Monitoring, protection, and voltage control of parallel power transformers based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus

Abstract

The purpose of an electrical power system is to supply electrical energy to the customers. Power transformers are required to transform the system voltage from generation to transmission and distribution levels. Protection and control systems must ensure that power system high voltage equipment such as transformers operate and deliver save, reliable and secure electricity supply. The aim of the project research work is to develop and implement a strategy, methods and algorithms for monitoring, protection and voltage control of parallel power transformers based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus standard. NamPower is a power utility in Namibia. The IEC 61850 protocol for electrical substation automation system is used for the protection and control of 5 power transformers operated in parallel in an existing substation system. The IEC 61850-9-2 process bus standard is however not used in regards of Sampled Values (SV). Protection and control devices are connected to a substation communication network, routers and switches using fibre optic linked Ethernet. Inductive Current Transformers (CTs) and Voltage Transformers (VTs) secondary circuits are hardwired to Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and fibre optic links are not used for this purpose at process level communication. The research focuses on the implementation of the IEC 61850 standard with Merging Units (MUs) and sampled values to improve the existing implemented protection and control system at NamPower. This includes substation communication networks and MUs used for transformer protection, voltage regulator control and cooling fan control. At the present the CTs located at the transformer bushings and switchgear and the VTs located at the switchgear are hardwired to the inputs on protection and control IEDs. The research focuses on issues with the copper wires for voltage and currents signals and how these issues can be eliminated by using the MUs and the SV protocol. The MUs which are considered in this Thesis is to improve the voltage regulator control and the control of the cooling fan motors. The voltage regulator control IED is situated at the tap change motor drive of the On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC). The IED of each transformer is required to regulate the voltage level of the secondary side bus bar it is connected to. All the regulating IEDs are required to communicate with each other and collectively to control the bus bar voltage depending on the switching configuration of the parallel transformers. The control circuit for controlling the cooling fan motors is hardwired. Temperature analogue signal input into a programmable automation controller IED can be used for controlling the transformer cooling fans. A strategy, methods and algorithms for transformer protection, voltage regulator control and cooling fan motor control of parallel power transformers need to be developed and implemented based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus. Power utilities and distributors can benefit from interpretation of the IEC 61850-9-2 standard and implementing MUs and SV in substations. MUs can be included in the power transformer protection, automation and control systems. A cost reduction in high voltage equipment, substation installation and commissioning costs and better performance of protection and control system are anticipated.