External-Node Fault Location for Branched Power Supply Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fault location methods in branched energy supply networks are inefficient due to the complexity of branched structures, leading to uncertain results and increased maintenance efforts, as they often require direct monitoring of internal nodes which is not feasible and can result in incorrect shutdowns and prolonged downtimes.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing traveling wave fault location principles, where external nodes record and timestamp high-frequency signals, allowing for the determination of potential fault locations by analyzing time differences across paths in the network, eliminating the need for direct monitoring of internal nodes and simplifying data transfer, and using graph theory to map the network structure for accurate fault determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct monitoring of internal nodes is implemented to improve fault location accuracy in branched networks, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and installation requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the monitoring function from internal nodes and relocates it to external nodes. By using traveling wave measurements only at external nodes, the system achieves fault location capability without requiring complex internal node monitoring infrastructure, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces traveling waves as an intermediary mechanism to indirectly detect faults at internal nodes through external node measurements. The traveling waves carry fault information from internal nodes to external nodes, enabling remote fault detection without direct monitoring equipment at the fault location
2Ease of operation
If traditional fault location methods are used in branched networks, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability of fault detection deteriorates due to incorrect shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional impedance-based electrical measurement methods with traveling wave-based detection. This substitution provides more reliable fault detection in branched networks by using high-frequency transient signals that propagate clearly through the network topology, eliminating the ambiguity that causes incorrect shutdowns while maintaining operational simplicity
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive data collection from all nodes is performed to improve fault location accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases due to complex data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential traveling wave arrival time data from external nodes, discarding the need for comprehensive data collection from all nodes. This selective data extraction reduces processing complexity and time while maintaining fault location accuracy by focusing only on the critical timing information carried by traveling waves
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables precise fault location with reduced data requirements and minimal equipment installation, improving accuracy and reducing maintenance efforts by leveraging the speed of traveling waves and graph theory for efficient path analysis in complex network topologies.
Implementation Method 1
the high-frequency signal components generated during the fault, which appear in the form of so-called 'traveling waves,' are considered for fault location. The high-frequency traveling wave edges are measured and assigned a time stamp. Since the propagation speed of the traveling waves is approximately the speed of light
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the fault location of a fault on a faulty line of a power supply network (10), which has a plurality of lines (10a-g), a plurality of internal nodes (K6-K8) and at least three external nodes (K1-K5), wherein the external nodes (K1-K5) each define a line and are equipped with measuring devices (30) with which high-frequency current and/or voltage signals are measured, wherein in the method, on the faulty line, respective times of arrival of traveling waves at the external nodes (K1-K5) are detected on the basis of the measured high-frequency current and/or voltage signals and the fault location is determined using the detected times.To enable fault location using simple means, it is proposed that one of the outer nodes (K1-K5) be selected as the starting node for the fault location search. From this starting node, paths to the other outer nodes (K1-K5) are determined, and those paths on which the fault location could theoretically be situated are selected. For each of the selected paths, a line on which the fault location could theoretically be situated is determined using the respective arrival times of the traveling waves, and a potential fault location is determined for each identified line. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out such a method.