Prototype travelling wave fault locator for a distribution system

Principal Investigator: Dr D Thomas

Ends: 30 May 2005

Value: £23000

Accurate travelling wave fault locators, using the recorded time of arrival of transients at several substations on long EHV power lines, have been successfully used for some time. Fault location can be provided by comparing the arrival time of the initial transients at substation A and substation B and using the known propagation velocity of the transients. In some instances, however, recorded transients may only be available from one substation. The objectives of this project are to develop a travelling wave fault location scheme that uses the recorded fault current transients from only one substation on a distribution system of relatively short lines and to build a prototype fault locator to be installed on a distribution system. Even for simple systems the transients are very complex and the identification of the correct wave fronts is not trivial. 10 kV distribution system travelling-wave faulted line selection and single ended fault location scheme, specially designed for the distribution system China. Sponsored by Shandong Provincial Further Education Office. Hardware of the prototype demonstration rig will be built. The rig will have the following basic functions:1.25 MHz, 12 channels (4 lines, 3 phases per line), travelling-wave current data high speed sample for single ended travelling-wave fault location, preset over-threshold self-trig and/or external signal trig, communication between Microprocessor and PC. The new rig will be fully tested and evaluated in the laboratory at the University of Nottingham. Following successful evaluation a commissioning stage will be implemented in China. The work should also provide valuable data for research and analysis at Nottingham.