High-speed communication-assisted tripping and sectionalizing for distribution systems

This paper demonstrates how to perform high speed communication-assisted tripping and sectionalizing on distribution systems. All faults are quickly cleared and the distribution system is rapidly sectionalized to restore service to the most customers possible. Inherent time delays embedded in the traditional approach are eliminated. This paper is intended for portions of rural electric distribution systems that can operate in a network. This application is limited since the majority of rural electric distribution systems consist of long tapped radial feeders; however, there are instances when a portion of a system can be operated as a looped network. The main advantage of a network is less chance of customer outages when a primary source is lost - a very important for customers with critical needs such as hospitals.