Accurate Fault Detection of Distribution Network with Optimal Placement of Phasor Measurement Unit

Abstract

With increasing power system complexities, fault becomes more common which makes the equipments and workers exposed to catastrophes. Previously supervisory control and data acquisition(SCADA) system were used to monitor and detect fault in power system, but it's lower sampling rate makes it inappropriate to use. This paper presents an improved approach for fault detection in distribution line. The proposed method uses Phasor Measurement Units (PMU)to detect fault quickly and operate the circuit breakers(CB) to ensure system stability and security. For this purpose 30 kW generating station feeding power to 10 km distribution line with a step up transformer (208/11 kV) and a 24 kW solar photovoltaic(PV)module is used here. PMU's are installed at synchronous generator, PV grid, and load buses respectively. The data from the PMU are aligned and planned to IEEE C37.118 format before transmitted to the Phasor data concentrator. Here, positive sequence phase locked loop (PLL) based PMU is used to measure the power system parameters like voltage, frequency, and phase respectively. The large deviation in any parameter can be used to trigger the CB. Quick and Accurate fault detection in the distribution network eliminates any big catastrophic effect and saves from monetary loss. The performance of the proposed model can be evaluated by calculating Total Vector Error of the PMU and then comparing it with IEEE C37.118 standards. Proposed scheme also provides optimal placement of PMU in the given system.