High‐impedance fault detection in electrical power distribution systems using moving sum approach

Abstract

High‐impedance faults (HIFs) in electrical power distribution systems produce a very random, non‐linear and low‐magnitude fault current. The conventional overcurrent (OC) relaying‐based distribution system protection schemes find difficulty in detecting such low‐current HIFs. In this study, a simple two criteria‐based protection scheme is proposed for detection and isolation of HIFs in multi‐feeder radial distribution systems. It utilises one‐cycle sum of superimposed components of residual voltage for HIF detection and the maximum value of one‐cycle sum of superimposed components of negative‐sequence current for faulted feeder identification. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated for a wide variety of possible test cases by generating data through power systems computer‐aided design/electro‐magnetic transient design and control software. Results clearly show that the proposed scheme can assist conventional OC relay for detection and isolation of HIFs in distribution systems with any grounding connections in a more reliable and faster way.