FAULT LOCATION ON A DISTRIBUTION FEEDER USING FAULT GENERATED HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENT SIGNATURES

Abstract

This paper describes how the fault generated travelling waves detected in the current signals at a single location on a distribution feeder can be used for fault location. The method identifies the fault section and the probable location of the fault by comparing the relative distance of each “peak” in the high frequency current signals to the known reflection points in the distribution feeder. The probable fault location is then used within a transient power system simulator that models the actual network. The resulting simulated current waveforms are then cross-correlated against the original signal. If the estimated fault location is correct, the high frequency signatures in the simulated waveform will be similar to those of the measured waveforms and the cross-correlation value will be a high positive value. If the signatures differ, the cross correlation value will be negative or small. The simulation and correlation process is repeated with the next “most likely” fault location until a high degree of correlation is obtained. Simulation studies using PSCAD/EMTDC and analysis using cross-correlation suggest that this method can accurately locate a fault on a distribution feeder using measurements at a single location.