An expert system approach for auscultation of distribution systems

In line with its quality of supply enhancement policy, Electricite de France (EDF) has developed and tested a monitoring and maintenance method for a medium voltage network. The method is referred to as `auscultation´ and involves, close analysis of medium voltage overhead line feeders in order to detect weak points and thereby improve targeting of maintenance and renewal operations. Auscultation was first tested on a set of ten representative networks between 1984 and 1987. The method improved EDF´s knowledge of how supply systems degrade and the ensuing improvements in quality of supply were better than expected. Auscultation is only effective if it is carried out systematically and extremely rigorously, and it quickly became obvious that computerization would be a valuable asset for those responsible for analyzing data on these incidents. EDF´s Research and development division therefore defined and developed a prototype expert system, which is described