High Impedance Faults (HIFs) are undetectable by conventional protection technology under certain<p>conditions. These faults occur when an energized conductor makes undesired contact with a<p>quasi-insulating object, such as a tree or a road. This contact restricts the level of the fault current to a very low value, from a few mA up to 75A. In solidly grounded distribution networks where the value of the residual current under normal conditions is considerable, overcurrent devices do not protect against HIFs. However, such a protection is essential for guaranteeing public security, because of the possibility of reaching the fallen conductor and the risk of fire. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The scope of this thesis was to develop a prototype high-impedance arc detection system that a utility worker could use as an early warning system while working in a manhole environment. As part of this system sensors and algorithms were developed to increase the sensitivity of detecting an arc while ignoring loads that can give false positive signatures for arcing. The latest technology was used to repeat measurements performed in previous research from decades ago that lacked in sampling speed and amplitude resolution. Several types of arcs were produced and analyzed so to establish a library of various waveform and frequency signatures. The system was constructed as a development unit and is currently gathering information in the field. Data being collected will be analyzed so future revisions will give higher confidence levels of arc detection. Other future plans involve designing a more compact and portable unit.

The most common fault type in electric power systems is the line to groundfault. In this type of faults, an electrical arc is usually developed. The thesispresents a mathematical model that describes the behavior of the arc during afault. The arc model has been verified based on real and simulated tests thatwere conducted on a system that has resonant earthing coil.In addition, two studies have been conducted on the same verified system.The first studied was implemented to see the effect of detuning the resonantearthing coil at different levels. It was noted that detuning the coil affected ACand the DC components in the arc faults. Also, the detuning affected the arcextinction.The second study has been looking at the effects of implementing a parallelresistor to the resonant earthing coil. The tests have been conducted usingdifferent set values of the resistor. In some of the studied cases and during thetesting period, the resistor has affected the self-extinguish behavior of the arc. / Den vanligaste feltypen i elektriska kraftsystem är fas till jord. I denna typ avfel utvecklas vanligtvis en elektrisk ljusbåge. Examensarbetet presenterar enmatematisk modell som beskriver ljusbågens beteende under ett fel. Bågmodellenhar verifierats baserat på verkliga tester och simuleringar som utfördespå ett system som har resonansjordningsspole.Dessutom har två studier genomförts på samma verifierade system. Denförsta studien genomfördes för att se effekten av avstämning av den resonantajordningspolen på olika nivåer. Det noterades att avstämning av spolen påverkadeACoch DC-komponenterna i ljusbågsfel.Avstämningen påverkade ocksåljusbågens släckning.Den andra studien har tittat på effekterna av att implementera ett parallelltmotstånd till den resonanta jordningsspolen. Testen har utförts med olikainställda värden på motståndet. I några av de studerade fallen och under testperiodenhar motståndet påverkat ljusbågens självsläckande beteende.

Increasing modernization of the world has brought about a human component to natural disasters, which are exacerbated by the growing threat of climate change. The Western United States and Australia have witnessed some of the deadliest, costliest, and destructive wildfires in the recent past with downed electric power lines being a significant factor amongst the causes. The relationship between wildfires and powerlines is not a newly discovered phenomenon, however, utilities across the globe are struggling to find an optimal solution to this problem. While existing regulations allow utilities to schedule power shutdowns, they are often accompanied by massive financial losses and discomfort to consumers. Utilities also need to factor in the climatic conditions in the region of their service and the flammability of the vegetation surrounding their lines while making decisions pertaining to system planning, load shedding, and protection. This multi-faceted problem can be dealt with in multiple ways – one such technique involves detection of a falling line into sensitive vegetation before it encounters the earth. This approach essentially boils down the problem into detecting a single line open circuit fault. The open circuit is momentary and hence, speed is of the essence in such a protection scheme. In this thesis, detection of an open circuit is carried out in two different ways, viz., with and without communication support between the various elements of the system, with the latter technique being a novel proposal with the aim of achieving a secure protection scheme with minimal additional infrastructural requirements. / Master of Science / The contact of a live wire with the earth is a fault. While most faults can be cleared using traditional protection techniques, there is a higher risk associated with power lines that come in contact with dry surfaces, flammable plants, and bushes, which cannot be detected that easily. These surfaces offer very high resistance to the flow of current and are hence termed high impedance faults. These high impedance faults have the potential to spark and cause a fire, which can snowball into a wildfire depending on the geography and climatic conditions of the area. For years, this has been a major problem in places like Australia and California leading to loss of lives, power, and money, but the optimal solution is evasive. While several techniques to combat this problem exist, the focus of this thesis is essentially what is known as the Open Circuit Fault. The technique revolves around the detection of the fault while the falling conductor is midair. Given the short time frame, high-speed detection is of the essence. This thesis will focus on achieving open circuit detection without the need for any communication support and is a novel contribution to this field.

O conhecimento das características experimentais das faltas de alta impedância é de suma importância para o desenvolvimento de sistemas e equipamentos voltados a detecção eficiente das mesmas em sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica. Este trabalho apresenta um conjunto de estratégias experimentais que visam orientar passo a passo a realização de ensaios de faltas fase-terra com alta impedância, contemplando-se desde os dispositivos de proteção usados na viabilização dos experimentos até os equipamentos de oscilografias utilizados para registrar as grandezas elétricas advindas dessas situações de faltas. São ainda apresentados os resultados obtidos pelos ensaios realizados de queda de condutor energizado (lado fonte) em solo seco, queda de condutor energizado (lado fonte) em brita seca, queda de condutor energizado sobre a cruzeta e queda de condutor energizado (lado carga) em solo seco. / The knowledge of experimental characteristics of high-impedance fault is of highest importance for developing both systems and equipments addressed to its efficient detection in electric power distribution systems. This work presents a set of practical strategies to guide step by step the accomplishment of experiments involving phase-ground faults with high impedance, being also contemplated from protection devices used in the experiments to oscillograph equipments dedicated to register the electric signals produced in those situations. It is still presented the results produced by fault experiments involving drop of energized cable (source side) in dry soil, drop of energized cable (source side) in dry broken stones, drop of energized cable on crossarm and drop of energized cable (load side) in dry soil.

Monitoring of abnormal events in a distribution feeder by using a single technique is a challenging task. Many abnormal events can cause unsafe operation, including a high impedance fault (HIF) caused by a downed conductor touch ground surface, an incipient fault (IF) caused by partial breakdown to a cable insulation, and a circuit breaker (CB) malfunction due to capacitor bank de-energization to cause current restrikes. These abnormal events are not detectable by conventional protection schemes. In this dissertation, a new technique to identify distribution feeder events is proposed based on the complex Morlet wavelet (CMW) and on a decision tree (DT) classifier. First, the event is detected using CMW. Subsequently, a DT using event signatures classifies the event as normal operation, continuous and non-continuous arcing events (C.A.E. and N.C.A.E.). Additional information from the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) can be used to precisely identify the event. The proposed method is meticulously tested on the IEEE 13- and IEEE 34-bus systems and has shown to correctly classify those events. Furthermore, the proposed method is capable of detecting very high impedance incipient faults (IFs) and CB restrikes at the substation level with relatively short detection time. The proposed method uses only current measurements at a low sampling rate of 1440 Hz yielding an improvement of existing methods that require much higher sampling rates.

As linhas de transmissão são usadas para transmitir energia elétrica por longas distâncias e estão naturalmente expostas a condições climáticas severas e à ocorrência de faltas, especialmente as linhas aéreas. Estatísticas mostram que entre 70% - 90% das faltas em linhas de transmissão aéreas são momentâneas (ou transitórias) e apresentam formação de arco elétrico. O arco elétrico é a principal característica de uma falta de alta impedância e resulta do pobre contato entre um condutor energizado e a superfície envolvida. Esta tese aborda o problema de localização de faltas de alta impedância em linhas de transmissão curtas. Propõese uma nova técnica de localização de faltas de alta impedância baseada na impedância aparente, desenvolvida no domínio da frequência e que utiliza componentes de fase. A estimativa da distância da falta é obtida a partir da solução de um sistema sobredeterminado de equações lineares, obtida pela aplicação do método de mínimos quadrados. A abordagem proposta permite estimar a distância de faltas de alta impedância momentâneas e permanentes, em linhas de transmissão curtas simples e paralelas, transpostas ou não. O desempenho da técnica de localização de faltas proposta é avaliado mediante estudos de casos simulados no Alternative Transients Program (ATP) considerando análises de sensibilidade e comparativa, bem como casos reais de faltas. Os resultados obtidos, considerando faltas de alta impedância simuladas e reais, indicam claramente que a abordagem proposta possui validade como técnica de localização de faltas em linhas de transmissão curtas em decorrência do desempenho demonstrado e, também, por características tais como: formulação simplificada no domínio da frequência, simplicidade e facilidade de implementação em dispositivos reais e aplicabilidade a casos reais. / Transmission lines are used to transmit electric power over long distances and are naturally exposed to severe weather conditions, especially overhead lines. Such conditions are highly favorable to the occurrence of faults. Statistics show that between 70% - 90% of faults on overhead lines are nonpermanent (or transient), and present arcing. Arcing is the main characteristic of a nonlinear high impedance fault and is the result of poor contact between an energized conductor and the ground or a grounded object. This thesis approaches the high impedance fault location on short transmission lines problem. It is proposed an impedancebased nonlinear high impedance fault location formulation developed in frequency domain and phase components. The formulation uses the least square method and synchronized phasors, measured by, for example, digital fault recorders installed at both line terminals. The proposed approach allows to estimate the distance of high impedance momentary and permanent faults on short transposed or untransposed transmission lines. The performance of the proposed fault location approach is evaluated through analysis of simulated cases in the Alternative Transients Program (ATP) considering sensitivity and comparative analyzes, and actual cases of high impedance faults. The results, considering simulations of high impedance faults and actual cases, indicate clearly that the proposed approach is valid as fault location technique in short transmission lines due to the demonstrated performance.

As linhas de transmissão são usadas para transmitir energia elétrica por longas distâncias e estão naturalmente expostas a condições climáticas severas e à ocorrência de faltas, especialmente as linhas aéreas. Estatísticas mostram que entre 70% - 90% das faltas em linhas de transmissão aéreas são momentâneas (ou transitórias) e apresentam formação de arco elétrico. O arco elétrico é a principal característica de uma falta de alta impedância e resulta do pobre contato entre um condutor energizado e a superfície envolvida. Esta tese aborda o problema de localização de faltas de alta impedância em linhas de transmissão curtas. Propõese uma nova técnica de localização de faltas de alta impedância baseada na impedância aparente, desenvolvida no domínio da frequência e que utiliza componentes de fase. A estimativa da distância da falta é obtida a partir da solução de um sistema sobredeterminado de equações lineares, obtida pela aplicação do método de mínimos quadrados. A abordagem proposta permite estimar a distância de faltas de alta impedância momentâneas e permanentes, em linhas de transmissão curtas simples e paralelas, transpostas ou não. O desempenho da técnica de localização de faltas proposta é avaliado mediante estudos de casos simulados no Alternative Transients Program (ATP) considerando análises de sensibilidade e comparativa, bem como casos reais de faltas. Os resultados obtidos, considerando faltas de alta impedância simuladas e reais, indicam claramente que a abordagem proposta possui validade como técnica de localização de faltas em linhas de transmissão curtas em decorrência do desempenho demonstrado e, também, por características tais como: formulação simplificada no domínio da frequência, simplicidade e facilidade de implementação em dispositivos reais e aplicabilidade a casos reais. / Transmission lines are used to transmit electric power over long distances and are naturally exposed to severe weather conditions, especially overhead lines. Such conditions are highly favorable to the occurrence of faults. Statistics show that between 70% - 90% of faults on overhead lines are nonpermanent (or transient), and present arcing. Arcing is the main characteristic of a nonlinear high impedance fault and is the result of poor contact between an energized conductor and the ground or a grounded object. This thesis approaches the high impedance fault location on short transmission lines problem. It is proposed an impedancebased nonlinear high impedance fault location formulation developed in frequency domain and phase components. The formulation uses the least square method and synchronized phasors, measured by, for example, digital fault recorders installed at both line terminals. The proposed approach allows to estimate the distance of high impedance momentary and permanent faults on short transposed or untransposed transmission lines. The performance of the proposed fault location approach is evaluated through analysis of simulated cases in the Alternative Transients Program (ATP) considering sensitivity and comparative analyzes, and actual cases of high impedance faults. The results, considering simulations of high impedance faults and actual cases, indicate clearly that the proposed approach is valid as fault location technique in short transmission lines due to the demonstrated performance.

As linhas de transmissão são usadas para transmitir energia elétrica por longas distâncias e estão naturalmente expostas a condições climáticas severas e à ocorrência de faltas, especialmente as linhas aéreas. Estatísticas mostram que entre 70% - 90% das faltas em linhas de transmissão aéreas são momentâneas (ou transitórias) e apresentam formação de arco elétrico. O arco elétrico é a principal característica de uma falta de alta impedância e resulta do pobre contato entre um condutor energizado e a superfície envolvida. Esta tese aborda o problema de localização de faltas de alta impedância em linhas de transmissão curtas. Propõese uma nova técnica de localização de faltas de alta impedância baseada na impedância aparente, desenvolvida no domínio da frequência e que utiliza componentes de fase. A estimativa da distância da falta é obtida a partir da solução de um sistema sobredeterminado de equações lineares, obtida pela aplicação do método de mínimos quadrados. A abordagem proposta permite estimar a distância de faltas de alta impedância momentâneas e permanentes, em linhas de transmissão curtas simples e paralelas, transpostas ou não. O desempenho da técnica de localização de faltas proposta é avaliado mediante estudos de casos simulados no Alternative Transients Program (ATP) considerando análises de sensibilidade e comparativa, bem como casos reais de faltas. Os resultados obtidos, considerando faltas de alta impedância simuladas e reais, indicam claramente que a abordagem proposta possui validade como técnica de localização de faltas em linhas de transmissão curtas em decorrência do desempenho demonstrado e, também, por características tais como: formulação simplificada no domínio da frequência, simplicidade e facilidade de implementação em dispositivos reais e aplicabilidade a casos reais. / Transmission lines are used to transmit electric power over long distances and are naturally exposed to severe weather conditions, especially overhead lines. Such conditions are highly favorable to the occurrence of faults. Statistics show that between 70% - 90% of faults on overhead lines are nonpermanent (or transient), and present arcing. Arcing is the main characteristic of a nonlinear high impedance fault and is the result of poor contact between an energized conductor and the ground or a grounded object. This thesis approaches the high impedance fault location on short transmission lines problem. It is proposed an impedancebased nonlinear high impedance fault location formulation developed in frequency domain and phase components. The formulation uses the least square method and synchronized phasors, measured by, for example, digital fault recorders installed at both line terminals. The proposed approach allows to estimate the distance of high impedance momentary and permanent faults on short transposed or untransposed transmission lines. The performance of the proposed fault location approach is evaluated through analysis of simulated cases in the Alternative Transients Program (ATP) considering sensitivity and comparative analyzes, and actual cases of high impedance faults. The results, considering simulations of high impedance faults and actual cases, indicate clearly that the proposed approach is valid as fault location technique in short transmission lines due to the demonstrated performance.

O conhecimento das características experimentais das faltas de alta impedância é de suma importância para o desenvolvimento de sistemas e equipamentos voltados a detecção eficiente das mesmas em sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica. Este trabalho apresenta um conjunto de estratégias experimentais que visam orientar passo a passo a realização de ensaios de faltas fase-terra com alta impedância, contemplando-se desde os dispositivos de proteção usados na viabilização dos experimentos até os equipamentos de oscilografias utilizados para registrar as grandezas elétricas advindas dessas situações de faltas. São ainda apresentados os resultados obtidos pelos ensaios realizados de queda de condutor energizado (lado fonte) em solo seco, queda de condutor energizado (lado fonte) em brita seca, queda de condutor energizado sobre a cruzeta e queda de condutor energizado (lado carga) em solo seco. / The knowledge of experimental characteristics of high-impedance fault is of highest importance for developing both systems and equipments addressed to its efficient detection in electric power distribution systems. This work presents a set of practical strategies to guide step by step the accomplishment of experiments involving phase-ground faults with high impedance, being also contemplated from protection devices used in the experiments to oscillograph equipments dedicated to register the electric signals produced in those situations. It is still presented the results produced by fault experiments involving drop of energized cable (source side) in dry soil, drop of energized cable (source side) in dry broken stones, drop of energized cable on crossarm and drop of energized cable (load side) in dry soil.