ECE PhD Proposal Review: Cesar Antonio Galvez Nunez

PhD Proposal Review: Fault Location in Radial and Meshed Networks Containing Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)

Cesar Antonio Galvez Nunez

Location: Microsoft Teams Link

Abstract: Rapidly increasing numbers of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) connected to transmission and distribution networks via Inverter Based Power Sources (IBPSs) introduce new challenges in detecting and locating faults. Distribution networks are historically designed to operate as radial systems with unidirectional power flows, which may no longer hold true due to the presence of large numbers of IBPSs. The commonly used impedance-based fault location methods are no longer reliable due to the limitations imposed by unknown fault resistance, asymmetry of lines, and presence of IBPSs, which need to comply with the new grid codes for Fault Ride Through (FRT) requirements. In this proposal, a new fault location method that can be used for radial and meshed networks containing DERs and addresses the limitations of conventional methods mentioned above will be introduced. The approach requires a limited number of digital fault recorders (DFR) to be placed in the network and uses the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) to compute the first arrival times of fault-generated traveling waves. The proposal first presents a new two-terminal fault location technique used strictly for radial distribution networks, and then extends this to the general case of combined transmission and distribution networks with radial or meshed configurations. The method is further extended to be applied to hybrid AC/DC complex transmission grids containing DERs and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) lines. Preliminary results will be presented illustrating these methods on typical power grids and fault scenarios.