Fault location on radial distribution networks via distributed synchronized traveling wave detectors
- Authors: Tashakkori, Ali , Wolfs, Peter , Islam, Syed , Abu-Siada, Ahmed
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery Vol. 35, no. 3 (2020), p. 1553-1562
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- Description: This paper presents a new fault location algorithm for radial distribution networks employing synchronized distributed voltage traveling wave (TW) observers. A robust and accurate fault location algorithm significantly improves the distribution networks reliability and reduces the risk of bush fires and electrocution resulting from sustained undetected faults. The medium voltage distribution networks include numerous junctions and many shunt and series connected devices, such as capacitor banks, transformers and cables, which makes fault location far more complicated. This paper investigates the effect of power system components on the propagation of traveling waves and proposes a method for a fault location in heavily branched radial distribution feeders. Results show that parasitic shunt capacitances in transformers have a significant impact on traveling time of incident waves to the location of the TW observers and compensation for this effect will improve the accuracy of fault location. © 2019 IEEE.
Optimal placement of synchronized voltage traveling wave sensors in a radial distribution network
- Authors: Tashakkori, Ali , Abu-Siada, Ahmed , Wolfs, Peter , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IEEE Access Vol. 9, no. (2021), p. 65380-65387
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- Reviewed:
- Description: A transmission line fault generates transient high frequency travelling waves (TWs) that propagate through the entire network. The fault location can be determined by recording the instants at which the incident waves arrive at various points in the network. In single end-based methods, the incident wave arrival time and its subsequent reflections from the fault point are used to identify the fault location. In heavily branched distribution networks, the magnitude of the traveling wave declines rapidly as it passes through multiple junctions that cause reflection and refraction to the signal. Therefore, detecting the first incident wave from a high impedance fault is a significant challenge in the electrical distribution networks, in particular, subsequent reflections from a temporarily fault may not be possible. Therefore, to identify a high impedance or temporary faults in a distribution network with many branches, loads, switching devices and distributed transformers, multiple observers are required to observe the entire network. A fully observable and locatable network requires at least one observer per branch or spur which is not a cost effective solution. This paper proposes a reasonable number of relatively low-cost voltage TW observers with GPS time-synchronization and radio communication to detect and timestamp the TW arrival at several points in the network. In this regard, a method to optimally place a given number of TW detectors to maximize the network observability and locatability is presented. Results show the robustness of the proposed method to detect high impedance and intermittent faults within distribution networks with a minimum number of observers. © 2013 IEEE.