INTELLIGENT FAULT DETECTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. In a two-way automated communication system (TWACS) for a multiple phase electrical distribution system by which communications are sent from a station of the system to transponders of electrical meters located at power using facilities and responses are sent back to the station by the transponders in response to a communication, different of the meters responding to a communication sent on a particular phase, a method of quickly and accurately mapping the location and extent of an outage occurring in the system without having to poll all of the electrical meters, comprising:
- detecting the occurrence of a fault and the electrical phase on which the fault occurs;
when a fault occurs, selectively polling the meters associated with the phase on which the fault has occurred in that portion of the distribution system where the fault has occurred using the TWACS; and
,based upon the responses received from the poll, map the extent of the outage, whereby by only polling meters within the area where the fault has occurred and determining which, if any, transponders responded to the poll, the extent of the outage is quickly and accurately mapped and efforts to restore service within the area of the outage are rapidly and efficiently carried out.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A quick response system incorporated in a TWACS for mapping an outage in an electrical distribution system without having to continuously poll the electrical meters connected to the system. In a primary embodiment of the invention when a fault is sensed to have occurred, the amplitude of the fault is measured to determine if the fault is a medium voltage fault, or a low voltage fault. The pattern of the fault signature and change in load, both before and after the fault, are examined to determine what protective device was triggered by the fault. Using this information, and knowledge of the number and location of electrical meters connected in the distribution system, a population of meters to be polled is determined. By polling the identified population, a map of the extent of the outage is readily determined, and the time to respond to the fault and restore service is reduced.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. In a two-way automated communication system (TWACS) for a multiple phase electrical distribution system by which communications are sent from a station of the system to transponders of electrical meters located at power using facilities and responses are sent back to the station by the transponders in response to a communication, different of the meters responding to a communication sent on a particular phase, a method of quickly and accurately mapping the location and extent of an outage occurring in the system without having to poll all of the electrical meters, comprising:
-
detecting the occurrence of a fault and the electrical phase on which the fault occurs; when a fault occurs, selectively polling the meters associated with the phase on which the fault has occurred in that portion of the distribution system where the fault has occurred using the TWACS; and
,based upon the responses received from the poll, map the extent of the outage, whereby by only polling meters within the area where the fault has occurred and determining which, if any, transponders responded to the poll, the extent of the outage is quickly and accurately mapped and efforts to restore service within the area of the outage are rapidly and efficiently carried out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. In a two-way automated communication system (TWACS) for a multiple phase electrical distribution system by which communications are sent from a station of the system to transponders of electrical meters located at power using facilities and responses are sent back to the station by the transponders in response to a communication, different of the meters responding to a communication sent on a particular phase, a system for quickly and accurately mapping the location and extent of an outage occurring in the system without having to poll all of the electrical meters, comprising:
-
means for detecting the occurrence of a fault and the electrical phase on which the fault occurs; means responsive to the occurrence of the fault for selectively polling the meters associated with the phase on which the fault has occurred in that portion of the distribution system where the fault has occurred using the TWACS; and
,means responsive to the responses received from the poll for mapping the extent of the outage, only polling meters within the area where the fault has occurred and monitoring which, if any, transponders responded to the poll, determining the location and extent of the outage whereby the area is quickly and accurately mapped for efforts to restore service within the area of the outage to be rapidly and efficiently carried out. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification