Granted Patent B1

US 12,374,887 · App. 19/097,201 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventor: Richard Steinbacher (Moseley, VA)

Assignee: GENESIS GRID CONSULTING, LLC

H02J3/001H02J3/381H02J3/388H02J3/40H02J2203/10H02J2203/20H02J2300/40

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. A method for controlling power restoration of a power grid, comprising:

setting initial conditions on the power grid based on a combined model of the power grid, setting the initial conditions including at least one of controlling a plurality of field components of the power grid or sending information for controlling the plurality of field components, wherein controlling the plurality of field components includes opening a plurality of breakers;

performing a first iterative process including:

performing a balancing operation that includes determining if a frequency of a black start generator of the power grid meets generator criteria, determining if a voltage of a generator voltage bus of the power grid meets bus criteria, or determining if an MW of an isochronous generator of the power grid meets MW criteria;

performing a study operation that includes identifying at least a first breaker and a second breaker of the plurality of breakers on a path to a target of the power grid, analyzing the effect of closing the first breaker on the power grid, and analyzing the effect of closing the second breaker on the power grid with the first breaker closed;

performing a control operation that includes controlling at least one transmission breaker that is the first breaker or the second breaker to close or sending information for controlling the at least one transmission breaker to close, or controlling at least one distribution breaker that is the first breaker or the second breaker to close or sending information for controlling the at least one distribution breaker to close to add load to the power grid; and

performing an evaluation operation that includes determining if closing the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker causes the power grid to operate outside of the generator criteria, the bus criteria, or the MW criteria; and

performing a second iterative process including:

using the first iterative process to expand a plurality of energized islands of the power grid; and

performing a synchronization operation that combines the plurality of expanded energized islands when synchronization criteria based on the generator criteria, the bus criteria, or the MW criteria are met;

detecting and then identifying any portions of the plurality of energized islands, which are energized prior to setting the initial conditions, to an operator of the power grid; and

controlling or sending information for controlling a generator of the portions of the plurality of energized islands to operate in an isochronous mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first iterative process proceeds with performing the balancing operation first, followed by performing the study operation second, followed by performing the control operation third, followed by performing the evaluation operation fourth.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the balancing operation further includes energizing an off path radial line of the power grid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the study operation further includes identifying a plurality of circuits for energization and determining a priority order of the plurality of circuits for energization.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending information for controlling the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker to close while performing the control operation includes sending information from a first utility organization that does not control the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker to a second utility organization that controls the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the evaluation operation further includes outputting a list of circuits to shed or close by opening at least some of the plurality of breakers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combined model of the power grid is based on data exchange between at least one utility organization operating the power grid and at least one other utility organization controlling at least one of generation units, transmission units, or distribution units of the power grid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of field components further includes at least one of a transformer tap, a relay, a switch, or a reactor, a capacitor, or a FACTS device.

9. A system for controlling power restoration of a power grid, comprising:

a controller configured to control a plurality of field components of the power grid;

at least one module comprising computer-executable code stored in non-volatile memory; and

a memory for storing instructions, wherein the controller executes the instructions;

wherein the controller causes the system to:

set initial conditions on the power grid based on a combined model of the power grid, setting the initial conditions including at least one of controlling the plurality of field components of the power grid or sending information for controlling the plurality of field components, wherein controlling the plurality of field components includes opening a plurality of breakers;

perform a first iterative process including:

performing a balancing operation that includes determining if a frequency of a black start generator of the power grid meets generator criteria, determining if a voltage of a generator voltage bus of the power grid meets bus criteria, or determining if an MW of an isochronous generator of the power grid meets MW criteria;

performing a study operation that includes identifying at least a first breaker and a second breaker of the plurality of breakers on a path to a target of the power grid, analyzing the effect of closing the first breaker on the power grid, and analyzing the effect of closing the second breaker on the power grid with the first breaker closed;

performing a control operation that includes controlling at least one transmission breaker that is the first breaker or the second breaker to close or sending information for controlling the at least one transmission breaker to close, or controlling at least one distribution breaker that is the first breaker or the second breaker to close or sending information for controlling the at least one distribution breaker to close to add load to the power grid; and

performing an evaluation operation that includes determining if closing the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker causes the power grid to operate outside of the generator criteria, the bus criteria, or the MW criteria; and

perform a second iterative process including:

using the first iterative process to expand a plurality of energized islands of the power grid; and

performing a synchronization operation that combines the plurality of expanded energized islands when synchronization criteria based on the generator criteria, the bus criteria, or the MW criteria are met;

detect and then identify any portions of the plurality of energized islands, which are energized prior to setting the initial conditions, to an operator of the power grid; and

control or send information for controlling a generator of the portions of the plurality of energized islands to operate in an isochronous mode.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first iterative process proceeds with performing the balancing operation first, followed by performing the study operation second, followed by performing the control operation third, followed by performing the evaluation operation fourth.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein sending information for controlling the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker to close while performing the control operation includes sending information from a first utility organization that does not control the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker to a second utility organization that controls the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein performing the evaluation operation further includes outputting a list of circuits to shed or close by opening at least some of the plurality of breakers.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the combined model of the power grid is based on data exchange between at least one utility organization operating the power grid and at least one other utility organization controlling at least one of generation units, transmission units, or distribution units of the power grid.

14. A method for controlling power restoration of a power grid, comprising:

setting initial conditions on the power grid based on a combined model of the power grid, setting the initial conditions including at least one of controlling a plurality of field components of the power grid or sending information for controlling the plurality of field components, wherein controlling the plurality of field components includes opening a plurality of breakers;

performing a first iterative process including:

first, performing a balancing operation that includes determining if a frequency of a black start generator of the power grid meets generator criteria, determining if a voltage of a generator voltage bus of the power grid meets bus criteria, and determining if an MW of an isochronous generator of the power grid meets MW criteria;

second, performing a study operation that includes identifying at least a first breaker and a second breaker of the plurality of breakers on a path to a target of the power grid, analyzing the effect of closing the first breaker on the power grid, and analyzing the effect of closing the second breaker on the power grid with the first breaker closed;

third, performing a control operation that includes controlling at least one transmission breaker that is the first breaker or the second breaker to close or sending information for controlling the at least one transmission breaker to close, and controlling at least one distribution breaker that is the first breaker or the second breaker to close or sending information for controlling the at least one distribution breaker to close to add load to the power grid; and

fourth, performing an evaluation operation that includes determining if closing the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker causes the power grid to operate outside of the generator criteria, the bus criteria, and the MW criteria;

performing a second iterative process including:

using the first iterative process to expand a plurality of energized islands of the power grid; and

performing a synchronization operation that combines the plurality of expanded energized islands when synchronization criteria based on the generator criteria, the bus criteria, and the MW criteria are met; and

detecting and then identifying any portions of the plurality of energized islands, which are energized prior to setting the initial conditions, to an operator of the power grid; and

controlling or sending information for controlling a generator of the portions of the plurality of energized islands to operate in an isochronous mode.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein sending information for controlling the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker to close while performing the control operation includes sending information from a first utility organization that does not control the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker to a second utility organization that controls the at least one transmission breaker or the at least one distribution breaker.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the combined model of the power grid is based on data exchange between at least one utility organization operating the power grid and at least one other utility organization controlling at least one of generation units, transmission units, or distribution units of the power grid.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of field components further includes at least one of each of a transformer tap, a relay, a switch, and a capacitor component.

Assignments (1)

References Cited (19)