Model driven estimation of faulted area in electric distribution systems

Abstract

A system for estimating faulted area in an electric distribution system. The system includes a database storing input data, a fault detection module to estimate, based on the input data, if a new faulted area estimation process is required, a condition estimation module to estimate condition of metered protective devices, un-metered protective devices, and metered devices (PMDs), an upstream to downstream module to assess condition of each metered protective device, un-metered protective device, and metered device (PMD), starting from a feeder circuit breaker towards feeder downstream, to estimate a tripped protective device and a last metered device upstream of a fault, and a downstream to upstream module configured to assess outaged electric loads or elements towards network upstream to find the common interrupting protective device.

1 . A system for estimating faulted area in an electric distribution system, comprising:
 a database storing one or more input data;   a fault detection module configured to determine, based on the one or more input data, if a new faulted area estimation process is required;   a condition estimation module configured to estimate condition of metered protective devices, un-metered protective devices, and metered devices (PMDs);   an upstream to downstream module configured to assess condition of each metered protective device, un-metered protective device, and metered device (PMD), starting from a feeder circuit breaker towards feeder downstream, to estimate a tripped protective device and a last metered device upstream of a fault; and   a downstream to upstream module configured to assess outaged electric loads and elements towards network upstream to find the common interrupting protective device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated tripped protective device and the last metered device upstream of the fault, and the common interrupting protective device are merged to estimate one or more faulted areas. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more input data to the fault detection module comprise online data. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the online data comprise one or more of condition, fault indication, reclosing stage, crew feedback and customer call data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition estimation module further receives online data and offline data as input. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the online data comprise one or more of condition, fault indication, reclosing stage, crew feedback and customer call data. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the offline data comprise one or more of connectivity data and high level operational behavior of the PMDs. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the high level operational behavior comprises one or more of observability, reclosability, fault interruptability and switching capability. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is one of Energized, Close_Hot, Close, Close_Dead, Open_Hot, Open, Open_Dead, and Unknown. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition estimation module further configured to:
 (1) determine one or more child tables for the PMDs;   (2) determine one or more parent tables for the PMDs;   (3) apply one or more first rules to the one or more parent tables to estimate condition of a parent PMD;   (4) apply one or more second rules to the one or more child tables to estimate condition of a child PMD;   (5) compare the estimated condition of the parent PMD and the estimated condition of the child PMD; and   upon determining that the estimated condition of the parent PMD and the estimated condition of the child PMD is not the same, repeat steps (1) to (5).   
     
     
         11 . A method for estimating faulted area in an electric distribution system, comprising:
 estimating, by a fault detection module, based on one or more input data, if a new faulted area estimation process is required;   estimating, by a condition estimation module, condition of metered protective devices, un-metered protective devices, and metered devices (PMDs);   assessing, by an upstream to downstream module, condition of each metered protective device, un-metered protective device, and metered device (PMD), starting from a feeder circuit breaker towards feeder downstream, to estimate a tripped protective device and a last metered device upstream of a fault; and   assessing, by a downstream to upstream module, outaged electric loads and elements towards network upstream to find the common interrupting protective device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further merging the estimated tripped protective device and the last metered device upstream of the fault, and the common interrupting protective device to estimate one or more faulted areas. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more input data to the fault detection module comprise online data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the online data comprise one or more of condition, fault indication, reclosing stage, crew feedback and customer call data. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further receiving, by the condition estimation module, online data and offline data as input. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the online data comprise one or more of condition, fault indication, reclosing stage, crew feedback and customer call data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the offline data comprise one or more of connectivity data and high level operational behavior of the PMDs. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the high level operational behavior comprises one or more of observability, reclosability, fault interruptability and switching capability. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further, by the condition estimation module:
 (1) determining one or more child tables for the PMDs;   (2) determining one or more parent tables for the PMDs;   (3) applying one or more first rules to the one or more parent tables to estimate condition of a parent PMD;   (4) applying one or more second rules to the one or more child tables to estimate condition of a child PMD;   (5) comparing the estimated condition of the parent PMD and the estimated condition of the child PMD; and   upon determining that the estimated condition of the parent PMD and the estimated condition of the child PMD is not the same, repeat steps (1) to (5).   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the condition is one of Energized, Close_Hot, Close, Close_Dead, Open_Hot, Open, Open_Dead, and Unknown.