Patent ID: 7110231

Claim:
An adaptive protection system for a power-distribution network, comprising: a recloser electrically coupled to a first voltage source and a first section of a distribution feeder and adapted to isolate the first section from the first voltage source in response to an overcurrent condition in the distribution feeder; a first sectionalizer electrically coupled to the first section and a second section of the distribution feeder, the first sectionalizer being adapted to isolate the first section from the second section on a selective basis; and a second sectionalizer electrically coupled to the second section and a third section of the distribution feeder and adapted to isolate the second section from the third section on a selective basis, wherein the recloser and the first and second sectionalizers are adapted to communicate by way of a data network separate from the distribution feeder, and at least one of the first and second sectionalizers: identifies a faulted section of the distribution feeder; determines a configuration of the first and second sectionalizers and the recloser to isolate the faulted section of the distribution feeder from a remainder of the distribution feeder; and generates and sends commands to the other of the first and second sectionalizers and/or the recloser to configure the other of the first and second sectionalizers and/or the recloser to isolate the faulted section of the distribution feeder.