A Novel Method for the Location of High Impedance Faults

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Gautam, Suiksha

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Centeno, Virgilio A.
• Liu, Chen-Ching

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kekatos, Vasileios

• HIF
• Harmonics
• Mutual Impedance

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:40929

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119207