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A robust method for single phase fault location considering distributed

generation and current compensation

Conference Paper · September 2012

DOI: 10.1109/TDC-LA.2012.6319118

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 A robust method for single phase fault location
considering distributed generation and current
compensation
C. Orozco-Henao, J Mora-Flórez Member, and S. Pérez-Londoño, IEEE.
Abstract-- In this paper, a methodology to face the problem of
fault location considering distributed generation is presented. As
one of most relevant characteristic of the proposed method, the
fault current is estimated using the measurements of voltage and
current obtained at the power substation and at the node where
the DG is located. This last measurements avoid the modeling
effort required to represent the power generator, and also it
possibilities to take into account their variations in fault and
prefault steady states. The proposed methodology uses a method
based on the estimation of the fault impedance which considers
the effect of distributed generation and the variation of the load
current. The methodology presented is validated in the IEEE 34-
nodes test system, which is modified to connect one generator in
the longest feeder. Tests are performed considering single phase
faults, resistances from 0 to 40 ohms and distributed generation
participation of 10%. Also, this methodology is validated in three
scenarios: power system considering constant impedance load
models, power system considering constant impedance, current
and power load models and finally a power system considering
the last models load and variations at the customer demand
[50%-120%].
IndexTerms— Fault location, distributed generation, load
estimation, power quality, and power distribution system.
I. NOMENCLATURE
/ : Voltage measured at the power substation.
/ : Current measured at the power substation.
: Voltage measured at the distributed power substation.
: Current measured at the distributed power substation.
: Voltage at bus k.
, : Fault current from bus k to bus F.
, : Fault current from bus (k+1) to bus F.
: Shunt current at bus k during fault steady state
: Current at bus F.
: Fault distance per unit.
This work was developed in ICE3 (Col) Research Group on Power
Quality and System Stability. This work was supported by Vice-Rectory for
Research and Extension of Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira under project
E6-11-12.
C. Orozco-Henao, is assistant researcher at the Universidad Tecnológica
de Pereira, Colombia (Tel/fax: +57 6 3212044, e-mail: caorozco@utp.edu.co).
J. Mora-Flórez, is associated professor at the Universidad Tecnológica de
Pereira, Colombia (Tel/fax: +57 6 3212044, e-mail: jjmora@utp.edu.co).
S. Pérez-Londoño, is associated professor at the Universidad Tecnológica
de Pereira, Colombia (Tel/fax: +57 6 3212044, e-mail: saperez@utp.edu.co).
978-1-4673-2673-5/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
: Self line impedance phase i, with i=(a,b,c).
: Mutual line impedance to phase i, j, with (i≠j).
: Load admittance matrix connecting at bus i.
: Pre-fault votage at bus k.
: Nominal voltage at bus k.
: Coefficient related to constant impedance component.
: Coefficient related to constant current component.
: Coefficient related to constant power component of active
power
: Distance estimated from the power substation to the
faulted node.
nt: Total section analyzed
: The last estimated fault distance
ú
: Length of last analyzed line section.
II. INTRODUCTION
F
rom the current deregulated electric markets, the interest
on the presence of alternative sources at electric power
distribution systems has increased. These generation centers
have introduced new problems on the power system, due to
the presence of phenomena such as bidirectional currents,
which directly affect protection systems [1]. These type of
problems caused a high fault rates and also high fault currents,
which are reflected in the service quality provided by the
utilities.
In general the service quality is related by continuity
indices, which are considered by regulatory agencies. These
indices normally used to quantify the service continuity are the
System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and
System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) [2]. The
most effective way to improve continuity of electricity supply
and therefore these indices, is reducing by the number of
interruptions and the restoration time [3]. Fault location is
used to perform two tasks at the time, by determining the
weak areas and quickly locate them, is possible decreased
interruption and restoration time [4].
Initially, the fault location methods have been developed to
be used in radial power distribution systems. Currently, these
systems have introduced new features such as generation
centers in different parts of the system (distributed generation,
DG), which implies new features not considered by
conventional strategies [5]. Furthermore, these new generation
centers must be accurately modeled and for most of the cases
their parameters are not available. This corresponds to a new
problem to the fault location tasks, as they must determine
ways to consider the effect of these new generation centers.
Some authors have proposed different ways to consider the
effect of distributed generation. Currently, the proposal
 2

accepted in the literature uses DG represented by synchronous A. Analysis for single fault phase to ground
generator model. However, this proposal may be considered as
an approximation since the model used is an approximate Considering a single fault between nodes k and k+1,
model of the synchronous machine and in most of the cases modeled as shown in Fig 2 the equation set (1) for i (i= a, b, c)
the exact parameters of this machine are not well known. is obtained.
Bretas in [6] has presented a first approach with a fault
location method that uses a synchronous generator model to
, ,
represent the effect of DG. However, the method is lacking of ,
robustness, because this strategy does not consider variations
,
in the system. Based on this work, Nunes presents in [7] an , ,
interesting strategy that introduces the effect of DG on the
, ,
load current, using the synchronous generator model with all ,
its parameters known. A different concept is presented by F k+1
k
Marvik in [8] which show a localization strategy that
introduces the effect of distributed generation by two
correction factors. However, this methodology uses the sub-
transient reactance and generator internal voltage, which also
requires of the generator parameters. Fig. 2.Equivalent power system model in the case of single-fault.
The proposal presented in this paper introduces the effect of
distributed generation in the estimation of the current fed to ,
the fault from the DG source. This current is calculated from
, …
the values of voltage and current measured at DG, which
avoids the use of the generator model and as a consequence ,
avoids the use of its parameters. Additionally, variations in the
0 0 1,
load to implement a robust method of fault location are
… 0 0 0 0 (1)
considered. This allows it to be an alternative to locate single
0 0 0 0
phase faults which is simple and easy to apply in real power
distribution systems.
The paper is presented in six sections. In the section III From the first row of (1), (2) is obtained. This depends on the
presents the mathematical development of the proposed fault fault resistance (RF) and the fault distance (m).
location method. Next, the section IV presents the proposed
algorithm for fault location method; in the Section V the tests , , …
and results in a prototype distribution system are analyzed.
… , , 1, 2
Finally, Section VI presents the major findings associated with
this research.
If (2) is divided by , ,
III. METHODOLOGY PROPOSED TO FAULT LOCATION
, , is possible obtain a expression for fault resistance
which considers the imaginary components, as is presented in
The proposed method is developed to consider the main (3).
feeder shown in Fig 1, which is composed by different
laterals, measurements of the fundamental rms values of
∆
voltage and current at the main and DG substations. The main
feeder presents a fault between the nodes k and k+1. , 1, (3)
∆

2
Where,
/ , ,
∆ , , , 4)
/ k F q
k+1
If (3) is replaced in (2) the fault distance (m) is easy
obtained, as presented in (5).

Fig. 1.Model of the faulted power system.

, ,
(5)
The values of voltage and current are estimated for every , , ,

segment of the main feeder using those values measured at the

power substation. Getting these values in each node, is
possible reduce the analysis only for the line section where the
fault is located, as proposed in [9].
 3

IV. PROPOSED ALGORITHM TO ADJUST THE FAULT CURRENT many radials feeders as ending nodes at the power system.
B. Estimation of the values of voltage and current at the
The fault location proposed algorithm is aimed to DG lateral
determine the fault current using the values of voltage and
current measured at DG substation. The method assumes a The use of values of voltage and current measured at the
fault placed in any line section of the power system; hence the main substation and DG has represented a huge advantage to
algorithm must run section by section. The fault current the fault location, since this avoids knowing the state of
between nodes (k+1) and (F) is assumed as the fault current systems before to the fault. In this way, is possible to involve
calculated from DG to the line section in analysis. The the DG effect in the fault current. The strategy assumes a fault
generalized algorithm to estimate the distance fault is at the section line between the nodes (k) and (k+1), as is
presented in Fig.5 and in the literals from A to G. presented in Fig. 1.
Start

Obtain information about system If the power system is analyzed in detail, is possible to
configuration
observe that the current , in the fault section is
Estimate the values of voltage and current at
the nodes of the DG lateral
represented by the current obtained in that section from the
fault values of voltage and current from Generator 2 (DG).
Determinate the set of descriptors and Using the measurements in DG and assuming a configuration
the fault type
of the power system, as is depicted in Fig (6), the values of
Calculation of fault distance
voltage and current in all of the nodes at the feeder are
Analysis for each line section, estimated using (24) and (25).
considered as section in fault.
Current load estimate
2
Does this line section
belong to DG radial. / , / ,
Si No ,

Assume I (k +1, F) as currents Estimate load impedance as seen

in the line section (9) and (10) / k q
estimated with DG measures k+1
with (6) and (7)
Estimate load current with
(32)
Fig.6.Model of the faulted power system used to estimate the load current.
Refinement

Estimate fault resistant (Rf)and The equations (6) and (7) are used to estimate the values of
fault distance (m) voltage and current at fault steady state at node (k+1).
Estimate the current I(k+1,F)

1 (6)
|Ik(k+1,F)- Ik-1(k+1,F)|<tol Not

Yes
, 1 (7)
Update the currents and
mk <1 voltages
Not
Yes

Estimate the real M is a factor that avoids the use of different load type
Distance of the fault
distance to the fault models such as constant current, constant impedance, constant
power and ZIP. M is defined by (8).
Fig. 5. Flow chart of the proposed fault location algorithm
(8)
| | | |
A. Initial information about the power system
For the algorithm presented in Fig (5), at every line section
The information of the power system is obtained from a set
that belongs to DG radial, the current , is assumed as
of descriptors at the utility. In this paper a power system
simulated by EMPT/ATP [10] is used, and the ATPeXchange the current , .
is used as a tool to extract and sort the information of the
power system to finally save it in a standard format [11]. Also,
C. Determination of the set of descriptors and fault type
this tool permits to obtain the different equivalents feeders
from the distribution system, in order to help the methods for a
simple application. The equivalents feeders are a The set of fault descriptors are represented by phasors of
simplification of the power distribution system, and are as voltage and current in fault and prefault steady states, which
 4

are obtained through the values measured at substation and state. From the values of voltage and currents in the line
DG [12]. The fault type is determined by an algorithm section under analysis the fault impedance is calculated, as
proposed in [13] which is applied to the values of voltage and presented in (9).
current measured at the main substation and DG.
, , ,

,
D. Estimation of the fault current ,

, , ,
From the system presented in Fig 1 is possible to establish (9)
,
two fault conditions to estimate the fault current , .

, , ,
1) The fault is assumed upstream the node where the lateral
,
with DG is connected.
The matrix of load impedance as seen at node k is defined
The first condition is presented in Fig 7, where the current
by (10).
, is estimated from the values of voltage and current at
DG, as is presented in B. 0 0
0 0 (10)
0 0
2

According to previous information, the current ,

, depends on the fault distance and the load impedance, and an
/ / , ,
iterative process is required to estimate it. This iterative
/ k F q
process is present at literal E.
k+1

E. Refining process: Estimation of the distance to the

Fig.7.Model of the faulted power system with DG downstream the fault fault, the fault resistance and update current , .

2) The fault is placed downstream the node where the lateral

with DG is connected. The cycle proposed to estimate the fault distance and
resistance is based in a recursive process to calculate the
The second condition is presented in Fig 8, where the DG current , , due this is one which have a remarkable
effect is considered when the values of voltage and current in influence of parameter to the fault location.
the node where the source is connected are actualized.
Therefore the current , is realized through the load The iterative process begins considering initial values of the
impedance seen from the segment analyzed to the node in unknown variables as current , , as presented in (11).
fault, so the current , depends on the fault distance (m). The proposed method defines the current direction from the
node to the fault, then it is necessary to estimate the current as
, .

2
, 0 0
g ,
0 0 (11)
, 0 0
,
/ , ,

k F Once the fault current , is initialized, the fault

/ k+1
distance and resistance are calculated as presented in section
III and next the current is update using (12). Also it is
multiplied by M to introduce the effect of the load model.
Fig.8.Model of the faulted power system with DG upstream the fault
, 1 (12)
To estimate the load impedance as seen in every node of the
power system is necessary to consider the prefault steady (13)

Next, the current estimated , is necessary to
estimate the difference between the current obtained at the
previous iteration and the actual one, as is presented in (14).
, , (14)
The error to in (14) is the first stopping criterion used by the
iterative process. When the criterion is successfully reached is
necessary to check if the fault distance calculated is less than
the unit. If that is so, distance estimated by the method as is
showed in literal G is found. Otherwise, the values of voltage
and current are actualized as is presented in literal F, and the
process continues on to next line section.
The refinement process is only applied when the fault is
located after the node where the lateral with DG is connected.
Otherwise the fault current is estimated with the current
, calculated in the previous step, as is presented in
literal B.
F. Update the currents and voltages in case of a fault
located farthest the current analyzed line section.
The process to update the currents and voltages is aimed to
calculate the voltage at the actual line section. It is performed
in prefault and fault steady states by using (15) and (16)
respectively.
, (15)
, considering the load models, test feeder considering load
(16)
To update the currents, the nominal admittance in every
lateral is used to estimate the current to next section line
through the values of voltage and current in the actual section
line, as in (17) and (18).
, , (17)
(18)
, ,
The expressions (17) and (18) are redefined by (19) and
(20) only when the analyzed line section has the effect of the
lateral connected to DG.
, , , (19)
(20)
, , ,
5
Where , and , are the currents in pre-fault and
fault from node g to k.
G. Estimate the real distance to the fault
Once the location of the fault is obtained, is necessary
determinate the real distance from substation to the fault. It is
realized by the addition of all of the distances of line sections
from the main substation to the line section where the fault is
located, as is presented in (21).
ú (21)
V. TEST AND RESULTS
A. Test feeder
The 24,9 kV IEEE 34-bus test feeder presented in Fig. 9 is
used to test the fault location approach. The proposed system
contains a three-phase main feeder, single-phase laterals,
multiple conductor gauges, single and three-phase tapped
loads. The test feeder is modeled using ATP and is modified
since a generator is placed in a feeder of the system [14].
Additionally, it connects the Thevenin impedance to DG
which allows varying the current supplied to the circuit and
this way to simulate different DG contributions in the power
system. The loads on the system are modeled as presented in
[15] to validate the robustness of the methodology. In this
system, single phase faults were simulated to fault resistances
between 0Ω and 40Ω. The system has a DG rate of 10%. The
methodology is validated on three stages: test feeder without
models and test feeder with random load variation [50 - 120]
%. The Fig 9 shows the ATP model of the IEEE 34 nodes test
system.
Fig. 9. ATP model of the IEEE 34 nodes test system
The DG percentage (DG%) is defined from equation (22).
 6

2.3% when is considered several model of the load on the

% 100% (22) circuit.
/

The results are shown from performance curves which However, the methodology is developed considering the
show the estimate error of the fault distance versus real fault load model. Fig 12 show the results obtained by considering
distance at different fault resistances. The estimate error of the the load model at the estimation the distance to the fault.
fault distance is calculated by (22).
MBM ,single phase fault
C
1.5
| | RF = 0.005
(22) 1
RF = 8

E rro r [% ]
0.5 RF = 16

0 RF = 24

B. Test feeder without considering load constant -0.5

RF = 32

impedance model. -1
RF = 40

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Fault distance [km]
Validation results obtained for the type single phase fault is Fig. 12. Performance curve in case of single phase faults at the test feeder
shown in Fig. 10. considering the load model in the distance estimation.

MBM C , single phase fault Comparing Fig. 11 with Fig. 12, it is possible to determine
1
an improvement in the estimation of the distance to the fault.
This improvement occurs because the method allows
RF = 0.0005
0.8
RF = 8
considering the percentage of participation of each load
E r r o r [% ]

0.6
RF = 16
model. However, the error in the estimation continues to be
0.4
RF = 24 higher compared to the estimation error in the methodology
0.2
RF = 32 when the circuit does not consider the load models different
0 RF = 40 from constant impedance. This is because the methodology
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 calculates the percentage of load on the circuit for the three
Fault distance[km] types of load models and this percentage is applied to all loads
Fig. 10. Performance curve in case of single phase faults to test feeder without
considering load model.
of the system while the loads just may be of constant
impedance, constant current or power constant.
The method presents good results for this fault type. The
largest error present is 1% which corresponds to an acceptable D. Test feeder considering load models and test feeder
estimation error. with random load variation [50 - 120] %.

C. Test feeder nodes considering several load models. Validation results obtained for the single phase fault
considering several load models and a random load variation
[50% – 120%] are shown in Fig 13.
The IEEE 34-node system has loads distributed in the
following percentages: 34% constant impedance load, 35% MBM , single phase fault
C
constant current and 31% constant power. In Fig.11 show the 1

results obtained with the methodology without considering the 0.8

RF = 0.0005

load models to estimate the distance to the fault. RF = 8

0.6
E rro r [% ]

RF = 16
MBM , single phase fault
C 0.4
2.5 RF = 24

2 RF = 0.005 0.2
RF = 32
1.5
RF = 8
0 RF = 40
E rr o r [% ]

1
RF = 16 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0.5
Fault distance [km]
0 RF = 24
Fig. 13. Performance curve in case of single phase faults considering load
-0.5 RF = 32
models and random load variation [50-120] %.
-1
RF = 40
-1.5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
This methodology shows an excellent performance which
Fault distance [km]
Fig. 11. Performance curve in case of single phase faults at the test feeder considering loads variation.
considering load model.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
At this case the error increases, and this is generated by The fault location proposed methodology can successfully
variation of the load voltage, which is 1% when is not consider the effect of distributed generation, by estimating the
considered different models of the load on the system and current from the voltage and current measurements at the DG.
 7

This contribution allows a simple way to extend any fault
location methodology based on the circuit modeling for
locating faults in power distribution systems with DG.
Also, the use of voltage and current measurements in DG,
avoids the use of the generator model and therefore their
parameters, which in most cases are not available or not well
known. This characteristic makes it a very practical approach
to be easily applied in real power systems.
Finally, the methodology has demonstrated to be robust
being validated in a power distribution system with different
operating scenarios and considering different load models.
The largest estimate error is 1.6%, which is acceptable and
validates the confidence on the methodology.
VII. REFERENCES
[1] S. M. Brahma. A. A. Girgis. (2004). Development of adaptive protection
scheme for distribution systems with high penetration of distributed
generation, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol.: 19, Iss.: 1, Jan.
2004, Pages: 56 – 63.
[2] Philipson L. Lee Willis H.(2005). Understanding electric utilities and
deregulations”. CRC Press. 2 Edition. 2005.
[3] Dugan R. McGranaghan M. (2004). Electrical Power Systems Quality.
Copyright © 2004 the Mcgraw-hill companies. Second edition.
[4] J. Mora-Flórez. (2006). Fault Location in Power Distribution
Systems".Doctoral Thesis, University ofGirona, Spain. 2006.
[5] J. U.Nunes. A. S. Bretas. (2010). An Extended Fault Location
Formulation for Unbalanced Distribution Feeders with Distributed
Generation. Modern Electric Power Systems 2010, Wroclaw, Poland
MEPS’10 – paper P21.
[6] A. S. Bretas and R. H. Salim. (2006). Fault Location in unbalanced DG
Systems using the Positive Sequence Apparent impedance, IEEE
Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, August 2006.
[7] J. U. Nunes. A. S. Bretas. (2010). Impedance-Based Fault Location
Formulation for Unbalanced Primary Distribution Systems with
Distributed Generation. Presented at the Int. Conf. on Power System
Technology. 2010.
[8] S. M. Brahma. (2011). Fault Location in Power Distribution System
with Penetration of Distributed Generation. IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol. 26, No. 3, July 2011.
[9] G. Morales. J. Mora. H. Vargas. (2009). Elimination of Multiple
Estimation for Fault Location in Radial Power Systems by Using
Fundamental Single-End Measurements. IEEE Transactions on power
delivery, Vol. 24, No. 3, 2009.
[10] Alternative Transient Program: ATP/EMTP, Bonneville Power
Administration, 2002. [Online]. Available: http://www.emtp.org/.
[11] A. Bedoya J. Mora S. Pérez.(2012). Estrategia de reducción para la
aplicación generalizada de localizadores de fallas en sistemas de
distribución de energía eléctrica. Revista EIA, 2012.
[12] Pérez-Hernández L. Mora-Flórez J. and Perez-Londoño S. (2010).
Design of an efficient and automated fault simulation tool applied to
electric power systems. In: RevistaDyna. No. 164, pp. 178-188.
[13] H. Peláez J. Mora S. Pérez. (2011). Estrategia colaborativa para la
localización de fallas en sistemas de distribución utilizando medidas en
un terminal. Revista Ingeniería y Competitividad, 2011.
[14] IEEE. Distribution System Analysis Subcommittee. Radial Test Feeders.
Available: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/pes/sacom/ testfeeders. Html.
2000.
[15] A. Herrera-Orozco. J. Mora-Florez, and S. Pérez. “Load modeling for
fault location in distribution systems with distributed generation.”.
Transmission and Distribution Latin America Conference. September,
2012 / Montevideo – Uruguay.
VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Cesar Augusto Orozco Henao. Received his
BSc in Electrical Engineering from
Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP),
Colombia in 2010; M.Sc. in Electrical
Engineeringr from UTP in 2012. He is
currently professor of the Electrical
Engineering School at Universidad
Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia. He is
assistent research at the research group on
Power quality and stability ICE3 (Col).
Interest Areas: Power quality.
Juan José Mora Flórez, Juan Mora-Flórez
received the B.Sc. degree in electrical
engineering from the Industrial University of
Santander (UIS), Bucaramanga, Colombia, in
1996, the M.Sc. degree in electrical power
from UIS in 2001, the M.Sc. degree in
information technolo-gies from the
University of Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain,
in 2003, and the Ph.D. degree in information
technologies and electrical engineering from UdG in 2006.
Currently, he is a associated professor with the Electrical Engineering
School, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia. His
areas of interest are power quality, transient analysis, protective
relaying, and soft computing techniques.
Dr. Mora-Florez is a member of the ICE (Col) Research Group on
Power Quality and System Stability.
S. Pérez-Londoño. Received her BSc in
Electrical Engineering from Universidad
Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Colombia in
2000; M.Sc. in Electrical Engineeringr from
UTP in 2005. She is currently associated
professor of the Electrical Engineering
School at the Universidad Tecnológica de
Pereira, Colombia.
Member of ICE' (Col) research group on
Power quality and stability. Interest Areas: Power quality, power
stability and electric machines.

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