A voltage-based fault location algorithm for medium voltage active distribution systems

• Published in: Electric power systems research 2021-07, Vol.196, p.107236, Article 107236
• Main Authors: Arsoniadis, Charalampos G., Apostolopoulos, Christos A., Georgilakis, Pavlos S., Nikolaidis, Vassilis C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active distribution systems; Distributed generation; Fault location; Synchronized measurements
• ISSN: 0378-7796; 1873-2046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epsr.2021.107236

•A fault location algorithm based on standard bus-impedance matrix and fault theory is proposed for application in active distribution systems.•Synchronized voltage measurements from only two measurement points inside the distribution system are required.•The proposed fault location algorithm is adequate for all types of common faults and all types of DG units (i.e. synchronous-machines-based and inverter-interfaced units).•Simulation results show a good performance of the fault location algorithm under various pre-fault operation conditions of a test distribution system. This paper addresses a fault location algorithm appropriate for unbalanced medium voltage overhead distribution systems with or without distributed generation. The proposed algorithm utilizes only synchronized voltage measurements from two measurement points inside the distribution system. The algorithm accurately estimates the fault position for any type of short-circuit faults by applying fundamental bus-impedance-matrix-based fault analysis. Fault resistance is considered in the algorithm but not explicitly included in the bus impedance matrix. Simulation results show a good performance of the fault location algorithm under various pre-fault operation conditions of a test distribution system.