Electrical Network Reliability Assessment via Location-Based Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for assessing the reliability of electrical networks, such as fault tree analysis, are time-consuming and less effective for identifying failure causes at specific locations within the network, especially when not suited for general failures.

Innovation Solution

A method that models the electrical network using a single-line representation, identifies undesired events, traverses subsets of electrical devices, determines associated unavailability values, and calculates the network's reliability state, focusing on critical portions and using real or virtual devices to simplify the analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fault tree analysis is used to assess electrical network reliability, then comprehensive reliability assessment is achieved, but the method becomes time-consuming and complex to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability assessment completenessVSAvoidimplementation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the electrical network into multiple locations and analyzes each location separately by identifying undesired events at specific locations rather than performing a comprehensive fault tree analysis of the entire network. This segmentation allows the reliability assessment to be broken down into manageable location-specific analyses, reducing overall implementation time while maintaining assessment completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by focusing the reliability analysis on specific locations within the electrical network where undesired events may occur. Instead of uniformly analyzing the entire network, the method concentrates computational resources on locations with identified risks or critical components, thereby reducing overall analysis time while maintaining comprehensive reliability assessment at critical points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If fault tree analysis is used for general failure assessment, then overall network reliability is evaluated, but the method is less suitable for identifying failure causes at specific locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall network reliability evaluationVSAvoidfailure cause identification at specific locations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reliability analysis by location, creating location-specific undesired event identifiers that enable targeted analysis of failure causes at particular positions within the electrical network. This location-based segmentation makes it easier to detect and measure failure causes at specific locations while still contributing to overall network reliability evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional fault tree approach by starting with location-specific undesired events and working downward to identify causes at that location, rather than starting with general network failures and working upward. This inverted approach makes failure cause identification at specific locations more direct and easier to measure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If complete network representation is used from the start, then comprehensive analysis is achieved, but the implementation becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive analysis coverageVSAvoidimplementation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electrical network representation into location-specific portions, analyzing only the relevant segments needed for each undesired event assessment. This selective segmentation maintains comprehensive analysis coverage for identified risks while improving implementation efficiency by avoiding unnecessary analysis of unrelated network portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing reliability analysis only on the portions of the network where undesired events are identified, rather than analyzing the complete network uniformly. This partial analysis approach maintains comprehensive coverage of critical areas while significantly improving implementation efficiency by avoiding excessive analysis of non-critical portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11609808B2Determination of a reliability state of an electrical network

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS

AI summary

Method for determining a reliability state of an electrical network, the electrical network comprising a plurality of interconnected electrical devices, the method including the following steps:a) identifying an undesired event at a given location in the electrical network;b) traversing at least one subset starting from the given location;c) identifying an electrical device of the electrical network;d) determining a list of events of concern that are associated with the identified electrical device and could result in the undesired event;e) determining a total unavailability value associated with the identified electrical device;f) repeating steps b) to e); andg) calculating a reliability state of the electrical network on the basis of the total unavailability values respectively associated with the traversed electrical devices.