Intelligent Information-Measuring System for Relay Protection of Overhead Power Lines with Adaptation to External Factors

Problem statement: In the electric power industry, relay protection is designed to prevent accidents in the power supply system. In the event of a short circuit in the power supply systems, relay protection is activated, which, using electromechanical switches, cuts the power off the consumed electrical network. The relay is activated when the emergency current exceeds a previously set threshold value—the setpoint. The main problem in relay protection is the justified choice of the setpoint value, which depends on a large number of different factors: climatic, geographical and the type of vegetation along the power line route. Currently, the value of the setpoint is mainly determined approximately on the basis of operating experience, which, due to the mismatch of the setpoint with the emergency-dangerous current value, leads to the relay protection being triggered in the absence of an accident or the protection not being triggered in the event of an accident. Some problems of increasing the reliability of protection operation were solved, automatic correction of electrical circuit parameters was introduced into the relay protection system based on measured values of climatic factors: temperature, humidity, precipitation level, wind. This made it possible to increase the reliability of relay triggering, however, during the tests, unknown reasons for the unreliable triggering of the relay has been revealed. Based on the analysis of environmental influences, the following factors has been identified: terrain, vegetation and swampiness. It should be noted that all these factors are unformalized and therefore these problems can be solved with the help of an intelligent information-measuring relay protection system controlled by electromechanical switches of overhead power lines, which together with electromechanical switches is SEMS. Purpose of the study: to solve the problem of increasing the reliability of the operation of electromechanical relay protection, which reduces the risk and consequences of accidents in power supply systems, it is proposed to use the Elcut 6.6 software package, which allows simulating the electromagnetic field of an electric network and an artificial neural network (ANN), which allows to increase the level of adaptation of the SEMS setpoint value to changes in external factors. Results: A study has been carried out using the Elcut 6.6 software package, based on which a method was developed for determining the capacitance of line wires relative to the ground surface based on the given parameters of grass vegetation and trees, as well as the geometric dimensions of ravines and squares of swampiness. Based on the obtained wire capacitance values, the total resistance of the short circuit along sections of the route was correcting. To implement the carried out research, the intelligent information-measuring system has been developed using SEMS relay protection of overhead power lines. An algorithm for controlling an electromechanical switch has been developed based on a neural network. Practical significance: The developed intelligent electromechanical system SEMS during implementation will increase the reliability of relay protection triggering and reduce the risk and consequences of accidents in power supply systems. In addition, the results of the study can be used when designing to determine the topology of networks with the highest possible reliability of electricity transmission.