Utilizing relay event reports to identify settings error and avoid relay misoperations

Event reports recorded by digital relays and other intelligent electronic devices provide a snapshot of the power system and contain a wealth of information. Analysis of event reports can uncover incorrect relay settings and help avoid relay misoperations. Momentary faults can be detected and repaired before they evolve into a system-wide blackout. Furthermore, system operators can use the knowledge gained from analysis of event reports to reconstruct the sequence of events, track down the location of a fault, gain insight into the root cause of the fault, and take action to prevent the same fault from occurring again. This paper analyzes a series of complex events collected from a distribution utility to emphasize the benefits of event report analysis in improving power system reliability.