Fault location for radial feeders based on branch-fault diagnosis method

A new approach to fault location for radial feeders in distribution networks is proposed based on branch-fault diagnosis method for analog circuits. The presented technique consists of two stages: line fault sector identification and distance estimation. It performs line fault detection by measuring the measurable node voltages responses corresponding to a particular current excitations applied at accessible nodes of distribution lines. The criterion of line fault sector identification and the corresponding fault location process are proposed. Based on it, a fault location system is developed, which consists of signal current source inject subsystem, voltage detection subsystem and communication subsystem. It is applicable to either single-phase fault or multiple-phase fault location.