Parametric Method of Fault Location in Distribution Networks

Abstract

Distribution networks occupy an important place in the power transmission system. Despite the fact that emergency operating conditions in such networks are primarily of a local nature and bring less financial and material losses than damage of high-voltage transmission systems, the flow of emergency events in the former is several orders of magnitude higher than in the latter, which considerably affects the total reliability of power supply. The most frequent occurrence in this flow of emergency events is a single-phase ground fault (SGF); its frequency is many times higher than that of other emergency conditions. The event is often not noticed by operators (dispatchers) of the distribution network, because a fault may be an arcing ground (SAGF) self-removable due to self-quenching of the arc. In addition, after the clearing of the SAGF-damaged outgoing feed lines and their reclosure, the normal operating conditions of the network are recovered due to self-recovery of the insulation properties of the transmission lines. This behavior of a network with an insulated and resonancegrounded neutral undoubtedly provides enhanced reliability of power supply. Single-phase arcing faults are connected with the exis