Composite Fault Mapping for Power Line Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical power distribution systems face challenges in accurately locating line faults due to the uncertainty in estimating the location of excessive electrical current flow, leading to extensive physical inspections and inefficiencies in identifying and repairing issues.
Innovation Solution
An automated process that receives and analyzes event reports from various monitoring systems to identify associated events, combining location probabilities to create a composite fault map, thereby reducing the area that needs to be physically inspected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If different monitoring devices process electrical current measurements to estimate line fault locations, then fault location information is obtained, but the uncertainty of location estimates increases leading to large inspection areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual fault location estimates from different monitoring devices and processing methods into a composite fault map. This merging approach integrates probability distributions from various sources to produce a unified, more accurate fault location assessment, reducing the uncertainty that would otherwise require extensive inspection areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms multiple probability distribution parameters into a composite probability distribution that represents the combined fault location uncertainty. By changing the parameter representation from individual estimates to a synthesized composite distribution, the system achieves better location precision while defining a more focused inspection area.
2Measurement precision
If physical inspection is performed over the entire relatively large portion of electrical conductors to find the exact line fault location, then the exact fault location is identified, but the time and effort required for inspection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of electrical current measurements from multiple monitoring devices to create a composite fault map before physical inspection begins. This preliminary action narrows down the probable fault location to a specific high-probability area, so that subsequent physical inspection only needs to cover this reduced area rather than the entire conductor portion, significantly reducing inspection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite fault map acts as an intermediary between the raw measurement data and the physical inspection process. It synthesizes information from multiple sources to provide a refined probability distribution that guides where physical inspection should be focused, eliminating the need for broad-area inspection while maintaining high accuracy in fault location identification.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple monitoring systems report events independently, then comprehensive event data is collected, but the complexity of processing and integrating data from different systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal processing framework that handles data from multiple different monitoring devices and event reporting systems through a common methodology. The composite fault map generation process serves multiple functions: it integrates data from diverse sources, synthesizes probability distributions, and provides a unified output format, thereby managing comprehensive event data without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to combine line fault location probabilities. A first and second location probability distribution are received for a location of an line fault along an electrical line based upon at least electrical current measurements reported by a first electrical current monitor at a first location and at least a second electrical current measurements reported by a second electrical current monitor at a second location. The second electrical current measurements being made within a time interval of the first electrical current measurements. A composite location probability distribution is determined for the location of the line fault along the electrical line based on an algorithm processing the first location probability distribution and the second location probability distribution. The composite location probability distribution is provided.