Drawing and displaying map of intermittent faults

Abstract

A system, method and / or computer program for presenting a visual representation of a selected history of short-term faults in an electrical grid to a user, the method comprising: obtaining a set of short-term faults in the electrical grid; obtaining a list of a plurality of display conditions; receiving a selection of at least one of the display conditions from a user; and displaying at least one of the short-term faults on the graph, the selected at least one of the display conditions being applicable to the at least one short-term fault.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The methods and devices disclosed herein relate to the field of power grids, and more specifically but not exclusively to the management of electric power distribution networks, and more specifically but not exclusively to the location of intermittent faults in a distribution network. Background Art

[0002] Intermittent faults are difficult to locate and repair, especially when a single fault produces two or more different effects. Intermittent faults are widespread, and the database of intermittent faults can be large and difficult to manage and process effectively.

[0003] The human brain is extremely good at detecting visual patterns. Visual pattern recognition is such a complex problem that the visual areas responsible for this process occupy half of our cerebral cortex. The estimated number of neuron groups called pattern recognizers is 300 million. The memory area of visual stimuli is called iconic memory.

[0004] Therefore, it would be highly advantageous to have a method and system that do not have the above limitations to effectively introduce the database of intermittent faults into the human brain. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one example embodiment, there is provided a system, method, and / or computer program for presenting a visual illustration of a selected history of short-term faults in a power grid, the method comprising: obtaining a set of short-term faults in the power grid; obtaining a list of a plurality of display conditions; receiving from a user a selection of at least one of the display conditions; and displaying on a graph at least one of the short-term faults, wherein at least one of the selected display conditions of the display conditions applies to the at least one short-term fault.

[0006] According to another example embodiment, there is provided a graph that is a geographical graph and / or a topological graph, and the example embodiment further includes receiving from a user a selection between the geographical graph and the topological graph.

[0007] According to yet another example embodiment, the method further includes receiving from a user a selection of a time step value, and displaying on the graph at least one of the short-term faults in an animated time-stepping manner, wherein at least one of the selected display conditions of the display conditions applies to the at least one short-term fault.

[0008] According to another example embodiment, the method further includes: receiving from a user a selection of at least one feature of a geographical map; selecting a fault associated with the at least one feature of the selected geographical map; and displaying the selected fault on the selected map, wherein the features of the geographical map include at least one of valleys, ridges, peaks, slopes, heights, planes, and regions. Additionally, according to another example embodiment, the method further includes receiving from a user a selection of a feature of a topological map.

[0009] Still further, according to another example embodiment, the method further includes receiving from a user a selection of weather conditions, and selecting a fault associated with the selected weather conditions, wherein the weather conditions include at least one of the following: temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, rainfall, and snowfall.

[0010] Still further, according to another example embodiment, the method further includes applying an icon to each of at least one of the short-term faults displayed on the map, wherein the icon is selected according to at least one of the following: display conditions applicable to the short-term faults, the type of the short-term faults, and the time elapsed since a previous related fault.

[0011] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Except to the extent necessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no specific order of steps or stages of the methods and processes described in this disclosure (including the drawings) is intended or implied. In many cases, the order of process steps can be varied without changing the purpose or effect of the described methods. Description of the Drawings

[0012] Various embodiments are described herein by way of example only with reference to the drawings. Now specifically referring in detail to the drawings, it should be emphasized that the specific details shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments only, and are presented in order to provide what is considered to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the embodiments.

[0013] In this regard, no attempt is made to show more structural details of the embodiments than are necessary for a basic understanding of the subject matter, and the description in conjunction with the drawings makes it apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms and structures can be embodied in practice.

[0014] In the drawings:

[0015] Figure 1 is a simplified illustration of a distribution network connected to a power transmission network via a substation;

[0016] Figure 2 is a simplified illustration of an example of a topology map display provided to a user;

[0017] Figure 3 is a simplified illustration of an example of a geographical map display provided to a user; and

[0018] Figure 4 is a simplified flowchart of a basic calculation process performed, for example, by a power grid analysis system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] This embodiment includes a system, method, and / or computer program for a user interface that effectively introduces a database of intermittent faults into the human brain. More specifically but not exclusively, this embodiment includes a system, method, and / or computer program for the visual presentation of a selective reduction of a database of intermittent faults. More specifically but not exclusively, this embodiment includes a system, method, and / or computer program for the effective visual mapping of a selective reduction of a database of intermittent faults. More specifically but not exclusively, this embodiment includes a system, method, and / or computer program for the effective visual mapping of a selective reduction of a database of intermittent faults in a power grid.

[0020] The principles and operations of a system, method, and / or computer program for a user interface that effectively introduces a database of intermittent faults into the human brain according to several example embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and accompanying description.

[0021] Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it should be understood that the embodiments are not limited in their application to the details of the construction and arrangement of the components described in the following description and shown in the drawings. Other embodiments can be practiced or implemented in various ways. Moreover, it should be understood that the language and terms used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0022] In this document, elements of the drawings that are not described within the scope of the drawings and are labeled with numbers already described in previous drawings have the same use and description as in the previous drawings. Similarly, elements identified by numbers that do not appear in the drawings described in the text have the same use and description as in the previous drawings in which the elements are described.

[0023] The drawings in this document are not intended to be drawn to any scale. Different drawings can use different scales, and even within the same drawing, different scales can be used. For example, different scales for different views of the same object or different scales for two adjacent objects.

[0024] The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and / or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and / or C” means only A, only B, only C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together. The term “a” or “an entity” means one or more of that entity. Thus, the terms “a” or “an,” “one or more,” and “at least one” are used interchangeably herein.

[0025] It should also be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” and “having” are all inclusive and open-ended, do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps, and are used interchangeably. Specifically, these terms may imply including the stated whole or step, or group of wholes or steps, but do not exclude any other whole or step, or group of wholes or steps. This definition also applies to variants of the term “including” (such as “comprise” and “comprises”).

[0026] References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language throughout the specification mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language that appear throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0027] As used herein, the term “plurality” is defined as two or more than two. As used herein, “another” is defined as at least a second or more. As used herein, “coupled” is defined as connected, but the connection is not necessarily direct and not necessarily mechanical.

[0028] As used herein, the term “computing device” may refer to any type of computing machine, including but not limited to a computer, a portable computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile communication device, a network server, a cloud computer, etc., and any combination thereof. Such a computing device or computing machine may include any type or combination of devices, including but not limited to a processor or processing device, a memory device, a storage medium device, a user interface device, and / or a communication device.

[0029] The terms "execute", "perform", calculate, compute, etc. may refer to a processor of a computing device executing software program code included in a non-transitory computer-readable medium to achieve a result described after any of the terms "execute", "perform", calculate, compute, etc.

[0030] The term "client computing device" or "client device", "user device" may refer to any type of computing device directly used or operated by a user. Such a device may include a user interface that can be directly used by the user, including devices for user input and / or user output. Such a device may be communicatively coupled to other computing devices such as a network server via a communication network.

[0031] Devices for user input may include a keyboard, a pointing device (such as a mouse), a microphone, a camera, a touch-sensitive panel or display, a device for user gesture control, a device for tactile user control, etc.

[0032] Devices for user output may include a display and / or any other device for providing visual information, a speaker, or headphones and / or any other device for providing auditory information, a device for providing haptic and / or tactile information, etc.

[0033] The term "mobile communication device" may refer to devices such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, etc.

[0034] The term "network server" or "server" may refer to any type of "computing device" communicatively coupled to a communication network and may include a cloud computer, etc.

[0035] The term "communication network" or "network" may refer to any type or technology for digital communication, including but not limited to the Internet, WAN, LAN, MAN, PSDN, etc. Any of the above technologies may be wired or wireless, such as wireless WAN (such as WiMAX), WLAN (Wi-Fi), WPAN (Bluetooth), etc. Wireless network technologies may also include PLMN and / or any type of cellular network. The term "communication network" or "network" may refer to any combination of communication technologies and any combination of physical networks. The term "communication network" or "network" may refer to any number of interconnected communication networks that may be operated by one or more network operators.

[0036] The term "application" can refer to a software program that runs on or is executed by one or more processors of a computing device, and in particular by a mobile computing device (such as a mobile phone, tablet, smartphone, etc.) and any other mobile or portable computing facility. The term "mobile application" can refer to an application executed by a mobile computing device.

[0037] In this document, the terms "power transmission network", "electrical transmission network", "electric transmission network", "electric energy transmission", "power line", "power transmission", and "power grid" can be used interchangeably and refer to one or both of underground and overhead transmission. The term "grid" or "electric grid" or "power network" can refer to the power transmission network and / or the power distribution network and any part of such a network between one or more power generation stations and loads or consumers.

[0038] The term "cable" or "power cable" can refer to any single cable, wire, or power line of the power grid, such as a phase-carrying cable. The term "cable device", or "measurement device", or "sensor" can refer to any device installed on a power cable of the power grid, including sensors, measurement devices, communication devices, etc. As a non-limiting example, a cable device can obtain power from the electric field and / or magnetic field around the cable, where the electric field and / or magnetic field can be generated by the current flowing in the power cable.

[0039] The term "measurement" or "electrical measurement" can refer to any type of measurement of any electrical parameter (such as voltage, current, electric field, magnetic field, resistance, capacitance, inductance, charge, etc.). The term "physical measurement" or "mechanical measurement" can refer to any type of measurement of any physical parameter other than electrical parameters. Such parameters can be temperature, wind (including speed and / or direction), humidity, motion, height, (cable) sag, (cable) angle, etc. Such measurements are typically performed by a cable device installed on a power cable.

[0040] A system of measurement devices can measure various electrical parameters at multiple locations in a power cable, or a power network, or a power grid, and determine the type and location of specific parameters, and / or phenomena, and / or faults by comparing multiple measurement values. Such measurements can be made at a point on the power cable, which can be in the middle section of the cable, at a certain distance from any pole or insulator supporting the cable. At such a point, the measurement device does not have any electrical contact with a reference point (such as a ground wire, or a zero wire, or a neutral wire, a common wire, etc.).

[0041] In this regard, the voltage measuring device can be electrically coupled to the power cable as a first reference point for measuring a potential difference (e.g., voltage), but lacks a second electrical contact with a second reference point (i.e., neutral line, ground line, common line, etc.).

[0042] The term "mid-cable" can refer to any location or point along the power cable where a cable device, or sensor, or measuring device can be mounted on the power cable and where the cable device, or sensor, or measuring device is not connected to or in electrical contact with a reference potential (such as ground, zero line, common line, neutral line, etc.).

[0043] The term "reference point" can refer to any such reference potential, such as ground, zero line, common line, neutral line, power lines of different phases, reference plane, etc.

[0044] The term "electrically coupled", or "electrically connected", or simply "connected" can refer to direct electrical contact (e.g., galvanic contact) or indirect electrical contact.

[0045] The term "ungrounded voltage measurement" can refer to measuring the voltage or potential of an electrical component (such as a power cable) as a first electrical reference point without contacting a second electrical reference point, such as a reference point, zero voltage line, common line, neutral line, power lines of different phases, etc. For simplicity, all such forms of the second electrical reference point can be referred to as "reference point" herein.

[0046] The term "intermittent" or "transient" can refer to any short-lived electrical phenomenon, typically less than one second. In this regard, an "intermittent phenomenon" can refer to any type of short-term or transient change in voltage and / or current and / or power. Such an "intermittent phenomenon" can take the form of surges (positive, or negative, or both), pulses (positive, or negative, or both), transients, spikes, etc.

[0047] The term "absolute time" can refer to the time of day or the length of time measured from Coordinated Universal Time. Absolute time can be provided via a signal from an external accurate clock (such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal). The term "time of flight" or "travel time" can refer to the time required for a signal to travel from a first point to a second point, such as from the origin of the signal to the detection point or measurement point.

[0048] The device for measuring an electrical signal can be an electrical sensor that operates to measure one or more electrical parameters, such as voltage and / or current. The measuring device can be installed on a power cable, anywhere above the power cable, on or near a pole carrying the cable, or anywhere between two poles or between two insulators carrying or supporting the cable. The cable can be an overhead cable or an underground cable. For example, for an underground cable, the measuring device can be placed in a location where the underground cable is exposed and / or unshielded, such as in a manhole or a tapping point, etc.

[0049] Now refer to Figure 1 , which is a simplified illustration of a distribution network 10 connected to a transmission network 11 via a substation 12 according to an example embodiment.

[0050] As Figure 1 shown, the distribution network 10 can include four feeders 13, although any number of feeders is contemplated. The four feeders are numbered 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D. Two tie lines 14 can be connected between feeders 13B to 13C and 13C to 13D, although any number of tie lines is contemplated.

[0051] As Figure 1 shown, one or more photovoltaic systems 15 can be connected to any of the feeders 13. However, any system 15 can represent any type of renewable energy generation system (e.g., a wind turbine, etc.). Multiple consumer systems ( Figure 1 not shown in the figure) can be distributed along the feeders 13. Multiple cable devices 16 can be installed on any of the power lines in the distribution network 10. It should be understood that any number of cable devices 16 can be installed on any of the power lines (phase lines) in the distribution network 10.

[0052] As Figure 1 shown, feeder 13A is tapped into two sub-lines 17A and 17B. It should be understood that any feeder 13A can be tapped into any number of sub-lines (e.g., 17C) in various forms and tapping levels. The term "local power grid" can refer to the entire power grid 10 or different parts of the power grid 10 (such as a specific feeder 13 or sub-line 17). Figure 1 The entire structure and / or topology of the distribution network 10 of

[0053] The communication network 18 can represent any number of any type of communication network, including wired and wireless networks. The communication network 18 can also represent several non-interconnected networks, where each network serves a different pair or different group of computing devices capable of communicating.

[0054] For example, the communication network 18 can be interconnected between the substation 12 and the power grid management system 19, between the power grid management system 19 and the power grid analysis system 20, between the power grid analysis system 20 and the power generation system 15, etc.

[0055] Now refer to Figure 2 , which is a simplified illustration of an example of a topology map display 21 provided to a user according to an example embodiment, and refer to Figure 3 , which is a simplified illustration of an example of a geographical map display 22 provided to a user.

[0056] Alternatively, the simplified illustrations of Figure 2 and Figure 3 can be viewed in the context of the details of the previous figures. However, of course, the simplified illustrations of Figure 2 and Figure 3 can be viewed in the context of any desired environment. In addition, the foregoing definitions can equally apply to the following description.

[0057] It should be understood that the user can choose to view the topology map display or the geographical map display or both. The two map displays can be provided on two different screens or on two parts of the same screen.

[0058] Now refer to Figure 4 , which is a simplified flowchart of a basic calculation process 23 performed, for example, by the power grid analysis system 20 according to an example embodiment.

[0059] Alternatively, the simplified flowchart of Figure 4 can be viewed in the context of the details of the previous figures. However, of course, the simplified flowchart of Figure 4 can be viewed in the context of any desired environment. In addition, the foregoing definitions can equally apply to the following description.

[0060] It should be understood that some actions of the basic calculation process 23 can be performed by the power grid management system 19. It should be understood that the flowchart of the basic calculation process 23 can be embodied as one or more computer programs executed by one or more processors of the analysis system 20 and / or the power grid management system 19.

[0061] The basic calculation process 23 can start from action 24 by obtaining various maps 25. The maps 25 can include a geographical map of an area of the power grid 10, a topographical map of an area of the power grid 10, a topology map of the power grid 10, an electrical scheme of the power grid 10, etc.

[0062] The basic computing process 23 can proceed to operation 26 to obtain a set of faults 27 detected in the power grid 10. As a non-limiting example, the set of faults 27 can include intermittent faults and / or short-duration faults. The term "obtain" herein can refer to actions such as "obtain access" and / or "obtain data" and / or "obtain a database". Thus, operation 26 can be performed continuously or repeatedly to update the set of faults 27, as indicated by the curved arrow 28.

[0063] The basic computing process 23 can proceed to operation 29 to receive a selection 30 of a graph from a user. As a non-limiting example, the graph selection 30 can be obtained from a user of the power grid management system 19.

[0064] The basic computing process 23 can proceed to operation 31 to obtain a list of display conditions 32. As a non-limiting example, the list of display conditions 32 can be obtained from a user of the power grid management system 19. The user can create a list of display conditions 32, and / or select a list of display conditions 32, and / or update a list of display conditions 32. The display conditions 32 can include one or more graph display conditions, and / or power grid display conditions, and / or one or more fault display conditions, and optionally one or more time display conditions.

[0065] In this regard, the graph display conditions can include the type of graph to be used (e.g., geographical map, topographical map, topological map, schematic diagram, etc.), the required area (e.g., area boundary), the type of graph elements that should be included in the corresponding graph, such as roads, buildings, trees, vegetation, etc. The power grid display conditions can include power grid elements, such as consumers, power supply stations, monitoring stations, etc. The term "power supply station" can include substations, power generation systems (e.g., the photovoltaic system 15), electrical energy storage systems, etc. The term "monitoring station" can include the cable installation 16. The time display conditions can include a start time, an end time, a fault time step, a display time step, etc.

[0066] The basic computing process 23 can proceed to operation 33 to display the selected graph and graph features and elements according to the selected graph display conditions, etc., and proceed to operation 34 to display the selected faults according to the selected fault display conditions. If the display conditions include one or more time steps (operation 35), then the basic computing process 23 can increment the time by that time step (operation 36), and repeat operation 34 with new data until the end time is reached (operation 37). For example, during each display graph step, all faults that occurred during the corresponding fault time step are displayed.

[0067] Accordingly, it should be understood that when executed by a processor such as the power grid analysis system 20, the basic calculation process 23 can present a visual illustration of a selected history of short-term faults in the power grid 10 to the user. As shown in the calculation process 23, the method can obtain a set of short-term faults in the power grid, obtain a list of multiple display conditions, receive a selection of at least one of the display conditions from the user, and display to the user on a graph the short-term faults to which the selected display condition applies.

[0068] The graph can be a geographical graph or a topological graph selected by the user. The basic calculation process 23 can also receive a selection of one or more features of the geographical graph from the user. The basic calculation process 23 can then select the faults associated with the selected features and display the selected faults on the selected graph. The features of the geographical graph can include one or more of valleys, ridges, peaks, slopes, heights, planes, and regions. Similarly, the basic calculation process 23 can use the selection of features of the topological graph.

[0069] As shown in the basic calculation process 23, the method can also receive a selection of weather conditions from the user; then select the faults associated with the selected weather conditions. Such weather conditions can include, for example, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, rainfall, snowfall. Such weather conditions can be described by a value or a series of values.

[0070] The basic calculation process 23 can also display icons representing faults on the relevant graph. Each icon type can be associated with a different short-term fault. The icons can be selected according to the display conditions applicable to the short-term faults, the type of short-term faults, and the time elapsed since the previous relevant fault.

[0071] The basic calculation process 23 can also receive a selection of a time step value from the user; then display in an animated time step manner on the graph the short-term faults to which the selected display condition applies.

[0072] It should be understood that, for clarity, the specific features described in the context of various embodiments can also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. In contrast, for brevity, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment can also be provided individually or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0073] Although the foregoing has been described in connection with specific embodiments provided, it will be apparent that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, all such alternatives, modifications, and variations are intended to be included within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this specification, as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein. Additionally, the citation or identification of any reference in this application should not be construed as an admission that such reference could serve as prior art.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting a visual illustration of a selected history of short-term faults in an electric power grid to a user, the method comprising: Obtaining a set of short-term faults in the electric power grid; Obtaining a list of multiple display conditions; Receiving from the user a selection of at least one of the display conditions; And Displaying at least one of the short-term faults on a map, with at least one of the selected display conditions among the display conditions being applicable to the at least one short-term fault.

2. The method according to claim 1, and wherein The map is at least one of a geographical map and a topological map, and the method further comprises: Receiving from the user a selection between the geographical map and the topological map.

3. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: Receiving from the user a selection of a time step value; And Displaying at least one of the short-term faults on the map in an animated time-stepping manner, with at least one of the selected display conditions among the display conditions being applicable to the at least one short-term fault.

4. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: Receiving from the user a selection of at least one feature of the geographical map; Selecting faults associated with the at least one selected feature of the geographical map; And Displaying the selected faults on the selected map; wherein the at least one feature of the geographical map includes at least one of the following: valley, ridge, peak, slope, height, plane, area.

5. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: Receiving from the user a selection of a feature of the topological map.

6. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: Receiving from the user a selection of weather conditions; And Selecting faults associated with the selected weather conditions; wherein the weather conditions include at least one of the following: Temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, rainfall, snowfall.

7. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: Applying an icon to each of at least one of the short-term faults displayed on the map, wherein the icon is selected according to at least one of the following: The display conditions applicable to the short-term fault; The type of the short-term fault; and The time elapsed since a previous related fault.

8. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations including the following: Obtaining a set of short-term faults in the electric power grid; Obtaining a list of multiple display conditions; Receiving from a user a selection of at least one of the display conditions; and Displaying at least one of the short-term faults on a map, with at least one of the selected display conditions among the display conditions being applicable to the at least one short-term fault.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein, The map is at least one of a geographical map and a topological map, and the computer program product further comprises the following operation: Receiving from the user a selection between the geographical map and the topological map.

10. The computer program product according to claim 8, and further comprising the following operations: Receive a selection of a time step value from the user; and Display at least one of the short-term faults on the graph in an animated time-stepping manner, with at least one of the selected display conditions among the display conditions applying to the at least one short-term fault.

11. The computer program product according to claim 8, and further comprising the following operations: Receive a selection of at least one feature of the geographical map from the user; Select a fault associated with the at least one selected feature of the geographical map; and Display the selected fault on the selected graph; Among them, The at least one feature of the geographical map includes at least one of the following: Valley, ridge, peak, slope, height, plane, area.

12. The computer program product according to claim 8, and further comprising the following operations: Receive a selection of a feature of the topological graph from the user.

13. The computer program product according to claim 8, and further comprising the following operations: Receive a selection of weather conditions from the user; and Select a fault associated with the selected weather conditions; Among them, The weather conditions include at least one of the following: Temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, rainfall, snowfall.

14. The computer program product according to claim 8, and further comprising the following operations: Apply an icon to each of at least one of the short-term faults shown in the figure, wherein, Select the icon according to at least one of the following: The display condition applicable to the short-term fault; The type of the short-term fault; and The time elapsed since the previous related fault.

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