Locating double and three phase fault to ground on a power distribution feeder using hybrid method

There are different branches in power distribution (PD) networks including load taps, laterals, and sub laterals. An accurate method in fault locating is used to improve reliability and efficiency of PD systems. In this paper, a new combined method is proposed for locating double and three phase faults to ground in PD networks. In addition, an impedance-based fault-location algorithm is used to find possible fault locations. Then, the new method using voltage sag matching algorithm is used to determine the faulty section. In this method, an impedance based fault location algorithm is used to determine possible fault locations after the possible fault locations are determined, after occurrence of double and three phase faults to ground. The same fault is simulated separately in possible locations. Then, the voltage at the input of a feeder is saved and the amplitude and angle of the voltage differences are determined. Accordingly, an online data bank is generated. Then, the obtained and recorded amplitude and angle of the voltage differences (at the beginning of the feeder) of the actual fault are compared with that data bank. Real location of fault is determined by matching value of each possible fault location. The proposed method outperforms its other counterparts in terms of locating faults and being less sensitive to the fault resistance.

There are different branches in power distribution (PD) networks including load taps, laterals, and sub laterals. An accurate method in fault locating is used to improve reliability and efficiency of PD systems. In this paper, a new combined method is proposed for locating double and three phase faults to ground in PD networks. In addition, an impedance-based fault-location algorithm is used to find possible fault locations. Then, the new method using voltage sag matching algorithm is used to determine the faulty section. In this method, an impedance based fault location algorithm is used to determine possible fault locations after the possible fault locations are determined, after occurrence of double and three phase faults to ground. The same fault is simulated separately in possible locations. Then, the voltage at the input of a feeder is saved and the amplitude and angle of the voltage differences are determined. Accordingly, an online data bank is generated. Then, the obtained and recorded amplitude and angle of the voltage differences (at the beginning of the feeder) of the actual fault are compared with that data bank. Real location of fault is determined by matching value of each possible fault location. The proposed method outperforms its other counterparts in terms of locating faults and being less sensitive to the fault resistance.