A fast automatic detection and classification of voltage magnitude anomalies in distribution network systems using PMU data

Abstract

Timely anomaly detection and classification in voltage signals for distribution systems allows the design of preventive and corrective actions to avoid damage or loss of equipment. In this paper, an approach that combines a robust recurrence quantification analysis (RRQA) for features’ extraction that allows anomaly detection and classification through a multiclass support vector machine (SVM) algorithm is proposed. This approach is robust to noise, is free a filtering stage, has a low computational burden and is easy to interpret, becoming viable for online monitoring of distribution systems. For its validation, case studies with the presence of voltage magnitude anomalies (VMA) events that occur during normal operation conditions are analyzed. Thus, synthetic records generated through a Monte Carlo model are compared with other algorithms based on similar strategies. Finally, the proposed approach is assessed using PMU records installed in a distribution system to show its performance in a real world environment.