Feeder Accident Location Estimation by Comparing Base Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

In outdoor DC power supply systems with long feeders, it is difficult to immediately determine the location of a short circuit or other accidents due to the large impedance and distance between bases.

Innovation Solution

An estimation device that acquires information from each base when an accident occurs and estimates the position of the accident in the feeder by comparing this information between bases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If outdoor DC power supply system with long feeder is introduced to supply power to loads several km away, then power supply range is extended, but difficulty of detecting and measuring accident location increases due to large impedance and long distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply rangeVSAvoidaccident location detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The long feeder is divided into multiple sections by introducing intermediate bases with power supply converters. Each section between bases can be independently monitored, transforming one long undetectable feeder into multiple shorter detectable segments. This allows accident locations to be identified by comparing information from adjacent bases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Intermediate bases with power supply converters are introduced as mediators along the long feeder. These bases acquire and transmit information about their connected feeders, enabling indirect detection of accident locations through information comparison between multiple bases rather than direct detection along the entire long feeder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bases with power supply converter are connected on n-to-n basis with bidirectional power supply, then system versatility and power supply flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply flexibilityVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each base is equipped with a power supply converter that can perform multiple functions: power conversion, information acquisition about connected feeders, and participation in accident location determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices and simplifies the overall system architecture despite the complex n-to-n connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply converter at each base integrates multiple capabilities including power conversion, monitoring, and communication functions. By merging these functions into a single device at each base, the system achieves high versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250138076A1Estimation apparatus, estimation method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

An estimation device for estimating a position of occurrence of an accident on a feeder in a DC power supply system in which a plurality of bases each having a power supply device are connected by the feeder, the estimation device including: an information acquisition unit that acquires information from each base when the accident occurs; and an estimation unit that estimates the position of occurrence of the accident in the feeder by comparing the information between the bases.