Power distribution expert system

1. A method for configuring a power distribution system configuration, comprising:

determining an optimal power distribution system configuration by using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules;

determining an optimal transition path to transition from a present configuration to said optimal power distribution system configuration by using a set of power distribution transition cost rules; and

implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal power distribution system configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said configuring a power distribution system configuration is performed regularly in a periodic fashion, and wherein the period is defined as a time that has elapsed or is defined as a distance that a vehicle has traveled.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said configuring a power distribution system configuration is performed after an operational situation status has changed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said configuring a power distribution system configuration is performed after a change in the status of at least one circuit breaker, or after a change in the availability of at least one circuit breaker.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an optimal power distribution system configuration comprises using the power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for all possible configurations.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an optimal power distribution system configuration comprises using the power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution system configurations, and wherein a tie breaking rule is implemented if multiple configurations have an identical minimum cost, and wherein the tie breaking rule is to chose a present configuration when the present configuration has the identical minimum cost.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an optimal power distribution system configuration comprises using the power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution system configurations, and wherein a tie breaking rule is implemented if multiple configurations have an identical minimum cost, and wherein the tie breaking rule is to determine an optimal transition path to each of said multiple configurations and to select the configuration associated with the lowest optimal transition path cost.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an optimal power distribution system configuration comprises using the power distribution configuration cost rules to determine a cost for at least two power distribution system configurations, and wherein the power distribution configuration cost rules comprise: (a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution transition cost rules comprise: (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal power distribution system configuration is removed.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action of implementing said optimal transition path is performed automatically.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal power distribution system configuration comprises sending the optimal transition path and the optimal power distribution system configuration to a human for agreement, receiving agreement from the human, and implementing the optimal transition path after receiving agreement.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal power distribution system configuration comprises: (a) sending the optimal transition path and the optimal power distribution system configuration to a human for a veto, and (b) waiting a fixed period of time, and (c) not receiving the veto during the fixed period of time, and (d) implementing said optimal transition path to reach said optimal power distribution system configuration.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

determining an optimal power distribution system configuration comprises using the power distribution configuration cost rules, to determine a cost for at least two power distribution system configurations, and wherein the power distribution configuration cost rules comprise: (a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources; and

the power distribution transition cost rules comprise; (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal power distribution system configuration is removed.

14. A system for configuring a power distribution system configuration, comprising:

an optimal configuration module adapted to determine an optimal power distribution system configuration; and

an optimal transition path module adapted to determine an optimal transition path from a present configuration to said optimal power distribution system configuration by using power distribution transition cost rules.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said optimal configuration module is adapted to determine an optimal power distribution system configuration based upon a set of power distribution configuration cost rules, and wherein the power distribution configuration cost rules comprise: (a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power enter has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the optimal transition path module is adapted to determine an optimal transition path b&ed upon a set of power distribution transition cost rules, and wherein the transition path cost rules comprise: (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (h) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal power distribution system configuration is removed.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein:

said optimal configuration module is adapted to determine an optimal power distribution system configuration based upon set of power distribution configuration cost rules, and wherein the power distribution configuration cost rules comprise: (a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources; and

said optimal transition path module is adapted to determine an optimal transition path based upon a set of power distribution transition cost rules, and wherein the power distribution transition cost rules comprise: (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal power distribution system configuration is removed.

18. A computer readable medium, comprising instructions which when executed will cause the following steps to be performed:

determining an optimal power distribution system configuration by using a set of power distribution configuration cost rules; and

determining an optimal transition path to transition from a present configuration to said optimal power distribution system configuration by using a set of power distribution transition cost rules.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein

the power distribution configuration cost rules comprise: (a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein

the power distribution transition cost rules comprise: (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal power distribution system configuration is removed.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein

the power distribution configuration cost rules comprise: (a) whether unpowered switchboards are connected, and (b) whether an unpowered switchboard is contained, and (c) whether a power center has more present load than power generation capacity, and (d) whether any switchboards are fed from remote power sources; and

the power distribution transition cost rules comprise: (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards, and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the optimal power distribution system configuration is removed.

22. A method for configuring a power distribution system configuration, comprising:

selecting an operator selected power distribution system configuration;

determining an optimal transition path to transition from a present configuration to said operator selected power distribution system configuration, wherein determining said optimal transition path comprises using a set of power distribution transition cost rules, and wherein the power distribution transition cost rules comprise: (a) whether there is an increase in the number of real, unpowered boards and (b) whether a power source is changed when a switchboard is unpowered, and (c) whether a power source that is in the operator selected power distribution system configuration is removed; and

implementing said optimal transition path to reach said operator selected power distribution system configuration.