High Impedance Fault Detection In Distribution System Using Wavelet

Transform
V. Torres Garcia1, H. Ruiz Paredes1
1
Electrical Engineering Department, Technological Institute of Morelia, Mexico
Phone (443) 312-1570 Fax (443) 345-6789 E-mail: vtg_1982@hotmail.com

Abstract –– A High Impedance Fault (HIF) is generated II. TIPYCAL CURRENT VALUES
when an overhead power line physically breaks and falls to the
ground or when two phases make contact with a solid The conventional overcurrent protection devices in
grounding. Such faults are difficult to detect in Electrical
electric distribution systems have not been able to detect
Distribution Systems and often draw small currents which
cannot be detected by conventional protection. Furthermore, high impedance to ground is the current level. According to
arcing accompanies high impedance fault, resulting in a fire specialized literature the main characteristics of HIF is the
hazard, damage to electrical devices and risk to human life. low magnitude of current. Table I shows typical current
This paper presents a technique based on Discrete Wavelet levels for different surfaces.
Transform (DWT) for high impedance fault detection in power
distribution system. The algorithm is based on a windowing
approach of DWT. TABLE I
TYPE OF SURFACES AND CURRENT VALUES AT 12.5 KV
Keywords –– Electric distribution system, Discrete wavelet
transform, High impedance fault, Detail coefficients.
Surface Current (A)
Dry asphalt 0
I. INTRODUCTION Dry sand 0
Concrete(non-reinforced) 0
A High impedance fault occurs when an energized
conductor of a primary feeder makes contact with the Wet sand 15
ground or any other grounded objet, either by the network Dry sod 20
design or characteristics of the involved object. These faults Dry grass 25
generate a risk of fires and endanger life through the
Wet sod 40
possibility of electric shock. Such faults are undetectable by
conventional overcurrent devices. According to the IEEE Wet grass 50
PSRC the high impedance faults as those that do not Concrete (reinforced) 75
produce enough current to be detected reliably by
conventional devices such as relays and fuses [1].

Since the early seventies, it has been researched and
proposed several algorithms and techniques for the detection
of such faults, including the application of harmonics [2, 3,
4], Kalman filtering method [5], artificial neural networks
[6,7], wavelet transform [8,9,10,11]. Today, only a few
commercial protection devices, i.e: the GE F60 DFM, SEL
451, ABB’s REF550, claim that they perform high
impedance fault detection in overhead lines, with a good
success.
This paper shows the potential of discrete wavelet
transform (DWT) in digital signal processing to detect High
Impedance Faults (HIF). The methodology is based on
multirresolution analysis of DWT and results are presented
in a windowing approach. Also data obtained from a field
test are shown.
As is shown in Table I the currents level vary from zero
to 75 amperes at 12.5 kV class feeders and depending of
surface type [12]. In the case of phase conductors to ground
where the soil is a major source of resistivity, the ground
resistance will be considered as the fault resistance.
The fault resistance is a function of the total surface area
of the conductor in contact with environment. Generally, the
conductivity of the ground increases with increasing
moisture content, temperature and mineral content. It is
necessary to validate the table with on-site experiments.

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 III. FIELD TEST The Fig. 3 presents the first cycles of high impedance
fault current and voltage as a reference.
To analyze the behavior of the HIF, the CFE DCO
conducted field test. Data records were obtained from this 1.5
4
x 10

study. It was reproduced the fall of a cover 13.8 kV feeder Voltage

Current*1e3
on dry grass, as is shown in Fig. 1. 1

13.8 kV
0.5

Voltage (V)
Current (A)
ACSR 3/0 Cover Conductor 0

RTP RTC -0.5

120:1 10:5
Register -1

-1.5
0.94 0.96 0.98 1 1.02 1.04 1.06 1.08 1.1
time (s)
Fig. 3. Voltage and Current for field test.

In addition Fig. 3 shows the relation between current and

Soil voltage, the current grows up at the first cycles, also it is
Fig. 1. Field test. observed that the waveform of the current is asymmetric and
an important feature for study is that the current is in phase
Fig. 1 corresponds to the fall of a cover conductor, with the voltage due a mainly resistive behavior.
phenomenon which caused concern for dealing with high
impedance faults mainly because the overcurrent protection The Fig. 4 shows the voltage-current relationship of the
did not operate. high impedance fault in the first cycles.

The Fig. 2 shows oscillographic data of high impedance

4
x 10
1.5
fault current on dry grass conditions.
1

1
0.5
0.8
Voltage (V)

0.6
0
0.4

0.2
Current (A)

-0.5
0

-0.2 -1
-0.4

-0.6 -1.5
-1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
-0.8 Current (A)
Fig. 4. Voltage - Current for field test.
-1

1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 Fig. 4 shows a nonlinear relation of fault current respect
time (s) to the voltage.
Fig. 2. HIF Current.

Data are in COMTRADE (Common Transient Data

Fig 2 shows that the fault current reaches up to 1 A peak
Exchange) and can be processed by ATP/EMTP.
and it is observed a highly random behavior, the current
grows up in the first cycles, then it grows and maintains
quasistable.

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 IV. DISCRETE WAVELET TRANSFORM

Wavelet transform has successful applications in many H P-High Pass Filter S[n] f
fields such as acoustics, signal and image processing, speech LP-Low Pass Filter
discrimination, optics and, recently, power system analysis. f-Samling Rate Hz
Its application in power systems has been researched and cA-Aproximation
HP h[n] g[n] LP
developed for the past several years. Typical applications cD-Detail Downsamplig
include power system protection [13], analysis of power
system transients [14], power quality detection and Level 1 f/4-f/2 A1 D1 <f/4
classification [15], etc. Unlike traditional Fourier transform,
a wavelet transform is capable of providing the time and HP h[n] g[n] LP
frequency information simultaneously, and hence, gives
multiple resolutions in frequency and time, which is a Downs amplig

potential feature for analyzing transient signals containing

Level 2 f/8-f/4 A2 D2 <f/8
both high and low frequency components together.

HP h[n] g[n] LP
Wavelet analysis is a method of signal processing so that,
after a series of decompositions, the signal is represented at Downsamplig

different frequency ranges. This is achieved by dilation and

Level 3 f/16-f/8 A3 D3 <f/16
translation of a mother wavelet over the signal. To process
the data in a digital sense the discrete wavelet transform
(DWT) is used which is given by: Fig. 5. Diagram of multiresolution analysis.

1 Fig. 5 presents the analysis called multi-resolution

, ψ
(1)
Ψ is the mother wavelet, x[k] is the input signal and the
scaling and translation parameters “a” and “b” are function
of integer parameters m. the result is geometric scaling (i.e.,
1, 1/a,1/a2, …) and translation by 0, n, 2n, …. This scaling
gives the DWT a logarithmic frequency coverage and this is
in marked contrast to the uniform frequency coverage of,
i.e., the short time Fourier transform (STFT).
The DWT can be implemented by using a multistage filter
with the mother wavelet as the lowpass filter l(n) and its
dual as the highpass filter h(n). Also, downsampling the
output of the lowpass filter l(n) by a factor of 2 effectively
scales the wavelet by a factor of 2 for the next stage, thereby
simplifying the process of dilation. The output of the
highpass filter gives the detailed version of the high-
frequency component of the signal. Also, the low-frequency
component is further split to get the other details of the input
signal. By using this technique, any wavelet can be
implemented. The coefficients of the filters are associated
with the selected mother wavelet. The signal is decomposed
into two other signals as shown in Fig. 5 which represent a
smooth and detailed version of the original signal, termed
the approximation and detail respectively. This process is
repeated with the approximation being decomposed further
to generate the next approximation (A) and detail (D). The
approximation and detail of the DWT is directly related to
the sampling rate of the original signal [16].
, analysis. This algorithm delivers a description of signals
either currents or voltages as they change with respect to
time at different scales, where large scales are associated
with low-frequency components and small scales are
associated with high frequency signatures.
V. HIGH IMPEDANCE FAULT DETECTION USING DWT.
For many years, protection engineers and researchers
have looked for solutions to this long standing problem.
This search has resulted in the development of several
techniques to detect HIFs. These groups of faults, in
addition to being characterized as low current faults, tend to
exhibit random behavior with unstable and wide fluctuations
in current levels. They are also characterized by the
presence of harmonics and high frequency components.
Most of the research on HIFs has focused on the
development of sensitive detectors to reliably detect such
faults. Some of the techniques used are neural networks,
expert system, fuzzy logic, Fourier transformation, Kalman
filtering, relay logic, and recently Wavelets.
Although wavelet analysis is more complex than other
signal processing, it is ideally suited for dealing with non
stationary signals as are the high impedance faults. There
are many types of mother wavelets, such as Harr, Daubiches
(db), Coiflet (coif) and Symmlet (sym) wavelets. The choice
of mother wavelet plays a significant role in detecting and
localizing different types of fault transients. In addition to
this, the choice also depends on a particular application.

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 An arcing often accompanies many high impedance
VI. CASE OF STUDY. faults due the high harmonic content. In general, most of
these types of faults are rich in different frequencies, which
High impedance faults show relative small current values is an important feature for study and detection. Wavelet
in electric distribution systems. Discrimination of the high toolbox in MATLAB program [17] was used for this study.
impedance fault current is difficult because such current is Daubechies wavelet 4 (db4) is found appropriate for
often below load current on the feeder; in addition it is detecting this fault. Fig 8 shows four levels of wavelet
possible the confusion with currents from other electrical decomposition (db-4) in the fault phase.
equipment in normal conditions such as arc furnace loads,
switching, starting motors, inrush current, furnace induction 200
loads , electronic devices and others. The Fig. 6 shows an

A4
0
Electric distribution system with unbalanced loads. To -200
0 0.05 0.1 0.15
observe the behavior of the system with a high impedance 0.1
fault, the field record obtained were injected in the system

D4
0
and simulated in ATP/EMTP. -0.1
0 0.05 0.1 0.15
0.02

D3
0
-0.02
0 0.05 0.1 0.15
Zth LCC LCC LCC LCC LCC 0.02

D2
0
V

-0.02
5 km 5 km 5 km 5 km 5 km 0 0.05 0.1 0.15
ASCR 3/0 ASCR 3/0 ASCR 3/0 ASCR 3/0 ASCR 3/0 0.02
13.8KV
D1
0
LC C

Source 5 km -0.02
ASCR 3/0 0 0.05 0.1 0.15
I

LCC LCC HIF time (s)

Fig. 8.- DWT decomposition at phase a in the feeder.

5 km 5 km Fig. 8 shows 4 levels of DWT decomposition where A4

ASCR 3/0 ASCR 3/0
F is the low frequency and D4, D3, D2, D1 are the high
frequency decomposition.
Fig. 6.- Electric Distribution System
Fig. 9 shows the decomposition D3 of the faulted phase
Fig. 6 corresponds to the feeder of 13.8kV with overhead and healthy phases with high impedance fault. The fault is in
lines of 5 km each one with conductor of 3/0 ASCR (r = D3(a) and the healthy phases are D3(b) and D3(c).
0.1598, x = 0.4315 ohm/km), and different loads varying from
30 up to 300 kVA. Also HIF with cover conductor to ground D3(a)

at end of feeder and are simulated in ATP/EMTP. 0.02

Fig. 7 shows the total current at the substation, the load -0.02

current is higher than high impedance fault. 0 0.05 0.1 0.15

D3(b)
150 0.02
Ia
Ib 0
Ic
100
-0.02
0 0.05 0.1 0.15
50 D3(c)
Current (A)

0.02
0
0

-0.02
-50
0 0.05 0.1 0.15
time (s)
-100 Fig. 9.-Current at substation

-150
0 0.05 0.1 0.15
DWT and Details D3 are implemented in each phase as
time (s) is shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 7. - Current at feeder with HIF.

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 The absolute sum value of the current detail D3 over a
period of the power frequency is computed in a discrete
form at each measuring node, as in [18]:
| 3 | 2
Where S(k) means the detector in the discrete samples. n
is used for carrying out a sliding window covering 16.66 ms
and N is a number of window samples. S(k) performance is
shown in Fig. 10.
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
Magnitude(A)
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.05
time (s)
Fig.10.- Absolute Sum Values of D3.
Discrete wavelet transform in high impedance fault gives
us the possibility to identify the characteristics of the fault at
different frequencies because they cannot observe at a
fundamental frequency.
VI. CONCLUSION.
Mexico has an electrical distribution system with voltage
levels of 13.8 kV, 23 kV and 34.5 kV, so that HIF testing is
expensive, dependant on time, on electrical condition and it
is very difficult to simulate them in real condition, so the
High impedance fault computer modeling is a very useful
tool.
In the analysis of field test there were important features
of the high impedance fault as are low current and arcing,
also were observed that the current of high impedance fault
has random behavior, nonlinearity, asymmetry and current
in phase with the voltage due to a mainly resistive behavior.
DWT was used to study signals at different frequencies,
the tool allowed us to observe the behavior of current in the
frequency. The DWT analysis gives some signals from high
impedance fault which can be used for a successful
detection.
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