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Issue 38 - March 2002
Beckwith Relays Generate COMTRADE Files COMTRADE (Common Format for Transient Data) is an important IEEE standard (C37.111) first published in 1991 and updated in 1999. It defines a common format for data files and an exchange medium used for the interchange of various types of fault, test, or simulation data for electrical power systems. The IEEE standard also describes the sources of transient data such as digital protective relays, digital fault recorders and transient simulation programs and discusses the sampling rates, filters, and sample rate conversions for the transient data being exchanged. The C37.111-1999 standard also establishes that the following files are necessary for the data exchange: header file (.HDR), configuration file (.CFG) and data file (.DAT). Digital fault records are an invaluable tool for power system analysis. Relay engineers and test technicians can analyze transient records for information not only on power system disturbances, but also during routine commissioning of transmission, distribution and generation protection systems, and the related protected equipment. Beckwith Electric's newer relays, the M-3410 Intertie/Generator Protection Relay and the M-3311 Transformer Protection Relay, generate COMTRADE files to be viewed in any COMTRADE viewer program and also in their IPSplot® Oscillograph Analysis Software. Other Beckwith Electric relays that have been in use for several years, such as the M-3425 Generator Protection Relay and the M-3520 Intertie Protection Relay, generate waveform files in a Beckwith Electric format (.OSC) that can only be viewed in IPSplot. However, Beckwith Electric will soon have a conversion utility program that creates an equivalent COMTRADE record from an (.OSC) file that consists of the three files required by COMTRADE: .HDR, .CFG and .DAT. This record allows any COMTRADE viewing program (such as OMICRON's TransView®) to view the data quickly and easily. The advanced capabilities of digital relay systems allow for the ability to capture, store, retrieve, and analyze a fault record with very little effort. A 3-phase test set allows the test technician to playback a COMTRADE file simulating the exact power system conditions that were originally recorded. This is an extremely useful tool for determining relay performance during an event or questionable operating situation, or to assist in the commissioning of new facilities.Recently, at an oil refinery in Latin America, Scott Cooper-Field Service Engineer for Beckwith Electric-used COMTRADE files to analyze and compare the performance of two relays-the Beckwith Electric M-3425 Generator Protection relay and another manufacturer's relay. The other relay that had been installed at the refinery had settings of the 87G (phase differential) function that were determined unacceptable (low sensitivity and too long of a time delay) by the refinery's engineering staff for proper generator protection and coordination with plant relaying. The purpose of the visit was to download the transient data information from a digital fault recorder, analyze the transient, and then play the same transient back through the Beckwith Electric M-3425 relay to determine if the M-3425 could provide secure operation of the 87G function during the transient with increased sensitivity and less time delay. The transient was being caused by the generator energizing its load transformers. This caused high inrush currents with a long DC decay, which can cause differential quantities. After process loads were placed on an alternate source and the generating unit was operating at no load, the transient was initiated. Using an OMICRON 256-6 test set and a fault recorder, a transient with a peak of 2.5x nominal current, a 100% DC offset, significant harmonics and a duration of more than 10 cycles was recorded. The following figure shows part of this record-the left window indicates the instantaneous peak signals and the right window shows the harmonic content. When the worst recorded transient was played back through the Beckwith Electric's M-3425 relay using an OMICRON 256-6 test set, the relay properly tolerated the transient with differential settings as low as.5 A pickup and 15% slope, with a delay of 5 cycles. By analyzing the waveforms, it was determined that the Beckwith Electric M-3425 met the goals of reliable protection, proper coordination and security against misoperation during the transient condition in this application. In addition, analysis indicated that the generating unit CT's did not contribute significantly to the current differential tripping problem. COMTRADE files can provide accurate simulation of power system events. Transmission and distribution system faults that are recorded can easily be re-played to assure accurate relay performance, validating relay setting information, as well as relay scheme logic, relay coordination, communications-aided schemes, and SCADA system actions. Interested? For more information, contact Beckwith Electric at (727) 544-2326 or e-mail at marketing@beckwithelectric.com. For more information on OMICRON electronics, visit their Web site at www.omicron.at.  Relay Test Data of Transient Using Instantaneous Time Signals. Data captured from M-3425 Generator Protection Relay, converted to COMTRADE using Beckwith Electric's Conversion Utility Program and displayed in OMICRON's TransView® COMTRADE Viewer Program.
Beckwith Electric's Research and Development Department, headed by VP Dr. Murty V.V.S. Yalla, recently created a new Wireless Communications Team. The formation of the Team is another signal of the commitment of Beckwith Electric to wireless communications. Recently, Beckwith Electric introduced its CAMP™ (Capacitor Automation, Metering & Protection) System. Using the Skytel Data Telemetry Network with two-way paging, the CAMP System provides utility users with the capabilities to interface with the Autodaptive® Capacitor Control for remote monitoring and control of distribution feeder capacitor banks. The new Wireless Communications Team is responsible for the development and design of software, hardware, and mechanical configuration of new wireless devices. Their initial efforts are directed toward substation applications to simplify integration and automation complexities and ease the transition from traditional SCADA approaches to localized automation. The Team is currently working on prototypes of wireless devices utilizing the Intersil Prism 2 chipset. The prototypes employ 2.4 GHz Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology. Initial results are very promising for inclusion in the Autodaptive tapchanger controls.  The Wireless Communications Team, from left to right:  A prototype Wireless Module that can be applied to Beckwith Electric's Autodaptive® LTC Transformer and Regulator Controls to provide wireless access to settings and configuration as well as information downloading.
Protect Against Loss of Parallel Operation Using Underpower An application note written by Wayne Hartmann, Manager of Application Engineering for Protection and Protection Systems, discusses the use of Import Underpower as a means of detecting, and protecting against, loss of parallel operation between the utility and the IPP (Independent Power Producer). This protection is sometimes referred to as:
When an IPP is under contract not to export power to the utility, an Import Underpower element may be applied as a supplemental form of protection against loss of parallel operation. According to Hartmann, "Understanding how this protection is implemented from the relay perspective is paramount for proper application. A standard reverse power element can be inverted to act as an underpower element." As the number of IPPs and load on a given feeder is dynamic, a situation may develop where a feeder is separated from the utility, and the power from all connected IPPs equals the feeder's connected load. The use of a Low Forward Power Element will succeed in detecting the islanding condition where the phase undervoltage (27), phase overvoltage (59) and over/underfrequency (81O/U) elements may not be able to detect it. The application note discusses the conventions of power import and export at the intertie and the role of directional power elements in protection relays such as the Beckwith Electric M-3410 and M-3520 Integrated Protection Systems®. A two-step process for configuration of the directional power elements are also addressed including selection of positive (forward) or negative (reverse) pick-up levels and overpower or underpower application. The application note, entitled "Use of Import Underpower as a Means of
IPP Loss of Parallel Operation Protection," may be requested from the
Literature Department by calling (727) 544-2326 or downloaded from the
Beckwith Electric Web site, www.beckwithelectric.com. Follow links for
Document Center to Application Notes.
Dr. Yalla has been Vice-President of Research and Development/Engineering for Beckwith Electric for 13 years, where he is responsible for the development of new products in the areas of digital control, protection of power apparatus and wireless communications, and the design enhancement and engineering support of current products. He is a senior member of the IEEE and is active in the Power System Relaying Committee of the Power Engineering Society.
Beckwith Electric will be holding a technical session on protection products in conjunction with the Georgia Tech Protective Relaying Conference on April 30, 2002. The session will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Lenox Room at the Atlanta Renaissance Hotel. A continental breakfast in the Lenox Room and lunch at the hotel restaurant will be provided. There is no cost to attend this session. Chuck Mozina, Applications Manager, Protection Products and Systems, and Wayne Hartmann, Manager, Application Engineering, Protection and Protection Systems, will be conducting the session. Interconnection Protection for Distributed Generation The three-hour seminar will provide you with the latest information from IEEE standards and standards under development, as well as protection schemes to meet various utility requirements and application scenarios.
Space in the Lenox Room is limited to 25 people. RSVP is encouraged and those who have registered will be admitted first. To register for the technical session and the provided luncheon, call Linda at Beckwith Electric at (727) 545-7627 or e-mail her at lcaporaso@beckwithelectric.com. We look forward to seeing you at our hospitality function during evening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Beckwith Electric is currently registering attendees for the Beckwith Electric Relay Seminar to be held October 6- 11, 2002 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The registration deadline is September 13, 2002. The seminar includes four-and-a-half days of intensive training in generator, power plant transformer and DG interconnection protection. Topics
Who Should Attend Registration Instructors Register online at www.beckwithelectric.com
GE Regulators to Use Beckwith Electric Controls!
According to Jim Powers, Marketing Manager for GE Power Equipment Business' Commercial Transformer Department, "The new GE-2011 control is just what we have been looking for to compliment the GE regulator product family. We have the technology leadership to keep us positioned to provide the best voltage regulation solution for today's needs." As future enhancements and features are added to the M-2001B, they will automatically be included in the GE-2011 controls and all modifications available in the M-2001's will also be available on the GE-2011. Beckwith Electric is the major supplier in North America of tapchanger controls for LTC transformers and a leader in providing replacement controls for both LTC transformers and voltage regulators. Providing controls to GE is a step closer toward the marketplace desire of having a universal tapchanger control. Interested? For more information, contact Beckwith Electric at (727) 544-2326 or e-mail at marketing@beckwithelectric.com.
Before he joined Beckwith Electric, Paul was Senior Program Manager at Reptron Manufacturing, where he monitored all aspects of customer accounts, such as quality, delivery, and P&L. Paul has worked in electronic manufacturing since 1983, and has engineering experience in manufacturing, product engineering, purchasing, and quality. Paul has earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and a Master of Science Engineering Management from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is scheduled to renew his ASQ Quality Engineer certification in 2002. Paul comments, "I have been very impressed with Beckwith Electric. All departments are very professionally managed and it is clear that customer satisfaction is a top priority. Quality and continuous improvement are clearly part of the culture here." He has lived in Pinellas County, Florida since 1983. He and his wife Tracy have two daughters, Casey and Kara. Paul enjoys being a "Soccer Dad" and coach, playing golf, and camping in the Ocala National Forest.
Greg served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as an Electronic Technician and as a Nuclear Reactor Operator on submarines. He has lived in nearby Pasco County for over two years with his wife. In his spare time, he raises Great Danes and Persian cats.
Articles from Issue 38, March 2002 of Beckwith Electric's Powerlines. |
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Dr.
Murty V.V.S. Yalla, V.P. of Research and Development/Engineering, recently
chaired an IEEE Power Engineering Working Group that was awarded a Technical
Committee Working Group Recognition Award. This recognition award is presented
yearly to groups producing outstanding papers. The paper, entitled "Application
of Multifunction Generator Protection Systems", was published in Vol.
14, No. 4 of the IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. The award was given
at the Power Systems Committee Meeting held in Dana Point, California
in January 2002.
Beckwith
Electric and General Electric's Commercial Transformer Department in Shreveport,
Louisiana, are proud to announce that, effective immediately, new GE regulators
will be supplied with controls manufactured by Beckwith Electric. These
new controls will be marked with the GE logo and identified as model number
GE-2011. According to Tom Jauch, Beckwith Electric's Manager of Application
Engineering for Control Products and Systems, "The GE-2011 and Beckwith
Electric M-2001B tapchanger controls are completely interchangeable-including
any M-2001's on your system transformers and Beckwith Electric retrofits
to other manufacturers' controls." The GE communication software package,
dented as GE?2029, is also interchangeable-with Beckwith Electric's M-2029
TapTalk® Communications Software program. This means that either software
program can be used with any GE-2011 or Beckwith Electric M-2001 on your
system. 
Paul
Eads joined Beckwith Electric in December as manager of the Quality Assurance
Department. Paul assumes the overall responsibility for ensuring that
the company's products meet customers' expectations, and to ensure materials
and products comply with specifications. These specifications include
Beckwith Electric's catalog specifications, industry standards, and ISO
requirements. The Q.A. Department encompasses receiving inspection, final
test and inspection, and quality assurance design validation functions.
Greg
Stiles has been named Beckwith Electric Company's Test Supervisor in the
QA Department. His new duties include maintaining the flow of product
through the testing process and training the technicians on the different
product lines. Greg has been with Beckwith Electric for over two years;
previously,he was a Relay Test Engineer for Design and Validation.