ABB Substation Automation Oy

Fault Location

ABB FISUB, Slide (1) 31.5.2001

General

Initial investment not necessarily high, a system can be built up with long term plan

Investigate network, decide principle

Build up a long term plan on DA in general Goal: Improve the quality of network

ABB FISUB, Slide (2) 31.5.2001

Fault Location Priciples

2

main location principles

by fault indicators

Location

Location

by calculated fault distance

Combination

of location by fault indicators and calculated fault distance

ABB FISUB, Slide (3) 31.5.2001

Fault Location By fault indicators

Fault Indicator operated Fault Indicator not operated Distribution Transformer Main Feeder A
RMU 1

Main Feeder B Secondary Line

RMU 5

NOP
RMU 2 RMU 3

RMU 4

ABB FISUB, Slide (4) 31.5.2001

Fault Location by fault indicators

A

RMU 1

RMU 5

NOP
RMU 2 RMU 3

RMU 4

ABB FISUB, Slide (5) 31.5.2001

A Fault has happened in the network, the Fault Indicators of mainlines in RMU1 and RMU2 has operated. The program suggest to operator to open switch RMU2_OUT and RMU3_IN, to isolate fault, and close switch RMU 4_out and Breaker in feeder A to restore network. This can also be executed by pressing Step button

Fault Location by fault indicators

The program concludes from the operated fault indicators the faulty section of the networks. This section is highlighted.

ABB FISUB, Slide (6) 31.5.2001

Fault Location by fault indicators

After the requested switching sequence have been executed the outage area has been minimized to main line between RMU2 and RMU3.

RMU 1

RMU 5

NOP
RMU 2 RMU 3

RMU 4

ABB FISUB, Slide (7) 31.5.2001

Location by calculated fault distance

Main Substation
B1 D1 D2

Main feeder with relay that record fault current value

Disconnector closed Disconnector Open MV/LV transformer

D4 D3

ABB FISUB, Slide (8) 31.5.2001

Location by calculated fault distance

B1 D1 D2

D4 D3

ABB FISUB, Slide (9) 31.5.2001

A fault has occurred in the feeder. A protection relay has tripped the breaker and sent fault current value to program. The program will calculate the distance and propose possible fault places. The faulty sections will be colored differently. The program suggest steps to restore maximum part of network.

Location by calculated fault distance

The operator must by testing determine the faulty feeder. After that the network can be restored to maximum.

B1 D1 D2

D4 D3

ABB FISUB, Slide (10) 31.5.2001

Combined fault location

Main Substation
B1 D1 D2

Main feeder with relay that record fault current value

Disconnector closed Disconnector Open MV/LV transformer Fault ind. not operated

D4 D3

Fault ind. operated

ABB FISUB, Slide (11) 31.5.2001

Combined fault location

The situation is same as earlier, but the indicator information will give information that fault must be in only one branch which will be colored differently.

B1 D1 D2

D4 D3

ABB FISUB, Slide (12) 31.5.2001

Combined fault location

Network can be restored directly.
B1 D1 D2

D4 D3

ABB FISUB, Slide (13) 31.5.2001

Fault Location Principles

Location by fault indicators

Based on on/off information from fault indicators High initial investment due to fault indicators

Good for city cable networks with short distances

Less requirements on relays For Radial and Meshed networks

Location by calculated fault distance

Based on information from protection relays in main feeders and database information of the network. Low initial investment, high demand on network information

ABB FISUB, Slide (14) 31.5.2001

Good for countryside network with long lines

Accuracy depending on the condition of the network and the accuracy of the network database. For radial network only

Fault Location Principles

Combination of location by fault indicators and calculated fault distance

The systems supplement each others weaknesses

Investments on equipment and requirements on network database is high.

The result is the most reliable and the information from the network the most complete

ABB FISUB, Slide (15) 31.5.2001