IDS Intelligent Electronic Device Disconnector Monitor

Motorized disconnecting switches are used in large quantities in substations for equipment insolation and switching. The reliability of the system and the safety of installations depend on the switches remaining in working condition. Closure and opening operations must be performed correctly especially when remotely controlled.

To achieve this, the IDS Disconnector Monitor performs an online status evaluation and supervises operations by detecting and identifying unsuccessful operations or confirming normal operations.

Based on measurements and engineering algorithms, the IDS issues alarms in the event of abnormalities, as well as advance maintenance remindersas configured by the user.Acolour code system is used to allowing the user to rapidly check the status of the disconnect switch.

• Green – Transformer working correctly. No maintenance required;
• Blue – Transformer working correctly. Maintenance reminder;
• Yellow – Minor abnormality;
• Red – Major abnormality.

The above statuses can be linked to IDS output contacts, allowing for the remote signallingof thedisconnecting switch status and the indication of a successful or abnormal operation.

To provide this functionality, the IDS Disconnecting Switch Monitor supervises a number of variables associated with the operation of the equipment in real time. It checks whether they correspond to the typical operation of the equipment under normal conditions or not. The following measurements are made:

• Oscillographs of currents, voltages and power consumed by the motor during operations;
• Reporting of open/closed disconnecting switch contact status;
• Encoder measured displacement of the main contact during operation;
• Control voltage;
• Alarm contacts of motor and/or control circuit protection circuit-breaker activated
• Inside drive mechanism and environmental temperature recording;
• Current of the drive mechanism’s anti-condensation heater.

To diagnose the switch and its operations, the IDS uses specialized engineering algorithms to correlate these measurements, obtaining useful information for diagnostics and prognosis, such as:

• Signature of consumption and power expended by the motor during operation;
• Motor current at the start of operations;
• Very slow or very fast operation of the disconnecting switch;
• Minimum and maximum motor voltages during operation;
• Total displacement of main contact during operation;
• Coherence between status of disconnect switch signalling contacts and with the measurement for the main contact position.
• No. of operations and time of the motor has been in service (total and since last maintenance service);
• Time remaining until next maintenance service;
• Mechanism heater operation as a result of temperature;
• Very low or high mechanism activation temperature;
• Control and motor supply under or overvoltage;