Power Fault Location Using Current Flow Direction and Voltage Phase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power systems face challenges in accurately identifying the location and phase of power faults, particularly in systems with multiple generators and complex grounding configurations.
Innovation Solution
A power system that includes line current sensors, system control modules, and controllers to measure power flow directions and voltage measurements, enabling the determination of fault location and phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional equipment is installed to improve fault detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing current sensors and voltage measurement devices perform multiple functions: they not only monitor normal power flow but also detect fault conditions by analyzing power flow direction reversals and voltage changes. This eliminates the need for dedicated fault detection equipment while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing measurement infrastructure (current sensors and voltage devices) to detect faults, rather than requiring separate specialized equipment. The normal monitoring components serve dual purposes: routine power flow monitoring and fault detection, reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If existing sensors are used for both normal operation and fault detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent detects faults by monitoring changes in power flow direction and voltage parameters rather than relying on absolute threshold values. This approach allows the same sensors used for normal operation to effectively detect faults by identifying reversals in power flow direction and significant voltage changes, maintaining precision without requiring additional equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods, and computing platforms for determining a fault in a power system, executing on a controller are disclosed. Exemplary implementations can receive, from the plurality of system control modules, a plurality of power flow directions as measured by the plurality of line current sensors, receive, from the plurality of system control modules, a plurality of voltage measurements based on measurements of a plurality of potential transformers, determine a location of a power fault using the plurality of power flow directions, and determine a phase of the power fault using the plurality of voltage measurements.