Distribution Fault Anticipation Tool Developed for Preventing Wildfires
Texas A&M University’s electrical engineering professor B. Don Russell has developed a tool to detect power line problems before blackouts and larger, more devastating disasters take place. This one-of-a kind diagnostic tool called “Distribution Fault Anticipation” is currently being used in Texas and being tested in California by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison. Professor Russell’s tool detects variations in electrical currents caused by deteriorating conditions or equipment and notifies utility operators so they can send a crew to fix the problems. The tools is capable of also anticipating many problems in their early stages, possibly years before they cause an outage or present a greater hazard during high winds when utilities are now pre-emptively shutting off power to prevent sparking wildfires. To learn more about Professor Russell’s technology, read below.
