A New Fault Monitoring and Location System for

Overhead Distribution Networks

Tony Yip1*, Shanzhong Fang2, Bingyin Xu2, Bill Kibart3
1
R&D Department, Kehui Power Automation Co. Ltd., Zibo, China
2
Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
3
Kehui International Ltd., Ware, U.K.
*htyip@kehui.com

Keywords: Fault passage indicator, Compensated network, Transient based fault detection

Abstract
A new fault monitoring and location system is available for load monitoring and fault detection of overhead distribution lines.
Acquisition units (AUs) are mounted on all three phases and communicate with a data collection unit (DCU) at the bottom of
the pole using short-range wireless communications. The DCU communicates with a remote master station through the mobile
network, thus forming a complete fault monitoring and location system for the distribution network. The system provides high
speed sampling of three-phase voltage and current signals through innovative sensors, the samples are synchronized through
communications by the DCU. When a fault occurs, disturbance records are sent by the AUs to the DCU, so that zero sequence
components can be calculated. This feature allows the system to detect high impedance earth faults. High speed sampling also
allows transients of the signals to be derived, so that the system can be applied to unearthed and compensated networks. For
such networks the earth fault current magnitude is insignificant, but there is a dominant transient signal which can be used to
identify the faulty line and the faulty section.

The technology used in this system and the transient-based fault detection technique are detailed in this paper. Staged fault tests
were performed on a feeder with compensated earthing. Actual site fault records were also obtained. The results are presented.

1 Introduction 2 A new fault location system

Power interruptions cause significant economic losses in
highly electrified countries. More than 70% of interruptions
occur within MV distribution networks. Faults are the major
power interrupting sources. Around 2 to 5% of the faults are
of high impedance type, caused by downed conductor or tree
contact, which pose significant hazards to humans and animals.
For unearthed and compensated distribution networks, low
earth fault currents also create a lot of challenges in fault
detection.
When a fault occurs on a distribution feeder, quick
identification of a faulted section is important so that the
section can be isolated and the supply restored to minimize
disruptions. Traditional fault passage indicators (FPIs)
mounted on overhead lines provide local indication of the
passage of fault currents, so that the faulted section can be
identified. They are relatively inexpensive, but their capability
is limited. FPIs have since gone through a number of
evolutions [1]. Communications are added for integrating with
the SCADA system. New voltage and current sensors are
developed. Protection and automation functions are added.
However, their applications to isolated and compensated
networks are still limited, as the earth fault current is
insignificant. As technologies mature, new devices are being
developed with improved performance and capability.
A new fault monitoring and location system is available for
load monitoring and fault detection of overhead distribution
lines. Acquisition units (AUs) are mounted on all three phases
and communicate with a data collection unit (DCU) at the
bottom of the pole using short-range wireless communications.
The DCU communicates with a remote master station through
the mobile network, thus forming a complete fault monitoring
and location system for the distribution network. The system
is as shown in Figure 1.
Wireless sensors
Power supply
GPRS RF
Data Concentrator
DA Workstation
Figure 1 A new fault monitoring and location system

The acquisition units are powered by the line currents,

requiring a minimum of 4A. A supercapacitor is used as energy
storage device which can sustain power for over 12 hours if

1
 0
line current is not available. Four red LEDs provide 360 distribution network topology built-in. All the devices in the
visibility for fault indications. Current measurement is through field are mapped to the appropriate locations of the network.
Rogowski coil, whereas voltage measurement is derived from Under system healthy conditions, real-time line voltage and
an electric field sensor. It is a capacitive device as shown in the load current measurements of the monitored locations can
Figure 2, which captures the vertical electric field strength be displayed. Under fault conditions, the master station
from the phase conductor to ground by induction [2]. software receives waveforms from all the units which have
triggered. It then performs waveform comparison to decide on
Overhead Phase Conductor the faulty feeder and the faulty section. The fault section will
be indicated in the network diagram, as shown in Figure 4.
Contact capacitor
The server also provides a data transfer service which allows
Sampling Acquisition other PCs to access the on-line measurements and fault
capacitor unit location information.

Equivalent Collection Unit (1)

capacitor to
ground
Cloud Server with
static IP address

Figure 2 Vertical electric field transducer producing the Collection Unit (n)
equivalent phase voltage

The unit provides 80 samples per cycle high speed sampling

of three-phase voltage and current signals, the samples are
synchronized through communications by the DCU. For
solidly earthed and low impedance earthed network, the fault
current is sufficiently large to trigger the acquisition units to Figure 3 Mobile communications to the server
give fault indications. The unit is triggered by change of
current to eliminate the risk of false triggering due to load
fluctuations. However, for isolated and compensated network,
where the earth fault current is insignificant, a different fault
detection technique is required.
When a fault occurs causing voltage depression, disturbance
records are sent by the acquisition units to the DCU, so that
zero sequence components can be calculated. This feature
allows the system to detect high impedance earth faults. High
speed sampling allows the transients of the signals to be
derived, so that the system can be applied to unearthed and
compensated networks. For such networks the earth fault
current magnitude is insignificant, but there is a dominant
Figure 4 Master station interface showing the network
transient signal which can be used to identify the faulty line
and the faulty section. This identification is through a topology, measurements and fault location
waveform comparison process performed by the master station
software, which compares the waveforms from different nodes 4 Short circuit fault detection criteria
on the feeder to determine the faulty section. Thus,
communications to the master station is an important process Short-circuit faults refer to multi-phase faults on non-solidly
for the effective operation of the system. earthed systems, and all fault types on solidly earthed and low-
impedance earthed systems. In all cases, the fault current is
3 Mobile communications to the master sufficiently large to be detected by the acquisition units.
When a short-circuit fault occurs on the line, the acquisition
station units along the fault path detect the change of current. As
shown in Figure 5, it rises due to the short-circuit fault and
Each data collection unit is equipped with a mobile data SIM
drops off due to the circuit breaker operation. When the current
card, which is configured to communicate to a server. The
is zero for a period longer than the setting t2 (permanent fault
communication is through TCP/IP protocol over the mobile
operating time), it can be determined that the line has a
network, which requires the server to have a static IP address.
permanent short-circuit fault. When the current is zero for less
The server runs the master station software with the
than the setting t2, it means that the circuit breaker reclosure is

2
successful and the current has returned to its normal operating
value. From this, it can be determined that the line has a
transient short-circuit fault.

Figure 6 Phase voltage and current fault waveforms for non-

effectively earthed system

The acquisition units use the voltage depression △V to trigger

three-phase disturbance records to be sent to the DCU. This
allows the DCU to compose the zero-sequence voltage and
current signals. The record with the zero sequence signals is
then sent to the master station for earth fault detection analysis.

Figure 5 Permanent and transient fault current behaviour

For a permanent fault, the indication light is on (i.e., flashing)

which is self-reset after the supply is restored. For a transient
fault, the indication light is on for a long duration (maximum
48 hours, settable) to allow the operator to check its location
before the indication is self-reset. Since the indication is on
only after the circuit breaker operation, it avoids false
indication due to line energisation, load switching and
transformer inrush conditions.

5 Earth fault detection for isolated and Figure 7 Voltage and current for faults on non-effective
compensated networks earthed system
A single-phase-to-earth fault for a non-solidly earthed system
The phenomenon of a single-phase-to earth fault occurring on
has the following characteristics:
a non-solidly earthed system is as follows:
a) The voltage of the faulted phase has a severe voltage
a) Before the single-phase-to-earth fault occurs, the zero-
depression.
sequence voltage and current are very small, caused only
b) A high frequency transient signal appears in the phase
by the unbalance of the system.
current. The fundamental magnitude of the phase current,
b) During the fault, the faulty phase voltage reduces in
however, may only have a small increase or may remain
magnitude, whereas the two healthy phases experience a
unchanged.
rise in voltage (maximum √3x Vn) , thus creating a zero-
sequence voltage. High frequency current transients also
occur on the faulty phase, with the instantaneous
magnitude reaching △I, which lasts for less than 20ms.
This also creates a transient zero sequence current.
c) After 20ms, the system moves from a transient condition
to a steady state condition, the transient current subsides,
the phase current now has only a small variation in
magnitude compared to its pre-fault state.

3
 compensated 10kV network were also obtained. The results
are presented in the following sections.

6.1 Staged test for line falling onto wet grass

A-phase of a 10kV compensated line was broken and was let
to fall onto ground with wet grass. The recorded waveforms
and the derived zero sequence signals are as shown.

Figure 8 Zero sequence current behaviour during faults for

non-effectively earthed system

The high frequency zero-sequence current exhibits the

following behaviour on the distribution network, which can be
used by the master station to locate the faulty line and the
faulty section;
a) The polarity of the current signal on the faulty line is
different from those of the healthy lines
b) The magnitude and polarity of the current signals before
and after the fault are different.
Figure 10 Staged test – compensated line falling on wet grass

As can be seen, the fault current is not very high, around 16A
Healthy Line
rms. There are voltage increases in the two healthy phases,
creating a significant zero sequence voltage.
Because of the high fault impedance, a lot of the fault
Healthy Line transients from the zero-sequence current are suppressed.
However, there is sufficient transient at the moment of fault
inception for the signal to be processed.
Faulty Line
6.2 Staged test for a solid earth fault

Non-solidly earthed A solid earth fault was applied to the A-phase of a

distribution system compensated line. Three sets of acquisition units were installed,
Figure 9 Transient waveforms at all the nodes of a two upstream and one downstream from the fault. The
distribution network during earth faults recordings from the three units are shown sequentially in the
following figures. As can be seen, there are obvious transient
Waveform comparison is through a formula below which signals observed in the zero-sequence currents for all units. It
computes the correlation coefficient of the two signals [3]. The is also obvious that the transient signals of the first two units
correlation coefficient indicates the level of their similarity. are in-phase and the third unit is out-of-phase. This allows the
For healthy sections, ρ should be greater than 0.7. A faulty master station to determine that the fault is between the second
section consists of signals at both ends which are different, ρ and the third units. This is indicated in the network diagram,
should be less than the threshold. as shown in Figure 14. The master station also sends a
command to the first two units to flash their LEDs.
2
(∑𝑁
𝑘=1 𝑖𝑥 (𝑘)𝑖𝑦 (𝑘))
𝜌 = ∑𝑁 2 𝑖=𝑁 2 （1）
𝑘=1 𝑖𝑥 (𝑘) ∑𝑖=1 𝑖𝑦 (𝑘)

where k is the sampling sequence, N is the length of the data

window, x and y represent the two waveforms

6 Fault records from staged fault test and from

site
Actual fault records from the units were obtained during staged
tests on a compensated test feeder. Records from a utility’s

4

Figure 11 Record from the first unit on a compensated test
feeder for solid fault
Figure 12 Record from the second unit on a compensated test
feeder for solid fault
Figure 13 Record from the third unit on a compensated test
feeder for solid fault
Figure 14 Test network diagram giving fault indications
6.3 Actual earth fault on a compensated 10kV feeder
An actual earth fault has occurred on a utility’s compensated
10kV feeder with the device installed. There are obvious
transient signals present in the zero-sequence current. The A-
phase voltage has a severe depression, and there is a significant
zero sequence voltage. The cause of the fault is not yet known,
but is suspected to be due to tree contact, with arcs coming on
and then self-extinguished.
Figure 15 Actual fault from a utility’s 10kV network
7 Conclusions
A new fault monitoring and location system is available for
distribution overhead lines. Apart from performing traditional
fault passage indicator functions, it has more advanced
features allowing it to detect high impedance faults, and to be
applied to isolated and compensated networks. The design of
the system and the communications are explained in this paper.
The fault detection algorithms are also depicted. Actual fault
records from staged test and from the utility’s installation are
also shown.
8 References
[1] Calone, R., Cerretti, A., Fatica, A.: ‘Evolution of the fault
locator on MV distribution network: from simple stand alone
device, to a sophisticated strategic component of the smart grid
control system’, Proc. of CIRED 2011, Frankfurt, June 2011.
[2] Sun, B., Sun, T., Xu, B.Y., el al, ‘A zero-mode voltage
measurement method for single phase to ground fault of non-
solidly-earthed overhead lines’, Automation of Electric Power
Systems, Vol. 33, No.6, March 2009. (In Chinese)
[3] Xu, B.Y., Ma, S.C., Xue Y.D. et al, ‘Transient current
based earth fault location for distribution automation in non-
effectively earthed networks’, Proc. of CIRED 2009, Prague,
June 2009.