MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF FAULTS AND FAULT LOCATION DETECTOR FOR RADIAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• Oji, I. C.

  Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

• Ale, T. O

  Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

• Odeyemi, C. S

  Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

Distribution lines are always exposed to the environment due to their network configuration and this makes its possibility of fault occurrence to be very high. Fault, as a regular incidence on distribution power system, can lead to failure of equipment, fire outbreak, power instability and other forms of hazardous conditions causing huge financial loss and increased system downtime. To avoid these conditions, it is necessary to detect and locate the fault on the network as fast as possible so as to prevent power system damages and reduce system downtime. This study designed a fault location system model that can detected and located three-phase faults at the point of occurrence using a developed 33 kV Ubulu-Uku radial distribution system as a test feeder. Thereafter, fault location equations were formulated which resulted into one single equation for three-phase fault on the network. An impedance-based algorithm was designed which was used to detect and locate fault on the distribution line. The designed algorithm was evaluated using varying line impedances of 0.01 ?, 0.15 ?, 0.35 ?, 0.5 ? and 0.65 ? which produced faults located along path 6 section 17, path 8 section 21, path 8 section 21, path 4 section 12 and path 8 section 21 with fault distances of 3.72 km, 3.93 km, 4.03 km, 4.81 km, and 4.21 km respectively from the main substation. The overall percentage accuracy of the designed model was found to be 86 %. The results presented show performance of the designed algorithm. Encouraging the implementation of this study can improve fault location accuracy, reduce response time, lower maintenance cost and minimize supply interruptions.

1. Oji, I. C., Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

   Department of Computer Engineering

2. Ale, T. O, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

   Department of Computer Engineering

3. Odeyemi, C. S, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

   Department of Computer Engineering

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