High Impedance Fault Detection in Three-Phase Distribution Networks Based on Synchronized Harmonic Measurements

The problem of faults identification has always been of great interest for its implications in power grid management. Specifically, so-called high-impedance faults (HIFs) can be particularly difficult to detect and locate, because they do not present disruptive signals and can therefore be extremely challenging to identify and resolve. In this context, this article presents a methodology for the identification of HIFs via a state estimation process based on synchronized harmonic measurements provided by new generation phasor measurement units (PMUs) with harmonic functionalities. The validity of the proposed approach is confirmed by the simulations carried out by means of a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) on a three-phase CIGRE European Medium Voltage distribution network.

 

 

KEYWORDS: high impedance fault identification, three-phase grids, low power instrument transformers,
phasor measurement unit (PMU), harmonics