Power distribution expert system

• US 20070191992A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huntington Ingalls, Inc. (Huntington Ingalls Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Taliaferro, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0092 concerning the data processing means, e.g. expert systems, neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/28 for meshed systems

Abstract

A power distribution expert system is provided to determine an optimal power distribution configuration, and also to determine an optimal transition path to reach said optimal configuration. An exemplary first set of rules is provided to determine an optimal power distribution configuration. An exemplary second set of rules is provided to determine an optimum transition path to achieve the optimal power distribution configuration.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a power distribution configuration, comprising:

determining an optimal configuration by using optimal configuration rules;

determining an optimal transition path to transition from a present configuration to said optimal configuration by using optimal transition path rules; and

implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a power distribution configuration is performed regularly in a periodic fashion, and wherein the period is defined as a time that has elapsed or is defined as a distance that a vehicle has traveled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a power distribution configuration is performed after an operational situation status has changed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a power distribution configuration is performed after a change in the status of at least one circuit breaker, or after a change in the availability of at least one circuit breaker.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for all possible configurations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution configurations, and wherein a tie breaking rule is implemented if multiple configurations have an identical minimum cost, and wherein the tie breaking rule is to chose a present configuration when the present configuration has the identical minimum cost.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution configurations, and wherein a tie breaking rule is implemented if multiple configurations have an identical minimum cost, and wherein the tie breaking rule is to determine an optimal transition path to each of said multiple configurations and to select the configuration associated with the lowest optimal transition path cost.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution configurations, and wherein the power distribution configuration rules comprise:

(a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an optimal transition path to transition from the present configuration to said optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution transition cost rules, and wherein the power distribution rules transition cost rules comprise:

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing said optimal transition path comprises automatically implementing the optimal transition path.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal configuration comprises sending the optimal transition path and the optimal configuration to a human for agreement, receiving agreement from the human, and implementing the optimal transition path after receiving agreement.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal configuration comprises:

(a) sending the optimal transition path and the optimal configuration to a human for a veto, and (b) waiting a fixed period of time, and (c) not receiving the veto during the fixed period of time, and (d) implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal configuration.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining an optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution configurations, and wherein the power distribution configuration rules comprise;

(a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources;

determining an optimal transition path to transition from the present configuration to said optimal configuration comprises using a set of power distribution transition cost rules, and wherein the power distribution rules transition cost rules comprise;

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed; and

14. A system for configuring a power distribution configuration, comprising:

an optimal configuration module adapted to determine an optimal power distribution configuration;

an optimal transition path module adapted to determine an optimal transition path from a present configuration to said optimal power distribution configuration by using optimal transition path rules; and

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said optimal configuration module is adapted to determine an optimal power distribution configuration based upon a set of power distribution configuration cost rules, and wherein the power distribution configuration rules comprise:

(a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the optimal transition path module is adapted to determine an optimal transition path based upon a set of transition path cost rules, and wherein the transition path cost rules comprise:

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said optimal configuration module is adapted to determine an optimal power distribution configuration based upon a set of power distribution configuration cost rules, and wherein the power distribution configuration rules comprise;

(a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources; and

said optimal transition path module is adapted to determine an optimal transition path based upon a set of transition path cost rules, and wherein the transition path cost rules comprise;

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed.

18. A computer readable medium, comprising instructions which when executed will cause the following steps to be performed:

determining an optimal configuration by using optimal configuration rules; and

determining an optimal transition path to transition from a present configuration to said optimal configuration by using optimal transition path rules.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein

the power distribution configuration rules comprise:

(a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein

the transition path cost rules comprise:

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein

the power distribution configuration rules comprise:

(a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources; and

the transition path cost rules comprise;

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed.

22. A method for configuring a power distribution configuration, comprising:

selecting an operator selected configuration;

determining an optimal transition path to transition from a present configuration to said operator selected configuration, wherein determining said optimal transition path comprises using a set of power distribution transition cost rules, and wherein the power distribution transition cost rules comprise;

(a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal configuration is removed; and

implementing said optimal transition path to reach said operator selected configuration.