Method and apparatus for automated reconfiguration of an electric power distribution system with enhanced protection

A method for controlling the configuration of an electrical power distribution system having a plurality of distribution devices including circuit opening and closing functions, the method comprising the steps of:

• responding to detected conditions requiring reconfiguration of the system and opening one or more of the distribution devices to isolate the detected condition;
• communicating information between each of the plurality of distribution devices and at least one other of the plurality of distribution devices;
• at least one of the plurality of distribution devices communicating with at least one device external to the plurality of switch controllers to obtain additional information about the condition of the system that is used to control reconfiguration;
• and
• controlling operation of the plurality of distribution devices to reconfigure the electrical power distribution system.

A system for automated reconfiguration of a distribution system, comprising:

• a first plurality of switches, switches in the first plurality of switches being located in the distribution system;
• a first plurality of switch controllers;
• and
• switch controllers in the first plurality of switch controllers controlling respective switches in the first plurality of switches and including resources which monitor the distribution system, which communicate information with at least one other switch controller in the first plurality of switch controllers and which control operation of their respective switches to perform fault isolation or reconfiguration based on the detection of conditions requiring fault isolation and the communicated information, at least one of the switch controllers also communicating with at least one external device external to the first plurality of switch controllers to obtain additional information about the condition of the system that is used to control reconfiguration.

A system for controlling the configuration of a distribution system, comprising:

• a plurality of switches being arranged in a predetermined configuration in a distribution system;
• and
• a plurality of switch controllers being arranged to control respective switches in the plurality of switches, each of the switch controllers being responsive to sensed conditions of the distribution system and comprising means for communicating information to one or more other of the plurality of switch controllers so as to transmit and receive communicated information about the status of the one or more switch controllers, each of the switch controllers in the plurality of switch controllers processes the sensed conditions and the communicated information in order to determine whether to operate their respective switches according to first predetermined conditions to perform fault isolation, thereafter to determine whether to operate their respective switches according to second predetermined conditions to perform reconfiguration of the distribution system and thereafter determining whether to perform a return to a normal configuration based on a resolution of the conditions requiring fault isolation and reconfiguration, at least one of the switch controllers communicating with at least one device external to the plurality of switch controllers to receive information about the condition of the system from and control operation of the at least one device to perform the functions of reconfiguration and/or a return to normal configuration.