Determining the Location and Cause

of Faults In Power Distribution

System With an Arc Voltage
Evaluation Method
Mario Tremblay
Researcher
Hydro-Quebec (IREQ)
tremblay.mario@ireq.ca
 Plan of the Presentation

1. Introduction to the Techniques

2. Use Case Examples
3. Feeder Maintenance Use Example
Introduction to
the Techniques
Recognition & Location of Non-Persistent Fault
Goals:
• Avoid outages
• Enhance quality of service
• Improve vegetation control
• Do a better targeted maintenance

Where is the N-P F ?

Needs:
• Accurate fault location technique Substation
• Reduction of fault location possibilities
• Identification of the cause of fault

4
Voltage Drop Fault Location (VDFL) Technique
ELECTRICAL NETWORK FAULT
LOCATION BY DISTRIBUTED
VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS
Substation
• Fault location technique using
distributed PQ Monitors US 8,269,503 ME1
V1
Vi(012)
− Average of 4 per feeder
• Voltage Drop Triangulation gives: 3-phase Z1 Id Z1 Id
− The faulty lateral tap symmetrical
component
− The fault location phasors V2
− The voltage at fault location (0,1,2)
( Power Arc Amplitude Vd ) Z2 Id Z2
• Power Arc Amplitude is proportional
to the plasma channel length, V3
ME2
which, combined with other Z3
information, gives good indication of Z3 Id
the cause of non-persistent fault ME3

Vr(012)
× Vd
Vd

5
Use of Transformer Meter Devices

6
 Fault Cause Recognition Technique
Aj
Power Arc Length ∏w i1 FC1

Possible Fault Causes

i
One Phase w1 j
Two Phases
∏w
Weighting (w)

FC j
1.0

Three Phases ij
wij i
Fault Duration
Amplitude (A)
Short Time Repetition

Snow, Rain and Ice wnj

Wind Gust Speed ∏w
i
im FCm
Temperature

7
Use Case Examples
Example 1 – Conductor Swing
Observations:
 0 kV phase to phase
 Wind speed of 26 mph
 Non-permanent fault

Identified cause of fault:

Excessive conductor swing
(Gallop)
9
Google Earth EC View of the Fault

VDFL fault location

at 9 miles from
substation

Substation

10
 Zoom In

Real Fault
Location

Wind Direction

11

11
Down to « Street View »

Wind direction

Possible excessive
conductor swing?

12
Field Follow-up the Next Day

13
Example 2 – Vegetation Contacts
Observations:
 1.5 kV phase to phase
 Wind speed of 32 mph

Identified cause of fault :

Vegetation Contacts
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 Fault Location
VDFL fault location
at 13.4 miles

Measurements

15
 Zoom In

VDFL locations

Wind Direction

Real Fault
Location

16
Google « Street View »

17
Picture of Fault Location

Vegetation
Contacts

18
 Zoom In

Visible Burns

19
Central Conductor View

20
Field Side Conductor View

21
Feeder Maintenance Use
Example
 HTD 236 Experience
 Outage frequency reduced by 51%
 SAIDI index reduced by 61%
 Outages of unknown causes
reduced by 92%
 1M$ of unnecessary investment
avoided

Ranked among the worst feeders of 2006 and 2007

Average of 180 outages annually

23
Questions?