US 12,651,897 B2Granted

Restoration with learning

AssigneeS&C Electric Company

InventorsDavid Glenn Porter, Christine Elizabeth McNeil

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system and method for isolating a fault in a power distribution network. The network includes a power line, a plurality of transformers electrically coupled to and positioned along the power line, and a recloser coupled to the power line. Each transformer has a unique address identifying the transformer and includes a source side switching device at an upstream side of the transformer and a load side switching device at a downstream side of the transformer. The method includes learning the address by each transformer of its immediate neighbor transformers, detecting overcurrent by some of the switching devices as a result of the fault, detecting loss of voltage by some of the switching devices and sending clear to close messages to selectively open and close certain ones of the switching devices using the transformer addresses to limit the number of switching devices that are operated and to isolate the fault.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for isolating a fault in a power distribution network, the network including a power line, a plurality of transformers electrically coupled to and positioned along the power line, and a recloser coupled to the power line, each transformer has a unique address identifying the transformer and includes a source side switching device at an upstream side of the transformer and a load side switching device at a downstream side of the transformer, wherein one of the switching devices in the network is a normally open switching device, the method comprising:

learning the address by each transformer of its immediate neighbor transformers;
detecting overcurrent in the network from the fault by the recloser and all of the transformers positioned along a fault path between the recloser and the fault;
interrupting the overcurrent by opening the recloser;
detecting loss of voltage when the recloser opens by the transformers along the fault path;
detecting loss of voltage when the recloser opens by the transformers that are downstream of the fault and upstream of the normally open switching device;
sending a clear to close overcurrent message from each transformer along the fault path that detected overcurrent followed by loss of voltage to its immediate upstream transformer using the address of the immediate upstream transformer while the recloser is open;
sending a clear to close message from each transformer between the fault and the normally open switching device that did not detect overcurrent but detected loss or sagging voltage to its immediate downstream transformer using the address of the immediate downstream transformer after a certain time period;
opening the load side switching device of the transformer that detected overcurrent and loss of voltage, but did not receive a clear to close overcurrent message;
opening the source side switching device of the transformer that did not detect overcurrent but detected loss or sagging voltage, and did not receive a clear to close message;
and
closing the recloser after the load side switching device has opened.

8 more elements

A method for isolating a fault in a power distribution network, the network including a power line, a plurality of distributed electrical devices electrically coupled to and positioned along the power line, and a fault interrupting device coupled to the power line, each electrical device has a unique address identifying the electrical device and includes a source side switching device at an upstream side of the electrical device and a load side switching device at a downstream side of the electrical device, the method comprising:

learning the address by each electrical device of its immediate neighbor electrical devices;
detecting overcurrent in the network from the fault by the fault interrupting device and all of the electrical devices positioned along a fault path between the fault interrupting device and the fault;
interrupting the overcurrent by opening the fault interrupting device;
detecting loss of voltage when the fault interrupting device opens by the electrical devices along the fault path;
detecting loss of voltage when the fault interrupting device opens by the electrical devices that are downstream of the fault;
sending a clear to close overcurrent message from each electrical device along the fault path that detected overcurrent followed by loss of voltage to its immediate upstream electrical device using the address of the immediate upstream electrical device while the fault interrupting device is open;
sending a clear to close message from each electrical device downstream of the fault that did not detect overcurrent but detected loss or sagging voltage to its immediate downstream electrical device using the address of the immediate downstream electrical device after a certain time period;
opening the load side switching device of the electrical device that detected overcurrent and loss of voltage, but did not receive a clear to close overcurrent message;
opening the source side switching device of the electrical device that that did not detect overcurrent but detected loss or sagging voltage, and did not receive a clear to close message;
and
closing the fault interrupting device after the load side switching device has opened.

8 more elements

A system for isolating a fault in a power distribution network, the network including a power line, a plurality of distributed electrical devices electrically coupled to and positioned along the power line, and a fault interrupting device coupled to the power line, each electrical device has a unique address identifying the electrical device and includes a source side switching device at an upstream side of the electrical device and a load side switching device at a downstream side of the electrical device, the system comprising components and elements for:

learning the address by each electrical device of its immediate neighbor electrical devices;
detecting overcurrent in the network from the fault by the fault interrupting device and all of the electrical devices positioned along a fault path between the fault interrupting device and the fault;
interrupting the overcurrent by opening the fault interrupting device;
detecting loss of voltage when the fault interrupting device opens by the electrical devices along the fault path;
detecting loss of voltage when the fault interrupting device opens by the electrical devices that are downstream of the fault;
sending a clear to close overcurrent message from each electrical device along the fault path that detected overcurrent followed by loss of voltage to its immediate upstream electrical device using the address of the immediate upstream electrical device while the fault interrupting device is open;
sending a clear to close message from each electrical device downstream of the fault that did not detect overcurrent but detected loss or sagging voltage to its immediate downstream electrical device using the address of the immediate downstream electrical device after a certain time period;
opening the load side switching device of the electrical device that detected overcurrent and loss of voltage, but did not receive a clear to close overcurrent message;
opening the source side switching device of the electrical device that that did not detect overcurrent but detected loss or sagging voltage, and did not receive a clear to close message;
and
closing the fault interrupting device after the load side switching device has opened.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/898,753Filed 27 Sep 2024 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 Sep 2023
Published: US 2025/0112456 A13 Apr 2025
Granted: 9 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H02H 7/22
Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection…:…
H02H 7/262
Involving signal transmission between at least two stations: involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders
H02H 3/063
With automatic reconnection: details concerning the co-operation of many similar arrangements, e.g. in a network
H02H
Emergency protective circuit arrangements