Fault management algorithm for voltage feeder automation in electricity distribution

Abstract

The term Distribution Automation (DA) generally refers to a distribution network which is equipped with the advanced technologies dedicated for purposes such as, ease of real time monitoring and controlling, reliability improvement management, integrating of distribution network and electricity market operation. Improving the reliability of electric power delivered to the end users is one of the main targets of employing distribution automation. Therefore, developing autonomous fault isolation and power restoration system for Low Voltage (LV) distribution can be an attractive reliability enhancement solution for the electric utilities. Manual operated LV distribution network has several activities in fault management. Most of the activities are unwanted time consuming activities due to the lack of automation in the LV distribution network. Time duration for fault management activities in manual operation has been measured in order to validate the proposed automation system. Electrical utility industries are not focusing on automating LV distribution system due to the complexity of the LV distribution network feeders. A low cost and simple system has introduced by the authors as the first step. A new algorithm for fault detection, isolation and power restoration to the healthy section was introduced. Initial step of the algorithm is to separate the faulty section which is occurred either sides of the adjoining switch. Second part is the faulty section finding algorithm. Third step is power restoration algorithm for faultless section and at the end reset the system. The proposed algorithm is an open algorithm and hence electric utilities can be used it for LV feeder automation easily. Accuracy of the proposed algorithm was checked with the developed prototype system.