IntelliTEAM II® Automatic Restoration System
How IntelliTEAM II Works
IntelliTEAM II uses advanced switch controls, network communication, and distributed intelligence to quickly isolate faults and then restore service to the maximum amount of load possible.
A Building Block Approach
The basic building block of the IntelliTEAM II system is a “team”. A team is a line segment bounded by up to eight automatically controlled switching devices.
The intelligence of the team is conveyed by a virtual software agent — termed a “coach.” Coaches enable transfer of information such as currents, voltages, and loading data. They also facilitate negotiations between teams to ensure that the system is not overloaded during circuit restoration operations.
Teams and their coaches are all that are needed to automate systems of virtually any size — within the constraints of circuit loading.
Configuring the System
IntelliTEAM II monitors voltage and current in real time using sensors integrated into the switching devices. Each switching device is configured so that it knows its normal role in the system, its name (DNP address) and other key settings such as:
- Loss of Voltage Level — the voltage level at which the Loss of Voltage timer is started.
- Overcurrent Level — the current level considered fault current. This setting, along with the Loss of Voltage Level, is used to count reclosing operations by upstream fault interrupting devices.
- Source Priority — the setting for each team which can be used to favor one source over another when all other factors are equal.
- Various timer settings are also configured during setup.
Most importantly, no logic programming is required. IntelliTEAM II’s unique logic is built-in and has been extensively tested, so it can be applied with full confidence.
IntelliTEAM II is designed to ensure that all automatic operations can be prevented when field personnel are working on the line.
SCADA
Although IntelliTEAM II does not require a SCADA master station to function, it does fully support master control. You can decide when the system is active and when it is not. The flow of team information back to the master station provides a wealth of information that can be used by engineering, planning, and operations personnel to enhance system operations and performance.
Fault Isolation
The voltage and current sensors on the switching devices measure voltage and current. Using this information, along with the configuration settings, IntelliTEAM II will identify the location of a fault anywhere in the system. The fault is automatically isolated to the one affected team by opening the switching devices in conjunction with the source-side protective devices.
Restoration
Once the location of the fault has been identified, IntelliTEAM II will seek out all possible power sources — to restore service to as many teams as possible, as quickly as possible. IntelliTEAM II can manage virtually any number of alternate sources and loads to ensure restoration of the maximum amount of load possible.
Before closing a switch to restore service, the system automatically verifies that the alternate source will not be overloaded, by adding the pre-fault load of the de-energized segment to the present real-time load of the alternate source. Restoration is typically completed in less than 60 seconds.
Return to Normal
Once the fault has been repaired, and the SCADA dispatcher or local crew has closed the open switches on either side of the faulted section, IntelliTEAM II signals the teams to return the circuit to its normal configuration. Return to normal can be either open or closed transition.