A Physics-Data Driven Approach for Identifying Leakage Users in Low-Voltage Distribution Systems

Abstract

Wiring errors, caused by improper connections between neutral lines and protective earth (PE) lines due to negligence by electrical technicians, are a prevalent type of earth fault in low-voltage distribution systems (LVDS). These errors can cause the load current of affected users to flow back to the transformer's neutral point via the PE line as residual current, leading to nuisance tripping of residual current devices (RCDs). To maintain normal power supply, users may disable RCDs, which compromises safety and can result in severe hazards such as electric shocks and electrical fires. This paper proposes a method to locate users with wiring errors by leveraging abundant metering data within LVDS and utilising leakage fault analysis devices. We construct a linear model of residual current considering multiple error scenarios. Based on this model, a multiple linear regression (MLR) approach is developed to identify and locate anomalous users by analysing the correlation between their load currents and the residual current of the LVDS. Experimental results under various scenarios validate the performance of the proposed method.