Various Algorithms to Detect Faults on Underground Cables Based on Impedance Method

Abstract

Nowadays, the rapid detection of short-circuit faults in the distribution network is very necessary aiming to increase the reliability of the electric network. The shorter the time of detection of faults is, the faster the recovery of the normal operation of the distribution network is. However, this task contains a challenge due to the complexity of distribution networks that are using both overhead and underground cables. Recently, many research activities are presented to detect the short-circuit fault in a distribution network and classified into three catalogs: (i) time domain reflection, (ii) traveling wave method, and (iii) impedance method. However, the first two methods have a very high investment cost, thus they are not used widely in distribution networks even their efficiency performance is confirmed. Therefore, this paper aims to study on many algorithms; e.g. Tagaki, Saha, Personal Algorithm; which are developed based on the last method, then a program is implemented in Matlab Simulink in order to test various algorithms. Moreover, these algorithms are tested with two real underground cables in the Center of Vietnam to figure out the best algorithm for the real application in Vietnam.