A novel fault section location method based on binary global-best harmony search algorithm for electric power distribution systems

Abstract

In response to the demand to improve efficiency and reliability of power system, the growing number of distributed generation (DG) has been implemented in distribution networks, making the networks more complicated. Combined with fault current information collected by feeder terminal unit (FTU) and fault switch function, this paper proposes a binary global-best harmony search algorithm (BGHS) to provide an accurate fault section location method for distribution networks with DG. The proposed algorithm adopts binary coding mode to fit the characteristics of the switch function, and employs the best harmony to perform pitch adjustment that enhances the accuracy and convergence rate. The correctness and feasibility of the algorithm is validated in a test distribution network with DG. The simulation results have shown remarkable accuracy in fault section location. Compared with harmony search (HS) algorithm and genetic algorithm (GA) in terms of number of premature convergences, convergence rate and computation time, the proposed algorithm shows a better performance.