Power Distribution Network Performance Data Presentation System and Method

Abstract

A visualization system for monitoring performance data of an electrical power distribution network is provided. In one embodiment, a user may select a network circuit and view a network circuit diagram that includes indicia representing transformers and other electrical power distribution network elements positioned on a map. The relative positions of the indicia on the network circuit diagram may correspond to the relative physical locations of the transformers in the geographical area represented by the map. The indicia may be color coded to convey performance data to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, implemented by a computer system, of processing electric power distribution network (EPDN) performance data, wherein the EPDN includes a network circuit including a plurality of network elements electrically connected to the network circuit, the method comprising:
 receiving the performance data derived from measurements of a performance parameter taken by each of the plurality of network elements;   determining whether the performance data of each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of three or more conditions for the performance parameter;   wherein a first condition of the three or more conditions comprises the performance parameter beyond a first threshold value;   wherein a second condition of the three or more conditions comprises the performance parameter beyond a second threshold value;   wherein a third condition of the three or more conditions comprises the performance parameter between the first and second threshold values; and   outputting a notification upon determining that the performance data for a first network element satisfies the first condition for the performance parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the performance parameter comprises a voltage of at least one low voltage external power line conductor. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first condition comprises voltage data below a first threshold voltage. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first condition comprises voltage data above a first threshold voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a network circuit diagram wherein the plurality of network elements are represented by a first indicia,   wherein the relative positions of the first indicia substantially correspond to the positions of the network elements in the network circuit; and   wherein said outputting comprises:   displaying an indication of the performance parameter for each of the plurality of network elements; and   wherein the indication of the performance parameter for each of the plurality of network elements indicates whether the performance data associated with each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of three or more conditions for the performance parameter.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said displaying an indication of the performance parameter comprises displaying the first indicia as color coded indicia to indicate whether the performance data associated with each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of the three or more conditions for the performance parameter. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the performance parameter comprises a voltage of at least one low voltage external power line conductor connected to the network element; and
 wherein the first indicia is coded to indicate that the voltage is above a first threshold voltage, below a second threshold voltage, or between the first and second threshold voltages.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the EPDN includes at least one switch bank and switch banks are represented by a second indicia in the network circuit diagram, and the relative positions of the second indicia substantially correspond to the positions of the switch banks in the network circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the EPDN includes at least one capacitor bank and capacitor banks are represented by a third indicia in the network circuit diagram, and the relative positions of the third indicia substantially correspond to the positions of the capacitor banks in the network circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input indicating a selection of one of the plurality of network elements; and   in response to the user input, displaying voltage data of the selected network element.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first indicia changes dynamically during display in accordance with changes in a value of the performance parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input indicating a selection of one of the plurality of network elements; and   displaying information of an address serviced by the selected network element in response to the user input.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiving performance data comprises receiving real time data. 
     
     
         14 . A method of monitoring an electric power distribution network that includes a network circuit having a plurality of network elements electrically connected to the network circuit, the method comprising:
 receiving voltage data derived from measurements of a voltage taken at each of the plurality of network elements;   determining whether the voltage data at each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of three or more conditions;   wherein a first condition of the three or more conditions comprises the voltage data above a first threshold value;   wherein a second condition of the three or more conditions comprises the voltage data below a second threshold value;   wherein a third condition of the three or more conditions comprises the voltage data between the first and second threshold values;   outputting a first notification upon determining that the voltage data at a network element satisfies the first condition; and   outputting a second notification upon determining that the voltage data at a network element satisfies the second condition.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input indicating a selection of a network element; and   in response to said user input, outputting voltage data of the selected network element.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said outputting voltage data comprises:
 formatting time-varying voltage data acquired over a predetermined period of time into a voltage plot; and   displaying the voltage plot.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying a network circuit diagram wherein the plurality of network elements are represented by a first indicia,   wherein the relative positions of the first indicia substantially correspond to the positions of the network elements in the network circuit; and   wherein said outputting a first notification comprises:   displaying an indication of the voltage for each of the plurality of network elements; and   wherein the indication of the voltage for each of the plurality of network elements indicates whether the voltage data associated with each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of the three or more conditions.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the network circuit includes switches, the method further comprising:
 receiving configuration data of the switches that indicates an open or closed state; and   displaying an indication of the configuration data on the diagram.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the network circuit includes capacitor banks, the method further comprising:
 receiving configuration data of the capacitor banks that indicates an engaged or not engaged state; and   displaying an indication of the configuration data on the diagram.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said receiving voltage data comprises receiving real time voltage data. 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed by a computer system to implement a method for processing utility data of a network circuit to which a plurality of network elements are electrically connected, said method comprising:
 receiving voltage data derived from measurements of a voltage taken at each of the plurality of network elements;   determining whether the voltage data at each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of three or more conditions;   wherein a first condition of the three or more conditions comprises the voltage data above a first threshold value;   wherein a second condition of the three or more conditions comprises the voltage data below a second threshold value;   wherein a third condition of the three or more conditions comprises the voltage data between the first and second threshold values;   outputting a first notification upon determining that the voltage data at a network element satisfies the first condition; and   outputting a second notification upon determining that the voltage data at a network element satisfies the second condition.   
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , said method further comprising:
 receiving a user input indicating a selection of a network element; and   in response to said user input, outputting voltage data of the selected network element.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein said outputting voltage data comprises:
 formatting time-varying voltage data acquired over a predetermined period of time into a voltage plot; and   displaying the voltage plot.   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , said method further comprising:
 displaying a network circuit diagram of the network circuit and wherein the plurality of network elements are represented by a first indicia,   wherein the relative positions of the first indicia substantially correspond to the positions of the network elements in the network circuit; and   wherein said outputting a first notification comprises:   displaying an indication of the voltage for each of the plurality of network elements; and   wherein the indication of the voltage for each of the plurality of network elements indicates whether the voltage data associated with each of the plurality of network elements satisfies any of the three or more conditions.   
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 24 , wherein the network circuit includes switches said method further comprising:
 receiving configuration data of the switches that indicates an open or closed state; and   displaying an indication of the configuration data on the diagram.   
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 25 , wherein the network circuit includes capacitor banks, said method further comprising:
 receiving configuration data of the capacitor banks that indicates an engaged or not engaged state; and   displaying an indication of the configuration data on the diagram.   
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 24 , wherein at least some of the first indicia change dynamically during display in accordance with changes in the value of the voltage data. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , said method further comprising:
 receiving a user input indicating a selection of a network element; and   displaying information of an address serviced by the selected network element in response to the user input.