Dynamic Network Island Event Assignment for Component Fault Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current predictive maintenance applications for complex networks, such as electrical grids, struggle to accurately identify the specific components causing interruptions, leading to inefficient response and control, especially during dynamic changes like islanding and remerging events.

Innovation Solution

A machine learning latent variable model is employed to disaggregate network events, allowing for the precise assignment of interruptions to individual components and predicting future behavior by using probabilistic modeling and iterative probability updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If simple logic is used for predictive maintenance in complex networks, then the system is easier to operate, but the measurement precision of event localization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of predictive maintenanceVSAvoidevent localization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex network into multiple islands based on topological connectivity. Each island is independently analyzed for events, allowing precise localization within specific islands while keeping the overall system manageable. The disaggregation model further segments events into component-level contributions, enabling accurate event attribution without requiring complex global analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary disaggregation model that acts as a bridge between observed island-level events and unobserved component-level events. This intermediary model infers component-level contributions from island-level observations, enabling precise event localization without direct component monitoring, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If component-level event detection is implemented in dynamically changing networks, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent detection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic island detection that automatically adapts to network topology changes. Islands are reidentified whenever network connections change, allowing the system to maintain accurate component-level event detection precision without requiring manual reconfiguration. The disaggregation model dynamically updates its inference based on current island configurations, handling network dynamics without increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the disaggregation model continuously refines its event assignments based on observed patterns. The model learns from historical event data and improves its component-level event detection accuracy over time. This feedback-driven approach enables high measurement precision while keeping the system structure relatively simple, as the complexity is managed through adaptive learning rather than rigid complex architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If probabilistic modeling is used for event assignment, then the reliability of predictions improves, but the loss of computational time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction reliabilityVSAvoidcomputational time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies probabilistic modeling selectively at the island level rather than exhaustively at the component level for all events. The disaggregation model uses probability distributions to assign events to components based on island-level observations, providing reliable predictions without performing full probabilistic analysis on every component. This partial application of probabilistic methods maintains prediction reliability while reducing computational time compared to exhaustive component-level analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20240022483A1Systems and methods for event assignment of dynamically changing islands
Publication Date: 2024.01.18 C3 AI INC
  • US20240022483A1 patent drawing
  • US20240022483A1 patent drawing
  • US20240022483A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure provides systems and methods that may advantageously apply machine learning to detect and ascribe network interruptions to specific components or nodes within the network. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method comprising: mapping a network comprising a plurality of islands that are capable of dynamically changing by splitting and/or merging of one or more islands, wherein the plurality of islands comprises a plurality of individual components; and detecting and localizing one or more local events at an individual component level as well as at an island level using a disaggregation model.