- Smart Grid - Home
- Smart Grid Introduction
- What is an Electric Grid?
- Electric Grid Evolution
- What is a Smart Grid?
- Smart Grid - Functions
- Smart Grid - Characteristics
- Smart Grid - Advantages
- Smart Grid - Components
- Smart Grid - Challenges
- Smart Grid Technologies
- Smart Energy Resources
- Power System Automation
- Smart Substations
- Substation Automation
- Smart Grid - Feeder Automation
- Energy Management System
- Smart Grid - FACTS
- HVDC Transmission
- Wide Area Monitoring
- SCADA in Smart Grid
- Smart Grid - DMS
- Smart Grid - OMS
- Volt/VAR Control
- Smart Grid - FMSR
- Smart Grid - HEDT
- Phase Shifting Transformers
- Smart Grid - PHEV
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure
- Smart Meters - Introduction
- Smart Meters - AMI
- Smart Meters - AMIS
- Communication Architecture
- Drivers & Benefits
- Phasor Measurement Unit
- Intelligent Electronic Devices
- Power Quality Management
- Power Quality in Smart Grid
- Power Quality Issues
- Power Quality Monitoring Techniques
- Power Quality Conditioners
- Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
- Power Quality Audit
- Smart Grid Communication
- Smart Grid Communication
- Communication Network
- Communication Technologies
- Broadband Over Power Line
- Internet Protocols
- Web Services in Smart Grid
- Cloud Computing
- Multi Agent System Technology
- IP Based Protocols
- Cyber Security
Fault Management and System Restoration (FMSR)
Management and System Restoration (FMSR) is nothing but automated switching applications that play an important role in enhancing reliability and quality of power supply. For any utility company, the reliability and power quality are the two most important parameters that improve the consumer satisfaction.
What is Fault Management and System Restoration?
FMSR is an important concept in modern power grid or smart grid. This concept integrates automated control system and advanced communication technology with the electric grid to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resiliency of the distribution system.
In a smart grid, the FMSR is important for the following two purposes −
- Switching management
- Suggested switching plan
Lets now understand the significance of the fault management and system restoration in smart grid distribution system.
Significance of Fault Management and System Restoration
In a smart grid distribution network, the implementation of fault management and system restoration reduces the outage duration and improves the overall reliability of the network.
Here are some key points that highlight how the fault management and system restoration is important in a smart grid distribution network −
- FMSR manages the faults and reduces their impact on the electricity supply. This helps in improving the reliability of the distribution network.
- FMSR quickly detects the faults and isolates the affected sections and restore the service in unaffected areas. This ensures minimum power outage size.
- The rapid detection and isolation of faults also improves the safety of the distribution network by protecting the healthier section of the network.
- FMSR helps in reducing outage duration and time required for system restoration by providing detailed information about outage size, location, and severity. This results in lower operational cost and improved public image of the utility.
Now, lets understand how FMSR performs fault management and system restoration functions in smart grid in more detail.
Fault Management in Smart Grids
The fault management part of the FMSR is responsible for detecting, isolating, diagnosing the faults in the grid. For this purpose, it consists of different components which are explained below −
- For fault detection − FMSR consists of sensors, smart meters, phasor measurement units, and other IEDs, etc. to monitor the grid in real-time and detect the fault and its location in the network.
- For fault isolation − FMSR consists of automated switching devices and remote-controlled circuit breakers to perform quick and automatic isolation of faulty part of the network from the healthier one. It helps in preventing the fault propagation in rest of the network.
- For fault diagnosis − FMSR provides various tools for analyzing data received from the field devices like sensors and meters. This function of FMSR calculates various information about the fault like location, nature, severity, size, duration, estimated restoration time, number of crews required, etc.
System Restoration in Smart Grids
Another function that the FMSR performs in smart grid is the system restoration. It basically the process of bringing the grid or network back to its normal operating condition after the occurrence of fault. The system restoration can be of two types namely, automatic restoration and manual restoration, which are explained here.
Automatic Restoration
This feature of FMSR exists in those distribution networks that consist of smart switches and reclosers. In these networks, automatic power rerouting takes place to unaffected areas. This happens through isolation of faulty section and reconnection of healthy parts of the grid, and all this takes place automatically. The automatic restoration results in reduced outage duration.
Manual Restoration
In this type of restoration service, grid operators continuously monitor the network from a control room. When a fault occurs in the network, they inform the field crews about the fault status and nature. Then, field crews or technicians go to the location of fault and physically repair it to restore the system. Once, the fault is repaired, the control room operators switch on the power supply.
Technologies Involved in FMSR
Fault Management and System Restoration is implemented in smart grids by using the following technologies −
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) − AMI is a system that consists of field devices for real-time monitoring of the distribution network. It provides data about the network status and conditions which are important for fault detection.
- SCADA − Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system is a computer-based monitoring and control system. It provides rapid fault detection and automated control capabilities to perform seamless fault management and system restoration functions.
- Communication Infrastructure − FMSR consists of a high-speed and reliable communication system for real-time data transmission. For this, the most widely used communication technologies are fiber optics, PLCC, or radio communication.
Challenges in Fault Management and System Restoration
The following are some major challenges in the development and implementation of fault management and system restoration in smart grid −
- The integration of new technologies for the fault management and system restoration in the smart grid is a complex task that require skilled and trained personnel.
- FMSR is implemented using diverse technologies that may have compatibility issues.
- The smart grid fault management and system restoration involves the use of digital communication which is vulnerable to cyber threats.
- FMSR in smart grid performs analysis of a large amount of data collected from the grid to determine its health which is again a complex task.
Conclusion
FMSR is a function of DMS (Distribution Management System) that ensures reliability and power quality in the smart grid by reducing the outage size and duration.
FMSR uses automated monitoring and control system with an advanced communication network to rapidly detect and isolate the faults in the distribution network.