Power Grid Outage Detection via Network Topology Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power grid outage management systems rely on inefficient customer phone calls and heuristic rules, which are unreliable and complex, making it difficult to accurately identify the source of power outages.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates network topology data based on connectivity and switching data, combined with report information from users, to identify de-energized devices and potential sources of outages, improving accuracy and efficiency in outage detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If phone calls from customers and heuristic rules are used to identify power outage locations, then the system can detect outages, but the process becomes inefficient and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual phone call collection and heuristic rule processing with an automated system that uses data from advanced metering infrastructure, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and network topology analysis. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to manually process customer calls and apply complex heuristic rules, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining or improving outage detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the network to automatically identify outages through analysis of connectivity data, meter readings, and topology information. The automated outage identification process eliminates the need for human operators to manually investigate each outage, reducing both system complexity and operational burden while improving detection reliability.
2Productivity
If heuristic rules are applied to identify power outages, then outage detection can be performed, but the method is unreliable for multiple distribution configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal outage detection method that works across multiple distribution configurations by using network topology analysis and connectivity data from advanced metering infrastructure. Instead of relying on configuration-specific heuristic rules, the system employs a unified approach that automatically adapts to different network topologies, thereby improving both the speed and reliability of outage identification across diverse distribution systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts detection parameters based on network topology and configuration data. By changing the analytical parameters according to the specific distribution configuration being analyzed, the system maintains high reliability across different network types without requiring separate heuristic rules for each configuration, thus improving both productivity and reliability.
3Reliability
If conventional techniques are used to identify power outage locations, then outages can be detected, but the process is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and analyzing connectivity data, meter readings, and network topology information before outages occur. This pre-positioning of data and analytical frameworks enables rapid outage identification when events happen, significantly reducing the time required to locate outages while maintaining accurate location detection through pre-established analysis protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual troubleshooting operations with automated data analysis systems that process connectivity information and topology data in real-time. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual investigation process while maintaining or improving the accuracy of outage location identification, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Outages associated with an electrical energy distribution system are managed, identified and/or predicted. In an implementation, a system provides for generating network topology data, indicative of a topology for an electrical energy distribution system associated with a power outage, based on connectivity data for devices in the electrical energy distribution system. The system also provides for determining, based on the network topology data, a first set of devices from the devices that are de-energized and determining a second set of devices from the devices that are not included in the first set of devices. Furthermore, the system provides for updating, based on report data associated with the second set of devices, the network topology data. Then, the system provides for identifying, based on the updated network topology data, a device from the second set of devices that satisfies a criterion associated with the power outage.