Showing papers by "ABB Ltd published in 2008"

Method and system for accelerated stream processing

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for hardware-accelerating various data processing operations in a rule-based decision-making system such as a business rules engine, an event stream processor, and a complex event stream processor. Preferably, incoming data streams are checked against a plurality of rule conditions. Among the data processing operations that are hardware-accelerated include rule condition check operations, filtering operations, and path merging operations. The rule condition check operations generate rule condition check results for the processed data streams, wherein the rule condition check results are indicative of any rule conditions which have been satisfied by the data streams. The generation of such results with a low degree of latency provides enterprises with the ability to perform timely decision-making based on the data present in received data streams.

Method and apparatus for hardware-accelerated encryption/decryption

Abstract: An integrated circuit for data encryption/decryption and secure key management is disclosed. The integrated circuit may be used in conjunction with other integrated circuits, processors, and software to construct a wide variety of secure data processing, storage, and communication systems. A preferred embodiment of the integrated circuit includes a symmetric block cipher that may be scaled to strike a favorable balance among processing throughput and power consumption. The modular architecture also supports multiple encryption modes and key management functions such as one-way cryptographic hash and random number generator functions that leverage the scalable symmetric block cipher. The integrated circuit may also include a key management processor that can be programmed to support a wide variety of asymmetric key cryptography functions for secure key exchange with remote key storage devices and enterprise key management servers. Internal data and key buffers enable the device to re-key encrypted data without exposing data. The key management functions allow the device to function as a cryptographic domain bridge in a federated security architecture.

Thermoelectric energy storage system and method for storing thermoelectric energy

Abstract: A system and method for thermoelectric energy storage is described. A thermoelectric energy storage system (22, 36) having a heat exchanger (30) which contains a thermal storage medium, and a working fluid circuit for circulating a working fluid through the heat exchanger (30) for heat transfer with the thermal storage medium. The working fluid undergoes transcritical cooling during the charging and transcritical heating during the discharging cycle as it exchanges heat with the thermal storage medium. Improved roundtrip efficiency is achieved through minimising the maximum temperature difference (ΔTmax) between the working fluid and the thermal storage medium during operating cycles.

Self-consistent radiation based modelling of electric arcs: I. Efficient radiation approximations

Abstract: We perform a systematic investigation of methods for including radiation transport in arc simulations by analysing both various ways of solving the radiation transfer equation and methods for averaging the absorption coefficient over frequency. We show that the discrete ordinate method (DOM) and the P1 approximation can be used to produce good results: DOM being slightly more accurate and P1 being faster. Furthermore, we demonstrate that it is possible to start from the full absorption spectrum and produce band-averaged absorption coefficients with sufficient accuracy, if the frequencies are grouped not only based on frequency but also based on their magnitude. This makes it possible to introduce radiation transport in arc simulations in a systematic manner, with full control of accuracy. In a follow-up paper, part II, we apply our results to the simulation of several switching arcs, demonstrating the feasibility of self-consistent arc simulations for switching applications.

Method and system for generating a control system user interface

Abstract: A method for providing an improved user navigation interface (1) for an industrial control system. The system comprises at least a computer and a display device and a computer implemented workplace application. The system also comprises system with a plurality of process control interfaces displayed on the display device, the process control interfaces comprising one or more software objects for controlling and/or monitoring objects controlled by the control system. The method comprises displaying in the user interface a set of the process control interfaces V2, V2' generated by one instance of said workplace application in a designated view 5 which comprises a corresponding set of graphic user interface objects 5a-n. Each graphic user interface object identifies and, on selection, displays the corresponding said process control interface. By selecting a first or second graphic user interface object 5a, 5m, a user can switch between a display of a first process control interface V2 and a display of the second process control interface V2' provided by the same instance of the workplace application. A graphic user interface, a system and a computer program for carrying out the method are also described.

Intelligent Demand Response Scheme for Customer Side Load Management

Abstract: Demand response (DR) provides means for utilities to reduce the power consumption and save energy Plus, it maximizes utilizing the current capacity of the distribution system infrastructure, reducing or eliminating the need for building new lines and expanding the system A typical DR program requires two parties to cooperate: the utility and the customers In this paper a novel intelligent demand response module is designed and proposed to be implemented at the customer side The primary target of this design is large industrial sized customers that often have several manufacturing/production lines consisting of mostly large electric motors The proposed DR module design is based on the expert systems theory Different modules are designed that take the market rates as well as the local load management policy of the customer into account in order to make a decision for reducing the load The validity of the proposed algorithm is tested on the IEEE 34-bus distribution test feeder in the real-time RT-Lab environment

A robot safety system and a method

Abstract: A robot safety system configured to protect humans in the vicinity of a working robot (1, 11, 21, 31) against harmful impacts by said robot (1, 11, 21, 31), said safety system comprising a sensor system (3, 13, 23) and a safety controller (4, 14, 24) configured to establish an impact risk profile of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31) and deliver an operating signal to a robot controller (2, 12, 22) based on said impact risk profile, wherein the safety controller (4, 14, 24) is configured to establish the impact risk profile based on stored data and input signals, and that the stored data and input signals comprise stored impact data, stored data related to the path of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), and signals from the sensor system of events in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), such as a detected human (P1, P11, P21, P22, P31, P32) in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31).

Load restoration for feeder automation in electric power distribution systems

Abstract: A method and system restores power in a power distribution network. The network includes a plurality of power sources, a plurality of loading zones, a plurality of switching devices interconnected between the plurality of power sources and the plurality of loading zones, and an intelligent electronic device associated with each of the plurality of switching devices to control the switching devices. A base network state is defined and a power restoration logic is created for the base network state. A simulation is run for the power restoration logic and then the power restoration logic is transmitted to a power restoration controller which thereafter monitors and controls the intelligent electronic devices.

Remote diagnostic system for robots

Abstract: A remote diagnostic system for robots including a number of at least two robots, wherein a controller of each robot of the system is locally connected to a service unit provided with local processing power, a remote service center provided with a connector server is arranged, and a communications infrastructure for transferring packets of information between a controller of a robot of the system and connector server via the service unit is arranged for performing remote monitoring and diagnostics at the remote service center, wherein the communications infrastructure uses internet and/or GPRS communication lines.

Intelligent electronic device configuration verification

Abstract: A Substation Automation testing tool for IEC 61850 compliant substations is disclosed. It is concerned with the verification of the configuration of a first Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) that is part of a Substation Automation (SA) system and that has initially been configured to perform measurement, protection and/or control functions in accordance with a substation configuration specification. Configuration information is first read from an internal server of the first IED and transformed according to a dedicated data model. Related information is then read from e.g. a second IED that has initially been configured to perform the same functions as the first IED, or from a Substation Configuration Description (SCD) file, and likewise transformed. The transformed data is then compared in order to identify discrepancies or inconsistencies and to resolve errors introduced by the IED configuration process.

The asymmetry of the unstirred water layer in permeability experiments.

Abstract: To elucidate the apical and basolateral components of the total unstirred water layer in regular permeability experiment. A novel stirring apparatus was constructed to remove the basolateral unstirred water layer. Caco-2 cells were used as the permeability barrier both in Transwell-type and side-by-side apparatuses. Permeability experiments were done with several ionisable compounds at various pH and stirring conditions. The permeabilities of the cell monolayer, the unstirred water layer and the polycarbonate filter were calculated either from experimental data or theoretically. The unstirred water layer was thicker in the Transwell apparatus than in the side-by-side chamber even in the presence of vigorous basolateral magnetic stirring. Calculations indicated that the apical unstirred water layer is thicker than the basolateral layer. Different cellular permeability coefficients were obtained from the two permeability apparatuses. An orbital shaker does not produce symmetric hydrodynamics in both chambers of Transwell apparatus. The asymmetric unstirred water layer may complicate the exact analysis of polarized transport.

Method and system for optimizing the layout of a robot work cell

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the placement of a plurality of workstations (20a-d) in a workcell including an industrial robot (1 ) programmed to execute a sequence of tasks on the workstations, wherein each task contains a series of robot targets linked as one or several paths to be visited by the robot when executing the task at the workstation. The method comprises the following steps: a) defining a preferred region (36) within the reachable range of the robot, placing the tasks inside or as close as possible to the preferred region using an evaluation criterion and an optimization algorithm, and based thereon assigning to each workstation a position inside or close to the preferred region, b) determining by means of an optimization algorithm a best order of the workstations to be placed relative to the robot with regard to the robot performance and a defined order in which the tasks has to be executed, and based thereon adjusting the positions of the workstations, and c) adjusting the positions (x,y,z,α) of the workstations by means of an optimization algorithm configured to run the robot program iteratively in order to optimize the placement of the workstations with regard to the robot performance.

Web Measurement Device

Abstract: A sensor is provided that measures web caliper using optical and magnetic measuring devices. The optical measuring devices may employ a confocal chromatic aberration method to accurately determine the distance to the moving web and the magnetic devices may be ferrite core coil and target. Means of stabilizing a moving web are included for improving dynamic measurement accuracy.

System level testing for substation automation systems

Abstract: The present invention proposes that protection, measurement and control IEDs in a substation compute, according to interlocking rules or physical principles as well as a knowledge of the dynamic topology of the substation, for every switch they control if that switch may be operated safely, in contrast to a conventional and separate programming of the interlocking logic for each IED. To this purpose, the IEDs have access to the substation electrical topology, to the real-time information generated by other IEDs, and to the rules for interlocking. The invention takes advantage of a standardized Substation Configuration Description (SCD) of the substation for which the SA system is intended, as well as of a standardized description of the implemented device functions or capabilities of an individual IED. In particular, the substation topology is available from the substation configuration description (SCD file in IEC 61850 format), the real time information about the position of switches and line voltage/current can be read over the IEC 61850 protocol and the rules are available in script form. This concept applies both to simulated and real devices, and greatly increases system testing possibilities by supporting an efficient configuration of a simulation.

Optimal wide area controller and state predictor for a power system

Abstract: An optimal wide area controller is designed in this paper for a 12-bus power system together with a static compensator (STATCOM). The controller provides auxiliary reference signals for the automatic voltage regulators (AVR) of the generators as well as the line voltage controller of the STATCOM in such a way that it improves the clamping of the rotor speed deviations of the synchronous machines. Adaptive critic designs theory is used to implement the controller and enable it to provide nonlinear optimal control over the infinite horizon time of the problem and at different operating conditions of the power system. Simulation results are provided to indicate that the proposed wide area controller improves the damping of the rotor speed deviations of the generators during large scale disturbances. Moreover, a robust radial basis function network based identifier is presented in this paper to predict the states of a multimachine power system in real-time. This wide area state predictor (WASP) compensates for transport lags associated with the present communication technology for wide area monitoring of the electric power grid. The WASP is also robust to partial loss of information caused by larger than expected transport lags or even failed sensors throughout the network.

Financial Monte Carlo simulation on architecturally diverse systems

Abstract: Computational finance relies heavily on the use of Monte Carlo simulation techniques. However, Monte Carlo simulation is computationally very demanding. We demonstrate the use of architecturally diverse systems to accelerate the performance of these simulations, exploiting both graphics processing units and field-programmable gate arrays. Performance results include a speedup of 74times relative to an 8 core multiprocessor system (180times relative to a single processor core).

Robotic Picking Of Parts From A Bin

Abstract: A robot is used to pick parts from a bin The robot has a compliant apparatus and one or more tools are connected to the apparatus to perform the picking The compliant apparatus has mechanisms for monitoring and/or controlling its compliance The compliant apparatus can have various embodiments Force sensing can be used during removal of grasped parts from the bin to determine the force exerted on the picking tool(s) The signal indicative of the exerted force can be used by the robot controller to determine the weight of the parts that may be held by the picking tool(s) The robot has one or more devices which can be the picking tool to stir the parts in the bin

Dynamic maintenance plan for an industrial robot

Abstract: A method for establishing a dynamic maintenance scheduling tool for a specific part of a machinery based on condensed prior knowledge of the part of the machinery in a population of machineries. The scheduling tool is in turn used in a method for establishing a dynamic maintenance schedule for a specific part of a specific machinery, wherein parameters related to the usage, including relevant parameters representing factors influencing the lifetime of the specific parts, are utilized as input data to the dynamic maintenance scheduling tool for the specific part of the machinery, whereupon a dynamic maintenance schedule for the specific part of the specific machinery is achieved as output data from the scheduling tool. The method is in particular dedicated to industrial robot systems.

Wireless field device and method to configure same

Abstract: A field device connected to a distributed industrial control system (50) arranged with a wireless network (27) for communication of process data or control information is disclosed. The field device comprises at least one a sensor (10) and/or an actuator, a wireless radio transmitter, a memory storage device (3) and a first part (1) or base for mounting said field device on an equipment (M) or a structure. The field device is arranged in two parts, such that the sensor and memory storage device (3) are arranged in a said first part (1) forming a base and that the wireless radio transmitter is arranged in a second part (2) of the field device which is arranged detachable from said first part.

Intelligent electronic device configuration inspection

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a Substation Automation testing tool which combines the information found in the SCL (Substation Configuration Language) File of a substation (Substation Configuration Description) or an IED (IED Capability description) with substation-relevant data extracted from the Substation Communication network traffic. By means of a standard laptop computer as a message interceptor connected to a substation communication network, IEC 61850 relevant data is retrieved and analysed. Hence, the invention allows for consistency verification without revision handling and achieves a reduction of the time and efforts for commissioning or testing a substation installation.

Heat exchanger for power-electronics components

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger (100) for removing heat energy from a heat generator (200), comprising at least one conduit (110) for a working fluid, which is arranged in an upright position of at least 45°, each conduit having an exterior wall (112) and at least one interior wall (114) for forming at least one evaporator channel (120) and at least one condenser channel (130) within the conduit (110). Furthermore, the heat exchanger (100) comprises a first heat transfer element (150; 183) for transferring heat into the evaporator channel (120) and a second heat transfer element (180) for transferring heat out of the condenser channel (130).

Operating a substation automation system

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the operation of substations in which protection, control and measurement devices (Intelligent Electronic Devices IEDs) exchange operational data over a data network, for instance according to IEC standard 61850. During maintenance, commissioning and fault situations when one or several IEDs are inoperable, the data that these IEDs would have produced is substituted to ensure availability of the substation. To this effect, a dedicated substitute device is permanently installed that can take the role of any IED, and that is automatically configured out of the SCD file that describes the SA system.

Controller circuit and system having such a controller circuit

Abstract: A controller circuit is specified, having a step-up controller, a resonant converter connected downstream of the step-up controller on the output side, a transformer, a rectifier, which rectifier is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer on the input side, and a CLL resonant circuit connected to the resonant converter and to the primary winding of the transformer, which CLL resonant circuit has a resonance capacitance and a first and a second resonance inductance. In order to reduce the switching losses, the CLL resonant circuit is embodied as a “T” circuit.

A computer implemented method and system for remote inspection of an industrial process

Abstract: A computer implemented method for remote inspection of infrastructure of an industrial process in an installation (1) for extraction, processing and/or production of materials. The process is supervised by means of a control system arranged with one or more computers, and one or more computer display apparatus (10). At least one computer is arranged with a graphic computer model (4), a 3D model of the process infrastructure, where a position in the process infrastructure in the 3D model is arranged selectable, wherein the selected position is identified from a viewpoint in the model. The viewpoint information from the model is used to position one or more cameras in the real installation, and images from the real installation are combined with the 3D model in different ways. A remote inspection system and a computer program are also described.

Battery energy source arrangement and voltage source converter system

Abstract: The invention relates to power networks, and in particular to a battery energy source arrangement 4 and voltage source converter system in such network. The battery energy source arrangement comprises a battery energy storage 2, which in turn comprises one or more parallel-connected battery strings 51,..., 5i,..., 5n, and connection means for connecting a voltage of battery strings 51,..., 5i,..., 5n to a load 1. The battery energy arrangement 4 comprises further battery string voltage adapter devices 71,..., 7i,..., 7n connected in series with a respective one of the one or more battery strings 51,..., 5i,..., 5n wherein the battery string voltage adapter devices 71,..., 7i,..., 7n are designed to handle only a fraction of the voltage handled by the battery strings 51,..., 5i,..., 5n.

Controlling distribution of electrical power

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with controlling distributing of electrical power in a power distribution region. To effectively control the distribution of power in the distribution region, the substation of the region is provided with a distribution controller or Intelligent Substation Control System (ISCS). The distribution controller is connected to various process devices, which in turn are connected to primary devices of the region. The process devices send data corresponding to the primary devices to the distribution controller, and the distribution controller includes a processor which proposes a set of actions based on the received data. Further, the distribution controller includes a coordinating device which selects the final action from the set of proposed actions. The final action is implemented on the primary devices of the distribution region.

Electrical power network management system

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for adapting at least one set of parameters to at least one Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) of an electrical power network having a plurality of switching devices (CB), comprising: a) reading the current network status of the electrical power network, wherein the network status includes the status of the plurality of switching devices (CB); b) simulating at least one network fault (F) in the electrical power network; c) deducing at least one new set of parameters for the at least one Intelligent Electronic Device using a simulated fault current induced by the at least one simulated network fault under consideration of the current network status and the network topology of the electrical power network; d) setting the at least one set of parameters in at least one of the at least one Intelligent Electronic Device. Further, the invention concerns an apparatus and a method for adapting at least one set of parameters to at least one Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) of an electrical power network having a plurality of switching devices (CB), comprising: a) reading the current network status of the electrical power network, wherein the network status includes the status of the plurality of switching devices (CB); b) selecting the at least one set of parameters for the at least one Intelligent Electronic Device out of a plurality of sets of parameters depending of the current network status; c) setting the at least one set of parameters in the at least one Intelligent Electronic Device.

Feeder automation system and method for operating the same

Abstract: A feeder automation system and a method for operating the feeder automation system. The system comprises a first domain comprising a first slave station, a second domain comprising a second slave station, and a tie-switch provided between the first domain and the second domain. The first slave station is adapted to operate the tie-switch directly, and the second slave station is adapted to operate the tie-switch through the first slave station. When a fault occurs in the system, the first slave station and the second slave station cooperate with each other to perform fault detection, fault isolation and fault restoration etc. without interacting with a master station.

Accurate tracking of web features through converting processes

Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for tracking the location of web features through a converting process, one application of which can involve tracking paper defects from a paper machine (10) as detected by a camera system(12), to a winder where the sheet is wound to rolls (16) so that the web defects (14) can be repaired in the winder before making the rolls. The method to track web features is based on pattern identification of inherent sheet variability or defects. The apparatus involves two or more sheet property or defect monitoring web sensors arranged at the same cross directional location at different stages of the converting operation, augmented by tachometers and / or roll diameter sensors. A full automation system for drive control on the winder based on this information is preferably added to make maximum advantage of this information.

Validating a standardized configuration description

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with a validation of a configuration description of automated devices in a power network such as a Substation Automation (SA) system, or of a part or component thereof such as an individual Intelligent Electronic Device (IED), that is extended beyond the mere XML schema validation as provided by the known SCL-validation tools. In particular, the disclosure introduces machine-based validation of notations, requirements and/or conventions to be respected by the configuration description and/or the SA system, but not incorporated in or represented by the standardized syntax of the XML schema as defined in part 6 of the IEC 61850 standard. To this end, notations, requirements and/or conventions are initially converted into, or defined as, extended or augmented rules encoded in computer readable format. The content or information of a file having an Substation Configuration description Language (SCL) compliant description of an SA system, or of a part or component there of, is then read by parsing the file and checked for conformance to the rules. Any inconsistency, error, wrong configuration or insufficient description found is displayed to a user, who may then correct the content or information in the file. The procedure according to the disclosure can contribute, in an automated manner, to the correctness of the description of a Substation Automation (SA) system beyond the pure syntactical adherence to the IEC 61850 standard.