Application of self-healing technologies on power distribution systems: PHI's automatic sectionalizing & restoration systems

With a boost by DOE SGIG grants1, Pepco Holdings, Inc (PHI) is embarking on an ambition plan to expand its Automatic Sectionalizing and Restoration Systems (ASR). More than 130 feeders will be made ASR capable by the end of 2013. PHI's ASR system is made up of substation automation equipment, inclusive of an ASR control program, automatic feeder sectionalizing devices and an end-to-end communication system. These technologies will allow “self-healing” by automatically isolating faulted feeder segments, and restoring service to customers on the same feeder not impacted by the fault by closing feeder ties with adjacent feeders. Based on results of a pilot ASR installation on four feeders, it is estimated that these systems can improve the feeder's reliability performance indices by more than 50%. We will discuss PHI's Smart Grid Vision, the applied technologies, lessons learned from the pilot project, and demonstrate the operation of an ASR system.