A novel method for locating faults on distribution systems

Accurate location of faults in an electric power distribution system is important in maintaining system reliability. Diverse methods have been proposed in the past, which usually have different assumptions and thus are applicable to specific circumstances. This paper attempts to put forth a novel, general fault location method that is applicable to distribution networks with unbalances and multi-sources by employing voltages and currents at the local substation. The method considers feeder shunt capacitances and is applicable to both overhead and underground networks. The method does not require the fault type to be known, and is applicable to any type of faults. The method is based on bus impedance matrix that enables the establishment of the equations governing the relationship of the measurements and the fault location. Evaluation studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method and its robustness with respect to potential measurement errors and load variations.