A SYSTEM METHODOLOGY FOR FAULT DETECTION AND FAULT RESTORATION IN DISTRIBUTED ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS

Abstract

Due to advances in electronic technologies, many systems are becoming increasingly dependent on electric power for control and safety critical features [1]. When power failures occur, fault detection and fault restoration processes are essential to reestablishing the proper function of the system. This thesis presents a system methodology that addresses fault detection and fault restoration for distributed electric power systems and a case study on applying the developed methodology to an aircraft electric power system.

This thesis implements sensor placement algorithms in order to obtain the most information about the state of the system. These algorithms rely on a state estimation algorithm developed in [21] in order to quantify the information obtained by the sensor measurements. Then, the sensor placement and state estimation algorithms are combined with a controller synthesis method. This results in a system methodology that periodically monitors the system for faults and brings the system back to safe operation.