Circuit Breaker Maintenance Using Mobile Agent Software

Ashwin Gopinath

ETAHEEE019

Things we’ll go through

• Introduction

• Need for remote maintenance

• Maintenance Tasks

• Mobile Agent Software (brief intro)

• Various Application Scenarios

• Conclusion(s)

Introduction

• A crucial component of power system operations

• Indispensable in switching for routine n/w operation + protection of other devices

• Hence, their maintenance is critical (periodical as well as preventive)

Need for remote maintenance

• CB condition monitoring at each operation

• Switch from TIME directed to CONDITION directed repair/maintenance

• Significant reduction in size and cost of maintenance crew

• Higher efficiency of maintenance as paper logging and referential system is done away with

CB maintenance tasks

• It is imperative that a CB stay in tip-top condition

• The task is made trickier given that a CB usually remains idle for long periods of time

• They include periodic inspection, test and replacement of worn or defective components

• Maintenance intervals are usually experience derived

The maintenance practices are divided into 3 1. Corrective

2. Preventive

3. Predictive

Contd..

Mobile Agent Software(MAS)

• uses high level flexible abstractions to represent systems

• they communicate with other agents by passing messages or by synchronisation

• 3 types viz.

– Personal

– Mobile

– Collaborative

An Agent is an autonomous component which is capable of making

reasonable and judicious decisions on behalf of the USER

MAS contd..

Qualities of a good MAS

• Should be intelligent and autonomous

• Adaptive

• Compatible with other agents

• Portability

• Transparency

Application Scenarios

Info storage & retrieval

• Info is stored on heterogeneous systems

• The MAS can easily access any info needed

• Centralization of data means all users can constantly update data keeping everyone up to date

Creating Failure Reports

• A failure is usually succeeded by a long list of checks to determine cause and severity

• Needless to say, quite a tedious ordeal

• The MASs determine the failure at the exact time of occurrence

• They synchronise their collective data and a report is prepared at the main server

• The report consists of only the requisite details thereby optimising space

CB Monitoring

• User can select event of interest to monitor

• Once logged on, the events will be registered with the agent running on the corresponding concentrator

• The concentrator communicates with individual sensors getting real-time info and notifies the user when necessary

Security Considerations

2 problems maybe encountered • Proper authentication and authorisation

• Ensuring integrity of data

Remedial Measures • Every agent be authenticated via secure

username/password pairs

• Tier system of security clearance for authenticated agents

• Permissions to assigned on priority basis

• Encryption of data + protection while travelling

Logging & Experience Sharing

• Recorded experience saved in a case based reasoning system for future retrieval

• Difficult to search for requisite solution to problems

• Agents record all the maintenance reports

Conclusion

• MAS is quite a suitable choice for CB maintenance/repair due to its support for heterogeneous systems, enhanced security, distributed events, low bandwidth usage and so on

• Due to its flexibility, any development in mobile technology(say, 3G) can be easily integrated into it

QUESTIONS ???

• As