For example, the inspector may check for:
[0041] oil-leaks from a transformer,
[0042] oil-level in a transformer,
[0043] are insulators on the transformer dirty?
[0044] is the substation in general tidy and clean?
[0045] are there any unusual sounds?
[0046] are all meters working properly, do they show sensible
values?
[0047] If no serious error is found, he then fills in a form so as
to report the substation status. Traditionally this form would be a
piece of paper, that has to be returned to the Utility, and at
return the document would have to be checked in, and any minor
anomalies reported to a responsible engineer. According to an
aspect of the invention the form is electronic and is automatically
registered in Information System, at step 109 of FIG. 3. It is also
automatically registered that the inspection has taken place when
the document is checked in. Included in the documentation may be
one or more digital photos of the station and components taken by a
web camera in the OIK.
[0048] The inspector then travels to the next station he is
supposed to visit within the periodic maintenance schedule, or else
back to his office or home, if he is finished.
[0049] If an error is found during a planned inspection.
[0050] The inspector discovers there is something wrong, for
example there may be loud noise from the transformer indicating a
possible failure in a winding, or a dead animal is lying on a
busbar, causing a risk of a short-circuit. According to an another
aspect of the invention, the inspector contacts the Help Desk while
he is on-site. He uses the OIK, including a web-camera 6, a mobile
video camera with a connection to the Internet 11, optionally
together with audio equipment, to show aspects or symptoms of the
error to the Help Desk. The Help Desk and the inspector make an
assessment of
[0051] how serious the error is,
[0052] should the error immediately be considered serious and steps
for serious errors be taken,
[0053] should an attempt at a permanent local fix be made,
[0054] should an attempt at a temporary local fix be made,
[0055] If they consider the error to be serious, they may decide to
disconnect the transformer to avoid an even more serious error
condition to arise. The helpdesk will first find out if any of the
customers connected to this transformer are critical before making
a disconnection decision. In any case, the Help Desk will make an
assessment of the situation, and find a solution which may include
a plan for repair or ordering of spare parts.
[0056] Another example of a planned maintenance service that may be
carried out is known as condition based maintenance. According to
agreed specifications, the inspector/repairman makes observations
and measurements during an inspection. If the inspector/repairman
observes that, for example, water level in a transformer oil is
above a certain limit, or according to meter readings etc an
accumulated fault current for a feeder is above certain limit, etc,
then the inspector repairman includes that in a report. Dependent
on the nature of the condition, maintenance is scheduled for the
condition observed either for a planned future maintenace visit or
for a specific visit to rectify a specific condition.
[0057] FIG. 4 shows an example for an exemplary example of a
maintenance schedule for a reported fault.
EXAMPLE 2
[0058] An instrument transformer in a substation has exploded due,
for example, to an internal earth fault. As a consequence, a
cubicle has been destroyed, and a feeder has lost its current. The
system control centre has received a fault indication: feeder n has
lost its current.
[0059] FIG. 4 shows the steps of an error message received 99 at a
utility control centre, transmitting the error 100b to the Help
Desk, a log-in in 102b by an inspector, a site visit 103b by
inspector, and an inspection 105b with the OIK. A decision step
106b concerning a possible immediate or temporary repair is
followed either by a Yes leading to step 108b followed by
documentation of the temporary repair in the Power T&D System
Information System database or, if No following step 106b, followed
by Help Desk and the Inspector making a plan 107b for a repair. A
planned repair will normally include a warranty and the plan is
documented at step 107c in the Power T&D System Information
System. At 108c the repair is subsequently carried out and
documented in the Power T&D System Information System, and
adequate information is routed to the Customer Information System
to keep customers properly informed.
[0060] Purchase orders for the spare parts or equipment may be
prepared, and sent using web technology purchase orders to a
predetermined supplier such as Service Provider company Spare Parts
warehouse 12. Work orders for the work may be prepared and sent to
a department of the predetermined service provider, normally the
Service Provider company, using web technology. At 108b the repair
is subsequently carried out and documented in the Power T&D
System Information System.
[0061] The specification sent to the Service Provider company Spare
Parts warehouse 12, or routed alternatively direct to another
seller and or manufacturer to obtain a replacement apparatus or
part as a result of a manual or automatic action to purchase is
preferably in the form of a purchase order. The most preferred type
of order is a purchase order as an open standard document, using
for example a type of XML file. Preferably the purchase order also
conforms to one or more current standards for electronic documents
such as EDIFACT or ASC X12and/or to similar standards eg SWIFT; or
other protocols such as Document Object Model (DOM), Microsoft's
(Trade Mark) MSXML and a standard called XHTML 1.0 provided by
World Wide Web Committee (W3C). The purchase order is in the form
of an electronic document that otherwise corresponds to a
traditional EDI type 850 electronic purchase order document. As
such, the file transmitted containing the purchase order comprises
necessary details such as any of:
[0062] identification of document type
[0063] authorization details,
[0064] security details,
[0065] contact details,
[0066] acknowledgement request details,
[0067] cancellation details
[0068] contract references for seller, manufacturer,
[0069] ordered item identification,
[0070] UPC reference,
[0071] delivery details, carrier and options.
[0072] The same error message 99 is also sent to the Help Desk in
an embodiment of the present invention. An inspector is sent out to
the substation with full inspection kit OIK, including a portable
or wearable computer, web-camera, audio equipment. The damage is
assessed by the inspector and the Help Desk in co-operation using
reports collected with the inspection kit and communicated to the
Help Desk. In this example they find out that a serious damage has
occurred, and repair is needed. By using the on-line documentation
they find out
[0073] how/if re-coupling can be made to restore current to the
feeder that has been damaged, or
[0074] are there any other temporary measures such as disconnection
of one phase that can be made there and then.
[0075] In any case, the Help Desk makes a plan for repair, step
107b, with a warranty to the Utility, orders components etc., in
step 107c, and stores that plan in the Information System.
EXAMPLE 3
[0076] The same error indication as Example 3 above (loss of
current on feeder n). However in this example, the inspector and
the Help Desk find that this was due to an error in a secondary
measuring device (a transducer), and that the main (power) circuit
is intact. The Help Desk finds the documentation about the
transducer in the Information System, and examines the
documentation online together with the inspector at the site. They
may decide to try a repair of the transducer there and then, and
the Help Desk guides the inspector in the process with reference to
information contained in the transducer documentation in the Power
System Information System.
[0077] The service agreement (named above in the description of
FIG. 2) between the Utility and the Service Provider company
comprises a contract for the provision of maintenance by the
Service Provider company to the Utility. The service agreement will
typically comprise 24 hr. access to:
[0078] the Help Desk
[0079] the Information System and may further comprise items such
as:
[0080] standard spare parts per type of location/equipment,
[0081] technicians certified to a specified grade,
[0082] computer programs to simulate or model certain error
conditions,
[0083] computer programs to simulate or model conditions for
electrical loads on certain equipment or parts of a power
network.
[0084] The Service Agreement may include one or more measures and
limits for power quality supply and reliability related to
identified aspects of maintenance quality. The measures for
maintenance quality will include any of the following
parameters:
[0085] delivery time for standard maintenance operations,
[0086] availability (uptime) of a network equipment or a
service,
[0087] maintaining expected service life standards for
equipment,
[0088] maintenance cost reduction.
[0089] Planned maintenance work will normally include a guaranty of
a type described in the service agreement for a stipulated period
of time according to the conditions laid down in the service
agreement following the planned repair. For example, standards
regarding expected service life or average service life for
equipment may be included in the agreement to guide decisions about
relative cost of maintenance or a maintenance measure versus
expected shortening of equipment life if the maintenance measure is
not carried out.
[0090] In another embodiment of the invention, the Help Desk is
implemented as a mobile unit. For example in certain regions, it
may be more practical to implement the Help Desk in a more flexible
way than as for example in a permanent building with a fixed number
of staff. The Help Desk is then not necessarily associated with a
fixed location with permanent set-up, but may for example also be
implemented as one or more an engineers on duty with mobile
communication means and Internet access. In another embodiment of
the invention a substantial part of the Help Desk operations may be
carried out by computer software. Thus an Inspector contacting the
Help Desk may, depending on the urgency and importance of the
inquiry, interact with an automated guide computer program or
expert system type of software and gather and/or exchange
information without making direct contact with a Help Desk
engineer, at least not at first.
[0091] In another embodiment of the invention, the Information
System comprises one or more computer programs for modeling and/or
simulating the power system under various load conditions.
Ready-made changeable models of relevant parts of the power system
are available, and the Inspector and Help Desk can simulate the
power system to check the effect of various actions before actually
performing them. Typically, they could check the effect of
[0092] disconnecting lines,
[0093] disconnection (complete or partial) of loads,
[0094] reconfiguring the power network by for example disconnecting
one switch and connecting another,
[0095] operation of an equipment such as a transformer at reduced
load
[0096] operation of an equipment such as a transformer at increased
load, and evaluate aspects such as the consequences for consumers
and reduction of life-time (service life or average service life)
for components.
[0097] In another embodiment of the invention a substation or other
location may be equipped with a built-in video camera connected as
a web-cam with an Internet connection. This may be used for
scheduled periodic checks, and/or in combination with a site visit
by an Inspector to provide added graphic information. For specific
locations the web-cam may be equipped with a signal processor for
handling the visual and/or infra red elements visible spectrum of
the camera signal which signal processor:
[0098] samples the picture signal produced by the web-cam,
[0099] analyses the signal using a trained artificial neural
network system,
[0100] determines if a change in visual light spectrum light
intensity represents predetermined event such as an arc, flashover
or explosion,
[0101] determines if a change in light intensity in the infra-red
or other part of the light spectrum represents unexpected
temperature change such as overheating or a fire,
[0102] determines if a change in light intensity represents the
entry of a person or an animal into the location scanned,
[0103] sends a signal to the Help Desk upon detection of any of an
arc, flashover, explosion, temperature rise, entry of person,
animal, or other predetermined event, which signal is examined and
then automatically logged for recording and further analysis
purposes.
[0104] During a maintenance period, an analysis of a fixed camera
signal may optionally be selected, for example by the Help Desk, to
monitor for:
[0105] presence of a person in a prohibited area while maintenance
is being carried out.
[0106] It is to be understood that any of the methods described may
be carried out by one or more computer programs, or computer
program products, or by computer software containing a computer
program code element or computer code means or software code
portions for enabling a computer or a processor to implement one or
more of a series of instructions in order to carry out any of the
methods described in this description. Such computer program
products are correspondingly comprised in an information system
and/or a web site according to the invention.
[0107] It is also noted that while the above describes exemplifying
embodiments of the invention, there are several variations and
modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without
departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the
appended claims.
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