A Fault Location Scheme for Active Untransposed Distribution Systems Using a Limited Number of Synchronized Measurements

Abstract

This paper presents a fault location scheme for unbalanced and untransposed distribution systems which contain different types of distributed generation (DG). A general formula has been derived for any fault type using a limited number of synchronized measurement points. To avoid having to synchronize all the measurement points, the voltage and current measured locally at the DGs are processed locally to calculate the equivalent impedance of the DG at the non-fundamental frequencies. This is then used in the fault location process. The IEEE 34-bus feeder is simulated using the distributed parameter model for the lines and is used to validate the proposed scheme. Uncertainties associated with fault type, fault location, fault resistance, inception angle, noise in measurements and load profile are considered in the evaluation. The simulation studies demonstrate that the scheme can have a high accuracy and is robust.

Keywords:

• distributed generation
• distribution systems
• fault location
• fault transient
• impedance based

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fathy Aboshady

Fathy Aboshady received BSc and MSc degrees in Electrical Engineering from Tanta University, Egypt, in 2010 and 2014, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nottingham, U.K., in 2019. He is an Assistant Professor with Tanta University. His research interests include fault location, power system protection, and renewable energy.

David Thomas

David Thomas is a Professor of Electromagnetics Applications in The George Green Institute for Electromagnetics Research, The University of Nottingham UK. He is a member of CIGRE and convenor for Joint Working Group C4.31 “EMC between communication circuits and power systems”, Chair of COST Action IC 1407 “Advanced Characterisation and Classification of Radiated Emissions in Densely Integrated Technologies (ACCREDIT)” a member of several conference committees the EMC Europe International Steering Committee. Vice chair IEEE Standards committee P2718 Guide for Near Field Characterization of Unintentional Stochastic Radiators. His research interests are in electromagnetic compatibility, electromagnetic simulation, power system transients and power system protection.

Mark Sumner

Mark Sumner received the B.Eng degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Leeds University in 1986 and then worked for Rolls Royce Ltd in Ansty, UK. Moving to the University of Nottingham, he completed his PhD in induction motor drives in 1990, and after working as a research assistant, was appointed Lecturer in October 1992. He is now Professor of Electrical Energy Systems. His research interests cover control of power electronic systems including power electronics for enhanced power quality, stability of power electronic converters and novel power system fault location strategies.