Framework for fault detection and localization in power distribution networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting faults in a power distribution network are described In an aspect, the systems and methods determine a probability that each node of the network is powered and a probability that each distribution line in the network is faulted. In another aspect, the systems and methods determine the probabilities by transmitting a signal over a power distribution network with an active sounding system. In an additional aspect, the systems and methods determine the probabilities by utilizing collected data coupled to the power distribution network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detecting faults in a power distribution network, comprising:
 a plurality of nodes;   a concentrator device configured to transmit a signal to a plurality of nodes;   at least one central processing device, to which the plurality of nodes are in communication, configured to:
 monitor the plurality of nodes and to detect that at least one node of the plurality of nodes received the signal; 
 determine, based on the detection that at least one of the plurality of nodes received the signal, a first estimated probability that each node of the plurality of nodes is powered; 
 generate a distribution map comprising the plurality of nodes and a plurality of transmission lines and which indicates, based on the first probability, whether each of the plurality of nodes is powered by assigning a first visual characteristic to each node of the plurality of nodes on the distribution map to indicate the first estimated probability that the corresponding node is powered; and, 
 cause a user interface, comprising a display and at least one user interaction component, to display the distribution map to a human user,
 wherein the at least one user interaction component enables the human user to interact with the at least the power distribution network via the displayed distribution map. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using the at least one central processing device to detect a node attribute indicative of a receipt of the transmitted signal in the at least one node out of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using the at least one central processing device to detect a change in at least one node attribute, the change being indicative of a receipt of the transmitted signal in the at least one node out of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrator device is configured to transmit at least one signal having a unique identifier and
 wherein monitoring the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using a detector device at the at least one node to detect and decode the signal having the unique identifier and further using the detector device to notify the central processing unit that the detector device received and decoded the signal having the unique identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein using the detector device to notify the central processing unit that the detector device received the signal having a unique identifier includes communicating a value, flag, or attribute indicating that the signal having the unique identifier was received by the node. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the central controller is further configured to
 determine that the first estimated probability is uncertain; and,
 instruct a sensing device to collect additional data from the at least one node corresponding to the uncertain first estimated probability. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the central controller is further configured to
 determine that the first estimated probability is uncertain; and,
 instruct a sensing device to collect data from at least one neighboring node of the at least one node corresponding to the uncertain first estimated probability. 
   
     
     
         8 . A system for detecting faults in a power distribution network, comprising:
 a plurality of nodes;   a concentrator device configured to transmit a signal to a plurality of nodes;   at least one central processing device, to which the plurality of nodes are in communication, configured to:
 monitor the plurality of nodes and to detect that at least one node of the plurality of nodes received the signal; 
 determine, based on the detection that at least one of the plurality of nodes received the signal, a first estimated probability that each node of the plurality of nodes is powered; 
 determine, based on the detection that at least one of the plurality of nodes received the signal, a second estimated probability that each distribution line of a plurality of distribution lines connecting the plurality of nodes is faulted; 
 generate a distribution map comprising the plurality of nodes and the plurality of transmission lines and which indicates, based on the first probability and the second probability, whether each of the plurality of nodes is powered and whether each of the plurality of distribution lines is faulted; and, 
 cause a user interface, comprising a display and at least one user interaction component, to display the distribution map to a human user,
 wherein the at least one user interaction component enables the human user to interact with the at least the power distribution network via the displayed distribution map. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein monitoring the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using the at least one central processing device to detect a node attribute indicative of a receipt of the transmitted signal in the at least one node out of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein monitoring the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using the at least one central processing device to detect a change in at least one node attribute, the change being indicative of a receipt of the transmitted signal in the at least one node out of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the concentrator device is configured to transmit at least one signal having a unique identifier and
 wherein monitoring the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using a detector device at the at least one node to detect and decode the signal having the unique identifier and further using the detector device to notify the central processing unit that the detector device received and decoded the signal having the unique identifier.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein using the detector device to notify the central processing unit that the detector device received the signal having a unique identifier includes communicating a value, flag, or attribute indicating that the signal having the unique identifier was received by the node. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the central controller is further configured to
 determine that the first estimated probability is uncertain; and,
 instruct a sensing device to collect additional data from the at least one node corresponding to the uncertain first estimated probability. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the central controller is further configured to
 determine that the second estimated probability is uncertain; and,
 instruct a sensing device to collect data from at least one neighboring node of the at least one node corresponding to the uncertain first estimated probability. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting faults in a power distribution network, comprising:
 using a concentrator device to transmit a signal to a plurality of nodes in the power distribution network;   using at least one central processing device to monitor the plurality of nodes and to detect that at least one node of the plurality of nodes received the signal;   using the at least one central processing unit to determine, based on the detection that at least one of the plurality of nodes received the signal, a first estimated probability that each node of the plurality of nodes is powered;   using the at least one central processing unit to determine, based on the detection that at least one of the plurality of nodes received the signal, a second estimated probability that each distribution line of a plurality of distribution lines connecting the plurality of nodes is faulted;   using the at least one central processing unit to generate a distribution map comprising the plurality of nodes and the plurality of transmission lines and which indicates, based on the first probability and the second probability, whether each of the plurality of nodes is powered and whether each of the plurality of distribution lines is faulted; and,   using the at least one central processing unit to cause a user interface comprising a display and at least one user interaction component to display the distribution map to a human user, wherein the at least one user interaction component enables the human user to interact with the at least the power distribution network based at least upon the displayed distribution map.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein using at least one central processing device to monitor the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using the at least one central processing device to detect a node attribute indicative of a receipt of the transmitted signal in the at least one node out of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein using at least one central processing device to monitor the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using the at least one central processing device to detect a change in at least one node attribute, the change being indicative of a receipt of the transmitted signal in the at least one node out of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein using a concentrator device to transmit a signal includes using the concentrator device to transmit at least one signal having a unique identifier and
 wherein using at least one central processing device to monitor the plurality of nodes to detect that at least one node out of the plurality of nodes received the signal includes using a detector device at the at least one node to detect and decode the signal having the unique identifier and further using the detector device to notify the central processing unit that the detector device received and decoded the signal having the unique identifier.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein using the detector device to notify the central processing unit that the detector device received the signal having a unique identifier includes communicating a value, flag, or attribute indicating that the signal having the unique identifier was received by the node. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 using the at least one central processing unit to determine that the first estimated probability is uncertain; and,
 using the at least one central processing unit to instruct a sensing device to collect additional data from the at least one node corresponding to the uncertain first estimated probability.