Fault current Characterization Based on Fuzzy Algorithm for DOCR Application

doi:10.4236/epe.2013.54B178

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Energy and Power Engineering, 2013, 5, 932-936

doi:10.4236/epe.2013.54B178 Published Online July 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/epe)

Fault current Characterization Based on Fuzzy

Algorithm for DOCR Application

Luly Susilo, J.C. Gu, S.K. Huang

Electrical Engineering Department, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.

Email: [email protected]

Received January, 2013

ABSTRACT

Penetration of distribution generation (DG) into power system might disturb the existing fault diagnosis system. The

detection of fault, fault classification, and random changes of direction of fault current cannot always be monitored and

determined via on-line by conventional fault diagnosis system due to DG penetration. In this paper, a fault current cha-

racterization which based on fuzzy logic algorithm (FLA) is proposed. Fault detection, fault classification, and fault

current direction are extracted after processing the measurement result of three-phase line current. The ability of fault

current characterization based on FLA is reflected in directional overcurrent relay (DOCR) model. The proposed DOCR

model has been validated in microgrid test system simulation in Matlab environment. The simulation result showed

accurate result for different fault location and type. The proposed DOCR model can operate as common protection de-

vice (PD) unit as well as unit to improve the effectiveness of existing fault diagnosis system when DG is present.

Keywords: Fault Current Characterization; Fuzzy Logic Algorithm; DOCR; Distributed Generation

1. Introduction

Penetration of DG that concentrated closer to customer

side can improve the efficiency of electric power deliv-

ery. In the contrary, multi-source power system scheme

as result of penetration of DG both in radial and ring

power system might produce bi-directional power flow

as well as fault current. The fault current may be in for-

ward or reverse direction, and this will change rapidly

depends on system requirement. It is inevitable; however,

existing fault diagnosis system based on radial scheme

with focusing only on single source can be no effective

anymore. In conventional fault diagnosis system, after

obtaining information operation status of protection de-

vice (PD) during/after fault event, then the information

will be matched with table database in SCADA. Dis-

patcher will locate the fault section as soon as possible

according to diagnosis result [1]. One aim of this work is

to improve effectiveness of fault diagnosis system; PD

will send its operating status to SCADA as well as the

fault current characteristic information. Furthermore,

dispatcher not only can locate the faulted section, but

also accurately determine fault source and decide appro-

priate action in advance.

Sample of analog signal of line current will be proc-

essed in Digital Fourier Transform (DFT) module. Mag-

nitude of phase line current, positive sequence current

and zero sequence current as well as angle of positive

sequence current will be taking into fuzzification input,

from fuzzy interference system (FIS) that already con-

structed before, the membership value will be generated

after comparing the input and membership function.

Then from defuzzification process will decide the rela-

tionship of all input line current with related fault char-

acterization information. Many publications already pre-

sented concept regarding fault detection, fault classifica-

tion, and fault current direction which based on various

intelligence control approaches (Wavelet, Neural Net-

work, and FLA) [2,4,7,8]. Unfortunately, none of them

clearly provided a complete concept fault characteriza-

tion through a single approach. In this work, this solution

is addressed. In part II, elaboration of FLA for fault

characterization is provided in detail and systematic. The

proposed microgrid test system as well as the DOCR and

its control model in Matlab environment are shown in

part III. Next part, brief discussion about simulation re-

sult is conducted before closing by conclusion part.

2. Fuzzy logic algorithm (FLA) for fault

current characterization

The nature form of fault current characterization problem

is not including complex mathematical expression. FLA

is preferably to be implemented since this algorithm is

simple and not involve any complex computation. Major

procedures in this work are shown in Figure 1.

L. SUSILO ET AL. 933

Figure 1. Fault current characterization block diagram.

2.1. Fault Detection and Fault Classification

Occurrence of shunt fault on power system create very

low impedance path so very high fault current will ap-

pear and be delivered by power sources. Fault detection

is important part in work in order to distinguish real fault

current from transient/inrush current.

Transient/inrush period will generate significant

amount of current, but it will decease very fast. Conven-

tional DFT module is utilized to extract the magnitude of

line current, magnitude of zero sequence current and an-

gle of positive sequence current. Fault detection module

will sense and record the current data both before and

after 1 cycle at point where high current detected. If high

current still remain within and after 1 cycle, it means

fault is detected. Fault detection is denoted as δ0.



 (fault), if I ≧Iref.



 (no-fault), else

where: I is measured line current and Iref. is nominal line

current.

The characteristic features of different types of fault

are described in terms of δ1, δ2, δ3, and δ4 which are cal-

culated as described below.

abc

I-I

δ=max(I,I,I) ;bc

abc

I-I

δ=max(I,I,I);

abc

I-I

δ=max(I,I,I) ; 0

δ=I

where

abc

I0 is zero sequence current

I,I,I are magnitudes of three phase current

I1 is positive sequence current

Variation in fault location, power angle, fault inception

angle and fault resistance are very important in order to

study value of δ1, δ2, δ3, and δ4 for any kind of fault con-

dition [2]. Hence two-bus power system as shown in

Figure 2 is built to study the fault current characteristic

features.

Line length AB is 60 kM, two sources 11.4 kV, fre-

quency 60 Hz and with next following sequence imped-

ance as tabulated in Table 1.

Fault location at 25% and 75% of line length; power

angle for 10˚ and 30˚; fault inception angle at 0˚ and 90

fault resistance 0.001 Ω and 100 Ω; All these variations

are considered in order to determine the fault current

characteristic features (δ1, δ2, δ3, and δ4) of the different

types of fault. The result can be shown in Table 2 and

summarized as following:

For δ1, δ2 and δ3, “high” means a value between 0.1

and 1, “medium” means a value between -0.15 and 0.4,

“low” means a value between -0.1 and -1. For δ4, “high”

means a value between 0.1 and 1, “low” means a value

between 0.01 and 0.015. The triangular membership

function of δ0, δ1, δ2, δ3, and δ4 are shown from Figure 3

to Figure 5.

Figure 2. Two-bus power system.

Table 1. Impedance data of two-bus power system

Sequence R (Ω/km) L (mH/km) C(μF/km)

Zero 0.38640 4.1264 7.751

Positive 0.01273 0.9337 12.74

Table 2. Fuzzy rule of fault classification.

Input

Fault Type δ1 δ2 δ3 δ4 δ0

a-g high medium low highfault

b-g low high medium highfault

c-g mediumlow high highfault

a-b mediumhigh low low fault

b-c low medium high low fault

c-a high low medium low fault

a-b-g mediumhigh low highfault

b-c-g low medium high highfault

c-a-g high low medium highfault

a-b-c mediummedium medium low fault

Figure 3. Fault detection triangular membership function.

L. SUSILO ET AL.

934

Figure 4. Fault classification triangular membership func-

tion for δ1, δ2, and δ3.

Figure 5. Fault classification triangular membership func-

tion for δ4.

Figure 6. Forward fault and reverse fault.

2.2. Fault Current Direction

The original concept of fault current direction estimation

can be found in reference [3,4,5,6,9,10]. The difference

in angle of positive sequence between fault current and

pre-fault current can be used to estimate the fault direc-

tion [3]. The pre-fault current is flow from source to grid

as shown in Figure 6.

When fault forward occurs, the total fault current seen

by PD is accumulation both pre-fault current and forward

fault current. On the opposite, when fault reverse occurs,

the total fault current seen by PD is subtraction between

pre-fault current and reverse fault current. It is concluded

that if the phase angle change value is negative that

means forward fault occurs. On the contrary, if the phase

angle change value is positive that means reverse fault

occurs. The characteristic feature of fault direction is

determined in terms of δ5, which calculated as following.

δ5 = θIpostfault - θIprefault

where:

θIpostfault is angle of postfault current

θIprefault is angle of prefault current

As in previous section, the features for fault direction

have been determined in terms of δ0 and δ5.

The fuzzy rule of fault current direction is determined

as below:

If δ0 is “1” (fault) and δ5 is positive, it is reverse fault

If δ0 is “1”(fault) and δ5 is negative, it is forward fault

For δ5, “positive” means a value between 0˚ and 180˚,

“negative” means a value between 0˚ and -180˚. If the

angle value is more than 180˚, it shall be normalized with

subtracting it with 360˚. And if it less than -180˚, it shall

be normalized with adding it with 360˚ [3]. The triangu-

lar membership function can be seen in Figure 7.

3. Test System and Directional Overcurrent

Relay (DOCR) Model

The proposed approach is validated on test system which

shown in Figure 8. It consists of multisource power sys-

tem including utility and several distributed generation

sources, non-critical and critical load, and charging sta-

tion. The system parameter of system in Figure 8 is ta-

bulated in Table 3.

3.1. DOCR Model in Matlab Environment

As shown in Figure 9, the DFT module will extract the

magnitude of three phase line current, magnitude of posi-

tive sequence and zero sequence current and angle of

positive sequence current. These values will be used as

inputs for fault characterization module in order to com-

pute the features characteristic (δ1 ~ δ5) of fuzzy logic

module.

Figure 7. Fault current direction triangular membership

function for δ5.

L. SUSILO ET AL. 935

Figure 8. Test system.

Table 3. System parameter data for test system in Figure 8.

Utility MVAsc=2500MVA，X/R=20%

T1 50 MVA 161 kV/11.4 kV Z=11.4%

T2 300 kVA 11.4 kV/380 V Z=3.4%

T3 3 MVA 2.4 kV/11.4 kV Z=6%

T4 500 kVA 11.4 kV/380 V Z=3.4%

Transformer

T5 12 MVA 4.8 kV/11.4 kV Z=9.6%

1 3KM

#Line

2 5KM

R1=0.01273 Ω/km

R0=0.38640 Ω/km

L1=0.9337×10-3 H/km

L0=4.1264×10-3 H/km

C1=12.740×10-6 F/km

C0=7.751×10-6 F/km

1 Diesel Engine 3.125 MVA 4.8kV

2 PV 150 kVA 380V

Distributed

Generation

(DG) 3 Energy Storage 500 kVA 380V

Load1 Uncritical 1 MW

Load2 Critical 6 MW

Load3 Uncritical 300 kW

Load4 Critical 100 kW

Uncritical 60 kW×8

Charging

Station

(CS1) Critical 60 kW×4

Uncritical 60 kW×2

Load

Charging

Station

(CS2) Critical 60 kW×1

In section III, as we already know that δ5 is difference

between fault and pre-fault angle of positive current. The

pre-fault positive current angle is obtained at 1 cycle be-

fore fault occurs and fault positive current angle is ob-

tained at 1 cycle after fault occurs. The detail DOCR

module can be seen in Figure 10.

4. Simulation Result and Discussion

For testing performance and accuracy of proposed ap-

proach, simulation was done in two fault locations in test

system. They are marked as F1 and F2. Final results of

fault characterization simulation of test system are tabu-

lated in Table 4 and Table 5. Information regarding fault

classification and fault current detection can be obtained

accurately from this approach. Later, the information can

be transferred through communication channel to SCA-

DA for further fault diagnosis analysis. The proposed

method in [2] use two different fuzzy rule base instead of

combining become one fuzzy rule base as proposed in

this work both for phase fault and ground fault. There

fore, the proposed approach can work more effective.

Figure 9. DOCR model in Matlab environment.

Figure 10. DOCR module for determining fault classifica-

tion and fault current direction.

L. SUSILO ET AL.

936

Table 4. Simulation result for fault location at F1 (PD3 and

PD7).

Fault information seen by PD

Fault type Fault direction Current Angle

(degree)

Fault

type

Protection

Device

No.

A-B-G B-C A-B-CForward Reverse Pre-faultFault

PD3  - - -  26.7 131.7

A-B-G

PD7  - -  - 28.1 -56.8

PD3 -  - -  26.7 128.2

B-C

PD7 -  -  - 28.1 -57.9

PD3 - -

 -  26.7 138.3

A-B-C

PD7 - -

  - 28.1 -58.4

Table 5. Simulation result for fault location at F2 (PD13

and PD16).

Fault information seen by PD

Fault type Fault direction Current Angle

(degree)

Fault

type

Protection

Device

No.

B-G B-C A-B-C Forward Reverse Pre-faultFault

PD13  - -  - 25.9 -46.4

B-G

PD16  - - -  28.9 158.3

PD13 -  -  - 25.9 -52.6

B-C

PD16 -  - -  28.9 164.6

PD13 - -   - 25.9 -52.8

A-B-C

PD16 - -  -  28.9 171.4

To detect the ground fault existence in system, the ze-

ro sequence current value has been considered. The de-

tection of ground fault is denoted as δ4 in the proposed

fuzzy logic scheme. The performance of proposed ap-

proach has also been studied for variation of operating

conditions. The characteristic features value can be vary

according to system parameter change and configuration.

Any significant change can affect the fault current direc-

tion decision. Therefore, load flow study shall be per-

formed at first in order to determine the normal current

flow direction for pre-fault current reference.

5. Conclusions

An approach applying fuzzy logic algorithm (FLA) for

fault current characterization was presented. The DOCR

model based on this approach is developed in Matlab

environment. DOCR model can operate and perform

fault current characterization within 1 cycle after fault

occurring. In addition to the FLA ability, not only fault

detection was conducted; fault classification and fault

current direction were also determined. Due to FLA has

property to make decision in parallel, the whole process

of fault current characterization take a very short time.

The proposed DOCR model was applied to test power

system and show accurate result as expected. Moreover,

the proposed DOCR model can improve effectiveness of

existing fault diagnosis system with delivering both its

operating status and the fault current character informa-

tion.

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