In order to maintain the system reliability and minimize the impact of faults in a distribution system, a timely restoration is needed which requires accurate fault localization. Locating High Impedance Faults (HIFs) is specifically challenging because of their variable and nonlinear nature. Most existing approaches focuses on identifying the accurate fault distance occurring in the main trunk of a system, often leaving lateral branches as blind spots. To find the accurate distance to the fault in a lateral branches, a single ended fault location algorithm is proposed that uses synchronized voltage and current measurements from PMUs positioned along the trunk. Initially, a specific model that incorporates the particular characteristics of the fault is developed in the spectral domain. Subsequently, a fault location algorithm is developed that utilizes the change in a voltage of a healthy phase for calculating the accurate distance to the fault. Extensive simulations performed across different systems at different conditions proves the efficacy of the algorithm. Notably, a critical prerequisite for the algorithm's success is the presence of at least one healthy phase running parallel to the faulty phase. / Master of Science / High Impedance Faults (HIFs) in power systems often involve dangerous arcing, posing significant risks to life and property. Accurate fault location is essential to ensure timely restoration of power and mitigate hazards. While existing literature typically focuses on the location of faults in the main trunk lines, distribution systems with numerous lateral branches require precise fault distance determination in these branches for faster restoration. This study introduces a novel approach leveraging Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) in main feeders to pinpoint fault distances in lateral branches. By analyzing voltage variations in healthy phases, the algorithm accurately determines the distance to the fault in the affected phase. Extensive testing across various systems demonstrates the algorithm's high accuracy.
The presence of a healthy phase parallel to the faulty phase is essential for the working of this algorithm. This approach offers a promising solution for enhancing the accuracy of fault location in distribution systems, thereby improving outage response times.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119207 |
| Date | 31 May 2024 |
| Creators | Gautam, Suiksha |
| Contributors | Electrical Engineering, Centeno, Virgilio A., Liu, Chen-Ching, Kekatos, Vasileios |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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