CIRED 17th International Conference on Electricity Distribution
DISPERSED GENERATION INFLUENCE ON FAULT PASSAGE INDICATOR RESPONSE
Cong-Duc PHAM1, Bertrand RAISON1, Sylvain MARTINO1, Isabelle GAL2, Sylvie BONNOIT3
(1) GIE-IDEA –Grenoble – France (2) SCHNEIDER Electric
Laboratoire d'Electrotechnique de Grenoble – DMDA
ENSIEG : BP46 – 38402 Saint Martin d’Hères Site M4
Cedex - France 38050 Grenoble Cedex 9
I. Introduction
The main purpose of an electrical network is to transfer
electricity from production plants to the customers.
Distribution networks perform the connexion to final
customers and have to fulfil services and a good power
quality. The network management is in fact often a grant
given to a distributor who has to ensure safety and security.
Faults detection is therefore of first importance in this
management.
To perform the fault detection, Fault Passage Indicators (FPI)
can be used. As a permanent fault occurs, they make it
possible to locate the faulty part of the network and isolate it
from the sane parts. A FPI may give the following
information:
- Local visual signs,
- Remote information to SCADA [1],[2].
It can also be used to give information in order to isolate non
permanent faults.
The combined heat and power production development and
the interest for renewable energies (biomass, wind energy…)
have led to an increase of the auto producers’ number. These
producers have to be connected to the network. This is the
evolution of the network with the introduction of dispersed
generation (DG) sources.
The fault detection subject has already been treated but the
DG development throws back fault detection methods into
question. Actually, the power flows are modified and the
signal magnitudes are transformed too. Our study deals with
the influence of DG insertion on the fault detection by FPI.
These devices are simulated and tested on a distribution
network under different conditions: without or with DG
sources, with different neutral systems.
II. FPI models
A - Generalities
Currently, there are many FPI types in service on the
distribution networks, whose characteristics depend on:
• The type of network (overhead or underground)
• The type of detected faults
• The type of measurement of the electric variables (direct
or indirect)
A FPI can present the following structure (fig. 1):
LEG_Pham_A2 Session 4 Paper No 42
Barcelona, 12-15 May 2003
(3) EDF R&D
Département MIRE
1, Avenue du Génégal de Gaulle
92141 Clamart Cedex
Senso Processin Indicatio
Power
Figure 1: FPI structure
Sensor: It may measure phase or residual currents, or
voltages. These measurements can be direct (transformers) or
indirect via magnetic field sensors (that give an image of the
currents) and electric field sensors (for the voltage) [1], [3].
Processing: The principle of fault detection consists in
carrying out comparisons between the inputs and specific
thresholds like amplitude, di/dt, sometimes with load
tracking. It is possible to detect several types of fault.
Indication: After the inputs processing, the FPI emits signals
if it has detected a fault. These signals are luminous (red,
green flashes) or sound. They can be sent to SCADA for
remote fault location and purposes.
B – Algorithm
The principle of operation of simulated FPI consists in giving
an immediate indication when crossing a threshold. The
duration of indication depends on the type of fault [4]:
• Non-permanent fault: reset (return to the state before)
after 3s activation of the line,
• Permanent fault: indication is maintained during 40s.
General algorithm of FPI operation is presented at fig. 2.
The block "Fault Passage" is the most significant. It includes
the fault detection as well as the fault direction determination.
In this paper, we consider thresholds on amplitude of the
currents and voltages. Two types of detection are studied [3],
[5]:
-1-
CIRED 17th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Barcelona, 12-15 May 2003

Sleep
Sleep

Residual current Ir (kA)

Residual voltage Vr (kV)
No
Fault passage

Parameter Calculation of value

Yes
- I : phase current RMS of Ir and of Vr
Indication - Is : thresholds on
phase current
- V : nominal phase
Ir (RMS) > Ir s or
voltage Vr (RMS) > Vrs
Start timer T - Vs : thresholds on No
phase voltage Yes
- Ir : residual current
- Vr : residual voltage
Irs : thresholds on Vr(RMS) > Vr s
Yes -
Line energized residual current during ∆t No
T> 3 sec
Yes
No
Determination of
Yes fundamental (50 Hz) of
T > 40sec Ir and of Vr

No
Calculation of dephasing
of two fundamental (ϕr)
Figure 2: Algorithm of FPI’operation

Determination of fault
Fault passage block for Non directional detection direction
It uses the phase current by comparing its amplitude with a
given threshold. This FPI is called « FPI_ND1 ».
Indication
I current RMS value of
Slee
measurement the current
Figure 4: Directional detection algorithm

I(RMS) > Is III. Performed studies presentation

during ∆τ
No
To study the operation of FPI in distribution networks and
Ye the influence of DG source integration on it, a simulation of
FPI is carried out with ARENE software, developed by EDF
Indicatio (modelling of the considered networks and creation of the
faults) and MATLAB (coding developed for the description
of the operation of FPI in the network).
We use the two types of FPI described above
Figure 3: Non directional detection algorithm
ARENE MATLAB
Fault passage block for Directional detection • Programming
• Simulation of
Directional detection uses the phase current and the phase • Visualization of the
the networks
voltage (FPI_D1) to determine the direction of the fault results
thanks to phase displacement between these two parameters • Creation of
[5]. For asymmetrical faults, this method is applied with the the fault
residual current and the residual voltage (FPI_D0) [6]. Fig. 4 • Recovery of
presents directional detection algorithm thanks to residual the data of MODEL of FPI
current and residual voltage (the algorithm thanks to the current and • Algorithm of detection
phase current and phase voltage is identical). voltage • Software of simulation

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CIRED 17th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Barcelona, 12-15 May 2003

Figure 5: Principle of FPI simulation - fault2 is well located after IPD6

- fault3 is well understood after IPD1 (connects
We used the urban distribution network called C0505 set up secondary)
within GIE-IDEA. It has an impedance neutral system (as for
the underground power networks in France). A DG source is Faults FPI_ND1 outputs according to position
also introduced into this network. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Healthy 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 M 1 1 1 1 0 0
Capacitive of the network (3 Io in A) (under 20 37.2
B 1 1 1 1 0 0
kV) 1 1 1 1 0 0
T
Total apparent power (kVA) 4509 2 M 1 1 1 1 1 1
Icc two-phase min. (A) 2251 B 1 1 1 1 1 1
Proportion of buried cable (% overall length) 100 T 1 1 1 1 1 1
Length of the longest line (km) 12.29 3 M 1 0 0 0 0 0
Total length of network (km) 15.65 B 1 0 0 0 0 0
Neutral system impedance T 1 0 0 0 0 0

Table1: Principal characteristics of the network
We chose 6 different positions for FPI installation (fig. 6).
They are located at the intersections of secondary branches
with the main branch and along the main branch of the
network.
We also set the points of fault (three-phase, single-phase...).
We propose a fault resistance of 1Ω. The fault detection is
tested for each FPI type. To simulate influence of the circuit
breakers on the operation of FPI, a circuit breaker is placed at
the beginning of this network. The principle of operation of
the circuit breaker rests on the over current of phase currents
as fault occur. It will open 300 ms after the fault detection.
We have not included the reclosing sequences.
Table 1: FPI_ND1 outputs with faults in C0505 network
without DG sources
B – C0505 network with DG source
We insert a DG source (a 10MVA alternator -this value close
to the acceptable limit fixed by the French regulations- and a
transformer) in this network (fig. 6).
Table 2 presents the IPD_ND1 simulation results. The
thresholds of FPI are identical to the preceding case.
It is noted that as three-phase or two-phase faults occur, FPI
located between the DG and the point of fault provide an
indication of fault presence (greyed value 1). This
phenomenon causes bad fault detection: FPI indicates a fault
after FPI5.

Note: Faults FPI_ND1 outputs according to position

Ο : Networks LV connected to network MV 1 2 3 4 5 6
studied, Fault2
Healthy 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 M 1 1 1 1 0 0
: Customers MV.
B 1 1 1 1 1 0
∆ : Principal source (bond towards HV). T 1 1 1 1 1 0
FPI 6 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 M
B 1 1 1 1 1 1
FPI 3
FPI 1
T 1 1 1 1 1 1
FPI 4 DG source 3 M 1 0 0 0 0 0
C0505
FPI 2
Fault1 B 1 1 1 1 1 0
T 1 1 1 1 1 0

DT FA
FPI 5
fault3
IV. Results
Figure and network
6: Urban discussion
C0505 with the loads, the
switchgear, the positions of FPI and fault considered
Non directional FPI detecting the fault thanks to the phase
current (FPI_ND1) are very often used in distribution
networks. One tests the operation of this FPI type in the
C0505 network without and with DG source for various fault
types: three-phase current (T), two-phase ground (B), and
single-phase current (M).
The thresholds on the FPI inputs are identical in all cases.
A – C0505 network without DG source
Table 1 presents the FPI_ND1’ simulation results for the
various faults. 0 means that FPI does not see the fault. All the
results are correct; it is possible to determine the fault section:
- fault1 lies well between IPD4 and IPD5
Table 2: FPI_ND1 outputs with faults in C0505 network
with DG sources
If we replace this DG source by one another one with a
1.2MW power, the results of simulation are identical to the
case without DG. The fault current starting from the DG
source is too weak compared to the threshold selected. This
means that we can detect the fault whilst this DG source
functions.
V. Improvements and results
When a huge power DG source is connected to the network,
false indications can be produced with non directional FPI
FPI_ND1.
To avoid this problem, directional FPI can be used. We
propose to use FPI based on phase current and phase voltage
(FPI_D1) or FPI based on residual current and voltage

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CIRED 17th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Barcelona, 12-15 May 2003

(FPI_D0). These FPI have three possible values for their
output: 0 –no fault detected, 1 – the fault is upstream from the
FPI, -1- the fault is downstream from the FPI.
A – FPI_D1 utilisation
The thresholds are the same as those used with FPI_ND1.
• If the DG source is not connected to the network, the
results are the same as those presented in Table 1.
• If the DG source is connected, the results are quite the
same as those presented in Table 2: the grey values are
replaced by -1 (see Table 3).
It is thus possible to detect the fault in each case.
in the distribution network: what are the conditions to fulfil in
order to ensure that a non directional FPI will give correct
indications or the fault detection will always be possible?
One can note that DG insertion modifies the power flows and
leads to possible false indications from non directional FPI.
Using directional FPI can be for the moment a solution.
This work will pursue following different directions:
• Development of more refined models of FPI (in the
acquisition stage, the calculation stage).
• Neutral regimes influence on FPI behaviours.
• FPI and DG position influence on produced indications.

Faults FPI_D1 outputs according to position References:

1 2 3 4 5 6
Healthy 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 M 1 1 1 1 0 0 [1] Schneider Electrique
B 1 1 1 1 -1 0 Merlin Gerin - Bardin range – Network fault passage
T 1 1 1 1 -1 0 indicator
2 M 1 1 1 1 1 1
B 1 1 1 1 1 1 [2] |SEG – Schaltanlagen-Elektronik-Gerate GmbH &
T 1 1 1 1 1 1 Co.KG
3 M 1 0 0 0 0 0 EFI1 Earth fault indicator for medium voltage systems
B 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0
T 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 [3] N.P. Tobin (Consultant Engineer, Ireland) – M
McCormack – E O’Loughlin – K Tobin (SMF Technology,
Table 3: FPI_D1 outputs with faults in C0505 network with Ireland)
DG sources Remote current sensing on overhead power lines

B – FPI_D0 utilisation [4] User guide: LINETROLL 111K (Programmable fault

These devices are used to detect only asymmetrical faults: current indicator for overhead line)
they cannot detect therefore the three phase faults. NORTROLL AS - September 1995
Their outputs are the same without or with DG sources (see User guide: LINETROLL 3000 (Programmable fault
Table 4). current sensor for overhead line)
NORTROLL AS - September 1999
Faults FPI_D0 outputs according to position
1 2 3 4 5 6 [5] Christophe Prévé
Healthy 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 M 1 1 1 1 -1 -1
Protection des réseaux électriques
B 1 1 1 1 -1 -1 HERMES - 1998
T 0 0 0 0 0 0
[6] Dispositif détecteur de défauts homopolaires sur un
2 M 1 1 1 1 1 1
B 1 1 1 1 1 1 réseau de distribution électrique.
T 0 0 0 0 0 0 Demande de Brevet Européen : N° de dépôt: 94402721.8
3 M 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
B 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
T 0 0 0 0 0 0

Table 4: FPI_D0 outputs with faults in C0505 network with

DG sources

The simulation results are correct: the fault can be detected

between two FPI with opposite signal outputs.

VI. Conclusions

In this paper, models of fault passage indicators have been

presented (non directional and directional FPI models). These
models have been tested with simulation signals from a MV
distribution network without or with dispersed generation
sources.
Our goal is to establish “rules” in FPI use with DG insertion

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