2012 3rd International Conference on System Science, Engineering Design and Manufacturing Informatization
A Study of Distribution Network Fault Location including Distributed Generator
Based on Improved Genetic Algorithm
Youjun Yue
Tianjin University of Technology
Tianjin Key Laboratory for Control Theory & Applications
in Complicated Systems
Tianjin, China
bakeryueyj@163.com
Hui Zhao
Tianjin University of Technology
Tianjin Key Laboratory for Control Theory & Applications
in Complicated Systems
Tianjin, China
zhaohui3379@126.com
Abstract: In the distribution network fault section positioning,
the standard genetic algorithm can be used effectively. But the
network including Distributed Generator power supply has its
own characteristics, and the genetic algorithm appear some
defects. Therefore, aiming at accurate positioning of faults in
the network including DGs, the genetic algorithm coding and
fitness function are improved in the paper. Through
simulation, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is
verified.
Keywords:distributed generator, genetic algorithm,fault
location.
I. INTRODUCTION
With the introduction of the distributed generator (DG),
traditional distribution network gradually developed into a
more complicated power network and the direction of the
trend is random changed.When put the DG to feeder, the
traditional distribution network protection which is based on
radiation network current protection can’t adapt to the new
operating environment. IEEEStd.1547 rules that when
distribution network’s fault occurs, DG must be cut off first
to ensure correct operation of the relay protection. This rule
restricted the DG's normal operation for some degree,and
also weaken the advantage of distributed generator on
improvement of the power supply reliability.Therefore,based
on the present current protection and automation
communication system, don't cut off DG and make fault
located fast and effectively have a great role to the
promotion of distributed power generation.In the
engineering practice,feeders generally have no voltage
transformers,so researching a fault location algorithm which
is based on electrical flow has the practical significance.[1]
The distribution networks are equipped with feeder
terminal units (FTU) and supervisory control and data
acquisitions (SCADA).When fault occurs, the current status
978-1-4673-0915-8/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
103
Yunlei Zhao
Tianjin University of Technology
Tianjin Key Laboratory for Control Theory & Applications
in Complicated Systems
Tianjin, China
zhaoyunlei0312@sina.com
Hongjun Wang
Tianjin University of Technology
Tianjin Key Laboratory for Control Theory & Applications
in Complicated Systems
Tianjin, China
hongewang@126.com
will be uploaded from FTU to SCADA. According to this
information, fault can be confirmed.
There are two major algorithm of fauit location for
distribution network:direct and indirect.Typical direct
algorithm is the matrix algorithm which fixes fault position
in the basis of fault judgement matrix that formed by
network topology and fault information matrix.It has a
strong point on calculation rate,but the fault tolerance is
poor.When the information from FTU is error,the fault
position also maybe fixed error.In practice,FTUs are
outdoors,therefore,the information loss and distorition often
occurs.Then the fault position can’t be fixed exactly and
security and reliable of the distribution network can’t be
guarantee.Indirect algorithm is consist of various heuristic
search algorithm,as genetic algorithm and ant colony
algorithm.The latter one is through constricting to optimal
path using the accumulation and update of information
element,but the algorithm will be very slow because of
information element’s lack on initial stage.Using genetic
algorithm on multiple power supply system,positive
direction of the network is required setting repeatedly,so the
efficiency of fault location is enormously reduced.For this
reason,the generator algorithm is required to be improved in
order to realize fault position fixed reasonably and exactly
under the condition of DGs’ accessing.[2][3]
II. SWITCH FAULT CURRENT’S NEW DEFINITION AND
CODING PROBLEM
When Genetic algorithm is used in the traditional
distribution network fault location, if switch to FTU
monitoring point detects a over-current and its direction is
the same as defined in the positive direction, in fitness
function the fault current status of switch Ij value for
‘1’.Other situations Ij is ‘0’.This definition does not apply
with multiple power distribution network, so the text will
redifine Ij.
 For a switch, confirm its upstream power supply first
which is from the switch recently.Other power sources are
its downstream power supply.This paper defines the positive
direction of a switch is from upstream power to downstream
power.
When FTU detects that the direction of fault
over-current is accordant with the assumed positive direction
of this switch, the switch status value Ij is ‘1’.If these two
directions is opposite,Ij will be ‘-1’.When there is no fault
over-current,Ij is ‘0’.Using code ‘-1’ for fault current status
of the switch is because of that the power system include of
DG is different from single power radialized feeder structure.
The fault status of line between two switches also codes
‘1’,and the normal status of the line codes ‘0’.
As shown in Fig.1 distribution network structure
diagram,the upstream power source of switch S1,S2 and S3
can select the main power supply S,and the downstream will
be DG1,DG2.Similarly,the upstream power source of switch
S4,S5 and S6 is DG1,and the downstream power sources are
S and DG2.Switch S7,S8 and S9’s upstream power source is
DG2,and the downstream power sources are S and DG1.S4
as an example,its positive direction is from upstream power
source DG1 to downstream power sources S and DG2.When
fault K1 take place on line c,the direction of fault
over-current through S4 is accordant with assumed positive
direction,so the status of switch is ‘1’.When the fault takes
place on line d,the over-current of S4 are supplied by S and
DG2 and its direction is opposite with the assumed positive
direction.So the status of S4 is ‘-1’.When there is no fault in
the network,the status of switch is ‘0’.The status of other
switches is determined similarly with S4.When fault K1
occurs,the status of line c codes ‘1’ and the status of other
nomal lines is ‘0’.
Figure1 Containing DG simplified distribution network
III. ESTABLISH INPROVED SWITCH FUNTCTION
If the fault line is fixed by the switches’ information of
fault over-current that analysed by genetic algorithm,a
transition which is from the status of fault line to the
over-current status of switches must be constructed.This
transition can be realized by a function,and it is switch
function that reflects a incidence relation between lines and
switches.[2]
For a switch, define the upstream line which is between
this switch and its upstream source. Similarly, define the
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downstream line for the line between the switch and its
downstream.Different from single power supply
system,when more than one power sources supply for a
switch,the current through this switch has relationship with
every power source that supply power.Therefore,the paper
defined a new switch function,as shown in (1).
N M1 M2
I *j (s) (–KDGi ) u[0  (–s ju )]  (–s jd ) (1)
i 1 u 1 d 1
*
In (1), I ( s ) is the switch function of j which is
j
associated with the status of line and it is a expected status.
KDGi represents whether DG supply power for system. When
the DG is operating, its status code ‘1’.If not, code ‘0’. sju is
the status of the upstream line of switch j and sjd is the status
of the downstream line of switch j. When the line is
breakdown, the value is ‘1’ and if the line run normally, the
M1
value is ‘0’. –s
u 1
ju is the logic or operation of the fault
M2
status of switch j on the upstream line. Similarly, –s
d 1
jd is
the logic or operation of the fault status of switch j on the
N
downstream line. –K DGi is ‘0’ when there is no DG
i 1
*
operating in distribution network and I j ( s ) is same with
the switch function of single power source system.So the
new switch function has adaptability for changing Topology
network structure.
IV. THE STRUCTURE OF THE FITNESS FUNCTION
Use genetic algorithms on network fault location to the
distribution networkˈis finding fault line in the solution
space which include all the possible fault lines. According to
this idea, and the switch function which has constructed
already above, Fitness function F(s) can be structed. As
shown in (2).
k
F (s) ¦
j 1
I j  I *j ( s ) (2)
In formula (2), k is the total number of the switches; s
is the state vector of the feed line. It consists of states of all
feed lines. When a feed line is on fault state, it is indicated
by element ‘1’. When it is in normal status, it is indicated
by element ‘0’.Ij is fault current limit signal of the switch j,
they are actual state of the switches which feedback to the
SCADA control center by FTU. As to fitness function, it is
a known quantity. When the direction of current
information is the same as the positive direction of the
switch, it is indicated by element ‘1’, and it is indicated by
element ‘-1’ on the opposite. Then it is indicated by
*
element ‘0’ when it has none current information. I j ( s )
is switch function which can be calculated by formula (1).
The desired status which is deduced by the actual
feeders state and switch function is not always accordant
with the actual switch fault over-current signal status of FTU.
Therefore, the process of solving the fitness function is to
search for the optimal solution in the solution spacethe
process, which is the process to find the smallest solvable
group of equation (2). The value (Numeric string or
chromosome) of this solution corresponds with the feeder
segment that is the actual feeder segments.
In fact, the fitness function of formula (2) is defective,
and paragraphs on the line which from fault point to power
point may be mistaken. The text adds an additional entry in
the right side of the formula (2), the improved fitness
function as shown in formula (3).
k M
F (s) ¦
j 1
I j  I *j ( s )  ¦s
i 1
i Z (3)

According to the famous concept of minimum set of the

theory of fault diagnosis, that is: Select the solution has
minimum number of fault lines in the fault diagnosis results.
So plus on original fitness function to prevent mistaking. In
which it’s the summation of all fault states. At the same time,
in this paper, to prevent mistakes, plus Z (0< Z <1) to
prevent mistakes.[4] Figure 2 Flow diagram

V. THE REALIZATION OF THE GENETIC ALGORITHM VI. AN EXAMPLE SIMULATION ANALYSIS

All switch's FTU will be uploading switch's fault Figure 1 as an example, when fault K3 occurs, there are
current bounds signal immidiately when fault happened; only switch S7, S8 flown past by fault over-current which
meanwhile,active based on genetic alforithm and launch of direction is opposite with the assumed positive direction of
the fault location algorithm, through the algorithm can solve themselves.Stresses the value of Ij into fitness function, and
the possible fault lines directly. through 52 generation the mininum of fitness function is 0.5
The flowchart of the fault location algorithm flow and the optimal individual is 7.This individual corresponds
based chart of the genetic algorithm is shown in Fig.2.In the to line g.The result consistents with hypothesis, so genetic
flowchart, the value of Ij is determined by fault over-current algorithm can locate correctly.
information that FTU fed back to the SCADA control center. When the switch S6 has distorted informations for
The code should include the analysis of network topology to some reason , the current signal feed back by FTU change
determine the number of switches and the upstream and the from"1" to "-1", modify Ij value of switch S6, simulate new
downstream lines, which is in order to generate the initial round, The results as shown in the figure .
random population. Since the actual fault is almost single
point of failure, the generation of the initial population can
use completely initialize a single point of failure, which will
help reduce the number of searches of the genetic algorithm
and improve the efficiency of the algorithm. The fitness
value of convergence criterion for the optimal solution are
greater than (M-l)ˈ where M is a large integer and it is
taken to be greater than or equal to twice the number of all
of the switches.[5][6]


Figure 3 The simulation diagram

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 As is shown in Fig.3, when population achieves the
minimum fitness value 3.5 by 59 genetic manipulations, the
optimal individual is 7 corresponding faulty line g, which
corresponds with the assumption, and genetic algorithm is
exactly located. It can be seen that under the circumstance of
information distorting, genetic algorithm can still locate
faulty line accurately. When the other switch information
distorting happens, it’s still located accurately by simulation
analysis. Therefore under the circumstance of single bit
information distorting, genetic algorithm location isn’t
influenced at all. Moreover, two-bit information distorting is
also simulated, population iterations increase, and the result
of genetic algorithm location is accurate, impregnable.

VII. CONCLUSION

This paper creatively put forward assuming each switch

to positive direction, positive direction is nonsense to
network , each switch has its own positive direction.After
determining the switch of the positive direction ,the
switching function and fitness function structure is detailed
introduces .This is the key to the application of genetic
algorithms in distributed power distribution network fault
location, and then use the Matlab genetic algorithm toolbox
to analysis the example of multiple fault, simulation analysis
to prove the effectiveness of the algorithm.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The project was supported by Tian Jin Natural Science

Foundation (09JCZDJC23900ˈ10JCZDJC23100), Tian Jin
Science and Technology Support
Program(10ZCECJD43080).

REFERENCE

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