Disclosure of Invention
In order to solve the problems, the invention introduces network analysis from a power distribution end to a power utilization end on the basis of constructing a power distribution network, analyzes the related information of communication in a network system, ensures that the running condition of an automation system is transparent, can timely find abnormal communication of the power utilization network by locally arranging a network analysis device, and improves the communication analysis efficiency of the power utilization network.
In one aspect, a method for analyzing communication of a power consumption network is provided, including the steps of:
a power distribution network architecture is established, wherein the power distribution network architecture comprises a transformer substation end, a power distribution network end and a power utilization end which are connected in sequence;
Dividing the transformer substation end into a three-layer structure model, wherein the three-layer structure model comprises a station control layer, a spacing layer and a transformer substation end process layer which are sequentially arranged, the transformer substation end process layer comprises terminal equipment of the transformer substation end, the spacing layer is used for transmitting information of the transformer substation end process layer to the station control layer, the spacing layer is connected with a first network analysis device, and the first network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the transformer substation end process layer in real time;
Dividing the distribution network end into three layers of models, wherein the three layers of models comprise a main station layer, a feeder line layer and a distribution network process layer, the distribution network process layer comprises feeder line terminal equipment, distribution transformer terminal equipment and switching station terminal equipment which are sequentially arranged, the feeder line layer is used for connecting the main station layer and the distribution network process layer, the main station layer is used for receiving information transmitted by the distribution network process layer, a second network analysis device is arranged between the main station layer and the feeder line layer, and the second network analysis device is used for analyzing the information transmitted by the distribution network process layer in real time;
The power utilization end is divided into two layers of models, each two layers of models comprises a management layer and a field device layer, the management layer is used for monitoring information transmitted by the field device layer, a third network analysis device is arranged on a line connected with the field device layer and the management layer, and the third network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the field device layer in real time.
Optionally, the information transmission is performed inside the transformer substation through a backbone optical communication network.
Optionally, the network that the substation end is connected with the distribution network end is one of medium voltage PLC, OPPC, WPLC networks.
Optionally, the network that the distribution network end is connected with the power utilization end is one of low-voltage PLC, WSN, RS485 networks.
Optionally, the station control layer comprises a power transformation monitoring host, a communication server, a motion workstation, a time synchronization server and a data server;
the spacer layer comprises a measurement and control device, a switch of the spacer layer and a protection device;
The transformer substation end process layer comprises a merging unit, an intelligent terminal, an intelligent component, a transformer, a circuit breaker and an isolating switch;
The power transformation monitoring host, the communication server, the movement workstation, the time setting server, the data server, the measurement and control device, the switch of the spacing layer and the protection device establish information service connection with each other through an MMS network;
The measurement and control device, the switch of the spacer layer, the protection device, the merging unit, the intelligent terminal, the intelligent component, the mutual inductor, the circuit breaker and the isolating switch establish information service connection with each other through a GOOSE network or an SV network.
Optionally, the master station layer includes at least two master station monitoring hosts;
The feeder line layer comprises two power distribution substations which are matched with the number of the monitoring hosts of the master station;
A switch of two distribution network ends which are matched with the number of the monitoring hosts of the master station is arranged between the master station layer and the feeder line layer;
Each master station monitoring host is connected with each corresponding power distribution substation through a corresponding switch of the distribution network end, information interaction is supported between the switches of the two distribution network ends, and energy transfer is supported between the two power distribution substations;
The distribution network process layer comprises feeder line terminal equipment, distribution transformer terminal equipment and switching station terminal equipment;
The feeder terminal equipment is connected with one of the power distribution substations, the switching station terminal equipment is connected with the other power distribution substation, and the feeder terminal equipment is connected with the switching station terminal equipment through the distribution transformer terminal equipment;
Information interaction is supported between the switches of the two distribution network ends;
And supporting energy transfer between the two power distribution substations.
Optionally, the management layer includes two management monitoring hosts, each of which is configured with a switch of an electricity utilization terminal;
The field device layer comprises a load control terminal, a distributed power generation and energy storage monitoring system and a monitoring management system in the charging station;
the load control terminal is connected with the switch of one of the electricity utilization terminals, and the monitoring management system in the charging station is connected with the switch of the other electricity utilization terminal;
and the switches of the two power utilization terminals support to collect the information of the distributed power generation and energy storage monitoring system.
Optionally, the first network analysis device is connected with a switch of the spacer layer;
The number of the second network analysis devices is two, and each second network analysis device is respectively connected with one switch which is respectively connected with two distribution network ends;
The number of the third network analysis devices is two, and each third network device is connected with one switch which is respectively connected with two management layers.
Optionally, the second network analysis device analyzes the network condition real-time information, the offline information offline state information, the power grid structure parameter information and the geographic information of the distribution network process layer, marks the abnormal data in the distribution network process layer, and positions the occurrence place of the abnormal data;
and the third network device analyzes the user information, the service information and the communication network information in the management layer, and performs terminal detection and fault analysis according to the abnormal data obtained after the analysis.
On the other hand, the utility network communication analysis system comprises a transformer station end, a distribution network end and a power utilization end which are connected in sequence, wherein:
the transformer substation end comprises a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer which are sequentially arranged;
The transformer substation end comprises a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer which are sequentially arranged, wherein the transformer substation end process layer comprises terminal equipment of the transformer substation end, the spacer layer is used for transmitting information of the transformer substation end process layer to the station control layer, the spacer layer is connected with a first network analysis device, and the first network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the transformer substation end process layer in real time;
the distribution network terminal comprises a main station layer, a feeder line layer and a distribution network process layer, wherein the distribution network process layer comprises feeder line terminal equipment, distribution transformer terminal equipment and switching station terminal equipment which are sequentially arranged, the feeder line layer is used for connecting the main station layer with the distribution network process layer, the main station layer is used for receiving information transmitted by the distribution network process layer, a second network analysis device is arranged between the main station layer and the feeder line layer, and the second network analysis device is used for analyzing the information transmitted by the distribution network process layer in real time;
the power utilization terminal comprises a management layer and a field device layer, wherein the management layer is used for monitoring information transmitted by the field device layer, a third network analysis device is arranged on a line connected with the management layer, and the third network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the field device layer in real time.
The invention fills the research blank of distribution and power utilization network analysis, and the distribution network end and the power utilization end are subjected to model division, and network analysis devices are respectively configured at the transformer station end, the distribution network end and the power utilization end, so that the transformer station end, the distribution network end and the power utilization end can locally perform network analysis in real time, data needing to be analyzed can be timely subjected to control analysis locally, a remote transmission step is omitted, professionals can perform fault analysis, fault resolution and the like in real time according to network message analysis, bad data based on mutation detection in the distribution and power utilization network can be timely identified in time according to the first time, the efficiency of identifying the bad data is improved, and the communication analysis efficiency of the power utilization network is improved. The method is favorable for coping with increasingly complex active power distribution networks, and the network analysis device analyzes the characteristics of data packets flowing in the increasingly complex power distribution networks, so that a local network system can be comprehensively and accurately known, and hidden dangers and risks in the power distribution networks can be detected.
The invention divides the three-layer model of the distribution network end and respectively introduces the network analysis device to analyze the information uploaded by the terminal equipment in real time, for example, the network analysis device analyzes and searches hidden trouble and abnormal and network operation faults on the basis of establishing a communication network, so the network analysis devices are respectively arranged at the disconnection, distribution network end and electricity utilization end of the transformer substation, the system can operate more stably, and the invention is beneficial to the safety of a debugging system and a monitoring system.
Detailed Description
In order that those skilled in the art will better understand the present invention, a technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is apparent that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any inventive effort, shall fall within the scope of the present invention.
It is noted that the terms first, second, third, etc. are used herein to describe various components or parts, but these components or parts are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another element or component. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Spatially relative terms, such as "inner", "outer", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "upper", "left", "right", and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe the positional relationship of components or parts of the present embodiments, but these spatially relative terms do not limit the orientation of the technical features in practical use.
As shown in fig. 1 to 2, a method for analyzing communication of a power consumption network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:
And establishing a power distribution network architecture, wherein the power distribution network architecture comprises a transformer substation end, a power distribution network end and a power utilization end which are sequentially connected.
Dividing a transformer substation end into a three-layer structure model, wherein the three-layer structure model comprises a station control layer, a spacing layer and a transformer substation end process layer which are sequentially arranged, the transformer substation end process layer comprises terminal equipment of the transformer substation end, the spacing layer is used for transmitting information of the transformer substation end process layer to the station control layer, the spacing layer is connected with a first network analysis device, and the first network analysis device is used for analyzing the information transmitted by the transformer substation end process layer.
Dividing a distribution network end into three layers of models, wherein the three layers of models comprise a main station layer, a feeder line layer and a distribution network process layer, the distribution network process layer comprises feeder line terminal equipment, distribution transformer terminal equipment and switching station terminal equipment which are sequentially arranged, the feeder line layer is used for connecting the main station layer and the distribution network process layer, the main station layer is used for receiving information transmitted by the distribution network process layer, a second network analysis device is arranged between the main station layer and the feeder line layer, and the second network analysis device is used for analyzing the information transmitted by the distribution network process layer in real time.
Dividing the power utilization end into two layers of models, wherein the two layers of models comprise a management layer and a field device layer, the management layer is used for monitoring information transmitted by the field device layer, a third network analysis device is arranged on a line connected with the field device layer and the management layer, and the third network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the field device layer.
The method mainly comprises the steps of firstly establishing a network architecture model from a transformer station end to a distribution network end to an electricity utilization end. The method comprises the steps of dividing a transformer substation end into three-layer structure models, namely a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer, dividing a distribution network end into three-layer models of a main station layer, a feeder layer and a distribution network process layer, connecting a second network analysis device into a switch of the distribution network end, realizing detection, protection, control and power distribution management under the condition of normal operation and accident occurrence of the distribution network end through network analysis, dividing an electricity utilization end into a management layer and a field device layer, connecting a third network analysis device at the switch of the electricity utilization end, and carrying out monitoring and fault analysis on user information, service information, a communication network and the like. The communication network includes an information transmission section, an information exchange section, and a terminal device section.
The invention mainly builds a model aiming at a communication system of a power grid, builds a three-layer model for a transformer substation end, transmits working instructions from top to bottom (a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer), transmits information and analyzes the information from bottom to top (the transformer substation end process layer, the spacer layer and the station control layer), builds a three-layer model for a distribution network end, transmits the working instructions from top to bottom (a main station layer, a feeder layer and a distribution network process layer), analyzes the information from bottom to top (the distribution network process layer, the feeder layer and the main station layer), and transmits the working instructions from top to bottom (a management layer, a field device layer) and analyzes the information from bottom to top. The invention divides the power utilization network by establishing the three-layer model and the two-layer model, so that the position where the problem occurs can be clearly known in the network analysis process. The network analysis devices of the transformer substation end, the electricity utilization end and the distribution network end respectively analyze the data messages passing through the switches and find hidden danger and abnormality, so that the normal operation of the power grid is realized.
The system comprises a first network analysis device, a second network analysis device, a third network device and a fault analysis device, wherein the first network analysis device is used for analyzing network condition real-time information, offline state information, power grid structure parameters and geographic information of a distribution network process layer, marking abnormal data in the distribution network process layer, and positioning the occurrence place of the abnormal data. For example, the electricity consumption end analyzes whether line loss exists according to service information and electricity consumption information in user information, and locates the occurrence place of the line loss according to geographic information, or the distribution network end analyzes whether the terminal equipment of the electricity consumption end has the condition of incapability of running according to power grid parameters, offline data and the like, and determines the occurrence place of the terminal equipment which cannot run according to the geographic information, or a worker integrates time according to analysis results of a second network analysis device and a third network analysis device, compares electricity consumption conditions of the same time end every day, every month and every year, analyzes local energy consumption according to equipment working conditions, or observes whether the equipment is aged or not. The terminal device data is collected and analyzed by the second network analysis device and the first network analysis device, and the analysis result of the present invention is not limited to the above analysis result, and is not exemplified here.
In one possible implementation, as shown in fig. 3, the inside of the substation end performs information transfer through a backbone optical communication network. The network that the transformer station end is connected with the distribution network end is one of a medium voltage PLC (Power Line Communication, power line communication network), an OPPC (Optical Phase Conductor, optical fiber load phase line network) and a WPLC (Wide Power LINE CARRIER, wide area Power line carrier) network.
The network connected with the distribution network end and the power utilization end is one of low-voltage PLC, WSN, RS485 networks. The WSN is a wireless sensor network, and a master-slave communication mode is generally adopted in the RS485 communication network, namely, one host machine is provided with a plurality of slave machines, so that a point-to-point communication mode can be realized, and a networking function can be realized.
The existing backbone optical communication network can be adopted from the distribution dispatching end to the transformer substation end, a medium-voltage PLC, OPPC or WPLC network can be built from the transformer substation end to the distribution network end, and a low-voltage PLC, WSN or RS485 network can be built from the distribution network end to the electricity utilization end (the electricity utilization end is the user end). The above network may be selected based on factors such as the local existing equipment, construction environment, etc.
In one possible implementation mode, the station control layer comprises a power transformation monitoring host, a communication server, a motion workstation, a time setting server and a data server, the spacer layer comprises a measurement and control device, a switch of the spacer layer and a protection device, the substation end process layer comprises a merging unit, an intelligent terminal, an intelligent component, a mutual inductor, a circuit breaker and an isolating switch, wherein the power transformation monitoring host, the communication server, the motion workstation, the time setting server, the data server, the measurement and control device, the switch of the spacer layer and the protection device establish information service connection with each other through MMS (multimedia message management system), and the measurement and control device, the switch of the spacer layer, the protection device, the merging unit, the intelligent terminal, the intelligent component, the mutual inductor, the circuit breaker and the isolating switch establish information service connection with each other through a GOOSE network or an SV network.
As shown in fig. 4, the first network analysis device mainly acts on the station control layer and analyzes all communication messages in the network system. The running state of the automatic system is transparent, and the abnormal running state is found in time and alarm processing is carried out. The model of the transformer substation end comprises a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer. The station control layer comprises a substation monitoring host, a communication server, a remote workstation, a time setting server and a data server, the spacer layer comprises a measurement and control device and a protection device, the process layer comprises a merging unit, an intelligent terminal, an intelligent component, a mutual inductor, a circuit breaker and a disconnecting switch, wherein the first network analysis device is used for carrying out data analysis on data in a switch accessed to an MMS network, a GOOSE network and an SV network, and the network analysis at the transformer station end is responsible for carrying out message receiving, recording and storing on the whole process of the communication network of the automation system at the transformer station end, analyzing faults and providing powerful means for debugging, running and analysis at the intelligent transformer station end.
The substation adopts IEC61850 standard, and the standard application technology of IEC61850 enables a plurality of devices from different factories to operate mutually due to a clear and unified hierarchical information model. The traditional operation mode of simplifying the network hierarchy by utilizing a large number of protocol converters in the transformer substation is eliminated. Furthermore, the standard application technology of IEC61850 is an open protocol.
Referring to fig. 5, the master station layer includes at least two master station monitoring hosts, the feeder line layer includes power distribution substations adapted to the number of the master station monitoring hosts, and a switch adapted to the number of the master station monitoring hosts is disposed between the master station layer and the feeder line layer, for example, the master station layer includes two master station monitoring hosts. The feeder layer comprises two power distribution substations, a switch of two distribution network ends is arranged between a main station layer and the feeder layer, each main station monitoring host is connected with the corresponding power distribution substation through the switch of the corresponding distribution network end, the distribution network process layer comprises feeder terminal equipment, distribution transformer terminal equipment and switching station terminal equipment, the feeder terminal equipment is connected with one of the distribution substation, the switching station terminal equipment is connected with the other power distribution substation, the feeder terminal equipment is connected with the switching station terminal equipment through the distribution transformer terminal equipment, information interaction is supported between the switches of the two distribution network ends, and energy transfer is supported between the two power distribution substations.
The distribution network is divided into three layers similar to a network structure model of a transformer station end, wherein a main station layer is used for realizing control, monitoring fault points, positioning fault points, isolating and recovering fault point power supply, a feeder layer is used for monitoring medium-voltage feeder lines and a plurality of terminal devices for information interaction, a transformation process layer comprises feeder terminal devices (FTUs), distribution transformer terminal devices (TTUs) and switching station terminal Devices (DTUs), and a transformation process layer is used for implementing detection operation information and guaranteeing driving and execution of control instructions. The network distribution terminal is more complex due to the access of energy sources such as centralized photovoltaic, small thermal power, small hydropower, wind power and the like, and the real-time information, offline state information, power grid structure parameters and geographic information of the network distribution terminal are safely integrated by applying modern electronic technology, communication technology, computer and network technology, so that a complete automation and management system is formed. And accessing the second network analysis device into a switch of the distribution network terminal, and realizing normal operation of the distribution network terminal and detection, protection, control and power distribution management under the accident condition through the second network analysis device.
The management layer comprises two management monitoring hosts, each management monitoring host is provided with an exchanger of an electric end, the field equipment layer comprises a load control terminal, a distributed power generation and energy storage monitoring system and an in-charging station monitoring management system, the load control terminal is connected with one exchanger of the electric ends, the in-charging station monitoring management system is connected with the other exchanger of the electric ends, the load control terminal is collected by the corresponding exchanger of the electric end and respectively transmits the information to a third network analysis device and the monitoring hosts which are matched with the load control terminal, the in-charging station monitoring system is also collected by the corresponding exchanger and respectively transmits the information to the third network analysis device and the monitoring hosts which are matched with the charging station, and in addition, the distributed power generation and energy storage monitoring system can be collected by the exchanger of the electric end of the load control terminal or the exchanger of the other electric end, or the exchangers of the two electric ends can both collect the information of the distributed power generation and energy storage monitoring system, and each exchanger transmits the collected information to the corresponding monitoring hosts and the third network analysis device.
The electricity-using end model divides the electricity-using end network into a management layer and a field device layer. The management layer is mainly a monitoring host.
The field device layer includes:
the load control terminal mainly comprises an information acquisition for an ammeter and a household appliance;
The distributed power generation and energy storage monitoring system comprises a storage battery, distributed wind power, distributed photovoltaic and the like;
the monitoring management system in the charging station mainly comprises an electric automobile, a charging pile and the like.
The access of the new service makes the traditional power end network unable to meet the demand, and the third network analysis device is connected to the switch of the power end to effectively monitor and analyze the user information, service information, communication network and other faults.
The first network analysis device is connected with the exchanger of the spacer layer, the second network analysis device is two in number and is respectively connected with the exchanger of one distribution network end, and the third network analysis device is three in number and is respectively connected with the exchanger of one management layer. The method fills the research blank of distribution network analysis, and is beneficial to coping with increasingly complicated active distribution networks. The characteristics of the data packets flowing in the increasingly complex distribution and utilization network are analyzed, so that the network system of the distribution and utilization network is comprehensively and accurately known, and hidden dangers and risks in the distribution and utilization network are detected.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a network analyzer according to the present invention, and the first, second, and third network analyzers follow the analysis procedure of the network analyzer in fig. 7. The network analysis device comprises an IEC1588 time processing module, a message diagnosis and statistics, a fault record analysis module and an IEC61850, wherein the IEC1588 is used for realizing synchronous processing of network messages and synchronous processing of fault data of an electric power system, the message diagnosis and statistics have the most important functions of monitoring, capturing, analyzing, counting and storing various network messages (such as a fast message, a medium-speed message, a low-speed message, an original data message, a file transmission function message, a time synchronization message, an access control command message and the like) of the whole intelligent substation, and performing on-line monitoring and evaluation on the network communication state of the intelligent substation, the message record and analysis can be realized, the electric power system data can be calculated, the fault record analysis module can inquire corresponding message information according to the analysis result of the electric power system data, the comprehensive analysis is carried out on the message record analysis module and the information, the fault record analysis is more beneficial to the analysis and positioning of the fault, the IEC61850 is a communication module based on the IEC61850, and the function of a communication software module is mainly used for remotely transmitting the data of the device to other monitoring or information management systems, and the data transmission protocol is in accordance with the IEC61850. The process of realizing the IEC61850 communication protocol is the process of completing data modeling according to the requirements of the IEC61850 standard. The IEC61850 standard is the only global universal standard in the field of power system automation. The network analysis device of the invention analyzes and searches hidden trouble and abnormality of data message passing through the exchanger on the basis of establishing communication network, analyzes and diagnoses network operation fault, counts network flow from the whole to the node, knows flow application composition and how to be utilized, knows the operation condition of various application systems in the network, monitors the network bandwidth utilization rate and automatically diagnoses network fault according to connection number, handshake time, connection number, rejection number and the like, provides fault location, captures network data packet, detects all data transmitted by the network, and can perform pressure test on the network performance through the data detected by the network analysis device.
In addition, based on the same inventive concept, the invention also provides a power utilization network communication analysis system, as shown in fig. 2, the system comprises a transformer station end, a distribution network end and a power utilization end which are connected in sequence, wherein:
the transformer substation end comprises a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer which are sequentially arranged;
The transformer substation end comprises a station control layer, a spacer layer and a transformer substation end process layer which are sequentially arranged, wherein the transformer substation end process layer comprises terminal equipment of the transformer substation end, the spacer layer is used for transmitting information of the transformer substation end process layer to the station control layer, the spacer layer is connected with a first network analysis device, and the first network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the transformer substation end process layer in real time.
The distribution network terminal comprises a main station layer, a feeder line layer and a distribution network process layer, wherein the distribution network process layer comprises feeder line terminal equipment, distribution transformer terminal equipment and switching station terminal equipment which are sequentially arranged, the feeder line layer is used for connecting the main station layer with the distribution network process layer, the main station layer is used for receiving information transmitted by the distribution network process layer, a second network analysis device is arranged between the main station layer and the feeder line layer, and the second network analysis device is used for analyzing the information transmitted by the distribution network process layer in real time.
The power utilization terminal comprises a management layer and a field device layer, wherein the management layer is used for monitoring information transmitted by the field device layer, a third network analysis device is arranged on a line connected with the management layer, and the third network analysis device is used for analyzing information transmitted by the field device layer in real time.
The description of the power consumption network communication analysis system in the embodiment of the present invention may be referred to the description of the embodiment of the power consumption network communication analysis method, and will not be repeated herein.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.
The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof, but rather as providing for the use of additional embodiments and advantages of all such modifications, equivalents, improvements and similar to the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.