Autonomous electric power fault detection, isolation and restoration systems

Abstract

Fault detection, isolation and restoration systems for electric power systems using 'smart switch' points that autonomously coordinate operations to minimize the number of customers affected by outages and their durations, without relying on communications with a central controller or between the smart switch points. Each smart recloser can be individually programmed to operate as a tie-switch, a Type-A (normal or default type) sectionalizer, or a Type-B (special type) sectionalizer. The Type-A recloser automatically opens when it detects a fault, uses a direction-to-fault and zone-based distance-to-fault operating protocol, and stays 'as is' with no automatic opening when power (voltage) is lost on both sides of the switch. The Type-B sectionalizer does the same thing and is further configured to automatically open when it detects that it is deenergized on both sides for a pre-defined time period, and to operate like a tie-switch once open.