Patent Application
20130158734
The technical field generally relates to distribution networks and more specifically relates to fault isolation of circuits.
When a fault occurs on a distribution network, a recloser reacts against it immediately and works together with sectionalizers to restore the distribution network. If the fault persists, only a section involving the fault is isolated. Faults from residential circuits are treated identically by a recloser leaving multiple homes in outage.
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for protection of distribution networks against overcurrents caused by faults in residential circuits. In an embodiment, a smart meter monitors a circuit for a particular condition and may shutdown the circuit when the condition is detected. In an embodiment, when an overcurrent condition is detected in a residential circuit, the residential circuit may be disconnected immediately by a smart meter from a distribution network before it is seen by a recloser and therefore may isolate an outage to a single home.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to limitations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
In
Smart meter 205 may also be configured with a trigger which when reached reduces power or closes the circuit (cuts off power) to house 201. The trigger may be statically configured based on values selected by an operator. The trigger may also be dynamically configured based on analysis of historical data from house 205 or from houses similarly situated to house 205. The trigger may be based on load signature or pattern, usage pattern, timing, threshold, and rate of change of selected power attributes. Smart meter 205 and associated network devices (e.g., servers and databases in communication with smart meter 205) may be able to react to and/or anticipate undesired electrical events because of constant monitoring and analysis of normal monitoring conditions.
When the overcurrent condition is detected in a residential circuit at house 335, the residential circuit at house 335 may be disconnected from the distribution network before it is seen by recloser 305. If the outage is seen by recloser 305 it may lead to an outage involving multiple houses. This overcurrent protection is at the micro level of a single house. This scheme may be implemented in a smart meter equipped with a load control relay by configuring the smart meter to monitor current and control relay. In an embodiment, even if the outage is seen by recloser 305, the recloser 305 may act or may not act based on contextual data communicated from the smart meter at house 335.
At block 420, the smart meter may compare the baseline trigger to a monitored power attribute. If the monitored power attribute matches the baseline trigger condition, at block 425 the smart meter may shutdown power to the home. In an embodiment, the smart meter may periodically restore power and check if the triggering condition still persists. The smart meter may also be configured to wait for a manual or remote command in order to restore power to the home. In an embodiment, reduction of power to the house or controlling individual devices power output (e.g., lowering or raising thermostat), such as devices that may cause overcurrent conditions, may be done instead of shutting down power.
Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing herein, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is to provide adjustments to the way undesired electrical conditions are isolated in a power network. Another technical effect of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein is that undesirable electrical conditions at residence may be detected and responded to more quickly and efficiently such that a reduced number of residential homes are isolated.
The computer 520 may further include a hard disk drive 527 for reading from and writing to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 528 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 529, and an optical disk drive 530 for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk 531 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. The hard disk drive 527, magnetic disk drive 528, and optical disk drive 530 are connected to the system bus 523 by a hard disk drive interface 532, a magnetic disk drive interface 533, and an optical drive interface 534, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer 520.
Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 529, and a removable optical disk 531, it should be appreciated that other types of computer readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. Such other types of media include, but are not limited to, a magnetic cassette, a flash memory card, a digital video or versatile disk, a Bernoulli cartridge, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and the like.
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk 529, optical disk 531, ROM 524 or RAM 525, including an operating system 535, one or more application programs 536, other program modules 537 and program data 538. A user may enter commands and information into the computer 520 through input devices such as a keyboard 540 and pointing device 542. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite disk, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 521 through a serial port interface 546 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 547 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 523 via an interface, such as a video adapter 548. In addition to the monitor 547, a computer may include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers. The exemplary system of
The computer 520 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 549. The remote computer 549 may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and may include many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 520, although only a memory storage device 550 has been illustrated in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 520 is connected to the LAN 551 through a network interface or adapter 553. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 520 may include a modem 554 or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network 552, such as the Internet. The modem 554, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 523 via the serial port interface 546. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 520, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
Computer 520 may include a variety of computer readable storage media. Computer readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer 520 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computer 520. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media that may be used to store source code for implementing the methods and systems described herein. Any combination of the features or elements disclosed herein may be used in one or more embodiments.
In describing preferred embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure, as illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The claimed subject matter, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
