Method for modeling a repair in an electric grid

• US 9,129,141 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Digital Holdings LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gilmour, Stuart, Sparling, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERRE LOUIS, ANDRE
• Application Number:
  US13/344,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 703/17, 703/18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/63 for power apparatus, e.g. motors, or supply distribution networks for control systems of electric power apparatus G06G7/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0073 for providing alternative feeding paths between load and source when the main path fails, e.g. transformers, busbars
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

This disclosure describes methods for use with energy management systems that electric utilities use to manage power distribution networks. The methods can account for changes in phase value that dynamic cross-phasing causes in the power distribution network. In one embodiment, the methods facilitate computer-based modeling of the power distribution network to include such changes in phase value into a connectivity model, which provides a schematic representation of the power distribution network.

Claims

1. A method of generating a connectivity model of a power distribution network, said method comprising one or more steps for:

inserting, via a processor, a power directing element in the connectivity model, the power directing element having a first node coupled to a first branch of the connectivity model and a second node coupled to a second branch of the connectivity model;

assigning, via the processor, an actual phase value to the power directing element and to the first node and the second node, the actual phase value for the first node and the second node corresponding to, respectively, the first branch and the second branch, wherein assigning the actual phase value is based on information received corresponding to the power directing element and the first node; and

generating, via the processor, the connectivity model with the actual phase values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the actual phase values in response to a change in state of the power distribution network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the location of the power directing element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first branch comprises a plurality of wires, and wherein the wires carry have different phase values.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the power directing element comprises a jumper.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power directing element comprises a switch.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a tracing technique to determine the actual phase value for an identified branch in the connectivity model.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising instructions for updating the actual phase values in response to a change in state of the power distribution network.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising instructions for changing the location the power directing element.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the power directing element comprises a jumper.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the power directing element comprises a switch.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising updating the actual phase values in response to a change in state of the power distribution network.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising changing the location the power directing element.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising applying a tracing technique to determine the actual phase value for an identified branch in the connectivity model.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first branch comprises a plurality of wires, and wherein the wires carry have different phase values.

8. An energy management system, comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor; and

one or more executable instruction stored on the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the executable instructions including one or more instruction for;

generating a connectivity model of an electrical grid on a display, the connectivity model comprising a power directing element having a first node coupled to a first branch of the connectivity model and a second node coupled to a second branch of the connectivity model; and

assigning an actual phase value to the power directing element and to the first node and the second node, the actual phase value for the first node and the second node corresponding to, respectively, the first branch and the second branch, wherein assigning the actual phase value is based on information received corresponding to the power directing element and the first node.

13. A computer program product for managing power distribution in an electrical grid, said computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more executable instructions, the executable instruction causing a computer to implement a method comprising one or more steps for:

inserting a power directing element in the connectivity model, the power directing element having a first node coupled to a first branch of the connectivity model and a second node coupled to a second branch of the connectivity model;

assigning an actual phase value to the power directing element and to the first node and the second node, the actual phase value for the first node and the second node corresponding to, respectively, the first branch and the second branch, wherein assigning the actual phase value is based on information received corresponding to the power directing element and the first node; and

generating the connectivity model with the actual phase values.