Power Network Fault Location Using Phase Angle Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fault location methods in power networks require a large number of measurement units, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that reduces the number of measurement units by dividing the power network into areas bounded by measurement points, using phase angle analysis to determine fault location based on voltage and current measurements made at synchronized time points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phase displacement method is used for fault location, then fault location can be determined, but the number of measurement units required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power network is divided into multiple areas, with each area monitored by a dedicated measurement unit. This segmentation allows fault location determination using fewer measurement units compared to monitoring the entire network with individual measurement points, directly reducing the total number of measurement units required while maintaining measurement precision for fault location
Solution Approach 2:
Each measurement unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors voltage, current, and power flow, and can determine fault locations within its designated area. This multi-functionality allows a single measurement unit to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate measurement devices, reducing the overall quantity of measurement units needed in the network
2Measurement precision
If more measurement points are deployed, then fault location accuracy improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the network into areas and assigning measurement units to specific areas rather than deploying measurement points throughout the entire network, the system achieves sufficient fault location accuracy with fewer measurement units, thereby reducing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement units act as intermediaries that collect and process data from multiple points within their designated areas. This intermediary approach allows accurate fault location determination without requiring direct measurement points at every potential fault location, simplifying the overall system architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A fault location determining arrangement in a power network obtains a voltage based on processing of a voltage measurement VM made by a measurement collecting unit in the network node that is associated with a measurement point at which the measurement is made, obtains a number of currents based on processing of current measurements made by measurement collecting units in network nodes associated with measurement points at which the measurements are made, where the current measurements are made at the same point in time as the voltage measurement, compares each current with a current threshold, determines a number of phase angles based on the voltage and all currents, each phase angle being a phase angle between the voltage and a different current, analyses, for each current, whether it crosses the threshold and the phase angle to the voltage and determines, based on the analysis, if a fault F has occurred in the power network and an area in which the fault has occurred.