POWER and RE+ Tech Supp September 2022 - 29

SEPTEMBER 2022 | WWW.POWERMAG.COM
within seconds, keeping the outage
contained without any human intervention.
PPL Electric was the first utility
to centrally integrate GE Digital's FISR
to automate restorations, and that
network of smart devices, coupled
with an advanced software system, has
proven to be a solid investment, creating
a self-healing grid that delivers
improved reliability and stability.
A Streamlined Outage
Restoration Process
Prior to the implementation of GE
Digital's ADMS, PPL Electric managed
outages through a variety of means. Its
previous outage management system
utilized topology and paper maps.
The fault locations were determined
through either circuit patrols in the
field or split-and-test processes. " Before
building a self-healing system,
our old process required our system
operators to manually identify the
proper switchings and then dispatch
line crews to execute the transfers locally
in the field. In addition to relying
heavily on human intervention, it was
a lengthy process to restore power to
our customers, " Bashar Jarrah, manager
of Operations Engineering and
Energy Resource Management at PPL
Electric, told POWER.
The new process provided more
visibility on the fault locations for the
operators, who are now able to identify
the locations quickly and use the
knowledge to make more intelligent
operational decisions. Additionally,
operators are now able to remotely
execute the switching steps via telemetry,
thus reducing the duration
of restoration from an average of two
hours to about two to three minutes
with FISR. This also minimizes the
number of customers impacted by
outages.
Jarrah described how a possible real-life
fault scenario might unfold. " If
a feeder circuit breaker trips due to
an equipment failure or a tree falling
on a section of power line, the smart
devices that exist between the circuit
breaker and the fault location will
sense a fault current. That information
is sent back to ADMS. Additionally, the
devices downstream of the fault indicate
they did not sense a fault current,
which is also relayed back to ADMS, "
he explained. " Meanwhile, ADMS autonomously
creates a plan to open the
last device that sensed fault current
and open the first device that did not,
then close the feeder circuit breaker
and a tie to the neighboring feeder.
This reroute of power keeps as many
customers in service as possible while
we take care of the repairs. "
PPL Electric estimates the system
has saved about 1.4 million customer
outages since its deployment (Figure
1). It says customers today have 30%
fewer outages than they did 10 years
ago, and recent statistics are proving
to be even better. PPL Electric said in
2021 it reduced the total number of
outages by 34% compared to the average
over the past five years, a further
testament to the value of smart grid
improvements.
A Long Road Worth
Traveling
The multi-year smart grid execution
process involved many tasks, including
updating standards, developing
and implementing asset optimization
schemes, storm hardening, upgrading
communications infrastructure,
deploying advanced operations systems,
and increasing the penetration
of devices in a priority system that
addressed largest impacts first. Threephase
devices, mid circuits, and atthe-tie
locations were fundamental
considerations in the plan.
To maximize benefits from its investments,
PPL Electric focused on completing
the bulk of its annual smart
grid work before storm season each
year. Furthermore, because several
steps are often needed to accommodate
installation, commissioning, and
configuration of each device in the
field, project managers and planners
worked hard to develop innovative
methods and streamlined processes
to reduce many tasks into a single trip
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1. PPL Electric Utilities' use of the Fault
Isolation Service Restoration (FISR) module
in GE Digital's Advanced Distribution
Management Solution (ADMS) software
helps the utility identify fault locations
quickly so line workers can restore power
to customers faster. Courtesy: PPL Electric
Utilities
to the field. This led to improved efficiency
and reduced costs.
" The biggest challenge was updating
our infrastructure and getting all
devices, including legacy equipment
such as breakers and reclosers, to participate
in the scheme alongside the
advanced technology, " Jarrah said. In
the end, however, the benefits have
extended beyond simply minimizing
unplanned outages.
" Installing
the
devices in a strategic methodology
allowed us to utilize the new sectionalizing
devices during planned
maintenance activities as well, which
expedited restorations and improved
process efficiency. "
PPL Electric's smart grid is also improving
data and analytics, bolstering
other reliability efforts. The data helps
PPL Electric make informed decisions
about maintenance and investments.
Other benefits include the ability to
pinpoint issues, allowing the dispatch
of crews to exact locations; a Distributed
Energy Resource Management
System (DERMS) that can monitor twoway
power flow; and advanced meters
that enable customers to see usage.
PPL Electric is using its advanced technology
to build the grid of the future,
one that is likely unrecognizable to
utility workers of past generations. n
-Aaron Larson is POWER's
executive editor.
29
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