Abstract
Statement of Problem NERC Standard PRC-005 outlines the maintenance and testing requirements for transmission and generator protection systems. The requirements are aimed at enhancing the reliability of the protection system by enforcing the performance and documentation of all maintenance and testing tasks. Such tasks are usually time consuming and in many cases can render generation and transmission systems inoperable for extended periods of time. This project is aimed at the design, implementation and evaluation of an automated protection system monitoring (PSM) scheme. The system will perform checks on all relays, current and voltage transformers associated with generation system protection during normal steady state operation. The performance of each instrument transformer will be evaluated based on readings from adjacent devices in the system as well as historic data. The protection system includes generator, cable and generator step-up (GSU) transformer microprocessor (µP) relays. Data from all relays will be collected and analyzed via a real time automation controller (RTAC). The RTAC will evaluate the condition of all relays as well as associated voltage and current transformers to provide a report that can be used to meet PRC-005 testing requirements and decrease system scheduled and unscheduled down time. Sources of Data IEC 61131-3-2013 IEEE C57.13.1-2006 NERC PRC-005-2-2013 Conclusions Reached Protection system monitoring can be accomplished utilizing up to date intelligent electronic devices without the use of phasor measurement units. The importance of protection system monitoring schemes is valuable ensuring power systems remain in service with less likelihood of inadvertent operations due to preventable component failures.