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MONITORING OVERVOLTAGES IN UNDERGROUND HV CABLE

DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

V. Dikoy V. Kachesov - A. Ovsyannikov* V. Larionov

United Power Technical University of Barnaul Urban
System of Russia Novosibirsk Electrical Networks
Russia Russia

Summary Definition of an actual flow of the

This paper describes an information-measuring
system for a surge-voltages monitoring in distribution
cable networks. The results of multiyear monitoring in
distribution networks 10 kV are given. The statistical
analysis of monitoring results has shown a low level of
the most often overvoltages in networks originating
during the restriking earth faults (REFs). For automatic
location of REFs the parametrical way based on
frequency properties of a network is offered. Late
diagnostics of cable insulation can be carried out on the
basis of the information on quantity and location of self-
extinction arc ground faults.
Keywords - Distribution network, -Cable, -
Overvoltages monitoring, -Fault location.
Introduction
Urban cable distribution networks reaching in a
total length thousands of kilometers are an integral
section in a circuit of electrical energy transmission.
They largely determine the electrical power supply
reliability of the majority of modern cities. Alongside
with possible mechanical and thermal overloads the
cable lines may be subject of electrical overloads -
overvoltages, bound up with different kinds of transients
in a network. The last ones are the cause of both, alone,
insulation breakdown of cables, and deterioration of its
electrical characteristics in long-term maintenance.
In the greater part, the overvoltages presenting
only a short time interval of a different kind of transients
are random variables. Therefore the basic performances
of overvoltages - amplitude, duration and frequency of
their occurrence have considerable dispersions. At the
same time insulation coordination should be based on the
actual characteristics of effecting overvoltages defined by
the network scheme and the structure of equipment.
overvoltages and their characteristics, estimation of a
current condition of insulation of all the network and
its separate components, and also regularity of certain
equipment operation can be carried out on the basis of
the continuous monitoring of abnormal network's
operating conditions. For these purposes the hardware-
software complex consisting of a multi-way analog-to-
digital converter (ADC), a personal computer and the
conforming software is developed.
The most often failure in networks with an
insulated and compensated neutral is the intermittent
arc ground fault (or REF). The part of such arc faults is
self-extinguish. It means, that the subsequent ground
faults can arise in locations of the previous closures
(i.e. in locations with the weakened insulation).
Therefore alongside with the overvoltages monitoring
it is important to determine an arc ground fault
location. Use of different methods of the theory of
pattern recognition (the references on this topic can be
found in [1]) allow to recognize the arc ground faults
from all stream records of emergency conditions, and
different techniques can be used to locate a fault (for
example widely used method of Time Domain
Reflectometry [2]).
Unfortunately, use of the last one in radial
distribution networks is rather complicated because of
the multiple signal reflections in healthy feeders. To
locate a fault in radial networks it’s offered to use a
parametrical way based on the analysis of frequency
properties of a network. The central processing unit
time needed for the above mentioned methods of
pattern recognition is relatively large, therefore for
recognition of types of failures in a real time it is
offered to use the simple algorithms based on the
typical features of transient conditions.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
*Dept. of High Voltage Eng., NSTU, pr. K. Marx 20, Novosibirsk, 630092, Russia
Hardware-software measuring complex for 1
overvoltages’ monitoring f0 ≅
2π LS С1
The modern means of a measuring technique and where LS and C1 - the leakage inductance of step-down
information technologies open wide perspectives for the transformer and the network’s direct sequence capacity,
supervision and analysis of fast transients (and in a respectively. For the majority of large extended
number of cases to control them). The indoor voltage networks this frequency does not exceed 3-4 kHz,
surges in distribution cable networks have a frequency therefore above pointed range of the recorded
spectrum in a range of units of a kiloHertz, that allows to frequencies allows well to reflect the most high
apply to their recording rather inexpensive analog-to- frequency components of transient phenomenon.
digital converters (ADC) of average performance. Use of At originating overvoltages of a preset level
the last ones in a combination with modern computers the program of handling the measuring system, using a
enables to fulfill a continuous monitoring of surge flag of the program comparator, saves data of
voltages and their processing, and adding such system by measurements, recording both transient, and previous
modern means of telecommunication to build systems of steady-state condition. The operation of the ADC in the
continuous diagnostics and supervision of insulation. direct memory access (DMA) mode realizes a
continuous measurement on all input channels and
simultaneous data processing. On this principle the
Pow ertransform er
mode of the automatic recorder without use of any
external comparators is realized. It simplifies the
hardware of the measuring complex and boosts its
reliability. The basis of program algorithm (Fig. 2) is in
creating two identical memory blocks and simultaneous
To m ultiplexer
H ouse
RG 58 cyclic processing of the before obtained data from the
transform er
Instrum ent Rc
previous memory block and data reading from ADC
A rcing voltage transform er into subsequent one.
G round
Supressor CT To m ultiplexer
CV D Three-years operation of the hardware-
software complex on different objects of urban
distribution networks has allowed to accumulate data
Fig.1 Typical connections of measuring complex to step- on real abnormal events caused by different sorts of
down substation’s equipment transients in networks.

The designed hardware-software complex [3] M easuring ofthe 1stinform ation block Previousdata block processing

allows automatically to record the overvoltages on buses U m ax & section's #

determ ination
of substations of distribution networks in emergency
operations, and also currents in some devices. It’s
constructed on the basis of a multi-channel A/D
converter with a pass-band up to tens kiloHertz operating M easuring and transm itting ofthe current
inform ation block (D M A m ode)
in the composition with a personal computer.
The ADC is connected by coaxial cables to
Fig.2 The structure of algorithm of data processing
capacitive high-voltage dividers and to instrument
current transformer, which is installed on grounding
conductor of arcing ground suppressor AGS (Fig.1). The Outcomes of monitoring
input impedance of the ADC is 106 Ohm, together with
The durable period of time a monitoring of
the capacity of a low-voltage shoulder (approximately 5
overvoltages was fulfilled in the radial neutral
µF) define a time constant of divider and the least
compensated 10 kV networks. The main purpose of the
recorded frequency being ~0.1 Hz on a level of -1 dB.
monitoring was the determination of basic
The highest recording frequency depends on a
performances of the voltage surges coupled with arcing
number of interrogated channels and minimum time of
ground (arcing earth) - the arc overvoltages, being the
conversion. The time of conversion of the 12-bit ADC
most often reasons of perturbations in a distribution
used in a multi-channel mode is 3 µs, that is, for network, and also the estimation of the characteristics
example, that for 2 bus sections the step of a discrete of overvoltages of other origin. The cable networks
sampling is 3⋅6=18 µs. This sampling can be used for (with paper-oil insulation) had the capacitive fault
transient recording with frequencies up to 5-7 kHz. currents (IC) from 60 up to 95 A, which were
The frequencies of natural voltage oscillations of compensated by arcing ground suppressors (AGS).
different sorts of transients in distribution cable networks As a result of a monitoring from all stream of
usually are not high. For example, during a restriking transients 17 arc ground faults in under-compensated
earth fault (after extinction of arc of single breakdown) networks (a compensation factor of phase capacity
the main frequency of free oscillations can approximately KL=IAGS/IC⋅100% was from KL=35 up to 70 %) and 15 -
be rated by expression
in networks with the compensation factor 95-105% were
recorded.
The primary insulation breakdown in the
registered events always occurred at a level close to the
amplitude phase voltage Upm=8.16kV=1p.u. The
preventive tests of cables 6-10 kV with periodicity 1-5
years depending on life time, number of cable joints and
other factors (i.e. it is possible to assume the average
periodicity about 3 years) are fulfilled by dc voltage
Udc.test=4-6Ul (Ul - line voltage) that is equivalent to an
alternating test voltage Utest.ac =2.9-4.3 Upm [4]. It
testifies that the electric strength of some cables (or their
sections) by different reasons (excepting cases of direct
mechanical failures) can considerably be reduced for the
above pointed time interval.
6
5 breakdown voltage gradually increases from the
Voltage (p.
not exceeded ~1.8Up.u. It is explained by practically
complete absence of natural voltage oscillations in
sound phases. The secondary breakdowns at the initial
stage of ground fault occurred at level 0.8-1.0 p.u. In
the most cases the secondary breakdown voltage is
decreased down to 0.6-0.7 p.u. after some stabilization
(in some minutes) of arcing process. A number of the
registered events show slow increasing of arc channel
conductivity and the step-by-step transition of arc
channel in condition, when the character of fault is
close to a permanent ground one. The time of such
transition takes up to 10 minutes. In some cases the
well compensated networks the secondary breakdowns
are watched during 15 minutes and more.
In a number of events the REFs with an arc final
self-extinction have been registered. Fig.5 shows the
oscillogram with the self-extinction of arc where the

4 moment of the primary breakdown to the last one

U es reaching the line voltage (~1.7 p.u.).
3 U pm
20 C
2 U test.ac ~0.9 p.u. 2.33 p.u. A
U ov 15 B
1 10
Voltage (kV)

0 5
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 0,9 0
Length (p.u.)
-5 40 90 140 190
Fig.3 Imaginary distribution of an electric strength along
-10
a single length cable and the voltages affecting on
insulation -15
Ues Electric strength voltage -20
Tim e (m s)
Upm Amplitude phase voltage
Utest.ac Alternating test voltage а)
Uov Overvoltages level
C A B 0,7-0,8 p.u.
15
An imaginary distribution of an electric strength 10
Voltage (kV)

(Ues) along a single length cable it is possible to present

5
as a random curve (Fig. 3), each point of which tends to
build-down (though under influence of seasonal climatic 0
variations and thermal processes it can oscillate with -5500 524 548 572 596 620 644
reference to a more stable condition). At lowering of one -10
of the points below a testing voltage level the section’s
-15
breakdown occurs. After its repair or replacement the Tim e (m s)
electric strength of this section is magnified up to a b)
higher level. Similarly, if cable electric strength is lower Fig.4 Voltages during a restriking earth fault at the C
than overvoltages level then arc ground may take place.
But after arc self-extinction the insulation electric phase, IС≅65 А, КL≅60%, а) – initial stage, b) – after
strength remains on the low level and regrounds may 30 seconds
take place. The impulse dielectric strength factor of
The analysis of a recovering voltage curve of a
paper-oil insulation Kp=Uimpulse.strength/Udc.strength
faulty phase (including curves shown in Figures 4 and
approximately equals to 1 if the quantity of the effecting
5) allows to define a tuning sharpness of compensation
overvoltage impulses is limited by several hundreds [5].
coils including those with an automatic tuning. In
At durable existence of voltage surges Kp becomes less
particular, the oscillograms in Fig. 4 and 5, display the
than 1, i.e. there is a degradation of insulation caused by
significant under-compensation of network’s phase
electrical and physical-chemical phenomena.
capacity. The last fact determines the stream of voltage
In Fig. 4a, b the typical oscillograms of natural
surges in sound phases, the value of currents effecting
intermittent arc fault are shown. The primary phase
an arc channel, and consequently conditions of arc
insulation breakdown occurred at a voltage close to
extinction.
maximum phase voltage (1 p.u.). The sound phase
On the basis of the digital records the AGS
maximum overvoltages, reached in the first instant, had
tuning sharpness can be checked by:
 - rate of voltage recovery on faulty phase in a capacity is mainly watched in first 50-100 ms after an
steady-state arc condition analyzing the amplitude of initial breakdown. This time needs for arc channel's
oscillations, enlarging and insulation carbonizing, i.e. for some
- oscillation frequency (ωF) of recovering voltage stabilization of arcing.
(if it can be estimated with an adequate accuracy), then a Table
Statistic characteristics of arcing surges
compensation factor КL=(2ωF/ω0-1)2, ω0- power
frequency,
Para- A Volume of B Volume of
- frequency oscillation of zero sequence current
meter data data
measured in transient in AGS.
Umax 2.40 - 3.1 -
В
20 2,4 p.u. M[Umax] 2.31 17 - -
С
15
А σ[Umax] 0.17 -
10 M[Ups.] 2.17 27 2.25 97
Voltage (kV)

5 σ[Ups.] 0.14 -
0 M[U100] 2.05 108 - -
-5 0 24 48 72 96 120 σ[U100] 0.12 -
-10 A: Distribution cable networks 10 kV
-15
(KL= 35-70%)
0,9 p.u. B: Overhead & cable networks 6-10 kV [6]
-20
Tim e (m s)
The quantity of all phase-surges in first 100 ms
a) (U100), exceeding the level 1.05Ul=1.8 p.u., was equal
8 108. Fig. 6 shows the bar graph of the probability
6 density function of arcing surges in first 100 ms. The
statistical characteristics of the network with full
duA/dt

4
2 compensation (KL=95-105%) differs from the above
0 mentioned - mainly in a little bit smaller mean values.
-2 10 15 20 25 30 So, Umax=2.4 p.u., M[Umax] =2.11 p.u., M[Ups]
=2.02 p.u.
12 In [6], the statistical data on arcing surges in
10 overhead and cable distribution networks 6- 10 kV is
8 presented, according to which the maximum arcing
6 surges reach 3.1p.u. (see Table). The comparison
duB /dt

4
shows, that the surges in the considered networks 10
2
0
kV, have smaller values. It's caused by the significant
-2 10 15 20 25 30 attenuation of natural voltage oscillations in cable
-4 networks therefore transients in sound phases
originating at arc's ignitions have aperiodic character
8
(or strongly damped periodic one).
6
4
duC /dt

0,3
2
0
-2 10 15 20 25 30 0,2
f(U ps)

-4
Tim e (m s)
0,1
b)
Fig.5 Restriking earth fault with the arc’s
self-extinction (a), phase voltage derivatives (b) 0,0
1,89 1,98 2,07 2,17 2,26 2,35
U ps (p.u.)
The statistical characteristics of arcing surges
obtained for the under-compensated networks, presented Fig.6 Probability density function of arcing surges in
in Table. The maximum of arcing surges reached in first 100 ms of transient
transients is about Umax=2.4 p.u., a mean value -
M[Umax] =2.31 p.u. The registration of overvoltages in The maximum arcing surges are not maximum
both sound phases, i.e. at statistical processing of phase- in all the flow of the registered overvoltages. The
surges (Ups), their mean value is reduced up to M[Ups] significant overvoltages arise at line-to-line arc
=2.17 p.u. closures, breaks of conductors in under-compensated
The highest level of arcing surges in a network networks and other transients, however arcing surges
with the significant under-compensation of phase are the most often and very durable overvoltages in
distribution networks. From the data in Table and the to a distribution network is difficult enough because
density function of arcing overvoltages (Fig.6) it is clear, both of multiple reflections of voltage (or current)
that they are not high, the most of them (more than 90 %) waves in the ends of healthy feeders, and small
are in a range up to 2.2 p.u. and consequently are not duration of fault (when the resistance of arc is small
suppressed by conventional protective apparatuses such and voltage waves can reflect from it). To solve this
as surge arrestors with the protective level ~3.2 p.u. For problem, the approach based on a parametrical
this reason, the arcing overvoltages do not define the (frequency) method of fault location is developed.
power characteristics of protective apparatuses despite During each arcing fault there are the free
their durable existence. oscillations of a faulty phase voltage, which are
recorded on the bus of step-down substation (SDSUB).
Fault recognition and location They caused by the discharge both capacities of healthy
phases and faulty one through an arc. The first (lowest)
Earlier investigation and the realized monitoring frequency f1 of free oscillations, caused by the
of overvoltages have shown, that the greatest portion of discharge of capacities of healthy phases, practically
failures (especially in temporary domain) is caused by does not depend on distance from SDSUB to a location
arc ground faults. A part of such faults is self-extinction of fault (lF).
in cables with paper-oil insulation. The self-extinction of
-Deviceofthefaultedfeederdetection
arc, in general, is a positive property of insulation, but A 723 966
(zerosequenceCT& specialrelay)
the defects remaining in the recovered insulation are 229
∆lF
B
558 3051
potentially dangerous, as they can develop under 965
733 1953
overvoltages and operating voltage. The information on
223 222 221 219
such defect location, obviously, represents the definite SDSUB 110/10kV
225
practical interest for insulation’s diagnostics and holding
853
duly preventive tests. lF
The definition of anomalous conditions type
969 958 347
coupled to overvoltages is one of subtasks of a 959
monitoring. On the basis of information about the types 936 956
of anomalous conditions it is possible to fulfill
931
classification of overvoltages, to locate fault, to inform a FDSUB-89 932
l
control engineer about a fault etc. Here we have to note
that a part of transient conditions coupled to voltage 4,5km
surges are not to be classified as emergency ones. Some a)
of transients are caused by the planned closing or 4,5
tripping. It means that they are not of interest from the
4
point of view of their recognition (for example, a planned
3,5
switching on of a line).
l F(km)

For the definition of failure type the theory of 3

pattern recognition can be used. However, in real time it
is desirable to apply to data processing the fast and
simple methods, which are based on some typical
characteristics of transients.
The recognition of REF has the greatest interest.
In this emergency condition the voltage of an initial
insulation breakdown, the overvoltages in healthy phases
and the duration of their effect on insulation are
determined. Its distinctive peculiarity for networks with
an insulated and compensated neutral is the coincidence
of the signs of all phase voltages’ derivatives at the time
of insulation breakdown (Fig.5, b). The lightning surges
have the same peculiarity, but, as a rule, they are one-
time and very improbable in comparison with arcing
overvoltages in cable networks. Besides if the lightning
surge does not initiate the insulation breakdown, the
effective values of all phase voltages are commensurable,
while at arcing ground - the effective value of voltage in
faulty phase is much less than in healthy ones.
The arcing fault location in a large distribution
radial network is not easy. Time Domain Reflectometry
(TDR) is one of the most common methods used for
locating faults on underground cables but its application
2,5
2
1,5
2 2,5 3 3,5 4
f2(kHz)
b)
Fig.7 Fragment of cable network (a) and the frequency
response lF=ψ(f2) of the branch FDSUB89-347 (b);
KL=95%, IC =70 A, a common extent is ~55 km.
The second, higher frequency of free
oscillations f2 is appreciably varied on changing the
distance lF. One is determined by the discharge of a
faulty phase capacity. The dependence f2=ϕ(lF) is
developed in the greater degree when a fault occurs on
a long feeder, and other ones are short.
The frequency f2 is metered in transient of
arcing ground, when the arc has high conductivity
(usually the duration of this time interval less than 1
ms). For this the voltage of a faulty phase is exposed by
a spectrum analysis (the Fourier analysis). The
frequency f2 is defined from the frequency spectrum
and on the earlier calculated dependence lF=ψ(f2) for
the given network and feeder the distance up to a fault
location is determined.
The frequency responses lF=ψ(f2) for each feeder
branches (from SDSUB to the end point of each branch)
are calculated using different systems of simulation
analysis (for example, Electromagnetic Transients
program (EMTP) [7], PSpice [8] etc.) on a basis of
network’s topology and cable lines parameters. Fig. 7
shows the frequency response lF=ψ(f2) for the fragment
of a real cable network 10 kV.
Distance lF gives the deficient information in a
fault location, as it is additionally necessary to detect a
faulty feeder line. A faulty feeder line detection is
fulfilled by sign of the first half-wave of the high
frequency zero sequence current – the faulty feeder
current is opposite to those in other ones. This principle
of selection is similar to one presented in [9], which is
based on analysis of common mode energy transfer
between the fault and the remainder of the network. To
realize the above pointed method of detection in all
feeders outgoing from substations the special relays
reacting on high-frequency zero sequence current are
installed.
Unfortunately, this principle of detection is not
usable, when there are only two outgoing feeders on
substation - in this case it is necessary to select a faulty
feeder by the greatest value of a current.
Data on a faulty feeder and distance up to a fault
location are transmitted by channels of remote indication
and control to the main control computer, where an
information is additionally processed and systematized.
On the basis of statistical data on the sorts of the
faults and their locations the card of an accident rate of
the network can be generated. Practically, the system of
monitoring with such a kind of the set of functionalities
represents the intelligent informational - measuring
system. The card of the accident rate can be used for
more purposeful approach to preventive measures of the
cable insulation and the choice of the testing voltage's
level. It will allow more purposefully to fulfill preventive
trials of cable lines and in the total, to boost a level of
reliability of maintenance of distribution cable networks.
In the cables with the paper-oil insulation as a criterion of
an aggravation of insulating properties (i.e. the diagnostic
index of a condition) it is offered to use an amount of
restriking earth faults, which cannot be detected by
conventional ways of monitoring or measurements.
Conclusions
The well unified measuring complex on the basis
of a personal computer permitting to realize the
monitoring of anomalous conditions in distribution cable
networks 6-10 kV has been developed.
The functionalities of the complex together with
a telemetering system allow to estimate a ground fault
location. On the basis of monitoring results a card of an
accident rate of a network can be created and used for
the preventive measurements and tests of insulation.
The statistical processing of monitoring results
of arc voltage surges in compensated networks 10 kV
has shown, that the maximum overvoltages achievable
in transients, do not exceed a level about 2.4-2.5 p.u.
The probability of their appearance with such the level
during the first 100 ms after an initial breakdown is less
than 0.1. This fact means that traditional protective
apparatuses such as surge arrestors with the protection
level about 3.2 p.u. do not suppress such overvoltages
and consequently their power characteristics are not
determined by this sort of voltage surges.
References
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