Methods, systems, and computer readable media for monitoring and management of a power distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9910102-B2
Application number	US-201414549515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for monitoring and management of a power distribution system are disclosed. In one example, the method includes receiving sensory measurement data captured by a mobile inspection device during an inspection of power distribution system elements in a power distribution system. The method further includes processing the received sensory measurement data to derive fault identification data that indicates a fault condition existing in one or more of the power distribution system elements and utilizing the derived fault identification data to update a network model of the power distribution system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring and management of a power distribution system including a plurality of power distribution lines and a plurality of power distribution devices, the method comprising:
operating a mobile inspection device including a sensor so as to traverse or fly proximally to one of the plurality of power distribution lines;
measuring a characteristic of the one power distribution line with the sensor of the mobile inspection device;
transmitting the sensor measurement data from the mobile inspection device to a mobile control device system;
determining, with the mobile control device, fault identification data including fault location and fault cause using the sensory measurement data from the mobile inspection device;
transmitting the fault identification data to a central utility control center including a non-transitory computer readable medium structured to store a power distribution network model, the power distribution network model including information corresponding to the connections between each of the plurality of power distribution lines and the plurality of power distribution devices, an operational status for each of the plurality of power distribution lines and the plurality of power distribution devices, and power outage information;
updating the power outage information of the power distribution network model using the fault identification data, the power outage information including an affected area of each power outage and outage cause;
generating a work order including at least one maintenance task using at least one of the fault identification data and the updated power distribution network model; and
transmitting the work order to a utility maintenance technician device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the updated network model is utilized by a distribution management system (DMS) station to display a location of one or more power outages occurring in the power distribution system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the updated network model is utilized by a distribution management system (DMS) station to display a most recent operational status for each of the power distribution devices in the power distribution system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fault identification data is derived by a mobile control station that wirelessly receives the sensory measurement data from the mobile inspection device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensory measurement data includes at least one of image data, video data, thermal image data, and acoustic data captured by the mobile inspection device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fault identification data is sent to at least one of an outage management system (OMS) or a work management system (WMS) that is configured to incorporate the fault identification data with trouble call data for display in the network model.

7. A system for monitoring and management of a power distribution system including a plurality of distribution lines and a plurality of power distribution system elements, the system comprising:
a mobile inspection device structured to traverse or fly proximally to the plurality of power distribution lines and including a sensor structured to capture sensory measurement data corresponding to electrical or physical characteristics of the power distribution system elements;
a mobile control station configured for receiving sensory measurement data captured by a mobile inspection device and for processing the received sensory measurement data to derive fault identification data that indicates a fault condition existing in one or more of the power distribution system elements, wherein the power distribution system elements include at least the power lines; and
a central utility control center including a distribution management system (DMS) station configured for receiving the derived fault identification data and for utilizing the derived fault identification data to update a network model of the power distribution system, the network model including information corresponding to the connections between each of the plurality of power distribution lines and the plurality of power distribution system elements, an operational status for each of the plurality of power distribution lines and the plurality of power distribution system elements, and power outage information,
wherein the DMS is configured to update the power outage information including power outage area and power outage cause using the derived fault identification data, and
wherein the central utility control center is configured to assign a work order including at least one maintenance task using at least one of the derived fault identification data and the updated power distribution network model, and transmit the work order to a remote technician device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the updated network model is utilized by the DMS station to display a location of one or more power outages occurring in the power distribution system.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the updated network model is utilized by the DMS station to display a most recent operational status for each of the power distribution system elements in the power distribution system.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the fault identification data is derived by the mobile control station, which is configured to wirelessly receive the sensory measurement data from the mobile inspection device.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the sensory measurement data includes at least one of image data, video data, thermal image data, and acoustic data captured by the mobile inspection device.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the fault identification data is sent to at least one of an outage management system (OMS) and a work management system (WMS) that is configured to incorporate the fault identification data with trouble call data for display in the network model.

13. A power distribution outage monitoring system comprising:
a mobile inspection device structured to traverse or fly proximally to power distribution lines in a power distribution system during an inspection of a plurality of power distribution system elements in the power distribution system wherein the plurality of power distribution system elements include at least the power lines;
a local mobile control station structured to receive sensory measurement data captured by the mobile inspection device, derive fault identification data that indicates a fault condition existing in one or more of the power distribution system elements using the received sensory measurement data, and transmit the fault identification data;
a central utility control center structured to receive the fault identification data, update a network model of the power distribution system, the network model including information corresponding to the connections between each of the plurality of power distribution system elements, an operational status for each of the plurality of power distribution system elements, and power outage information,
wherein updating the network model includes updating the power outage information including power outage affected areas and power outage cause using the derived fault identification data,
wherein the central utility control center is structured to generate a work order using the fault identification data and transmit the work order to a technician device, and
wherein the technician device is structured to display a visual representation of a maintenance task in response to receiving the work order.

14. The central utility control center of claim 13 wherein the updated network model is utilized by a distribution ma

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Stoupis James D
• Mousavi Mirrasoul J

Classifications

• H02J13/333

  the equipment forming part of substations · CPC title

• H02J13/13 Primary

  characterised by the transmission of data to equipment in the power network · CPC title

• G01R31/50 Primary

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• H02G1/00

  Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines · CPC title

• Y04S40/12

  characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment · CPC title