Experience with advanced adaptive auto-control techniques for EHV transmission systems

This work is concerned with describing the development and subsequent field experience with an adaptive autoreclose technique, based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), as applied to circuit breaker control on EHV transmission lines. This technique, developed at the University of Bath in conjunction with a major manufacturer of protection and control equipment in the UK, can recognise when it is 'safe to reclose' and when it is 'unsafe to reclose' transmission line circuit breakers. This is a radical transgression from the present philosophy whereby conventional autoreclosing relays reclose to restore the power system, following initial circuit breaker opening after a fault. With this advanced adaptive technique, the primary requirement remains to protect the power system by reducing damaging shocks and voltage dips with a concomitant concern to maintain the continuity of supply.