Hybrid distribution network power restoration control

1. A power outage restoration system for managing a power network including a plurality of switching devices, said power outage restoration system comprising:

an outage management system having a network model of said power network, said outage management system including an outage engine that uses said network model for generating restoration switching plans;

a plurality of local restoration controllers in communication with said outage management system, each said local restoration controller having a distinct associated local restoration controller area of responsibility which is a portion of said power network, each said local restoration controller including a trimmed network model correlating to the respective local restoration controller area of responsibility, each said local restoration controller further including a switching analysis engine that uses said trimmed network model for generating said restoration switching plans; and

wherein each said local restoration controller is operable to detect faults in its associated area of responsibility, when a fault is detected the respective local restoration controller switching analysis engine attempts to generate a restoration switching plan, and if said switching analysis engine fails, a request is sent to said outage management system for said outage engine to generate a restoration switching plan.

2. The power outage restoration system according to claim 1 wherein each said local restoration controller is geographically remote from said outage management system.

3. The power outage restoration system according to claim 1 wherein each said local restoration controller includes a data gateway for communication with said switching devices.

4. The power outage restoration system according to claim 3 wherein said local restoration controller functions as a communications gateway between said switching devices and said outage management system.

5. The power outage restoration system according to claim 1 wherein said network model comprises a mathematical representation of physical network components and the connecting relationships of said physical network components.

6. The power outage restoration system according to claim 1 wherein said created restoration switching plan is a series of switching operations executable to isolate a faulted portion of said power network and to backfeed outaged portions of said power network.

7. The power restoration system according to claim 1 wherein said local restoration controller switching analysis engine's attempt to generate a restoration switching plan fails if all potential restoration switching plans cause a current or voltage network violation.

8. The power restoration system according to claim 1 wherein said local restoration controller switching analysis engine's attempt to generate a restoration switching plan fails if the only viable restoration switching plan affects said power network in other local restoration controller areas of responsibility.

9. A method of managing a power network including a plurality of switching devices, the method comprising:

providing an outage management system having a network model of said power network, said outage management system including an outage engine;

providing a plurality of local restoration controllers in communication with said outage management system, each said local restoration controller having a distinct local restoration controller area of responsibility which is a portion of said power network, each said local restoration controller including a trimmed network model correlating to the respective local restoration controller area of responsibility, each said local restoration controller further including a switching analysis engine;

monitoring said power network by said local restoration controllers;

if a fault occurs in an area of responsibility, using said switching analysis engine at the respective local restoration controller to determine a local restoration switching plan;

if said local restoration switching plan is deficient, using said outage engine to determine a global restoration switching plan; and

executing said global or said local restoration switching plan to restore power to one or more outaged sections of said power network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said local restoration switching plan is deficient if all potential local restoration switching plans cause a current or voltage network violation.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said local restoration switching plan is deficient if the only viable local restoration switching plan affects said power network in other local restoration controller areas of responsibility.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said local and global restoration switching plans each comprise a series of switching operations executable to isolate a faulted portion of said power network and to backfeed outaged portions of said power network.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of executing said global restoration switching plan further comprises transmitting said global restoration switching plan to each said local restoration controller wherein a switching operation is required.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of executing said local restoration switching plan further comprises sequentially transmitting said switching operations to the switching devices in the area of responsibility of the local restoration controller.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

wherein said local and global restoration switching plans each comprise a sequential series of switching operations including manual switching operations and remote controllable switching operations, said local and global restoration switching plans being executable to isolate a faulted portion of said power network and to backfeed outaged portions of said power network;

sequentially executing each said switching operation to execute said global or said local restoration switching plan; and

wherein if said switching operation is a manual switching operation, transmitting a command to a ground crew to manually execute said switching operation and if said switching operation is a remote controllable switching operation, transmitting a switch command to the switching device to execute said switching operation.