Power systems fault diagnosis using Petri nets

A new method of detecting fault locations in power networks is proposed. The diagnostic process uses Petri net models. This can reduce processing time and increase accuracy when compared with the traditional pattern recognition and hypotheses testing methods. The method is more able than previous methods to adapt to changing network configurations. The methodology was tested using the IEEE 118-bus standard test system. Fast and accurate results were obtained. The method is very suitable for online applications.