A Novel Fault Identification and Localization Scheme for Bipolar DC Microgrid

Abstract

Traditional fault detection and location schemes become ineffective for detecting and locating the fault in DC microgrid systems due to integrating various types of power electronic-based DC loads and generators. To resolve this issue, advanced, intelligent, specialized fault detection and location schemes are necessary. This article suggests a novel fault detection scheme based on the difference in the teager energy available in the DC current wave at sending and receiving ends of lines. After the detection of the fault, the location is calculated by estimating the resistance of the cable up to the fault point as well as the total resistance of the cable, with the help of least square technique. The proposed scheme decides fault is internal if the estimated fault location is less than 1 p.u. Otherwise, the proposed scheme decides fault is external. A DC microgrid with different types of generating units and loads is simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK to evaluate the developed algorithm. Internal and external faults, pole-to-ground and pole-to-pole faults with changing fault resistance and fault location are some of the fault scenarios that have been simulated. The obtained simulation results prove that the suggested algorithm can discriminate between internal and external faults and locate the fault. The proposed technique is also examined on a DC microgrid hardware testbed and results show the efficiency of the suggested approach.