JP7843183B2 - Power protection control system - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power protection control system.

Traditionally, power protection and control devices have been used in power facilities such as substations and power plants to protect and control the power system. These devices can, for example, perform standalone tests to verify the operation of power equipment before commencing operation of a power facility. In power facilities, control cables are laid between the relay panel room where the power protection and control devices are located and each piece of power equipment. Analog control signals for controlling the operation of the power equipment are transmitted through these cables. Therefore, many control cables are laid throughout the premises of power facilities, and, for example, installing new power equipment requires considerable effort for the installation of these control cables.

In recent years, IoT (Internet of Things) technology has advanced as a mechanism for linking data collected by networked devices. Therefore, power facilities are also required to create new functions using on-site information, and discussions have begun regarding the overall digitalization of power facilities. Furthermore, the adoption of process bus systems, applying the international standard IEC 61850 (process bus), is being considered for power protection control devices used in power facilities.

In power protection control systems that utilize a process bus, the arithmetic unit and input/output unit, which were integrated in conventional power protection control systems, are separated into an Intelligent Electrical Device (IED) panel located in the relay panel room and a Process Interface Unit (PIU) panel located near the power equipment. The system is expected to connect these panels via a digital process bus network. Furthermore, in power protection control systems utilizing a process bus, it is anticipated that one process interface unit panel will be connected to multiple intelligent electronic device panels. Therefore, in power facilities where a power protection control system utilizing a process bus is implemented, there is a concern that it will become difficult to easily verify whether the control performed by the intelligent electronic device panel in the relay panel room is transmitted to the process interface unit panel located in a distant power equipment location, and whether the operation in accordance with the control is being performed correctly.

Special Committee for the Investigation of New Functions and Performance of Protective Relays, "New Functions and Performance of Protective Relays," Electrical Cooperative Research, Vol. 65, No. 2, Electrical Cooperative Research Association, pp. 53-55, published October 26, 2009. Special Committee for the Investigation of the Current Status and Advancement of Communication Utilization Technology in Protective Relays, "Current Status and Advancement of Communication Utilization Technology in Protective Relays," Technical Report of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, No. 1276, pp. 112-113, Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, published February 5, 2013.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a power protection control system that can more effectively control power equipment in a power protection control system to which a process bus is applied.

The power protection control system of the embodiment comprises an intelligent electronic device panel and a process interface unit panel. The intelligent electronic device panel and the process interface unit panel are connected by a process bus. The intelligent electronic device panel comprises an operation unit and an intelligent electronic device unit. The operation unit operates a control circuit provided in the process interface unit panel. The intelligent electronic device unit has a first control unit that acquires the operation state for the operation unit and transmits information data representing the acquired operation state to the process interface unit panel via the process bus. The process interface unit panel comprises the control circuit and a process interface unit. The control circuit controls power equipment installed in a power facility. The process interface unit has a second control unit that restores the operation state represented by the information data transmitted via the process bus and controls the operation of the control circuit according to the restored operation state. The operation unit includes a trip lock terminal operation unit. The control circuit includes a trip lock terminal control circuit. The second control unit restores the operating state of the trip lock terminal operation unit as represented by the information data transmitted via the process bus, and controls the operation of the trip lock terminal control circuit according to the restored operating state.

A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the first embodiment. A sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system of the first embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the second embodiment. A sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system of the second embodiment. A sequence diagram showing another example of the flow of operations for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system of the second embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the third embodiment. A sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for verifying the integrity of the PIU panel in the power protection control system of the third embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the fourth embodiment. A sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system of the fourth embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the fifth embodiment. A sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system of the fifth embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the sixth embodiment. A sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for testing power equipment in the power protection control system of the sixth embodiment.

The following describes the power protection control system of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. The power protection control system is installed in power facilities handling high voltages, such as substations and power plants. The power protection control system controls the operation of power equipment installed in the power facility. The power equipment is, for example, a protective device that switches the current flowing through a busbar, such as a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). In this case, the power protection control system controls the busbar protection operation of the gas-insulated switchgear. The power equipment may also be a circuit breaker, such as a circuit breaker, which interrupts large currents flowing through the power equipment. In this case, the power protection control system controls the interruption operation of the circuit breaker.

(First embodiment)
[Configuration of the power protection control system]
Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the first embodiment. Figure 1 shows an example of a power protection control system that controls the current flowing through a circuit breaker (CB in Figure 1) 30 equipped with a trip coil (TC in Figure 1) 32. The power protection control system 1 includes, for example, an Intelligent Electrical Device (IED) panel 10 and a Process Interface Unit (PIU) panel 20. The IED panel 10 includes, for example, an IED unit 11, an operation switch operation unit 12, a relay switch operation unit 13, and a trip lock terminal operation unit 14. The PIU panel 20 includes, for example, a PIU unit 21, an operation switch control circuit 22, a relay switch control circuit 23, and a trip lock terminal control circuit 24.

In a power facility employing the power protection control system 1, the IED panel 10 is located in any location for managing the operation of the power facility, such as a relay panel room or a central control room. The IED panel 10 corresponds to the calculation unit in a conventional power protection control device where the calculation unit and input/output unit were integrated. In a power facility employing the power protection control system 1, the PIU panel 20 is located near the power facility installed in the power facility. The PIU panel 20 corresponds to the input/output unit in a conventional power protection control device where the calculation unit and input/output unit were integrated. The operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 of the PIU panel 20 are each connected to corresponding equipment in the power facility, such as circuit breakers and disconnectors, by analog signal lines such as metal cables. Figure 1 shows an example where the power facility is a circuit breaker 30. In Figure 1, the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 are connected in series in this order. The trip lock terminal control circuit 24 is connected to the trip coil 32 of the circuit breaker 30 by a metal cable MC.

In the power protection control system 1, the IED unit 11 on the IED panel 10 and the PIU unit 21 on the PIU panel 20 are connected by a process bus PB. The process bus PB is a signal line of a process bus network that performs digital communication using a communication protocol compliant with, for example, the international standard IEC 61850. The process bus PB is, for example, an optical cable for exchanging digital data via optical communication. In the power protection control system 1, the IED unit 11 and the PIU unit 21 communicate constantly via the process bus PB. Figure 1 shows an example configuration in which the IED panel 10 is equipped with one IED unit 11, and the IED unit 11 and the PIU unit 21 communicate on a one-to-one basis.

The IED unit 11 acquires the operating status of the operation switch operation unit 12, relay switch operation unit 13, and trip lock terminal operation unit 14, which are operated by, for example, power equipment managers or maintenance workers, and transmits the acquired information data representing the operating status to the PIU panel 20 via the process bus PB. The operation switch operation unit 12 is a switch for operating (controlling) the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 provided in the PIU panel 20. The relay switch operation unit 13 is a switch for operating (controlling) the operation of the relay switch control circuit 23 provided in the PIU panel 20. The trip lock terminal operation unit 14 is a switch for operating (controlling) the operation of the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 provided in the PIU panel 20. The IED unit 11 includes, for example, a control unit 112.

The control unit 112 controls the operation of the IED unit 11 provided in the IED panel 10, which constitutes the power protection control system 1, by having a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program (software). The control unit 112 may be implemented by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or by the cooperation of software and hardware. The control unit 112 may also be implemented by a dedicated LSI. The program may be pre-stored in a storage device (a storage device with a non-transient storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory of the IED unit 11 or IED disc 10, or it may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the HDD or flash memory of the IED unit 11 or IED disc 10 when the storage medium is inserted into the drive device of the IED unit 11 or IED disc 10.

The control unit 112 acquires the operating status of the operation switch unit 12, the relay switch unit 13, and the trip lock terminal unit 14 as digital data. More specifically, the control unit 112 acquires digital data representing the contact information (whether each contact is open or closed) of the operation switch unit 12, the relay switch unit 13, and the trip lock terminal unit 14. The control unit 112 converts the acquired digital data of contact information into optical communication data (information data) conforming to the communication protocol of the process bus PB, and transmits it via the process bus PB to the PIU unit 21 on the PIU panel 20.

The operation switch control unit 12, the relay switch control unit 13, and the trip lock terminal control unit 14 are examples of "operation units." The control unit 112 is an example of a "first control unit."

The PIU unit 21 receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB by the IED unit 11 of the IED panel 10, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operation state represented by the received information data. The operation switch control circuit 22 is a control circuit for controlling the operation of power supply in power equipment. Figure 1 shows an example where the operation switch control circuit 22 is a control circuit that controls the operation of power supply to the trip coil 32 of the circuit breaker 30. The relay switch control circuit 23 is a control circuit for controlling a relay switch that operates when an abnormality or fault is detected in the power system connected to the power equipment. The relay switch control circuit 23 may, for example, control a relay switch that operates when an abnormality is detected in the protective device of the power equipment, or a relay switch that operates when a fault (system fault) occurs in the path between the power equipment and other power equipment connected to it. Figure 1 shows an example where the relay switch control circuit 23 is a control circuit that controls a relay switch that operates when an abnormality is detected in the path connected to the trip coil 32 of the circuit breaker 30. The trip lock terminal control circuit 24 is a control circuit that controls the terminal that shuts off the faulty circuit when an abnormality or fault is detected in the power system connected to the power equipment, and the faulty power is neutralized by the operation (opening) of a higher-level circuit breaker. Figure 1 shows an example where the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 is a control circuit that controls the terminal that shuts off the circuit when an abnormality (fault) is detected in the circuit connected to the trip coil 32 of the circuit breaker 30. The PIU unit 21 includes, for example, a control unit 212.

The control unit 212 controls the operation of the PIU unit 21, which is part of the PIU panel 20 that constitutes the power protection control system 1, by having a hardware processor such as a CPU execute a program (software). The control unit 212 may be implemented by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI, ASIC, FPGA, or GPU, or by the cooperation of software and hardware. The control unit 212 may also be implemented by a dedicated LSI. The program may be pre-stored in a storage device (a storage device with a non-transient storage medium) such as an HDD or flash memory in the PIU unit 21 or PIU panel 20, or it may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the HDD or flash memory of the PIU unit 21 or PIU panel 20 when the storage medium is mounted in a drive device of the PIU unit 21 or PIU panel 20.

The control unit 212 receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB by the IED unit 11 and restores the operating states of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 as represented by the received information data. More specifically, the control unit 212 converts the received information data (optical communication data) according to the communication protocol of the process bus PB and restores it to digital data representing the contact information of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 (whether each contact is open or closed). In other words, the control unit 212 restores the digital data of the contact information acquired by the control unit 112 as the operating states of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 from the received information data. The control unit 212 controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 corresponding to the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch control circuit 23 corresponding to the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 corresponding to the trip lock terminal operation unit 14, according to the digital data of the restored contact information.

The operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 are examples of "control circuits." The control unit 212 is an example of a "second control unit."

With this configuration, the power protection control system 1 controls the operation of power equipment installed in power facilities.

[Operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment. Figure 2 shows an example of the operation of the power protection control system 1 when, for example, an administrator located in the relay panel room of the power equipment operates the operation switch operation unit 12 and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 provided on the IED panel 10. Figure 2 shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component provided on the IED panel 10 and the PIU panel 20, and the exchange of information (data) between each component. In the following description, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 112 provided on the IED unit 11 will be performed by the IED unit 11, and the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 212 provided on the PIU unit 21 will be performed by the PIU unit 21.

When the operator controls the control switch 12 from the closed state to the open state (step S100), the IED unit 11 acquires the contact information (open state) of the operated control switch 12 (step S102). The IED unit 11 transmits the acquired contact information data of the control switch 12 to the PIU unit 21 (step S104).

The PIU unit 21 receives the information data transmitted by the IED unit 11 and restores the contact information (open state) represented by the received information data (step S106). Based on the restored contact information, the PIU unit 21 controls the operation switch control circuit 22 corresponding to the contact information from the closed state to the open state if it is currently closed (step S108). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the operation switch control circuit 22 by the metal cable MC operates according to the controlled operating state (open state) of the operation switch control circuit 22. In other words, the equipment of the power facility operates according to the operation by the administrator from the closed state to the open state.

Subsequently, when the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 is operated from the closed state to the open state by the administrator (step S200), the IED unit 11 acquires the contact information (open state) of the operated trip lock terminal operation unit 14 (step S202). The IED unit 11 transmits the acquired information data representing the contact information of the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 to the PIU unit 21 (step S204).

The PIU unit 21 receives the information data transmitted by the IED unit 11 and restores the contact information (open state) represented by the received information data (step S206). Based on the restored contact information, the PIU unit 21 controls the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 corresponding to the contact information from the closed state to the open state if it is currently closed (step S208). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 by the metal cable MC operates according to the controlled operating state (open state) of the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 (in other words, operates according to the administrator's operation from the closed state to the open state).

Through the operation (processing) of this power protection control system 1, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 1, the operation of the power equipment can be controlled by an administrator operating the IED panel 10 located in a relay panel room away from the power equipment. In other words, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 1, the administrator can control the operation of the power equipment without having to go to the power equipment located away from the relay panel room. This is effective, for example, when performing inspections or tests of power equipment.

The sequence diagram shown in Figure 2 illustrates an example of the operation of the power protection control system 1 when the administrator operates the operation switch unit 12 and the trip lock terminal unit 14. The same applies when the administrator operates the relay switch unit 13. In this case, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component of the power protection control system 1 should be equivalent to the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component in the sequence diagram shown in Figure 2.

As described above, in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, the IED unit 11 (control unit 112) transmits information data (digital data of contact information) representing the operating status of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 to the PIU panel 20 via the process bus PB. Then, in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, the PIU unit 21 (control unit 212) restores the information data transmitted via the process bus PB and controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operating status represented by the restored information data. As a result, in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, the operation of the power equipment connected to the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 of the PIU panel 20 can be controlled by operating the IED panel 10 which is located at a remote location. As a result, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, it is possible to realize power facilities that, for example, can easily perform inspections and tests of power equipment.

Furthermore, in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, the information data exchanged between the IED panel 10 and the PIU panel 20 via the process bus PB is digital data, and the PIU panel 20, which is connected to the equipment of the power facility by a metal cable MC (analog signal line), is located near the power facility. Therefore, the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment can perform communication with high resistance to noise, for example. Moreover, if the process bus PB is an optical cable, since optical cables are relatively thin, the effort required to lay the process bus PB between the IED panel 10 and the PIU panel 20 can be reduced.

(Second embodiment)
[Configuration of the power protection control system]
Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the second embodiment. Similar to the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, Figure 3 also shows an example of a power protection control system that controls the current flowing through a circuit breaker 30 equipped with a trip coil 32. The power protection control system 2 includes, for example, an IED panel 10a and a PIU panel 20a. The IED panel 10a includes, for example, an IED unit 11a, an operation switch control unit 12, a relay switch control unit 13, a trip lock terminal control unit 14, and a display unit 15. The PIU panel 20a includes, for example, a PIU unit 21a, an operation switch control circuit 22, a relay switch control circuit 23, and a trip lock terminal control circuit 24. In Figure 3, components having the same functions as the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted. Since the arrangement and connections of each component of the power protection control system 2 within the power equipment are the same as those of the power protection control system 1 in the first embodiment, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

In the power protection control system 2, for example, the power equipment manager can operate the IED panel 10a to control the operation of the PIU panel 20a, and the result (i.e., the operating status of the power equipment) can be confirmed on the IED panel 10a. Therefore, in the power protection control system 2, a display unit 15 is added to the IED panel 10a, which corresponds to the IED panel 10 of the power protection control system 1. The IED unit 11 of the power protection control system 1 is replaced by the IED unit 11a, and the PIU unit 21 is replaced by the PIU unit 21a.

The IED unit 11a, similar to the IED unit 11 of the power protection control system 1, acquires the operating status of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14, which are operated by, for example, power equipment managers or maintenance workers, and transmits information data representing the acquired operating status to the PIU panel 20a via the process bus PB. Furthermore, the IED unit 11a receives result data (described later) transmitted via the process bus PB by the PIU unit 21a on the PIU panel 20a, and displays the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 represented by the received result data on the display unit 15. The IED unit 11a includes, for example, a control unit 112a.

The control unit 112a, similar to the control unit 112 of the power protection control system 1, acquires digital data representing the operating state (contact information) of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14. It converts the acquired digital data of contact information into information data and transmits it to the PIU unit 21a provided in the PIU panel 20a. Furthermore, the control unit 112a receives result data transmitted by the PIU unit 21a via the process bus PB and restores the operating state of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 represented by the received result data. In other words, the control unit 112a restores digital data representing the control result (whether each contact is controlled to be open or closed) of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, which are controlled according to the operating state represented by the information data transmitted to the PIU panel 20a, from the received result data. The control unit 112a displays the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, as represented by the restored digital data of the control results, on the display unit 15.

The control unit 112a is an example of the "first control unit".

The display unit 15 displays the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 provided by the PIU panel 20a, in response to control from the control unit 112a. The display unit 15 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), or a lamp. If the display unit 15 is a display, it displays the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 by displaying an image representing the operating status output by the control unit 112a. If the display unit 15 is an LED or a lamp, it displays the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 by turning on/off or changing the color of the light, in response to a signal representing the operating status output by the control unit 112a. This allows, for example, power equipment managers and maintenance workers to verify whether the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, controlled by operating the operation switch control unit 12, relay switch control unit 13, and trip lock terminal control unit 14, is being correctly controlled by the PIU panel 20a.

The PIU unit 21a, similar to the PIU unit 21 of the power protection control system 1, receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB by the IED unit 11a in the IED panel 10a, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operation state represented by the received information data. Furthermore, the PIU unit 21a acquires the operation state of the controlled operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, and transmits result data representing the acquired operation state to the IED panel 10a via the process bus PB. The PIU unit 21a includes, for example, a control unit 212a.

The control unit 212a, similar to the control unit 212 of the power protection control system 1, receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB by the IED unit 11a, restores the operating state represented by the received information data, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24. Furthermore, the control unit 212a acquires the operating states of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, which are controlled according to the restored operating state, as digital data. More specifically, the control unit 212a acquires digital data representing the result (control result) of controlling the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24. Here, the control unit 212a may, for example, acquire the detection result (whether each contact is open or closed) of a sensor attached to the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, respectively, as digital data of the control result. The control unit 212a may, for example, acquire the operating state of dummy control circuits that mimic the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, as digital data of the control result. In this configuration, the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 may be controlled such that, for example, the operating state of each is not actually changed by software-based lock control, and only the operating state of the dummy control circuit is changed. The control unit 112 converts the acquired digital data of the control result into optical communication data (result data) that conforms to the communication protocol of the process bus PB, and transmits it to the IED unit 11a provided in the IED panel 10a via the process bus PB. As a result, the operating states of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, as represented by the transmitted data, are displayed on the display unit 15 of the IED panel 10a as the control results of the operations performed by operating the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14.

The control unit 212a is an example of a "second control unit."

With this configuration, the power protection control system 2 can confirm the results of controlling the operation of power equipment installed in the power facility via the PIU panel 20a (the operating status of the power equipment) on the IED panel 10a.

[Operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment. Figure 4 is an example of the operation of the power protection control system 2 when, for example, an administrator located in the relay panel room of the power equipment operates the operation switch control unit 12 of the IED panel 10a, and the IED panel 10a displays the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22 of the PIU panel 20a, whose operation is controlled by the administrator. Figure 4 also shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component of the IED panel 10a and the PIU panel 20a, and the exchange of information (data) between each component. In the following description, the operation (processing) and exchange of information (data) of the control unit 112a of the IED unit 11a will be performed by the IED unit 11a, and the operation (processing) and exchange of information (data) of the control unit 212a of the PIU unit 21a will be performed by the PIU unit 21a. In the sequence diagram shown in Figure 4, the same step numbers are used for operations (processing) and information (data) exchanges as in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, and detailed explanations are omitted.

When the operator controls the control switch 12 from the closed state to the open state, the IED unit 11a acquires the contact information (open state) of the operated control switch 12 and transmits the information data representing the acquired contact information to the PIU unit 21a (steps S100 to S104).

The PIU unit 21a receives the information data transmitted by the IED unit 11a, restores the contact information (open state), and controls the operation switch control circuit 22 from the closed state to the open state according to the restored contact information (steps S106 to S108). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the operation switch control circuit 22 by the metal cable MC operates according to the controlled operating state (open state) of the operation switch control circuit 22 (in other words, operates according to the operation by the administrator from the closed state to the open state).

Subsequently, the PIU unit 21a acquires the operating status of the controlled operation switch control circuit 22 (step S302). The PIU unit 21a transmits the acquired result data representing the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22 to the IED unit 11a (step S304).

The IED unit 11a receives the result data transmitted by the PIU unit 21a and restores the operating state (open state) of the operation switch control circuit 22 as indicated by the received result data. Then, the IED unit 11a displays the restored operating state (control result) of the operation switch control circuit 22 on the display unit 15 and presents it to the administrator operating the IED panel 10a (step S306).

Through the operation (processing) of the power protection control system 2, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 2, the operation of the power equipment can be controlled by an administrator operating the IED panel 10a located in a relay panel room away from the power equipment, similar to power facilities employing the power protection control system 1. Furthermore, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 2, the results of controlling the operation of the power equipment (the operating status of the power equipment) can be confirmed on the IED panel 10a. In other words, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 2, administrators can control the operation of the power equipment and confirm the control results without having to go to the power equipment located away from the relay panel room. This is also effective, for example, when performing inspections or tests of power equipment.

[Another operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the flow of operations for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment. Figure 5 is an example of the operation of the power protection control system 2 when, for example, an administrator located in the relay panel room of the power equipment operates the relay switch operation unit 13 of the IED panel 10a, and the IED panel 10a displays the operating status of the relay switch control circuit 23 of the PIU panel 20a, whose operation is controlled by the administrator. Figure 5 also shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component of the IED panel 10a and the PIU panel 20a, and the exchange of information (data) between each component.

When the relay switch operation unit 13 is operated from the open state to the closed state by the administrator (step S400), the IED unit 11a acquires the contact information (closed state) of the operated relay switch operation unit 13 (step S402). The IED unit 11a transmits the acquired information data representing the contact information of the relay switch operation unit 13 to the PIU unit 21a (step S404).

The PIU unit 21a receives the information data transmitted by the IED unit 11a and restores the contact information (closed state) represented by the received information data (step S406). The PIU unit 21a controls the relay switch control circuit 23 corresponding to the contact information from the open state to the closed state according to the restored contact information (step S408). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the relay switch control circuit 23 by the metal cable MC operates according to the controlled operating state (closed state) of the relay switch control circuit 23 (in other words, the equipment of the power facility operates according to the operation by the administrator from the open state to the closed state).

Subsequently, the PIU unit 21a acquires the operating status of the controlled relay switch control circuit 23 (step S410). The PIU unit 21a transmits the acquired result data representing the operating status of the relay switch control circuit 23 to the IED unit 11a (step S412).

The IED unit 11a receives the result data transmitted by the PIU unit 21a, restores the operating state (closed state) of the relay switch control circuit 23 represented by the received result data, and displays the restored operating state (control result) represented by the closed state on the display unit 15 for the administrator operating the IED panel 10a to see (step S414).

Through the operation (processing) of the power protection control system 2, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 2, it is possible to control the operation of power equipment corresponding to the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 of the PIU panel 20a, and to verify the control results, regardless of which of the operation switch control unit 12, relay switch control unit 13, or trip lock terminal control unit 14 of the IED panel 10a is operated.

The sequence diagram in Figure 4 shows an example of the operation of the power protection control system 2 when the administrator operates the operation switch unit 12, and the sequence diagram in Figure 5 shows an example of the operation when the administrator operates the relay switch unit 13. The same applies when the administrator operates the trip lock terminal unit 14. In this case, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component of the power protection control system 2 should be equivalent to the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component in the sequence diagrams shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5.

Incidentally, in power facilities, it is also conceivable to test the operation of the relay switch control circuit 23 with, for example, the operation switch control circuit 22 and/or the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 in the open state. In this case, if the configuration in which the control unit 212a acquires the operating state is such that it acquires the detection results of sensors attached to the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, then the administrator cannot confirm the operating state of the relay switch control circuit 23 corresponding to the operation by simply operating the relay switch operation unit 13 provided on the IED panel 10a. This is because the operation switch control circuit 22 and/or the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, which are in the path of the relay switch control circuit 23 being tested, are already in the open state, and therefore no power is being supplied to the relay switch control circuit 23. On the other hand, if the control unit 212a is configured to acquire the operating status of dummy control circuits corresponding to the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, then the administrator can check the operating status of the relay switch control circuit 23 in response to the operation simply by operating the relay switch operation unit 13 provided on the IED panel 10a. This is because, for example, even if the operating status of the relay switch control circuit 23 being tested has not actually been changed by software-based lock control, the dummy control circuit corresponding to the relay switch control circuit 23 can be controlled to operate according to the operating status represented by the information data transmitted by the IED unit 11a (control unit 112a), regardless of the software-based lock control, and the PIU unit 21a can acquire that operating status. In other words, if the control unit 212a is configured to acquire the operating status of dummy control circuits, then the operating status of the target switch or terminal can be acquired regardless of the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24. Therefore, a configuration in which the control unit 212a acquires the operating status of dummy control circuits corresponding to the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 is considered preferable.

As described above, in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, similar to the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, the IED unit 11a (control unit 112a) transmits information data (digital data of contact information) representing the operation status of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 to the PIU panel 20a via the process bus PB. Then, in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, the PIU unit 21a (control unit 212a) restores the information data transmitted via the process bus PB and controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operation status represented by the restored information data. As a result, in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, similar to the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, the operation of the power equipment connected to the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 of the PIU panel 20a can be controlled by operating the IED panel 10a, which is located at a remote location. Furthermore, in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, the PIU unit 21a (control unit 212a) transmits the result data (digital data of the operating state) of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 to the IED panel 10a via the process bus PB. Then, in the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, the IED unit 11a (control unit 112a) restores the result data transmitted via the process bus PB and displays the restored operating state on the display unit 15, showing the operating state of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24. This allows, for example, power equipment managers and maintenance workers to confirm whether the operation control of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 by operating the operation switch operation unit 12, relay switch operation unit 13, and trip lock terminal operation unit 14 is being performed correctly in the PIU panel 20a. As a result, in power facilities employing the power protection and control system 2 of the second embodiment, inspections and tests of power equipment can be easily performed by, for example, only the administrator residing in the relay panel room, enabling more efficient inspections and tests of power equipment. This allows for the realization of more maintainable power equipment in power facilities employing the power protection and control system 2 of the second embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
[Configuration of the power protection control system]
Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the third embodiment. Similar to the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment and the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, Figure 6 also shows an example of a power protection control system that controls the current flowing through a circuit breaker 30 equipped with a trip coil 32. The power protection control system 3 includes, for example, an IED panel 10a and a PIU panel 20b. The IED panel 10a includes, for example, an IED unit 11a, an operation switch operating unit 12, a relay switch operating unit 13, a trip lock terminal operating unit 14, and a display unit 15. The PIU panel 20b includes, for example, a PIU unit 21a, an operation switch control circuit 22, a relay switch control circuit 23, a trip lock terminal control circuit 24, a voltage detection relay 251, and a voltage detection relay 252. In Figure 6, components having the same functions as the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment and the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted. The arrangement and connection of each component of the power protection control system 3 within the power equipment are the same as those of the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment and the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, so detailed explanations are omitted.

In the power protection control system 3, the integrity of the series circuit consisting of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, which are connected in series in the PIU panel 20b, can be verified. Therefore, in the power protection control system 3, a voltage detection relay 251 and a voltage detection relay 252 are added to the PIU panel 20b, which corresponds to the PIU panel 20a of the power protection control system 2.

The voltage detection relay 251 detects (measures) the voltage at the terminal connected to the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 in the relay switch control circuit 23 (hereinafter referred to as "the upper part of the relay switch control circuit 23"). The voltage detection relay 251 outputs the detected (measured) voltage value (or information representing the detected (measured) voltage value) to the control unit 212a.

The voltage detection relay 252 detects (measures) the voltage at the terminal side (hereinafter referred to as "the lower part of the relay switch control circuit 23") connected to the circuit breaker 30 (i.e., the metal cable MC) in the relay switch control circuit 23. The voltage detection relay 252 outputs the detected (measured) voltage value (or information representing the detected (measured) voltage value) to the control unit 212a.

The voltage detection relays 251 and 252 are examples of a "voltage measurement unit".

In the power protection control system 3, the integrity of the series circuit provided by the PIU panel 20b can be confirmed based on the voltage value at the top of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 251 and the voltage value at the bottom of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 252. More specifically, the integrity of the series circuit provided by the PIU panel 20b can be confirmed based on the respective voltage values before and after controlling the operation switch control circuit 22 or the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 from a closed state to an open state. For example, if the operation switch control circuit 22 is in the open state and the circuit breaker 30 is in the open state, and the voltage value detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 251 is "0V", then the series circuit can be determined to be healthy. For example, if the operation switch control circuit 22 is open and the circuit breaker 30 is closed, and the voltage detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 251 is "0V" and the voltage detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 252 is "-55V", then the series circuit can be determined to be healthy.

The PIU unit 21a, similar to the PIU unit 21 of the power protection control system 2, acquires the voltage value at the top of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 251 and the voltage value at the bottom of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 252. It then transmits the result data representing each acquired voltage value to the IED panel 10a via the process bus PB. In other words, the control unit 212a acquires each voltage value as digital data, includes the acquired digital data of each voltage value in the result data, and transmits it to the IED unit 11a. As a result, the transmitted voltage values are displayed as control results on the display unit 15 in the IED panel 10a.

With this configuration, the power protection control system 3 can verify the integrity (each voltage value) of the PIU panel 20b, which controls the operation of power equipment installed in the power facility, at the IED panel 10a.

[Operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for confirming the health of the PIU panel 20b in the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment. Figure 7 is an example of the operation of the power protection control system 3 when, for example, an administrator located in the relay panel room of the power equipment confirms the health of the operation switch control circuit 22 provided on the IED panel 10a by operating the operation switch operation unit 12 provided on the IED panel 10a. Figure 7 also shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component provided on the IED panel 10a and the PIU panel 20b, and the exchange of information (data) between each component. In the following description, the operation (processing) and exchange of information (data) of the control unit 112a provided on the IED unit 11a will be performed by the IED unit 11a, and the operation (processing) and exchange of information (data) of the control unit 212a provided on the PIU unit 21a that constitutes the PIU panel 20b will be performed by the PIU unit 21a. In the sequence diagram shown in Figure 7, the same step numbers are used for operations (processing) and information (data) exchanges as in the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment and the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, and detailed explanations are omitted.

When the operator controls the control switch 12 from the closed state to the open state, the IED unit 11a acquires the contact information (open state) of the operated control switch 12 and transmits information data representing the acquired contact information to the PIU unit 21a (steps S100 to S104).

When the PIU unit 21a receives the information data transmitted by the IED unit 11a, it acquires the voltage values of the upper part of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 251 and the voltage value of the lower part of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 252 (step S500). Subsequently, the PIU unit 21a restores the contact information (open state) represented by the received information data and controls the operation switch control circuit 22 from the closed state to the open state according to the restored contact information (steps S106 to S108). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the operation switch control circuit 22 by the metal cable MC operates according to the controlled operating state (open state) of the operation switch control circuit 22.

Subsequently, the PIU unit 21a acquires the operating status of the controlled operation switch control circuit 22 (step S302). Furthermore, the PIU unit 21a acquires the voltage values of the upper part of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 251 and the voltage value of the lower part of the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the voltage detection relay 252 (step S510). Then, the PIU unit 21a transmits the acquired result data representing the operating status of the operation switch control circuit 22, including the voltage values acquired in steps S500 and S510, to the IED unit 11a (step S512).

The IED unit 11a receives the result data transmitted by the PIU unit 21a and restores the operating state (open state) and corresponding voltage values of the operation switch control circuit 22 as represented by the received result data. Then, the IED unit 11a displays the restored operating state (control result) of the operation switch control circuit 22 and its corresponding voltage values (i.e., the voltage values before and after the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 is controlled from the closed state to the open state) on the display unit 15 and presents this information to the administrator operating the IED panel 10a (step S514).

Through the operation (processing) of this power protection control system 3, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 3, the administrator can verify the integrity of the operation switch control circuit 22 of the PIU panel 20b, which controls the operation of the power equipment, by operating the IED panel 10a located in a relay panel room away from the power equipment.

The sequence diagram in Figure 7 shows an example of the operation of the power protection control system 3 when the administrator operates the operation switch control unit 12 to confirm the health of the operation switch control circuit 22. The same applies when the administrator confirms the health of the relay switch control circuit 23 or the trip lock terminal control circuit 24. More specifically, the administrator can confirm the health of the relay switch control circuit 23 by operating the relay switch control unit 13, and the health of the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 by operating the trip lock terminal control unit 14. In this case, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component of the power protection control system 3 should be equivalent to the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component in the sequence diagram shown in Figure 7.

In this way, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 3, administrators can verify the integrity of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, all located within the PIU panel 20b that controls the operation of the power equipment, without having to travel to the power equipment itself, which is located far from the relay panel room. This is also effective, for example, when conducting inspections or tests of the power equipment.

As described above, in the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment, the IED unit 11a (control unit 112a) transmits information data (digital data of contact information) representing the operating status of the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14 to the PIU panel 20b via the process bus PB. Then, in the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment, the PIU unit 21a (control unit 212a) restores the information data transmitted via the process bus PB, and before controlling the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operating status represented by the restored information data, it acquires the voltage values across the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the detection relay 251 and the detection relay 252, respectively. Furthermore, in the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment, the PIU unit 21a (control unit 212a) controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operation state represented by the restored information data, and then acquires the voltage values across the relay switch control circuit 23 detected (measured) by the detection relay 251 and the detection relay 252, respectively. Then, in the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment, the PIU unit 21a (control unit 212a) transmits the digital data of each acquired voltage value to the IED panel 10a via the process bus PB, including it in the result data of the control results (digital data of the operation state) of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24. In the third embodiment of the power protection control system 3, the IED unit 11a (control unit 112a) restores the result data transmitted via the process bus PB, displays the restored operating state and its respective voltage values on the display unit 15, and presents them to the administrator. This allows the health of the series circuit of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, which control the operation of the power equipment connected to the PIU panel 20b, to be confirmed by operating the IED panel 10a located in a remote location. As a result, in power facilities employing the third embodiment of the power protection control system 3, for example, an administrator located in the relay panel room can more efficiently confirm the health of the PIU panel 20b, which controls the operation of the power equipment, without having to travel to the power equipment located in a remote location. Therefore, power facilities employing the third embodiment of the power protection control system 3 can achieve more reliable power equipment.

(Fourth embodiment)
[Configuration of the power protection control system]
Figure 8 shows an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the fourth embodiment. Similar to the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, Figure 8 also shows an example of a power protection control system that controls the current flowing through a circuit breaker 30 equipped with a trip coil 32. The power protection control system 4 includes, for example, an IED panel 10b and a PIU panel 20. The IED panel 10b includes, for example, two IED units 11 (IED units 11-1 and 11-2) and power supplies 16 (power supplies 16-1 and 16-2) corresponding to each IED unit 11. Although not shown in Figure 8, each of the IED units 11-1 and 11-2 is connected to an operation switch operation unit 12, a relay switch operation unit 13, and a trip lock terminal operation unit 14. The PIU panel 20 includes, for example, a PIU unit 21, an operation switch control circuit 22, a relay switch control circuit 23, and a trip lock terminal control circuit 24. In Figure 8, components having the same functions as the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted. The arrangement and connections of each component of the power protection control system 4 within the power equipment are the same as those of the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment, so detailed descriptions are omitted.

The power protection control system 4 is an example of a system that includes multiple IED units 11, such as IED unit 11-1 and IED unit 11-2, within the IED panel 10b. For example, IED unit 11-1 is an IED unit 11 for protecting power transmission lines of a power facility, and IED unit 11-2 is an IED unit 11 for protecting busbars of a power facility. The power supply 16 supplies power to the corresponding IED units 11. In the power protection control system 4 shown in Figure 8, power supply 16-1 supplies power to IED unit 11-1, and power supply 16-2 supplies power to IED unit 11-2. The control unit 112 (not shown in Figure 8) of each IED unit 11 may include information about the connected power supply 16 in its information data and transmit it to the PIU unit 21 via the process bus PB.

In the power protection control system 4, one PIU unit 21 on the PIU panel 20 receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB from IED units 11-1 and 11-2, respectively. Based on the operation state represented by the received information data, it controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24. At this time, the control unit 212 controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 to a state obtained by logically ORing the operation states represented by each information data, that is, to a state obtained by logically ORing the digital data of the restored contact information.

Incidentally, when a system has multiple IED units 11, as in the IED panel 10b, it is possible that a problem may occur in one of the IED units 11. Possible causes of problems in an IED unit 11 include, for example, a malfunction in one of the functions within the IED unit 11, or the power supply 16 being cut off (turned off) (whether intentionally or not by the administrator), resulting in a loss of power supply to the IED unit 11. In this case, depending on the problem in the IED unit 11, digital communication between the IED unit 11 and the PIU unit 21 via the process bus PB may be interrupted (cut off). More specifically, if the problem is due to a loss of power supply, the affected IED unit 11 will be unable to transmit information data. In this case, digital communication between the affected IED unit 11 and the PIU unit 21 via the process bus PB will be interrupted. On the other hand, if the problem is a malfunction of a function unrelated to digital communication, the affected IED unit 11 will still be able to transmit information data. In this case, the control unit 112 of the malfunctioning IED unit 11 includes fault information indicating the malfunction in the information data and transmits it to the PIU unit 21 via the process bus PB. However, the operating state represented by the information data transmitted by the malfunctioning IED unit 11 is not necessarily the operating state of the operation switch unit 12, relay switch unit 13, and trip lock terminal unit 14 as operated by the administrator. Therefore, the control unit 212 of the PIU unit 21 will not accept the information data transmitted by the malfunctioning IED unit 11 if a problem occurs in the IED unit 11. In other words, the control unit 212 locks the control of the operation of the power equipment by the malfunctioning IED unit 11.

More specifically, if digital communication with the problematic IED unit 11 is interrupted, the control unit 212 determines that a problem has occurred in the IED unit 11 due to the interruption of digital communication. On the other hand, if information data containing fault information is transmitted from the problematic IED unit 11, the control unit 212 determines that a malfunction or other problem has occurred in the IED unit 11 that transmitted the information data containing fault information. The control unit 212 then controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, the relay switch control circuit 23, and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 in such a way that the operating state (contact information) from the problematic IED unit 11 does not affect the operating state (contact information) from the IED unit 11 that is not experiencing a problem.

With this configuration, the power protection control system 4 controls the operation of power equipment installed in the power facility in response only to information data transmitted by the IED unit 11, which is not experiencing any problems.

[Operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment. Figure 9 is an example of the operation of the power protection control system 4 when a problem occurs in the IED unit 11-1 provided in the IED panel 10b, for example. Figure 9 also shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component provided in the IED panel 10b and the PIU panel 20, and the exchange of information (data) between each component. In the following description, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 112 (not shown) provided in each IED unit 11 will be assumed to be performed by the IED unit 11, and the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 212 provided in the PIU unit 21 will be assumed to be performed by the PIU unit 21.

If a problem occurs in IED unit 11-1 (step S600), IED unit 11-1 checks whether the problem has caused a disruption in communication with PIU unit 21 (step S602). If it is confirmed in step S602 that communication with PIU unit 21 has been disrupted, the transmission of information data from IED unit 11-1 to PIU unit 21 stops (step S604). Meanwhile, IED unit 11-2 transmits information data representing contact information of, for example, the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14, which have been operated by the administrator, to PIU unit 21 (step S606).

The PIU unit 21 detects the IED unit 11 experiencing a problem based on the reception status of information data from each IED unit 11 (step S608). If no IED unit 11 experiencing a problem is detected in step S608, the PIU unit 21 proceeds to step S630. On the other hand, if an IED unit 11 experiencing a problem is detected in step S608, the PIU unit 21 proceeds to step S620. Here, since the PIU unit 21 has not received information data from IED unit 11-1 and has only received information data transmitted by IED unit 11-2, in the processing of step S608, the PIU unit 21 detects IED unit 11-1 as the IED unit experiencing a problem and proceeds to step S620.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S602 that communication with the PIU unit 21 has not been interrupted, the IED unit 11-1 transmits information data, including fault information, to the PIU unit 21 (step S614). Meanwhile, the IED unit 11-2 transmits information data representing contact information of, for example, the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14, which were operated by the administrator, to the PIU unit 21 (step S616).

The PIU unit 21 determines whether there is an IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned (an IED unit 11 that has experienced a problem) by checking whether the information data transmitted by each IED unit 11 contains defective information (step S618). If the PIU unit 21 determines in step S618 that there is no IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned, it proceeds to step S630. On the other hand, if the PIU unit 21 determines in step S618 that there is an IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned, it proceeds to step S620. In this case, the PIU unit 21 determines that IED unit 11-1 is the IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned because the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-1 contains defective information, and the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-2 does not contain defective information. Therefore, in step S618, the PIU unit 21 determines that IED unit 11-1 is the IED unit 11 that has experienced a malfunction problem, and proceeds to step S620.

The PIU unit 21 locks control from the problematic IED unit 11, restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by the non-problematic IED unit 11, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 by performing a logical OR operation of the restored contact information (step S620). Here, the PIU unit 21 locks control from the problematic IED unit 11-1, restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by the non-problematic IED unit 11-2, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24.

If no problems occur in either IED unit 11, the PIU unit 21 restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by each IED unit 11, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 after logically ORing the restored contact information (step S630). For example, if no problems occur in either IED unit 11-1 or IED unit 11-2, the PIU unit 21 restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-1 and IED unit 11-2, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 after logically ORing the restored contact information.

Through the operation (processing) of this power protection control system 4, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 4, if a problem occurs in any of the multiple IED units 11 provided in the IED panel 10b, it is possible to prevent the malfunctioning IED unit 11 from controlling the operation incorrectly, thereby controlling the operation of the power equipment.

As described above, in the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment, if a problem occurs in any of the IED units 11 of the IED panel 10b, the system will not accept control signals from that IED unit 11 to the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24. This prevents the possibility of incorrect operation control from the malfunctioning IED unit 11. As a result, power facilities employing the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment can achieve more reliable power equipment.

In the fourth embodiment, a power protection control system 4 with a configuration based on the configuration of the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment was described. However, the configuration of the power protection control system 4 may also be based on the configuration of the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment or the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment. In other words, the IED panel 10b may be replaced with a configuration that includes a display unit 15, and the PIU panel 20 may be replaced with a PIU panel 20a or PIU panel 20b. In this configuration, the power protection control system 4 can simultaneously realize the functions of the power protection control system 2 and the power protection control system 3 (i.e., the function of being able to confirm the results of controlling the operation of the power equipment on the IED panel 10b equipped with a display unit 15, and the function of being able to confirm the health of the PIU panel 20b on the IED panel 10b equipped with a display unit 15).

(Fifth embodiment)
[Configuration of the power protection control system]
Figure 10 shows an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the fifth embodiment. Similar to the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment, Figure 10 also shows an example of a power protection control system that controls the current flowing through a circuit breaker 30 equipped with a trip coil 32. The power protection control system 5 includes, for example, an IED panel 10b and a PIU panel 20c. The IED panel 10b includes, for example, two IED units 11 (IED units 11-1 and 11-2) and power supplies 16 (power supplies 16-1 and 16-2) corresponding to each IED unit 11. Although not shown in Figure 10, each of the IED units 11-1 and 11-2 is connected to an operation switch operating unit 12, a relay switch operating unit 13, and a trip lock terminal operating unit 14. The PIU panel 20c includes, for example, a PIU unit 21c, two operation switch control circuits 22 (operation switch control circuits 22-1 and 22-2), two relay switch control circuits 23 (relay switch control circuits 23-1 and 23-2), and two trip lock terminal control circuits 24 (trip lock terminal control circuits 24-1 and 24-2). In Figure 10, components having the same function as the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted. The arrangement and connection of each component of the power protection control system 5 within the power equipment are the same as those of the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment, so detailed descriptions are omitted.

The power protection control system 5 is an example in which the PIU panel 20c contains operation switch control circuits 22, relay switch control circuits 23, and trip lock terminal control circuits 24, each corresponding to one of the two IED units 11 provided in the IED panel 10b. For example, operation switch control circuit 22-1, relay switch control circuit 23-1, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-1 each correspond to IED unit 11-1, and operation switch control circuit 22-2, relay switch control circuit 23-2, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-2 each correspond to IED unit 11-2.

In the power protection control system 5, one PIU unit 21c in the PIU panel 20c receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB from IED units 11-1 and 11-2, respectively, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operation state represented by the received information data. The PIU unit 21c includes, for example, a control unit 212c.

The control unit 212c, similar to the control unit 212 of the power protection control system 4, receives information data transmitted via the process bus PB by each IED unit 11, restores the operating state represented by the received information data, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24. At this time, the control unit 212c controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22-1, relay switch control circuit 23-1, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-1 according to the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-1, and controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22-2, relay switch control circuit 23-2, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-2 according to the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-2.

Control unit 212c is an example of a "second control unit."

In the power protection control system 5, it is possible that a problem may occur in any of the IED units 11 in the IED panel 10b. In this case, similar to the power protection control system 4, depending on the problem in the IED unit 11, it is possible that digital communication between the IED unit 11 and the PIU unit 21c via the process bus PB may be interrupted (cut off). For this reason, in the power protection control system 5, the control unit 212c of the PIU unit 21c will not accept information data transmitted by the IED unit 11 that has a problem (it locks the control of the operation of the power equipment by the IED unit 11 that has a problem). However, in the power protection control system 5, the PIU panel 20c is equipped with an operation switch control circuit 22, a relay switch control circuit 23, and a trip lock terminal control circuit 24 corresponding to each IED unit 11. Therefore, the control unit 212c is configured to reject only the operation status (contact information) from the IED unit 11 experiencing a problem, while accepting the operation status (contact information) from the IED unit 11 that is not experiencing a problem. The control unit 212c then controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 according to the operation status (contact information) from the IED unit 11 that is not experiencing a problem.

With this configuration, the power protection control system 5 controls the operation of power equipment installed in the power facility in response only to information data transmitted by the IED unit 11, which is not experiencing any problems.

[Operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for controlling power equipment in the power protection control system 5 of the fifth embodiment. Similar to the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment, Figure 11 shows an example of the operation of the power protection control system 5 when, for example, a problem occurs in the IED unit 11-1 provided in the IED panel 10b. Figure 11 also shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component provided in the IED panel 10b and the PIU panel 20c, and the exchange of information (data) between each component. In the following description, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 112 (not shown) provided in each IED unit 11 will be performed by the IED unit 11, and the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 212c provided in the PIU unit 21c will be performed by the PIU unit 21c.

If a problem occurs in IED unit 11-1 (step S700), IED unit 11-1 checks whether the problem is causing a disruption in communication with PIU unit 21c (step S702). If it is confirmed in step S702 that communication with PIU unit 21c has been disrupted, the transmission of information data from IED unit 11-1 to PIU unit 21c stops (step S704). Meanwhile, IED unit 11-2 transmits information data representing contact information of, for example, the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14, which have been operated by the administrator, to PIU unit 21c (step S706).

The PIU unit 21c detects the IED unit 11 experiencing a problem based on the reception status of information data from each IED unit 11 (step S708). If no IED unit 11 experiencing a problem is detected in step S708, the PIU unit 21c proceeds to step S730. On the other hand, if an IED unit 11 experiencing a problem is detected in step S708, the PIU unit 21c proceeds to step S720. Here, since the PIU unit 21c has not received information data from IED unit 11-1 and has only received information data transmitted by IED unit 11-2, in the processing of step S708, the PIU unit 21c detects IED unit 11-1 as the IED unit experiencing a problem and proceeds to step S720.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S702 that communication with the PIU unit 21c has not been interrupted, the IED unit 11-1 transmits information data, including fault information, to the PIU unit 21c (step S714). Meanwhile, the IED unit 11-2 transmits information data representing contact information of, for example, the operation switch operation unit 12, the relay switch operation unit 13, and the trip lock terminal operation unit 14, which were operated by the administrator, to the PIU unit 21c (step S716).

The PIU unit 21c determines whether there is an IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned (an IED unit 11 that has experienced a problem) by checking whether the information data transmitted by each IED unit 11 contains defective information (step S718). If it is determined in step S718 that there is no IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned, the PIU unit 21c proceeds to step S730. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S718 that there is an IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned, the PIU unit 21c proceeds to step S720. Here, the PIU unit 21c determines that IED unit 11-1 is the IED unit 11 that has malfunctioned because the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-1 contains defective information, and the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-2 does not contain defective information. Therefore, in the processing of step S718, the PIU unit 21c determines that IED unit 11-1 is the IED unit 11 that has experienced a malfunction problem, and proceeds to step S720.

The PIU unit 21c locks control from the problematic IED unit 11, restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by the non-problematic IED unit 11, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 (step S720). Here, the PIU unit 21c locks control from the problematic IED unit 11-1, restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by the non-problematic IED unit 11-2, and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22-2, relay switch control circuit 23-2, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-2.

If no problems occur in either IED unit 11, the PIU unit 21c restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by each IED unit 11 and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 (step S730). For example, if no problems occur in either IED unit 11-1 or IED unit 11-2, the PIU unit 21c restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-1 and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22-1, relay switch control circuit 23-1, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-1. Furthermore, the PIU unit 21c restores the contact information represented by the information data transmitted by IED unit 11-2 and controls the operation of the corresponding operation switch control circuit 22-2, relay switch control circuit 23-2, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24-2.

Through the operation (processing) of this power protection control system 5, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 5, if a problem occurs in any of the multiple IED units 11 provided in the IED panel 10b, the system can prevent the possibility of incorrect operation control from occurring from the problematic IED unit 11, thereby controlling the operation of the power equipment.

As described above, in the power protection control system 5 of the fifth embodiment, similar to the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment, if a problem occurs in any of the IED units 11 of the IED panel 10b, the system will not accept control of the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 from that IED unit 11. This prevents the possibility of incorrect operation control from the malfunctioning IED unit 11, similar to the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment. As a result, power facilities employing the power protection control system 5 of the fifth embodiment can achieve more reliable power equipment, similar to power facilities employing the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment, a power protection control system 5 was described with a configuration based on the configuration of the power protection control system 1 of the first embodiment. However, the configuration of the power protection control system 5 may also be based on the configuration of the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment or the power protection control system 3 of the third embodiment, similar to the configuration of the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment. In other words, the IED panel 10b may be replaced with one that includes a display unit 15, and the PIU panel 20c may be replaced with one that implements the functions of the PIU panels 20a and 20b. In this configuration, the power protection control system 5 can simultaneously implement the functions of the power protection control system 2 and 3 (i.e., the function that allows confirmation of the results of controlling the operation of power equipment on the IED panel 10b equipped with a display unit 15, and the function that allows confirmation of the soundness of the PIU panel 20b on the IED panel 10b equipped with a display unit 15), similar to the power protection control system 4 of the fourth embodiment.

(Sixth embodiment)
[Configuration of the power protection control system]
Figure 12 shows an example of the configuration of a power protection control system according to the sixth embodiment. Similar to the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment, Figure 12 also shows an example of a power protection control system that controls the current flowing through a circuit breaker 30 equipped with a trip coil 32. The power protection control system 6 includes, for example, an IED panel 10c and a PIU panel 20d. The IED panel 10c includes, for example, an IED unit 11c, a display unit 15, and a test button 17. Although omitted in Figure 12, the IED unit 11c is connected to an operation switch unit 12, a relay switch unit 13, and a trip lock terminal unit 14. The PIU panel 20d includes, for example, a PIU unit 21d, an operation switch control circuit 22, a relay switch control circuit 23, and a trip lock terminal control circuit 24. In Figure 12, components having the same functions as the power protection control system 2 of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted. Since the arrangement and connections of each component of the power protection control system 6 within the power equipment are the same as those of the power protection control system 2 in the second embodiment, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

In the power protection control system 6, for example, the power equipment manager can perform a series of tests to verify the operational integrity of the power equipment controlled by the operation switch control circuit 22, relay switch control circuit 23, and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 on the PIU panel 20d by operating (pressing) the test button 17 on the IED panel 10c. Therefore, in the power protection control system 6, the test button 17 is added to the IED panel 10c, which corresponds to the IED panel 10a of the power protection control system 2. The IED unit 11a of the power protection control system 2 is replaced by the IED unit 11c, and the PIU unit 21a is replaced by the PIU unit 21d.

The test button 17 is a button operated (pressed) by, for example, an administrator to signal the start of a test in the power protection control system 6. The following explanation uses the case of performing a test to verify the operational integrity of the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 as an example.

When the test button 17 is pressed, the IED unit 11c executes a test sequence in the power protection control system 6. The IED unit 11c includes, for example, a control unit 112c.

The control unit 112c starts a test in the power protection control system 6. When the control unit 112c starts the test, it transmits information data indicating this to the PIU panel 20d via the process bus PB. Subsequently, when the control unit 112c receives the test data (described later) transmitted by the PIU panel 20d, it performs calculations based on the received test data to generate information data (hereinafter referred to as "operation information data") representing operation information for operating the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23, and transmits it to the PIU panel 20d. When the control unit 112c receives result data from the PIU panel 20d representing the operating state of the relay switch control circuit 23 whose operation has been controlled according to the transmitted operation information data, it verifies the operating state of the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 as shown in the received result data, and displays the verification result on the display unit 15. Then, if the control unit 112c finds no problems in the verification results (i.e., the relay switch is operating normally), it transmits information data to the PIU panel 20d indicating that the test is complete, and terminates the test in the power protection control system 6.

The control unit 112c is an example of the "first control unit".

The PIU unit 21d executes the test sequence in the power protection control system 6 in response to information data indicating the start of a test, transmitted via the process bus PB by the IED unit 11c in the IED panel 10c. The PIU unit 21d includes, for example, a control unit 212d.

When the control unit 212d receives information data from the IED unit 11c indicating that a test should be started, it starts the test in the power protection control system 6. Once the test is started, the control unit 212d controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, locking the operation of the equipment in the power facility that corresponds to the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24. Then, the control unit 212d transmits test data to the IED unit 11c via the process bus PB to verify the integrity of the operation of the relay switches in the power facility controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23. The test data, for example, simulates the current and voltage values at which the relay switches in the power facility actually operate (the relay switches are closed, i.e., the path is blocked). Subsequently, when the control unit 212d receives operation information data from the IED unit 11c for operating the relay switch control circuit 23, it controls the operation of the relay switch control circuit 23 according to the received operation information data, thereby operating the relay switches in the power facility. The control unit 212d then acquires the operating status of the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 and transmits result data representing the acquired operating status to the IED unit 11c. Subsequently, upon receiving information data from the IED unit 11c indicating the end of the test, the control unit 212d controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 to unlock the devices corresponding to the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 in the power equipment, thereby ending the test in the power protection control system 6.

The control unit 212d is an example of a "second control unit."

With this configuration, the power protection control system 6 allows the administrator to press the test button 17, causing the IED unit 11c on the IED panel 10c and the PIU panel 20d on the PIU panel 20d to cooperate in performing a series of tests to verify the operational integrity of the power equipment installed in the power facility.

[Operation of the power protection control system]
Figure 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow for testing power equipment in the power protection control system 6 of the sixth embodiment. Figure 13 is an example of the operation of the power protection control system 6 when, for example, an administrator located in the relay panel room of the power equipment presses the test button 17 on the IED panel 10c to perform a test to confirm the soundness of the operation of the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 on the PIU panel 20d. Figure 13 also shows an example of the operation (processing) of each component of the IED panel 10c and the PIU panel 20d, and the exchange of information (data) between each component. In the following description, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 112c of the IED unit 11c will be performed by the IED unit 11c, and the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of the control unit 212d of the PIU unit 21d will be performed by the PIU unit 21d.

When the test button 17 is pressed by the administrator (step S800), the IED unit 11c acquires the status of the pressed test button 17 (step S802). This causes the IED unit 11c to start testing in the power protection control system 6. The IED unit 11c then transmits information data indicating the start of the test to the PIU unit 21d (step S804).

The PIU unit 21d receives information data transmitted by the IED unit 11c. This causes the PIU unit 21d to initiate testing in the power protection control system 6. Then, in accordance with the test start information represented by the received information data, the PIU unit 21d controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 to lock their operation (step S806). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, respectively, by the metal cable MC, locks their operation according to the controlled operation switch control circuit 22 and trip lock terminal control circuit 24, respectively. Finally, the PIU unit 21d transmits test data to the IED unit 11c to verify the integrity of the operation of the relay switches of the power facility controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 (step S808).

The IED unit 11c receives test data transmitted by the PIU unit 21d, performs calculations based on the received test data, and generates operation information data representing operation information for operating the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 (step S810). The IED unit 11c transmits the generated operation information data to the PIU unit 21d (step S812).

The PIU unit 21d receives operation information data transmitted by the IED unit 11c and restores the operation information represented by the received operation information data (step S814). The PIU unit 21d controls the operation of the relay switch control circuit 23 according to the restored operation information (step S816) to operate the relay switches of the power equipment. As a result, the relay switches of the power equipment connected to the relay switch control circuit 23 by the metal cable MC operate according to the controlled relay switch control circuit 23.

Subsequently, the PIU unit 21d acquires the operating status of the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the relay switch control circuit 23 (step S818). The PIU unit 21d transmits the acquired result data representing the operating status of the relay switches of the power equipment to the IED unit 11c (step S820).

The IED unit 11c receives the result data transmitted by the PIU unit 21d and verifies the operating state of the relay switch of the power equipment represented by the received result data (step S822). Then, the IED unit 11c determines whether there is a problem with the verification result, that is, whether it is a normal operating state corresponding to the operating information data transmitted by the relay switch of the power equipment (step S824).

In step S824, if the IED unit 11c determines that the relay switch of the power equipment is operating normally, it transmits information data indicating the completion of the test to the PIU unit 21d (step S826).

The PIU unit 21d receives information data transmitted by the IED unit 11c and controls the operation of the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 to release the lock, according to the test completion information represented by the received information data (step S828). As a result, the equipment of the power facility connected to the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, respectively, by the metal cable MC, has its operation unlocked according to the controlled operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24, respectively. Subsequently, the PIU unit 21d transmits unlock data to the IED unit 11c, indicating that the operation of the power facility equipment corresponding to the operation switch control circuit 22 and the trip lock terminal control circuit 24 has been unlocked (step S830). Then, the PIU unit 21d completes the test in the power protection control system 6.

When the IED unit 11c receives the unlock data transmitted by the PIU unit 21d, it displays the verification result on the display unit 15 and presents it to the administrator operating the IED panel 10c (step S832). In this case, the IED unit 11c displays on the display unit 15 a verification result indicating that there were no problems with the verification result, that is, that in step S824, it determined that the operating state of the relay switch of the power equipment was in a normal operating state. Then, the IED unit 11c completes the test in the power protection control system 6.

On the other hand, if in step S824 the IED unit 11c determines that the operating state of the relay switch of the power equipment is not in a normal operating state, the IED unit 11c displays the verification result on the display unit 15 and presents it to the administrator operating the IED panel 10c (step S832). In this case, the IED unit 11c displays a verification result on the display unit 15 indicating that there was a problem with the verification result. In this case, since the IED unit 11c has not transmitted information data indicating the end of the test to the PIU unit 21d, the test in the power protection control system 6 is still in progress.

Through the operation (processing) of the power protection control system 6, in power facilities employing the power protection control system 6, the administrator can operate (press) the test button 17 on the IED panel 10c located in a relay panel room away from the power equipment. This allows the IED unit 11c and the PIU panel 20d to cooperate in executing a series of tests to verify the operational integrity of the power equipment. This enables administrators to verify the operational integrity of the power equipment without having to travel to the power equipment located away from the relay panel room. This is particularly useful when performing inspections or tests of power equipment.

The sequence diagram in Figure 13 shows an example of the operation of the power protection control system 6 when the relay switch control circuit 23 performs a test to verify the operational integrity of the relay switches of the power equipment controlled by the test button 17. The same applies when the operation switch control circuit 22 and trip lock terminal control circuit 24 perform a test to verify the operational integrity of the equipment they control, also in response to the press of the test button 17. In this case, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component of the power protection control system 6 should be equivalent to the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component in the sequence diagram shown in Figure 13.

As described above, in the power protection control system 6 of the sixth embodiment, when the test button 17 is operated (pressed), the IED unit 11c (control unit 112c) and the PIU unit 21d (control unit 212d) work together to execute a series of tests to confirm the operational integrity of the corresponding equipment in the power facility, and the results are displayed on the display unit 15 for the administrator. This allows the administrator in the power protection control system 6 of the sixth embodiment to more easily confirm the integrity of the power equipment simply by operating (pressing) the test button 17, without having to go to the power equipment located in a distant location. As a result, power facilities employing the power protection control system 6 of the sixth embodiment can perform inspections and tests of power equipment more efficiently. Consequently, power facilities employing the power protection control system 6 of the sixth embodiment can achieve more reliable and maintainable power equipment.

In the sixth embodiment, a power protection control system 6 was described in which the IED unit 11c is equipped with a test button 17. However, the test button 17 may be provided on the PIU unit 21d instead of the IED unit 11c. Even in this configuration, the IED unit 11c in the IED panel 10c and the PIU panel 20d in the PIU panel 20d can cooperate to execute a series of tests to verify the operational integrity of the corresponding equipment in the power facility. In this configuration, the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component of the power protection control system 6 should be equivalent to the operation (processing) and information (data) exchange of each component in the sequence diagram shown in Figure 13.

As described above, in the power protection control systems of each embodiment, the IED panel and the PIU panel are connected by a process bus. This allows the panels to be located in separate locations. In each embodiment, the IED unit (control unit) transmits information data representing the operating status of the operation switch unit, relay switch unit, and trip lock terminal unit to the PIU panel via the process bus. The PIU unit (control unit) then reconstructs the information data transmitted via the process bus to control the operation of the operation switch control circuit, relay switch control circuit, and trip lock terminal control circuit. This allows the operation of power equipment connected to the operation switch control circuit, relay switch control circuit, and trip lock terminal control circuit of the PIU panel via metal cables to be controlled by operating the IED panel located in a separate location. As a result, power facilities employing the power protection control systems of each embodiment can realize power facilities that facilitate inspection and testing of power equipment, for example.

In the power protection control systems of each embodiment, a configuration was described in which actual switches and terminals are provided on the IED panel as an operation switch operation unit, a relay switch operation unit, and a trip lock terminal operation unit. However, the operation switch operation unit, relay switch operation unit, and trip lock terminal operation unit are not limited to actual switches and terminals. For example, the functions of the IED panel may be realized by software (applications) executed on a digital device that has a display device and an input device connected to or built into it, such as a personal computer (PC), a server device, or a tablet terminal or smartphone. In this case, schematic operation switch operation units, relay switch operation units, and trip lock terminal operation units may be displayed on a display device, and these schematic switches and terminals may be operated with an input device such as a mouse or keyboard to be equivalent to operating actual switches and terminals. In this configuration, where an input device is combined with a display device that shows schematic operation switches, relay switches, and trip lock terminals (a so-called touch panel), it is possible to make it equivalent to operating the actual switches and terminals by performing various touch operations (such as tapping or flicking) on the displayed schematic switches and terminals on the display device's screen.

According to at least one embodiment described above, a power protection control system is provided in which an intelligent electronic device panel (10) and a process interface unit panel (20) are connected by a process bus (PB). The intelligent electronic device panel comprises an intelligent electronic device unit (11) having operating units (12, 13, 14) for operating control circuits (22, 23, 24) provided in the process interface unit panel, and a first control unit (112) that acquires the operating state of the operating units and transmits information data representing the acquired operating state to the process interface unit panel via the process bus. The process interface unit panel comprises a process interface unit (21) having control circuits (22, 23, 24) for controlling power equipment installed in a power facility, and a second control unit (212) that restores the operating state represented by the information data transmitted via the process bus and controls the operation of the control circuit according to the restored operating state. This allows for more favorable control of power equipment in a power protection control system to which a process bus is applied.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the claims and its equivalents.

With respect to the above embodiments, the following additional notes are disclosed as aspects of the invention and selective features.
(Note 1)
A power protection control system in which an intelligent electronic device panel and a process interface unit panel are connected by a process bus,
The aforementioned intelligent electronic device panel is
The process interface unit panel includes an operating section for operating the control circuit,
An intelligent electronic device unit having a first control unit that acquires the operating state of the operating unit and transmits information data representing the acquired operating state to the process interface unit panel via the process bus,
Equipped with,
The aforementioned process interface unit panel is
The control circuit for controlling power equipment installed in a power facility,
A process interface unit having a second control unit that restores the operation state represented by the information data transmitted via the process bus and controls the operation of the control circuit according to the restored operation state,
Equipped with,
Power protection control system.

(Note 2)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 1,
The intelligent electronic device panel is placed at any location in the power facility.
The process interface unit panel is located near the power equipment,
The control circuit and the equipment provided by the power facility may be connected by an analog signal line.

(Note 3)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 2,
The control circuit may include an operation switch, a relay switch, and a trip lock terminal.

(Note 4)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 3,
The second control unit acquires the operating state of the control circuit controlled according to the restored operating state, and transmits the result data representing the acquired operating state to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The intelligent electronic device panel further comprises a display unit for displaying the operating state represented by the result data transmitted via the process bus,
The first control unit may cause the display unit to display the operating state represented by the result data.

(Note 5)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 4,
The process interface unit panel further comprises two voltage measuring units for measuring the voltage across the trip lock terminal,
The second control unit acquires the voltage values measured by each of the voltage measurement units, and transmits the result data, including the acquired voltage values, to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The first control unit may also cause the display unit to display the voltage value represented by the result data transmitted via the process bus.

(Note 6)
In a power protection control system described in any one of the appendices 1 to 5,
The intelligent electronic device panel comprises a plurality of the intelligent electronic device units,
The second control unit may restore the respective operating states represented by the respective information data transmitted from each of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus, and control the operation of the control circuit according to the logical OR of the restored operating states.

(Note 7)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 6,
The second control unit may, if the transmission of the information data via the process bus from any of the intelligent electronic device units is interrupted, refuse to accept control of the operation of the control circuit according to the operation state represented by the information data transmitted from the intelligent electronic device unit whose transmission of the information data has been interrupted.

(Note 8)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 6 or Appendix 7,
The second control unit may, if the information data transmitted via the process bus from any of the intelligent electronic device units indicates a malfunction, refuse to accept control of the operation of the control circuit according to the operating state indicated by the information data transmitted from the malfunctioning intelligent electronic device unit.

(Note 9)
In a power protection control system described in any one of the appendices 1 to 5,
The intelligent electronic device panel comprises a plurality of the intelligent electronic device units,
The process interface unit panel comprises a plurality of control circuits corresponding to each of the intelligent electronic device units,
The second control unit may restore the respective operating states represented by the respective information data transmitted from each of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus, and control the operation of the corresponding control circuit according to the restored operating states.

(Note 10)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 9,
The second control unit may, if the transmission of the information data from any of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus is interrupted, refuse to accept control of the operation of the control circuit corresponding to the intelligent electronic device unit from which the transmission of the information data has been interrupted.

(Note 11)
In the power protection control system described in Appendix 9 or Appendix 10,
The second control unit may, if the information data transmitted via the process bus from any of the intelligent electronic device units indicates a malfunction, refuse to accept control of the operation of the control circuit corresponding to the malfunctioning intelligent electronic device unit.

(Note 12)
In the power protection control system described in any one of the appendices 1 to 11,
The intelligent electronic device panel is equipped with a test button for testing the control circuit,
When the second control unit receives the information data indicating that the test button has been pressed via the process bus, it locks the operation of the control circuit and transmits the test data to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The first control unit transmits operational information data based on the test data to the process interface unit panel via the process bus.
The second control unit controls the operation of the control circuit according to the operation information data, and transmits result data representing the operating state of the control circuit to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The first control unit may verify the operating state represented by the result data.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Power protection control system, 10, 10a, 10b, 10c... IED panel, 11, 11a, 11-1, 11-2, 11c... IED unit, 112, 112a, 112c... Control unit, 12... Operation switch unit, 13... Relay switch unit, 14... Trip lock terminal unit, 15... Display unit, 16, 16-1, 16-2... Power supply, 17... Test button, 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d... PIU panel 21, 21a, 21c, 21d...PIU unit, 212, 212a, 212c, 212d...control unit, 22, 22-1, 22-2...operation switch control circuit, 23, 23-1, 23-2...relay switch control circuit, 24, 24-1, 24-2...trip lock terminal control circuit, 251...voltage detection relay, 252...voltage detection relay, 30...circuit breaker, 32...trip coil, PB...process bus, MC...metal cable

Claims (12)

A power protection control system in which an intelligent electronic device panel and a process interface unit panel are connected by a process bus,
The aforementioned intelligent electronic device panel is
The process interface unit panel includes an operating section for operating the control circuit,
An intelligent electronic device unit having a first control unit that acquires the operating state of the operating unit and transmits information data representing the acquired operating state to the process interface unit panel via the process bus,
Equipped with,
The aforementioned process interface unit panel is
The control circuit for controlling power equipment installed in a power facility,
A process interface unit having a second control unit that restores the operation state represented by the information data transmitted via the process bus and controls the operation of the control circuit according to the restored operation state,
Equipped with ,
The aforementioned operating section includes a trip lock terminal operating section.
The control circuit includes a trip lock terminal control circuit.
The second control unit restores the operating state of the trip lock terminal operation unit as represented by the information data transmitted via the process bus, and controls the operation of the trip lock terminal control circuit according to the restored operating state .
Power protection control system. The intelligent electronic device panel is placed at any location in the power facility.
The process interface unit panel is located near the power equipment,
The control circuit and the equipment provided by the power facility are connected by an analog signal line.
The power protection control system according to claim 1. The control circuit includes an operation switch, a relay switch, and a trip lock terminal.
The power protection control system according to claim 2. The second control unit acquires the operating state of the control circuit controlled according to the restored operating state, and transmits the result data representing the acquired operating state to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The intelligent electronic device panel further comprises a display unit for displaying the operating state represented by the result data transmitted via the process bus,
The first control unit causes the operating state represented by the result data to be displayed on the display unit.
The power protection control system according to claim 3. The process interface unit panel further comprises two voltage measuring units for measuring the voltage across the trip lock terminal,
The second control unit acquires the voltage values measured by each of the voltage measurement units, and transmits the result data, including the acquired voltage values, to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The first control unit causes the display unit to display the voltage value represented by the result data transmitted via the process bus.
The power protection control system according to claim 4. The intelligent electronic device panel comprises a plurality of the intelligent electronic device units,
The second control unit restores the respective operating states represented by the respective information data transmitted from each of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus, and controls the operation of the control circuit according to the logical OR of the restored operating states.
A power protection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The second control unit, if the transmission of the information data from any of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus is interrupted, will not accept control of the operation of the control circuit according to the operation state represented by the information data transmitted from the intelligent electronic device unit whose transmission of the information data has been interrupted.
The power protection control system according to claim 6. The second control unit, if the information data transmitted via the process bus from any of the intelligent electronic device units indicates a malfunction, will not accept control of the operation of the control circuit according to the operating state indicated by the information data transmitted from the malfunctioning intelligent electronic device unit.
The power protection control system according to claim 6. The intelligent electronic device panel comprises a plurality of the intelligent electronic device units,
The process interface unit panel comprises a plurality of control circuits corresponding to each of the intelligent electronic device units,
The second control unit restores the respective operating states represented by the respective information data transmitted from each of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus, and controls the operation of the corresponding control circuit according to the restored operating states.
A power protection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The second control unit, if the transmission of the information data from any of the intelligent electronic device units via the process bus is interrupted, will not accept control of the operation of the control circuit corresponding to the intelligent electronic device unit from which the transmission of the information data has been interrupted.
The power protection control system according to claim 9. The second control unit, if the information data transmitted via the process bus from any of the intelligent electronic device units indicates a malfunction, will not accept control of the operation of the control circuit corresponding to the malfunctioning intelligent electronic device unit.
The power protection control system according to claim 9. The intelligent electronic device panel is equipped with a test button for testing the control circuit,
When the second control unit receives the information data indicating that the test button has been pressed via the process bus, it locks the operation of the control circuit and transmits the test data to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The first control unit transmits operational information data based on the test data to the process interface unit panel via the process bus.
The second control unit controls the operation of the control circuit according to the operation information data, and transmits result data representing the operating state of the control circuit to the intelligent electronic device panel via the process bus.
The first control unit verifies the operating state represented by the result data.
A power protection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.