Elegant ground-fault solutions for impossible problems

Low-voltage power distribution systems are typically grounded by one of two generally accepted methods, high-resistance grounded systems (a derivative of the ungrounded system) and solidly grounded systems. High-resistance grounded systems have gained in popularity due to the fact that the first line-to-ground fault does not cause a disruption of service and is favored for continuous processes or critical loads. For power systems that cannot be monitored by qualified maintenance personnel, or for other reasons, the solidly grounded system still has widespread use. A four-wire solidly grounded system can become very complex, involving many sources, points of grounding, and networks of distributed power. This paper discusses a method of providing equipment ground-fault protection to seemingly impossible systems     

Considerations for generator ground-fault protection in midsizecogeneration plants

Generator ground-fault protection aspects are analyzed for midsize cogeneration plants. In these plants, the generators may be connected to a common generator bus. The overall bus-connected system should be considered when applying generator high-resistance grounding schemes. Calculations are reviewed for sizing generator neutral-ground resistance and evaluating third harmonic originated in the scheme. The relevant applications of third harmonics in applying 100% stator ground-fault protection schemes are examined. Practical considerations are presented for establishing selectivity of ground-fault protection schemes in the case of a common generator bus     

A selective single-phase-to-ground fault protection for neutral un-effectively grounded systems

Single-phase-to-ground faults are the most frequent faults likely to occur in power distribution networks. As for a neutral un-effectively grounded system (NUGS), the low fault current is very common in the case of occurrence of a single-phase earth fault, leading to hard identification of the faulty feeder. In conventional way, this target can be possibly achieved by the comparison of the polarities, magnitudes, or the phase angles of the zero-sequence currents of all feeders connected to the same busbar. However, it becomes a difficult task to implement this functionality into the protection of feeder. In this paper, a novel single-phase-to-ground fault protection for NUGS is put forward. Different from conventional centralized-comparison protection, this protection can detect single-phase-to-ground fault on the feeder individually, and can be realized on FTU (Feeder Terminal Unit). It is based on the measurement of the zero-sequence voltage and zero-sequence current. The tripping strategy follows the characteristic of the modified inverse-time delay curve. By means of analyzing the characteristics of the zero-sequence transient currents, it is disclosed that the magnitude of the zero-sequence current of the faulty feeder should be greater than that of any sound feeder. Then a composite compensated voltage is formed based on the zero-sequence voltage and zero-sequence current to evaluate a revising factor for every feeder respectively. Using this revising factor to modify the identical standard inverse-time delay curve adopted by all the feeder zero-sequence overvoltage protections, the tripping time of the zero-sequence overvoltage protections of all feeders will differ from each other. In this case, the selectivity of the protection can be guaranteed. This proposed algorithm is validated with the EMTP simulation tests.     

A coordination-free ground-fault relay for AC mine distributionsystems

A brief review of the coordination-free ground-fault protection concept is presented, followed by a discussion of major design considerations. The actual design of a coordination-free relay system is then described along with laboratory test results. Based on this information, conclusions are drawn relating to performance in typical mining situations     

A new digital ground-fault protection system for generator–transformer unit

Ground faults are one of most often reasons of damages in stator windings of large generators. Under certain conditions, as a result of ground-fault protection systems maloperation, ground faults convert into high-current faults, causing severe failures in power system. Numerous publications in renowned journals and magazines testify about ground-fault matter importance and problems reported by exploitators confirm opinions, that some issues concerning ground-fault protection of large generators have not been solved yet or have been solved insufficiently. In this paper a new conception of a digital ground-fault protection system for stator winding of large generator was proposed. The process of intermittent arc ground fault in stator winding has been briefly discussed and actual ground-fault voltage waveforms were presented. A new relaying algorithm, based on third harmonic voltage measurement was also drawn and the methods of its implementation and testing were described.     

Temporary overvoltage duty of surge arresters in noneffectively grounded systems

Important characteristics of metal oxide surge arresters depend on the specified temporary overvoltage duty requirement due to the volt–ampere characteristics. However, there are few reports on the duty of surge arresters in noneffectively grounded systems. The temporary overvoltages of 1.43 pu proposed in effectively grounded systems is too low compared with nearly pu in a line‐to‐ground fault. The overvoltages due to a combination of a line‐to‐ground and load rejection, where not only the main power circuits but also control systems such as AVRs participate, is rare but probably the severest case. Here the overvoltage duty of surger arresters is clarified for various residual voltage levels and system conditions. The severest condition is that in a system including a cable line because of operation of the UEL of the AVR. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 128(4): 38–46, 1999     

处理小电流接地故障的新思路

小电流接地故障是供配电系统中最常见的故障,对供电系统的安全可靠运行构成严重威胁.基于目前日趋完善的小电流接地选线技术和智能化的综合自动化系统及馈线自动化技术,提出了处理接地故障的新思路,即按照选线-跳闸-重合-隔离故障的方法处理小电流接地故障.另外,通过具体统计资料分析了重合闸技术在该类故障中应用的可行性,阐述了利用馈线自动化技术隔离故障的过程,认为该方法可以减小故障对系统的危害,并可以减少因故障造成停电的后果.     

处理小电流接地故障的新思路

小电流接地故障是供配电系统中最常见的故障,对供电系统的安全可靠运行构成严重威胁。基于目前日趋完善的小电流接地选线技术和智能化的综合自动化系统及馈线自动化技术,提出了处理接地故障的新思路,即按照选线-跳闸-重合-隔离故障的方法处理小电流接地故障。另外,通过具体统计资料分析了重合闸技术在该类故障中应用的可行性,阐述了利用馈线自动化技术隔离故障的过程,认为该方法可以减小故障对系统的危害,并可以减少因故障造成停电的后果。     

高阻接地故障双重化保护动作不一致原因分析

针对220kV线路高阻接地故障过程中线路两侧双重化保护动作行为不一致的问题,依据故障时序分为3个阶段分析故障保护报文信息和录波,同时通过故障仿真计算验证,找出保护动作不一致的原因和影响保护动作行为的现场缺陷,提出保护定值整定方法及保护装置应用的优化逻辑,以使高压线路发生高阻接地时两侧双重化保护装置能够快速、一致的动作,最大限度地保护电网和设备安全。应用结果表明:提出的保护整定方法易于计算,适用于220kV及以上线路保护定值计算,利用背侧电源大小整定保护启动值从根本上解决了线路两侧保护动作不一致问题。     

小电流接地系统单相接地故障选线方法探究

针对国内外小电流接地系统中单相接地保护方法,提出了一种新的基于零序电流高频幅值差的选线方法,形成新的选线判据.利用此选线判据可分别对故障线路和非故障线路加以权重,放大故障线路和非故障线路特性区别.采用小波变换对故障后各线路零序电流高频分量进行分析,依选线判据进行处理,从而获得各线路的权重.通过Matlab建立仿真模型,对不同情况进行模拟仿真实验,验证了此判据的正确性.     

基于零序电流-电压微分特性的小电阻接地系统单相接地故障保护原理

中性点经小电阻接地的系统适用于电缆居多的配电网,然而由于配网馈线所处环境复杂,造成了现有的基于零序电流阶段式的保护方案无法满足单相高阻接地故障快速、灵敏地检测需求.针对此现象,文中通过分析故障线路和非故障线路零序电流-零序电压的关系,寻求两者不同的故障特征,由此提出一种基于线路零序电流与母线零序电压微分值波形相似度的保...     

System grounding and ground-fault protection in the petrochemical industry: a need for a better understanding

This paper provides an in-depth discussion of system grounding and ground fault protection on systems from 480 V and above. The paper also discusses modeling of ground faults, the proper design for ground-fault protection, and common problems associated with ground-fault protection. The paper address many real-life problems associated with system grounding and ground-fault protection, including safety issues and how to avoid those problems. The topics included in the paper include low-voltage systems, under 600 V, through high-voltage transmission systems.     

小电流接地系统单相接地故障的7次谐波选线新方法

对小电流接地系统的各次谐波进行分析,提出了基于零序7次谐波的单相接地故障选线新方法及其实用判据,并给出了软、硬件的具体实施要点.该方案通过了动模实验检验.     

谐振型电网单相接地故障消弧及选线研究

传统的零序电流有功分量法在线路及消弧线圈电阻较小的情况下易造成误选.本文通过理论分析,研究了造成误选的原因,并在此基础上,将谐振型电网消弧线圈的调谐控制与单相接地选线相结合,通过消弧线圈串联阻尼电阻,合理控制故障时阻尼电阻的投切,大大提高了有功分量法的选线准确度.通过仿真,验证了该方法的可行性,并且开发了消弧线圈调谐控...     

Digital fault location for high resistance grounded transmissionlines

This paper demonstrates that the presence of multiple load taps cannot be neglected for single-phase-to-ground fault location. A new method has been developed taking this into consideration, that can be applied to correct the location error due to intermediate power sources. Then fault location methods for parallel double-circuit two-terminal transmission lines are discussed. Finally, a new fault location method is proposed for high-resistance grounded double-circuit transmission lines with three terminals     

An accurate and power-efficient period-modulator-based interface for grounded capacitive sensors

A low-power and high-resolution capacitance-to-period converter (CPC) based on period modulation (PM) for subnanometer displacement measurement systems is proposed. The presented circuit employs the interface developed in a previous work, “a grounded capacitance-to-voltage converter (CVC) based on a zoom-in structure,” further improving its performance through a symmetrical design of the applied autocalibration technique. The scheme is based on the use of a relaxation oscillator. To minimize the error contributed by the CPC circuitry, different precision techniques such as chopping, autocalibration, and active shielding are applied. The proposed CPC is realized in a 0.18-μm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, occupies an area of 0.5 mm², and consumes 135 μA from a 2-V power supply. In order to achieve optimal performance and avoid overdesigning, a noise estimation of various parts of the CPC has been done. Accordingly, for a 10-pF sensor capacitance, the overall CPC demonstrates a capacitance resolution of 0.5 fF for a latency of 128 microseconds, corresponding to an effective number of bits (ENOB) of 12.5 bits and an energy efficiency of 6 pJ/step. The nonlinearity error has been evaluated as well, resulting in a less than 0.03% full-scale span (FSS).     

一种新的小电流接地选线算法

在分析以往小电流接地选线各种算法的基础上,提出了一种基于数学形态学及小波变换综合的选线算法,该算法利用数学形态学滤波器对采集到的电压电流信号进行滤波,而后利用小波变换的奇异性理论和模极大值理论来构成接地选线算法,本算法很好地体现了形态学滤波器的噪声抑制能力和小波分解的奇异点检测能力.Matlab仿真结果表明,该算法不受中性点接地方式和线路参数的影响,且具有较强的承受过渡电阻的能力.     

一种新的小电流接地选线算法

在分析以往小电流接地选线各种算法的基础上,提出了一种基于数学形态学及小波变换综合的选线算法,该算法利用数学形态学滤波器对采集到的电压电流信号进行滤波,而后利用小波变换的奇异性理论和模极大值理论来构成接地选线算法,本算法很好地体现了形态学滤波器的噪声抑制能力和小波分解的奇异点检测能力。Matlab仿真结果表明,该算法不受中性点接地方式和线路参数的影响,且具有较强的承受过渡电阻的能力。