Hybrid system based on constructive heuristic and integer programming for the solution of problems of fault section estimation and alarm processing in power systems

This paper presents a tool capable of performing alarms processing to diagnose faults in electrical power systems. The purpose is to filter alarms generated during a shutdown and indicate which equipment is at fault. To solve this problem, it was proposed an integrated use between constructive heuristic methods (CH) and integer programming (IP) by establishing a methodology for its completion. Initially, CH method performs through alarms signaled by protective relays, an analysis with relation to direction of fault in each equipment of power system. Thus, CH in possession of as much information as possible, and signals coming from trip of each relay equipment (busbars, power transformers and transmission lines), can identify direction in which disturbance occurred. The final processing is done by IP, which analyzes the response of protection system as a whole, using signs of opening triggers of circuit breakers along with response of CH, indicating at fault section and possible failures of opening in circuit breaker.

► We created a tool capable to filter alarms and indicate which equipment is at fault in electrical power systems. ► The constructive heuristic (CH) reduced the number of messages associated with protective relays, also made possible of creation a general model for the power transformer, transmission line or busbar. ► The integer programming (IP) model is possible to apply it directly to systems of different sizes without any adjustment. In addition, the possibility of simultaneous occurrence of faults is treated in a natural mode.