Power Grid Topology Discovery via Time Correlation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power grid topology determination methods using power line communication (PLC) techniques are ineffective at long distances, leading to inaccurate topology mapping, especially in densely populated areas where many consumers are coupled to a single transformer, risking safety issues and transformer overloading.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method using a wireless mesh network that employs timestamped event classifications from nodes within the power grid to correlate events and determine node adjacency, allowing accurate power grid topology determination regardless of distance between consumers and transformers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PLC techniques are used for topology determination, then communication between transceiver and metrology is enabled, but the method becomes ineffective at long distances due to signal noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetopology determination accuracyVSAvoiddistance between transformer and power consumer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using passive measurement events (such as voltage sags, swells, or other power quality events) as mediators to infer topology relationships. Instead of relying on direct PLC communication between transceiver and metrology, the system uses these power events as intermediate indicators that propagate through the grid and can be detected by multiple nodes, enabling indirect topology determination beyond PLC range limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical PLC communication system with a measurement-based inference system. Rather than using active PLC signals that degrade with distance, the system substitutes passive measurement of power events that naturally occur in the grid, eliminating the distance limitation imposed by PLC signal attenuation and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If PLC communication range is extended to cover more consumers, then more nodes can be identified, but signal noise increases making communication unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of identifiable power consumersVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by allowing power consumers and nodes to independently detect and report power events they experience. Each node autonomously measures local power conditions and generates measurements of power events, eliminating the need for centralized PLC communication while enabling identification of topology relationships through shared event detection patterns across multiple nodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where nodes continuously monitor power events and feed back measurement data to the topology determination system. By analyzing patterns of which nodes detect which events together, the system infers topology relationships, creating a feedback loop that improves topology accuracy without requiring extended PLC communication range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Length of stationary object

If passive measurement events are used for topology determination, then distance limitations are overcome, but the complexity of correlating timestamped events increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance between transformer and power consumerVSAvoidevent correlation processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing and timestamping power events at the source before they propagate through the grid. Nodes record events with precise timestamps as they occur, and this preliminary time-stamping enables later correlation analysis without requiring complex real-time processing. The topology determination system can then retrospectively analyze these pre-recorded, time-stamped events to infer relationships.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic sampling and time-window-based correlation to simplify event analysis. By analyzing events within specific time windows and looking for periodic patterns of co-occurring events across nodes, the system reduces the complexity of correlating all possible event combinations while maintaining accurate topology determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9983242B2Power grid topology discovery via time correlation of passive measurement events

Publication Date: 2018.05.29 ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A wireless mesh network is configured to manage a power grid. Each node within the wireless mesh network is configured to detect and classify voltage fluctuations in power supplied by an upstream transformer coupled to the power grid. When a given node detects a particular type of fluctuation (i.e., an “event”), the node generates a timestamped event classification that reflects the type of event and a time when the event occurred. A server configured to manage the wireless mesh network receives timestamped event classifications from each node within the wireless mesh network and then performs a time correlation with the received timestamped event classifications to determine which nodes detected similar events. When two or more nodes detected the same event at similar times, the server determines that those nodes are coupled to the same transformer.