Microprocessor based relay information improves the power system

Innovative developments within microprocessor based relays have created new ways of collecting and reacting to data and using this data to create information. Power providers are dealing with demands to increase productivity and reduce costs that translate into the need to collect and act on decision-making information. Communicating information between protection components enables superior yet simple protection systems and this same information can feed other system needs such as automation, monitoring and control. In this paper, the authors evaluate the types of data available in protection devices as well as the value of communicating this data to other devices and applications.