Remote supervision for intelligent circuit breakers and gas insulated substations

The advancement of asset management techniques was significantly improved by the development of processes controlled by microprocessors. Using reliable and expert monitoring systems that are now available, utilities can further increase the availability of their transmission grid, in optimizing maintenance practice and to extend the useful life of the transmission network equipment. This paper describes the hardware architecture of the state-of-the-art monitoring equipment from the simplest to the most elaborate, including UHF partial discharge detection system for gas insulated switchgear (GIS). This last piece of equipment is considered as the best way to ensure that dielectric integrity of GIS equipment is respected during its lifetime. Strategies to implement these tools in the substation, both on-line and off-line, are also discussed. The impact of last-generation devices, adding protection and control to monitoring, coupled with the introduction of long awaited substation communication protocol IEC 61850 is detailed. Substations are not always controlled locally. Maintenance teams are sometimes located in areas far away from the substations. In such cases, it is important to facilitate remote access to the data recorded on the monitoring system and get a quick status of the GIS installation. Such facility is permitted with modern digital monitoring systems. Customers can get access to the same type of information as provided locally using a remote HMI. This is possible via intranet, internet or telephone network. The information can also be accessed remotely from manufacturer facilities upon customer request, and first hand remote diagnosis or maintenance recommendations can be provided by factory experts.