Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system
First Claim
1. A method for identifying non-fault anomaly in a power distribution system including a plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors, said method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, a plurality of data signals from a plurality of current sensors associated with the power distribution system, wherein each data signal of the plurality of data signals represents an electrical current measured between electrical nodes of the power distribution system by a respective current sensor of the plurality of current sensors;
summing, by the controller, for a first node of the power distribution system, and based on the received plurality of data signals, electrical current into and out of the first node;
if the electrical current summation of the first node does not equal an expected measurement error value, comparing, by the controller, the electrical current summation of the first node with a fault threshold;
tripping, by the controller, one or more circuit breakers if the electrical current summation of the first node exceeds the fault threshold;
if the electrical current summation is less than the fault threshold and above the expected measurement error value, determining, by the controller, a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system as a ratio of the electrical current summation of the first node to a value of one or more of the plurality of data signals;
determining, by the controller, a dynamic threshold, wherein;
(i) the dynamic threshold represents a threshold measurement error value associated with a predetermined fixed probability of the non-fault anomaly, and(ii) a value of the dynamic threshold varies as a function of a value of at least one of the plurality of data signals;
comparing, by the controller, the determined measurement error value to the dynamic threshold;
identifying, by the controller, at least one of the plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold; and
activating, by the controller, an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold to enable a user to investigate a cause of the non-fault anomaly and the at least one of the plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly, wherein the alert includes at least one of a visible alert and an audible alert.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring devices in a power distribution system are described. In one example, a method for use in a power distribution system including a plurality of devices is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of data signals associated with the power distribution system, determining a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system based on the plurality of data signals, comparing the determined measurement error value to a dynamic threshold, and generating an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for identifying non-fault anomaly in a power distribution system including a plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors, said method comprising:
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receiving, by a controller, a plurality of data signals from a plurality of current sensors associated with the power distribution system, wherein each data signal of the plurality of data signals represents an electrical current measured between electrical nodes of the power distribution system by a respective current sensor of the plurality of current sensors; summing, by the controller, for a first node of the power distribution system, and based on the received plurality of data signals, electrical current into and out of the first node; if the electrical current summation of the first node does not equal an expected measurement error value, comparing, by the controller, the electrical current summation of the first node with a fault threshold; tripping, by the controller, one or more circuit breakers if the electrical current summation of the first node exceeds the fault threshold; if the electrical current summation is less than the fault threshold and above the expected measurement error value, determining, by the controller, a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system as a ratio of the electrical current summation of the first node to a value of one or more of the plurality of data signals; determining, by the controller, a dynamic threshold, wherein; (i) the dynamic threshold represents a threshold measurement error value associated with a predetermined fixed probability of the non-fault anomaly, and (ii) a value of the dynamic threshold varies as a function of a value of at least one of the plurality of data signals; comparing, by the controller, the determined measurement error value to the dynamic threshold; identifying, by the controller, at least one of the plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold; and activating, by the controller, an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold to enable a user to investigate a cause of the non-fault anomaly and the at least one of the plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly, wherein the alert includes at least one of a visible alert and an audible alert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A controller for a power distribution system including a plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors, said controller comprising:
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at least one input for receiving a plurality of data signals from a plurality of current sensors of the power distribution system, wherein each data signal of the plurality of data signals represents an electrical current measured at a node of the power distribution system by a respective current sensor of the plurality of current sensors, a processor; and a memory device coupled to said processor, said memory device containing executable instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause the controller to; sum, by the controller, for a first node of the power distribution system, and based on the received plurality of data signals, electrical current into and out of the first node; if the electrical current summation of the first node does not equal an expected measurement error value, compare, by the controller, the electrical current summation of the first node with a fault threshold; trip, by the controller, one or more circuit breakers if the electrical current summation of the first node exceeds the fault threshold; if the electrical current summation is less than the fault threshold and above the expected measurement error value, determine, by the controller, a measurement error value associated with the power distribution system as a ratio of the electrical current summation of the first node to a value of one or more of the plurality of data signals; determine a dynamic threshold, wherein; (i) the dynamic threshold represents a threshold measurement error value associated with a predetermined fixed probability of a non-fault anomaly, and (ii) a value of the dynamic threshold varies as a function of a value of at least one of the plurality of data signals; compare the determined measurement error value to the dynamic threshold; identify at least one of the plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold; and activate an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold to enable a user to investigate a cause of the non-fault anomaly and the at least one of the plurality of circuit protection devices and sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly, wherein the alert includes at least one of a visible alert and an audible alert. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of current sensors configured to output a plurality of data signals, each data signal of the plurality of data signals representing an electrical current measured at a node of the power distribution system by a respective current sensor of the plurality of current sensors; and a controller comprising; at least one input for receiving the plurality of data signals from said plurality of current sensors; a processor; and a memory device coupled to said processor, said memory device containing executable instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause the controller to; sum, by the controller, for a first node of the power distribution system, and based on the received plurality of data signals, electrical current into and out of the first node; if the electrical current summation of the first node does not equal an expected measurement error value, compare, by the controller, the electrical current summation of the first node with a fault threshold; trip, by the controller, one or more circuit breakers if the electrical current summation of the first node exceeds the fault threshold; if the electrical current summation is less than the fault threshold and above the expected measurement error value, determine, by the controller, a measurement error value associated with at least one sensor as a percentage of a value of one or more of the plurality of data signals; determine a dynamic threshold, wherein; (i) the dynamic threshold represents a threshold measurement error value associated with a predetermined fixed probability of a non-fault anomaly, and (ii) a value of the dynamic threshold varies as a function of a value of at least one of the plurality of data signals; compare the determined measurement error value to the dynamic threshold; identify at least one of said plurality of current sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold; and activate an alert when the determined measurement error value exceeds the dynamic threshold to enable the user to investigate a cause of the non-fault anomaly and the at least one of said plurality of current sensors affected by the non-fault anomaly, wherein the alert includes at least one of a visible alert and an audible alert. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification