Modelling of high impedance faults in distribution systems and validation based on multiresolution techniques

• Published in: Computers & electrical engineering Vol. 83; pp. 106576 - 15
• Main Authors: Torres-Garcia, Vicente, Guillen, Daniel, Olveres, Jimena, Escalante-Ramirez, Boris, Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Juan R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Detection; Electric fuses; Electric relays; Electric utilities; Fault current; Feature selection; Frequencies; Hermite transform; High impedance; High impedance fault; Linearity; Multiresolution; Overcurrent; Signal processing; Waveforms; Wavelet transform; Wavelet transforms; High impedance fault; Feature selection; Fault current; Wavelet transform; Hermite transform; Multiresolution; Detection
• ISSN: 0045-7906; 1879-0755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compeleceng.2020.106576

The electric arc phenomenon associated with high impedance faults (HIFs) in distribution systems is an exciting subject that directly impacts over the reliability of electrical utilities, because fault currents are very small and present non-linearity and asymmetrical waveforms. Therefore, HIFs may be an undetectable phenomenon by overcurrent protections like fuses, re-closers, and relays. A HIF entails a challenge for its detection and location. In this sense, more realistic high impedance models, as well as reliable signal processing techniques, are needed to extract all transient characteristics aiming to detect HIFs in distribution networks. In this work, an efficient Resistive-HIF model is proposed and implemented into the Alternative Transients Program of the Electromagnetic Transients Program (ATP/EMTP) software to represent the main characteristics of HIFs. The model is compared against well-prove models by using two multiresolution approaches based on the Hermite transform and the Wavelet transform considering different frequency bands.