A Cloud-Fog Based System Architecture for Enhancing Fault Detection in Electrical Secondary Distribution Network

Abstract

The modern power grids are developing towards smartness with innovative electric power systems management by embracing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems in addition to other technologies for real-time control and monitoring. These systems rely on the use of sensors, which generate a lot data, for situation awareness and visibility. Approaches and techniques based on ICT-solutions for faults handling have advanced up to electrical transmission networks and not well addressed in electrical secondary (low voltage (LV)) distribution networks which are prone to various types of faults affecting a significant number of customers. Data-driven approaches with cloud-fog based system architecture have emerged as potential solution to address fault detection in these LV distribution networks. In this paper, an overview of cloud-fog based architectural design is presented for applications to enhance fault detection in electrical secondary distribution network. The proposed platform make use of microservice architecture to assist the distributed applications to effectively utilize the virtualized systems. Workflow and use case are also presented as well as techniques on addressing the required technological platforms for implementation to facilitate fault detection in the distribution networks.