A Remote Supervisory System for A Power system Protection and Control Unit Applying Mobile Agent Technology

Takaya Shono, Katsuhiko Sekiguchi, Tatsuji Tanaka, Member, IEEE, and Shigeki Katayama
power system are required. On the other hand, the advance of information technology such as Internet technology is progressing rapidly. A new protection and control system applying Internet technology is proposed. [11[2] These systems are already employed and operating in the field by two or more electronic power companies in Japan. One of the system features of these systems is being able to operate and maintain protection and control equipment in substation from the remote office via an Intranet using a general purposed browser, by installing a Web server into these equipment. [3] It is expected that the operation and maintenance of the protection and control equipments wl be carried out in this il form in the future. This paper shows new remote operation and monitoring applications which become realizable by applying agent technology to the protection and control system connected by a network. And also, the agent platform (RTMAP: Real Time Mobile Agent Platform) developed in order to realize those applications is described in this paper. This RTMAP takes into consideration to apply to the power system protection and control system for which real time performance and reliability are required. The interest in applying agent technology to protection and control or supervisory control systems as been growing. [4][5] In this paper, we present a real-time mobile agent which actually moves between protection relay equipment, and a real employment system which performs collection and processing of the required data automatically.
11. AGENT TECHNOLOGY

Abs&uct-- We are applying mobile agent technology, which has recently attracted attention in the field of distributed software system, to a power system protection and control system on ahead of the industry field. We have developed a system which can reduce the total cost of maintenance and management of protection and control equipment. We have proposed an Intranet Power System which performs supervisory control of a power system using Internet technology. We have proposed mobile agent for power system protection and control system as part of the Intranet Power System. Although an agent is powerful in its ability to perform processing in a distributed network environment, a normal agent for business use does not offer a guarantee of operation within several milliseconds and real time performance. In this paper we propose the Real Time Mobile Agent Platform @MAP) provides more powerful functions to synchronize between two or more agents in a distributed node, and redundancy to deal with unexpected communication failure. So the agent can now be applied to the power system protection and control system for which real time operation and advanced reliability are required. At present, a Remote Operating and Monitoring System for protection and control equipment has been verified for real use and put into service. However, in order to perform maintenance or event analysis for two or more equipments, it is necessary for the operator to use the terminal (PC) for data collection and analysis, connecting and communicating each equipment individually. If we can use the agent proposed in this paper, then the information or equipment at two or more substations can be collected and analyzed automatically. Moreover if the database on a PC server performs further intensive management of data, then a full maintenance support system can be developed, and an increase more efficient maintenance work can be expected.
Index Terms-- Agent, Java, Web, Protection, Maintenance,

Power system, Real-time system, Distributed system.

I. PREFACE

A,st reduction of protection and control systems and

S power systems is become larger and more complex, the

efficient operation and maintenance of equipment for the

T. Shono, K. Sekiguchi, T. Tanaka and S. Katayama are with Toshiba Tokyo, 183-8511 Japan (e-mail: {takayashono, Corporation, katsuhikosekiguchi, tatsuji .tanaka, shigeki.katayama}@toshiba .CO .jp).

The distributed object technologies and the agent technologies are highly automated mechanisms which can perform tasks, cooperating via a communication network, even if al the programs required to carry out a certain job l does not exist on one computer. An agent is software which performs a task by moving autonomously instead by human instruction. When considering application for power transmission and distribution systems over a large area, a mobile agent which moves freely via a network and acts at

0-7803-7525-4/02/$17.002002 IEEE. 0

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each equipment on a human's behalf is very useful. A mobile agent (it is called an agent below) is a new programming paradigm in which cooperation is possible with mobility and autonomous facilities. An agent system can perform a job more efficiently than previously because it has the following features, which are applied appropriately to the target application system. - Adapting autonomously to the environment where it changes dynamically. Having knowledge processing ability such as learning or adapting to the environment, and knowledge representations of the environment. Suitable for cooperated and distributed systems where elements are connected by network each other. We describe below that the agent technology is useful for performing remote operation and monitoring to the protection relay equipment installed in a substation away from the office. Fig. 1 shows the example of a conventional remote operating and monitoring system (agent technology is not applied). In this system, the protection relay equipment serves as a server, the PC in an office serves as a client, and the PC and relay equipment communicate by 1 to 1. We can perform the follows from a personal computer in an office; download of the voltage and current data stored in the relay equipment when relay equipment is activated by some power failure; checking and changing the setting values of the protection relay; detecting an abnormal occurrence and the relay activation caused by power system faults. Relay equipment also acts as an excellent infomation terminal which can acquire the real time data from a power system. It is important that the information in a relay can be easily accessed from an office and of which mechanism for performing the function described above is simple. Because of the reason described above, the remote operating and monitoring system has expanded steadily in Japan. Unusual survei I lance by the browser

looks at the PC browser continually all the time. Moreover, in order to acquire information from a numbers of relay equipment, an operator must specify the address of each relay to access them in turn, which is complicated at time consuming. Furthermore, in this system, even when relays are connected within the same network, the relays can not communicate and cooperate with each other. That is to say, relay equipment works only as a server providing data to PCs located in the remote office. On the other hand, a remote operating and monitoring system built with agent technology is shown in Fig. 2 .

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The merits of the autonomous operating and monitoring system using agents, compared with the conventional remote operating and monitoring system, are as follows: If an agent designed for collection of equipment a) information is generated once, the generated agent will collect all of the data from each device autonomously and it will report them to the operator. The operator just needs to look at the result when receiving data from equipments. The effect is so great that there are many number of target relay devices. Now, in a substation, communication with the transmission speed of lOMbps or lOOMbps can be easily realized with Ethernet. However, the communication performance between an office and a substation is poor. Therefore, it is more efficient that an agent patrols equipment in a substation, collects the information from the equipment and brings only the filtered results to the operator, rather than that an operator acquiring information from the relay equipment directly using the poor performance transmission line. b) The addition of functions to a system can be realized easily. It is only necessary to prepare an agent with the new function, when the necessity for a functional addition arises. Using agents, new applications including cooperation between relay devices is realized easily. For example,

Power s m t e i ssulPient and a device

Figure.1. The conventional remote operating and monitoring system

Thus, although the remote operating and monitoring system has outstanding features, the PC and protection relay equipment are connected with the relations of 1 to 1, and while operating this system, it is necessary that the operator

c)

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an adaptive relay which changes setting values autonomously using the information of other protection relays.
111. AGENTAPPLICATIONS

Some example applications of the advanced remote operating and monitoring which applies agent technology are shown in this chapter. These were realized on a real-time agent platform which will be described later. These applications have been installed in protection relays and applied to power systems in the field in Japan. A. Setting agent A Setting agent is used to set one or more protection relays and also resides in a relay to change the protection and control settings in accordance with the power system behavior, which are known as adaptive protection. [6] In order to analyze a given setting task, the following instructions are given to the agent in the form of setting guidance. The traveling route and the contents of setting values Exceptional behavior indication in case of an abnormal situation such as a fault on the traveling route. These setting indications are given as a script to the agent, and the agent interprets and performs this script to achieve the given job. A script example is shown in Fig. 3. And the traveling route of the agent designated by the script is shown in Fig. 4.
(Move usual route} EquipmentA --> EquipmentA --> EquipmentCl(C2, C3,C4) --> Agent server {Relay setting} Set relay data X 10 at EquipmentA flravering failure} GoTo Agent server at EquipmentA {Setting failure} ReportTo Agent server at EquipmentA
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for each devices. The setting results are returned to the Agent server by the agent. The script C1 ((2, C4) in Fig. 3 specifies the agent C3, task as collecting the required data with a clone agent executing in parallel. That is, equipment C1 creates the C3, agents C2, and C4 to collect all of the equipment data at once. Agent Server

Substation A

Fig. 4. agentk move path

Fig.3. The example of a setting agent script

The application described above is an example in which the agent carries out a setting task usually performed by an operator. Alternatively, adaptive setting is a function which adjusts the relay activation parameters by setting them dynamically according to the status change of a power system. Because of the increasing complexity of power system with its scale-up, it is becoming difficult to determine a setting value for the worst case condition. The idea of adaptive setting is valid for improving power systems protection function. A protection relay with adaptive setting can be realized by using mobile agents as follows. - Reside in specified device and supervise power system status changes. - Calculate the setting value for newly changed power systems status and configuration. - Starts an agent to set the related protection relay which are needed for re-setting.
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The script example in Fig. 3 specifies the following procedures performed by the agent. (1) Travel through Equipment A, Equipment B, equipment C1, and the Agent server in specified order. (2) Set the value of Relay data X to 10 at Equipment A. (3) Go back to the Agent server when the agent fails to move due to some network fault at Equipment A. (4) When the agent fails to set at equipment A, the agent should report to the Agent server. The setting agent travels around the equipments by interpreting the script, and sets a relay activation parameter

[Permanent residence] Substationl :Adaptive] Substationl Check (Get CB Current status)=OFF 21=(Get Quantity of electricity) GoTo SubstationP; 22 =(Get Quantity of electricity) GoTo Substation3; Set Setting value(CALC 21 22) GoTo 4gent server
Fig. 5. The example of a script of adaptive setting

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These functions can be performed by the extension of a setting agent's script. An example of a script of adaptive setting is shown in Fig. 5. The script of Fig. 5 specifies the task which the agent should perform as follows. (1) Move to a relay of a substation 1 and take up residence permanently. (2) Supervise the change of CB status by the relay of substation 1. (3) When the circuit breaker status in substation 1 goes to OFF. - Get Z1 with quantity of electricity of substation 1. - Move to the substation2, and get 22 with quantity of electricity of substation2. - Go to substation3, and set the setting value with the result of function CALC (Zl, 22). - Finally it moves to the Agent server and ends. The example shown here is applicable to setting of a distance relay for multi terminal lines. For a setting agent, instruction is given in the form of a script, by which an agent moves to a target relay and set the setting values of them. Such a general purpose framework called a script enables the agent autonomous behavior in case when abnormal situation happens in power systems and communication systems. B.Analyzing agent - An Analyzing agent, which moves away devices with collecting the data and analyzes them when the a power systems failure occurred. The analysis agent was developed using intelligent mobile agent platform JJ Plangent which has an inference engine and knowledge representation like Prolog.[7][8] An analyzing agent performs planning at the following times. - At the time of the occurrence of the power system failure: create the traveling path and schedule for collecting data efficiently the collection data list for fault analysis. - After collecting the data, verify the validity of the data for fault analysis. If the acquired information is insufficient, the traveling path and schedule for recollection will be planned. The database (following DB) for analyzing agent shown in figure.6. The DB is consist of planning operation-DB, a power system-DB, the analysis knowledge base (following KB), and the verification-KB. The KB use the planning rules represented by U Plangent knowledge representation.[S] , An analysis agent starts by the equipment operation information at the time of the occurrence of the system failure registered into operation-DB. The example of operation-DB which shows the information of operation stored in the protection relay at the time of the occurrence

of the power system failure is shown in Fig. 7. In the example of the information of operation shown in Fig. 7, since the protective device R1 and R2 was activated, and the transmission line L is assumed to be fault circuit, then the traveling path, and the data to be collected are planned with reference to the system-DB and the analysis-KB .

(1)A system-DB represent the power system configuration, such as "both ends of the transmission line L are protected with equipments R1 and R2", and "R1 is located at substation S",shown as in Fig. 6. (2) The analysis KB consists of rules which determines traveling path of the agent, and contains the following rules. - Carry out collecting the relay operation information. - With reference to the system DB, retrieve the equipment which is installed at the counter side of the activated equipment. And then move to collect counter side equipment whether it has been activated or not. - Move and collect all of the equipment in the same substation collectively.
Agent server

AnalysisKB

Collection/analysis result output

VerificationKB

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Fig.6. Analyzing agent

2250.42 2250.42 2250.42 2250.42

Substation S Substation T Substation S Substation T

Relay R1 activation line L Relay R2 activation line L Breaker OFF

line L line L Breaker
OFF

Fig.7. The example of equipment operation information

(The contents of DB of operation)

After the analyzing agent has returned to the agent server it reports the collected equipment operation information. Collection information is analyzed using the verification KB, and it's validity is evaluated. We confirmed that analyzing agent perform efficient data collection for power system failure analysis by autonomous traveling path generation and decision for agent work based on system configuration data, analysis knowledge, and verification knowledge. C. Patrol agent A Patrol agent, which can gather information about the condition of the relay equipment.

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The customer engineer is patrolling whether the relay equipment are working normally. For example, it is whether the number of times of check of the automatic checking performed once at one week is counting up normally, or the relay is measuring system voltage and current correctly. It becomes a remarkable effort to patrol much relays one by ones, although it is easy work. Patrol agent executes this by proxy. Moreover, the motion which determines a round path flexibly according to the situation of equipment is also possible. I v . REAL TlME AGENT PLATFORM Although mobile agent is the technology from now on, there are some application systems operating in the field. The following consideration is needed especially when applying to the field of a protection and control system. - Compact: Relay equipment has limited hardware resource (CPU, memory). - Real time performance: In order to deal with the real time data from a power system, real time functions, such as a synchronization, shared data access, priority management between two or more agents, are needed. Reliability: A task can be carried out, without affecting protection and control functions, even if certain abnormal events occur. The hardware and software for realizing these demands were developed. There are two kinds of hardware. They are Network Computing Unit (NCU) and Network Computing TerminaI (NCT). NCU is an optional printed circuit board that can be installed in IED to provide the Internet and web related function cooperated with IED. - NCT stand alone IDE, which can be used as a multipurpose information device [9] NCU and NCT architecture is almost equal. These configurations are shown in Fig. 8.
-

Japan. The processor for network processing communicates with other protection and control equipments, a browser, and a server via LAN or WAN. JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is used for network computing and applications are programmed with Java.
PC Server Agent Agent Manager Directory Client PC Browsers in 1' general, Such as M S IE etc.
OS : Windows etc.

Agent classes

Fig. 9. Software architectureof a agent system

Fig. 10. agent launcher

Fig. 8. NCU, NCT architecture

Two RISC processors are used, connected with shared memory. The processor for real time processing acquires and processes the voltage and current information, and binary value of a power system within 200 micro-seconds. p ITRON is used as a real-time OS, which is used widely in

The real-time agent platform RTMAP for NCU and NCT had developed. RTMAP has the function for control of agent's life cycle (executes, movement, dispose and suspend), the resource management, a naming service (an agent's position information management), and the communication facility between agents as a basic function. Moreover, RTMAF' has the advanced real-time functions for timer control, an event processing, synchronization I exclusive control of shared data, a priority control, fault recovery function, and a monitoring I tracing agents behavior. RTMAP-API (Application Programming Interface) is offered in order to be able to develop an agent easily. RTMAP-API has API for controlling behavior of the agent itself, and the various services which a platform offers. Moreover, agent system security has established using the security mechanism of Java, and the ACL (Access Control List) mechanism which checks access permission at

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the time of agent creation and movement I processing execution. The agent software architecture is shown in Fig. 9. RTMAP, which consist of AgentDirectory and AgentManager, is installed in each relay equipment and the PC server. AgentDirectory manages the position and states of the agents. An agent can be controlled and monitored from browser. The browser screen example which is operating the patrol agent using agent launcher is shown in Fig. 10.

VII. BIOGRAF"1E.S
Takaya Shono received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan, in 1995. In the same year, he joined Toshiba Corporation. He has been engaged in development of network computing applications for power system protection and monitoring. MI. Shono is a member of IEE of Japan.

v. CONCLUSlONS
This paper showed that a remote operating and monitoring system for a protection and control unit based on agent technology. This paper describes the configuration of the agent based operating and monitoring system and its advantage compared with conventional systems. Relay setting and power failure analysis agent applications were shown in an advanced remote operating and monitoring system. Moreover, the hardware and software which were developed in order to realize these advanced applications were shown. There is abundant information from a power system stored in the protection and control equipment. It is necessary to be able to carry out cooperation among many protection and control devices through a network, for utilizing this information effectively. Agent technology is an effective means for satisfying these requirements. The agent platform for the real-time system shown in this paper is advanced software which can operate in protection and control equipment. In Japan, a Commercial System using this agent platform is installed and operates in a real power system. In the future, agent technology will be more broadly applied in substations, control centers, electric supply places and consumers. In this paper, a realistic technique to realize agent system was shown. VI. REFERENCES
K.Sekiguchi,S.Takenaka,Y.Shirota."Power system Protection and control System Applying Intranet technology" TOSHIBA REVIEW 1999 VOL54 N0.6. R.Tsukui,P~eaumont,T.Tanaka,K.Sekiguchi.Intranet-BasedProtection and control"lEEE CAP ,pp.l4-17,Apri12001 M.Amin"Towad Self-Healing Energy Infrastructure Systems"1EEE CAP .pp.20-28 January 2001 .G.T.Heydt, C.C.Liu&G.Phadke,V.Vittal"Solutions for the Cricis in Electric Power Supp1y"lEEE CAP pp.23-30 july.2001 Y. Koizumi, T. Maeda, T. Tanaka, K. Sekiguchi: "A Mobile Agent Architecture for Embedded Systems-Relay Setting Agent and Control Systems"58th National Conference of IPSJ, 4Q-5,1999 .htm http//www2 .Toshiba.co.jp/plangent/index K.Cho,Y.lrie,A,Ohsuga,K.Sekiguchi,S.Honiden"Micro Plangent: A intelligent mobile agent architecture for embedded systems" JSSSTWlT99. K.Sekiguchi,T.Nakamura,T.Yokoyama."NCT: The Information Terminal for Power systems in Ubiquitous Networking Paradigm" VOLA pp.397-404 Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual Conference of Power & Energy Society. lEEJ 2001

Katsuhiko Sekiguchi is chief specialist of the Power system Control depadment in the Toshiba Corporation Power Systems and Services Company. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in communication engineering from Tohoku Univeaity, Japan. He works principally on the development of network computing applications for power system protection and monitoring.

Tatsuji Tanaka (M'98) received his B.S. degree in mathematics from Waseda University in 1971 and joined Heavy Apparatus Engineering Laboratory of Toshiba Co. He is now affiliated with the Power System & Service Company, engaged principally in research and development on system techniques to power systems. He is a member of the IEEE, IEEJ, the Information Processing Society of Japan and the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence. Shigeki Katayama received his B.S. degree and M.S. degree in applied mathematics and physics engineering from Kyoto University in 1997 and 1999, respectively. And he joined Toshiba Corp. in 1999. He is now affiliated with the fuchu operationspower systems, engaged principally in the network computing development on power systems. He is a member of the Operations Research Society of Japan.

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