Versatile Corporate Systems and Smart Devices-Based Framework to Locate Faults and Broken Cables in Power Distribution Networks

Abstract

During power outages in power distribution systems, a framework to detect and locate faults and broken cables is required to promptly restore the power supply and, therefore, to mitigate continuity indexes degradation. In developing countries, such as Brazil, customers’ phone calls are usually the only way for the power distribution utility to become aware of a power outage. Researches on this matter have proposed meta-heuristics, artificial intelligence, and traveling waves-based methodologies. Currently, they are mostly based on a final specific technology, restricted to some monitoring devices. Such condition makes the proposed solutions unfeasible for immediate application to Brazilian distribution systems. This work presents the development of a robust Fault and Broken Cable Location framework (FBCL), successfully deployed at a Brazilian power distribution network. Two major guidelines are considered: (1) use of existing devices’ records through corporate systems integration and (2) aggregation of innovative smart devices devised under the R&D scope and destined to expand monitoring capability. Aside from assisting the distribution utility in locating conventional low-impedance faults, the FBCL framework can also locate high-impedance faults with broken cables, which is a major contribution to mitigate safety issues in distribution networks. Based on the case studies conducted, the FBCL accurately located faults and broken cable events, considering multiple combinations of monitoring conditions.