Electric Grid Topology Inference from Current Sensor Polarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric grid management systems struggle to accurately detect switching states and locate faults due to unknown or undocumented switching device states, especially in dense and highly branched networks, leading to inefficiencies and challenges in path selection and fault detection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize current sensors to approximate a proxy for relative current flow, detect changes in polarity, calculate correlations between sensors, determine relative installation directions, and generate a network topology, enabling accurate fault location using GPS time stamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If switching device states are obtained from customer's Distribution Management System (DMS), then switching state information can be accessed, but data unavailability, customer privacy concerns, and integration challenges prevent effective fault detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that automatically detects switching states through current measurements without requiring direct access to customer DMS. This intermediary acts as a mediator between the need for switching state information and the customer's data protection requirements, enabling fault detection while preserving data privacy and avoiding integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting switching states through current sensor measurements and topology estimation algorithms. The network automatically regenerates its topology and detects switching states without human intervention or customer cooperation, eliminating the need for manual data collection from multiple sources.
2Measurement precision
If fault transients are detected by multiple sensors using GPS time stamps, then fault location accuracy is improved, but the method requires known sensor paths which are unavailable in dense and highly branched networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically estimating the network topology and determining sensor installation directions before fault location analysis. This preliminary topology estimation enables subsequent fault location using GPS time stamps even in previously unknown dense networks, as the system prepares the necessary path information in advance through current measurement analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of pre-known network paths with an electrical measurement-based approach. Instead of relying on documented physical paths, the system uses current measurements and correlation analysis to infer topology and sensor directions, substituting physical knowledge requirements with electrical signal analysis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If thousands of switching devices are deployed in the network, then network coverage and control capability are improved, but undocumented and remotely controlled disconnectors make switching state tracking increasingly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting switching states through current measurements without requiring documentation or manual tracking of each switching device. The topology estimation algorithm automatically adapts to the actual network configuration, making the system self-aware of the true network state regardless of the number or documentation status of switching devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a universal approach that handles all switching devices (documented, undocumented, remotely controlled, manual) through a single current measurement-based detection method. The system performs multiple functions simultaneously: detecting switching states, estimating topology, determining sensor directions, and locating faults, making it universally applicable regardless of device type or documentation status.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for management of an electric grid, the electric grid including one or more switching devices and one or more current sensors associated therewith. The system includes a sensing unit and a control unit configured to receive information about measurements of current from each of the one or more current sensors, approximate a proxy for a relative current through each of the one or more switching devices based on the received information, detect a change in polarity of the proxy for the relative current for each of the one or more switching devices, calculate correlation between the one or more current sensors, determine relative installation directions of each of the one or more current sensors, and generate a network topology of the electric grid based thereon.