2004 E E E International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong
Some Novel Techniques for Improving Power Quality in Distribution Networks
Zeng Xiangjun, MEEE, Li K.K, Senior MEEE, Chan W.L., Senior MEEE, Yin Xianggen, Non-Member
Abstract--Power quality is influenced by neutral grounding
methods in distribution systems. Optimization for neutral grounding
methods is discussed in the paper. Petersen-coil in parallel with high
resistance earthed technique has a better performance in safety and
power quality than other neutral point grounding techniques. To
improve power quality, a novel method for measurement of zero
sequence impedance in distribution systems is presented,
Petersen-coil inductance is adjusted to compensate the total
capacitance, and the resistor which is in parallel with the
Petersen-coil is adjusted to control the over-voltage; some other
novel techniques for grounding fault feeder protection based on
testing the fault resistance or the energy dissipated in the fault point
are also presented. The method of Petersen-coil tuning has been
developed. Experimental results show that the optimization for
neutral grounding methods and the protections proposed can improve
the power quality by reducing the over-voltage, the residual current
and the grounding fault duration.
Index Terms-Power quality, Petersen-coil tuning, Protective
relaying, Fault detection
I INTRODUCTION
In recent years, both industrial and commercial customers
of electric utilities have reported rising incidences related to
power quality. The power quality problem can be described as
voltage dips and fluctuations, momentary interruption,
harmonics, transient surges, and so on, resulting in
misoperation and failure of line or equipment. These
disturbances and interruption, though always existed on utility
system, degrade the reliability and quality of the power supply,
and nowadays causing more and more troubles. This is due to
the increased refinement of today's automated equipment, such
as variable-speed drives, automated production lines or
machine tools, programmable logic controllers or power
supplies in computers. They are far more vulnerable to
disturbances on the utility systems than previous less
automated production and information systems ['I.
More peoples now pay attention to improve power quality
in distribution systems. It needs to suppress the over-voltage,
to detect and isolate faulty section when fault occurs. Among
all faults, more than 80 percent occurs in distribution systems.
In these faults, about 80 percent are grounding faults, and
among grounding faults, about 90 percents are instantaneous
faults. Many utilities want to develop distribution automation
This work was supported in part by Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Research Grant GYC52 and National Natural Science Foundation of China
50207001.
Zeng Xiangjun is with the College of Electrical and Information
Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha,
Hunan Province, 4 10077, China (e-mail: eexjzeng@maiI.csuep.edu.cn).
Li K.K. is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Hong Kong
Polytechnic University (e-mail: Gilbert.KK.Li@polyu.edu.hk),
Chan W.L. is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Hong
Kong Polytechnic University (e-mail: eewlchan@polyu.edu.hk).
Yin Xianggen is with the College of Electrical & Electronic
Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan,
430074, P.R. China (e-mail: xgyin@mail.hust.edu.cn)
0-7803-8237-4/04/$17.0002004IEEE
306
(DA), which only isolates faulty section without interrupting
the power supply to the healthy sections, and which clears
impermanent fault without interrupting the power supply in
ineffectivily neutral earthed conditions. The above are difficult
to be implemented, and are influenced by neutral earthed
method.
A. Selection of Neutral Grounding Method
In distribution system, fault detection and over-voltage
suppression are related to the method of neutral grounding. In
solid or low resistance earthed system, the grounding fault
current magnitude is large for easy detection, but the arc
grounding fault is difficult to be self-extinguished, and the
over-voltage is suppressed. In resonance or high resistance
earthed system, the arc grounding fault is easy to be
self-extinguished, but the grounding fault current is small for
detection, and the over-voltage is high. Every type of neutral
grounding technique has virtues as well as defects. It is difficult
to decide the method of neutral grounding.
In China, most distribution networks are isolated systems or
resonant earthed neutral systems, which have been operated
over 50 years with a good record. Most instantaneous
grounding fault can be self-extinguished, and the system can
continue operation until the load of the faulted feeder is
redirected while permanent single-phase grounding fault
occurs. At present feeders are extended at a fast rate and their
capacitance to ground increases dramatically. Consequently,
arc grounding fault cannot be self-extinguished in isolated
systems. In order to self-extinguish the arc grounding fault and
to suppress over-voltage, many utilities change isolated system
to resonant earthed system. In the process of developing
distribution automation, Petersen-coil need to be tuned
automatically and grounding fault to be detected
B. Petersen-Coil Tuning
Most Petersen-coils are unadjustable on-line. Only in the
last several years, some automatic tuning systems of
Petersen-coil have been developed
Traditional principle to determine the appropriate coil
position of Petersen-coil is based on an analysis of the
neutral-to-earth voltage (i.e., resonance curve). This principle
has some limitations. For example, a variation in the coil
inductance is necessary for the present measurement of
system's capacitive current, which generally includes frequent
operation upon the coil ['Ir3], and it is difficult to carry out in
large distribution networks, which contain several
Petersen-coils.
C. Grounding Fault Detection
In isolated systems, the grounding fault feeder can be
detected by comparing the amplitude of hndamental zero
sequence current or their phases. Whereas, in resonant earthed
systems, grounding fault current is very small and their
direction is disturbed by the compensation current due to
2004 IEEE International Conference o n Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong
Petersen-coil. It is thus impossible to detect it by comparing the
amplitude of findamental zero sequence current or their
phases. On the other hand, Petersen-coil has high impedance to
high order harmonics. The grounding fault feeder can be
detected by comparing the amplitude of all feeders or phases of
harmonic zero sequence current. Among high order harmonic
currents, the fifth order harmonic current is the best one to be
applied to detect the grounding fault feeder. Many utilities
have implemented this method 12’ [31. Whereas, the high order
harmonic current is very small and varies in different systems,
it often has poor sensitivity in
Another way to detect arc grounding fault feeder was
developed in France [41. It measures the transfer of zero
sequence energy during the first 20ms after grounding fault
happens. When high impedance grounding fault occurs, the
zero sequence voltage is very low, and the transfer of zero
sequence energy is also limited and hence this method also has
poor performance in detecting high impedance grounding
fault.
In order to enhance power quality in distribution systems,
the selection of neutral grounding method is discussed in this
paper. A novel technique for Petersen-coil tuning based on
injecting different frequency currents is presented. The
appropriate coil position is calculated easily by measuring the
system resonance frequency. Another novel technique for
grounding fault detection based on testing the fault resistance
or the energy dissipated at the fault point is also presented. It is
not influenced by the method of system neutral point
grounding and it can be applied in detecting arc grounding
fault.
11. OPTIMIZATION ON NEUTRALGROUNDING
METHOD
There are a wide variety of neutral grounding techniques
throughout the world: solidly earthed neutral system (UK),
systematic and multiple grounding (U.S and Canada), through
impedance (France, Spain, etc) or resonant (Germany,
Scandinavia, China, etc) earthed neutral systems.1n order to
estimate the impact of neutral grounding method on power
quality, four criteria must be examined:
0 fault voltage Vf,
ability of self-extinguishing arc grounding fault,
0 grounding fault detection,
0 safety.
The impact of grounding fault will depend on value of these
four criteria and on the fault duration.
A. Impact of Fault Voltage
In resistance neutral grounding system, lower the resistance
can help to reduce the fault point voltage in grounding fault
condition. Experiences in China show when the resistance is
lower than distribution’s capacitive impedance, the fault point
voltage is usually lower than 2.6p.u., which usually satisfy the
requirement of suppressing over-voltage.
In resonance neutral earthed generator unit, grounding
capacitance is constant, but frequency sometimes varies. The
maximum transient voltage varies with generator frequency
while grounding fault occurs. The relation of maximum
307
transient neutral voltage and generator frequency has been
tested by TNA. The result is shown in Fig.1, where
Petersen-coil entirety compensates capacitance of generator
unit to ground in system frequency (60Hz).
U0 (p. U. 1
50 55 60 65 70
fkquence (Hz)
Fig.]. Test result of maximum transient neutral voltage varying with
frequency in generator units. Curve 1 - Petersen-coil directly grounding
system by GE company P.G.Br0-m; curve 2 - counting for leaking resistance
by Tsinghua university (in China); curve 3 - Petersen-coil in parallel
connecting high resistance grounding system by M.V.Hadded (U.S.A); curve
4 - high resistance grounding system.
From Fig. 1, it is found that the over-voltage of generator unit
with Petersen-coil in parallel with high resistance earthed
system is lower than that in Petersen-coil directly earthed
system. Two methods can usually satisfy requirement of safety
if generator frequency is between 55Hz and 65Hz.
However, in resonance neutral earthed distribution system,
grounding capacitance varies with the topologic changing, and
compensated inductance varies with Petersen-coil tap
changing, but system frequency is quite constant. The
resonance deviation is defined as:
I -I,
v = ~ x 1 0 8 ! (1)
4
Where: I,, grounding capacitance current; I,, inductive current
flowing in Petersen-coil.
The maximum transient voltage varies with resonance
WP.4
4.01 1
-jO% -15% 0 15% 30% v
Fig.2. the relation of maximum transient over-voltage and resonance
deviation in resonance neutral earthed distribution system. curve 1 -
Petersen-coil directly grounding system; curve 2 - Petersen-coil
parallel connecting high resistance grounding system.
deviation while grounding fault occurs. In a distribution
network, the relation of maximum transient voltage and
resonance deviation obtained from EMTP simulating is shown
in Fig.2. The resistance parallel connected Petersen-coil can
suppress over-voltage. If resonance deviation is controlled in
the range from -10% to lo%, over-voltage can usually satisfy
2004 IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004)April 2004 Hong Kong
requirement of safety.
B. Self-extinguish Arc Fault
Among all neutral earthed methods, the capacitance current
is compensated in resonance neutral earthed method, so the
grounding fault current is small. If the fault current is limited in
1OA(35kv) or 20A( 1Okv) by Petersen-coil automatic tuning,
instantaneous fault can self-clear without interruption.
Arcing-fault usually amounts to 80 percent in all faults.
Therefore, resonance neutral earthed system with Petersen-coil
automatically tuning can improve power quality effectively.
C. Grounding Fault Detection
Among all neutral earthed methods, resonant earthed
neutral system has the poorest sensitivity to protect against
grounding In order to improve, many utilities
introduce earthing via Petersen-coil in parallel with high
resistance. By selecting an optimization value of resistance, not
only grounding faults can be detected, but also arc faults can be
self-extinguished. Moreover, it has a better performance of
suppressing over-voltage.
D. Safety
Safety to people and equipment is related to fault current,
fault-voltage and fault duration when grounding faults occur[61.
In low resistance neutral earthed system, although the fault
breakout is instant, fault current is large, step-voltage around
the fault point is high, and hence it will threaten people’s safety
if they are near the fault point.
In some countries, the grounding point of MV neutral is not
isolated to the grounding point of LV neutral line. Moreover,
consumer’s neutral line is not connected with metal structure or
pipe of building. An example is showed in Fig.3. The lOkV
network’s neutral is grounded through a low resistance R. One
distribution transformer’s high-voltage coil is discharged to the
tank. This fault current makes the voltage of neutral point in
low-voltage system (380V) rising to rather high voltage Uf.
Their voltage at the tank is also rising to UJ, It will threaten
people’s safety.
lOkV 380V
+ -I-
Fig.3. Fault in low resistance earthed neutral system
cause appliance electrified
Whereas, in resonance neutral earthed distribution system,
grounding fault current is low, voltage at the fault point is also
low. Grounding fault, thus, do not threaten people’s safety.
On all accounts, in low resistance neutral grounding system,
transient voltage is suppressed and grounding fault feeder is
easy to be detected, but arc grounding fault is difficult to be
self-extinguished and grounding fault usually threatens the
safety. However, in resonance neutral grounding system, if
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grounding fault current is limited to a low value by
Petersen-coil automatic tuning, arc grounding fault can be
self-extinguished, transient voltage can be suppressed and
grounding fault current will not be harmful to people and
equipment. On the other hand it is difficult to detect the faulted
feeder. With technology development, Petersen-coil tuning and
fault feeder detecting can be implemented. Resonance neutral
earthed technique, especially Petersen-coil in parallel with high
resistance earthed technique, will have better future in
improving power quality.
In. AUTOMATICALLY
PETERSEN-COIL TUNING
The Petersen-coil automatic tuning system includes the
measurement of capacitive current and Petersen-coil
tuning.With a signal injecting from neutral point to distribution
systems, the signal voltage U@ and the signal current I,,@ are
measured, the zero sequence impedance Z @ can be calculated
by:
Based on the zero sequence impedance, total grounding
capacitance and leakage conductance of equipment and
feeders are obtained. Petersen-coil inductance is adjusted to
compensate the total capacitance. The resistor which is in
parallel with the Petersen-coil is adjusted to control
over-voltage during system normal operation.
Fig.4. the equivalent circuit for current injection
A. Measurement of Capacitive
A different frequency constant current is injected through
the secondary side of zero sequence voltage transformers,
which is contained in the Petersen-coil, into the zero sequence
circuit from a source of constant current as shown in Fig.4. The
signal frequency is changed until the resonance frequency of
the compensated network is found.
The total capacitance (3C=CI+ Cz+ C , ) to earth of
compensated networks can be calculated by:
3c = - I (3)
06L
Where: Q, is the resonance angular frequency, L is the
inductance of Petersen-coil.
Therefore, the total capacitive current is:
I , = 3mcu = =
(4)
0:L
Where: o is the system angular frequency, U is the phase
2004 IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong
voltage of system.
The resonance deviation of compensated networks can be
determined by:
WU U (5)
Where:h, resonance frequency; J; system frequency (50Hz in
China).
The inductive current of the compensated system can be
read through the switch tap of Petersen-coil. So, the capacitive
current of the network can be calculated easily:
Where: Z,,the sum of all Petersen-coils’ inductive current in the
compensated networks.
When a distribution system has several Petersen-coils, the
resonance deviation and capacitive current of the whole
network can be calculated easily by selecting one Petersen-coil
to inject signal current and to observe the system resonant
frequency.
B. Petersen-coil Tuning
One solution to Petersen-coil tuning is to use plunger core
coils, which are effective for fine and continuous tuning but
expensive. Another useful, but much less expensive solution is
a switchable fixed coil system with a control switch which has
many taps (from 7 to 20). Some switches are adjusted by
manpower. Others are driven by motor and controlled remotely
by computer. The former is popular in China, but now the latter
is becoming popular in some distribution automation systems.
While the capacitive current and resonance deviation is
measured, Petersen-coil automatic tuning is implemented by
adjustment at real time. Petersen-coil tuning assures resonance
deviation in the range of -5% - -10% and residual current of
grounding fault point in the range of 0-1 5A.
C. Practical Experience of Petersen-coil Timing
The prototype for Petersen-coil tuning is developed, and
has already been tested in the network for several years. Some
operation feedback has already been received. The capacitive
current of one 35kv distribution networks in Minlou (Hunan
province, China) was measured on January 6,1997. Each
feeder was switched on or off, and the result for capacitive
current was tested (TABLE. 1).
TABLE.l
TESTRESULTFOR CAPACITIVE CURRENT ON NETWORK
2 1 13.6 I 45.250 I 16.6 I 17.01 I 136.9
2 1 13.6 I 41.863 I 19.4 I 19.95 I 164.6
In the above table, the estimation value of capacitive current
is the sum of all feeders and substation. It is estimated that the
309
capacitive current of substation is 2.5A and that the capacitive
current of every kilometer overhead line is 0.106A. From this
table, we can find that the largest error is 0.6A. The reasons for
error maybe:
A. The estimated value of capacitive current is not accurate.
B. The inductive current of Petersen-coil changes in testing
because of the nonlinearity of magnetic curve.
C. the test error of the prototype.
N. GROUNDING
FAULTDETECTION
A. Protection for High Impedance Grounding Fault
In resonant earthed systems, the ground fault current is very
small. The direction and amplitude of fundamental zero
sequence current is disturbed by the current of compensation
coil. Even in high impedance ground fault condition, it is
impossible to detect the faulted feeder by the fundamental zero
sequence current protection. Two methods for high impedance
earth fault detection are presented below.
(1) Relay on Grounding Fault Resistance
After zero sequence voltage is started up (larger than its
threshold), fault grounding resistance is calculated by fault
phase voltage and fault components of three phase currents.
R - . U, (7)
- A I A -(AiB +Aic)12
Where, U, is the fault phase voltage, ZA, ZB and Zc are phase a, b
and c’s current variation respectively.
When the fault resistance is lower than a threshold,
ground fault is detected.
(2) Relay on fault-point energy dissipation
After zero sequence voltage is started up (larger than its
threshold), the energy dissipated at the fault point is calculated
as :
Wf= X u a ( A i A-(AiB + A i c ) / 2 ) (8)
When the energy dissipated is higher than a threshold,
ground fault is detected. The method can detect arc grounding
fault.
B. High Impedance Grounding Fault Protection Implemented
in FTU
The Field Terminal Unit (FTU), a device for distribution
system automation, is developed with DSP TMS320F206 and
14 bit A/D transform as shown in Fig.5.
Fig.5. Prototype of FTU
2004 IEEE International Conference o n Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 H o n g Kong
C. Test with Dynamic Simulation
Fig.6. Model of dynamic simulation test
TABLE. II
TESTRESULTSFOR HIGH lMPEDANCE GROUNDING
FAULT
Note: Resistance Relay is the relay with Grounding Fault Resistance, Energy Relay is
the relay with fault-point energy dissipated.
Tests have been carried out on a dynamic power system
model in the laboratory. The configuration for the test system
is shown in Fig.6. In the dynamic simulation test model
(Shown in Fig.S), L1 is a long line of 260 km,equivalent of
many power lines; L2 and L3 are short lines, FTU is installed
onL3. By changing the neutral earthed method and fault point,
the zero sequence voltage (Uo), the faulted phase voltage (uA),
and the fault component of three phase currents (Ai) have been
measured by the FTU prototype. The test results are listed in
TABLE. 11. When the earth fault occurs on L l (K,) or L2 (K2),
the prototype does not trip. When the high impedance
grounding fault occurs on L3 (K3),the prototype trips, isolate
the fault section L3, and reduce grounding fault duration.
Experimental results also show that the Petersen-coil in
parallel with high resistance earthed technique can improve
power quality by reducing over-voltage and residual current.
V. CONCLUSION
Power quality is influenced by neutral grounding method in
distribution systems. Optimization for neutral grounding
methods is discussed in this paper. Petersen-coil in parallel
with high resistance earthed technique has a better performance
in safety and power quality than other neutral point grounding
techniques. In this compensated system with Petersen-coil
automatic tuning and novel grounding fault protectors,
grounding fault can be protected, arc fault can be
self-extinguished, and over-voltage is suppressed.
To improve power quality, zero sequence impedance is
tested with a resonance signal injection from neutral point to
distribution systems. Petersen-coil inductance is adjusted to
compensate the total capacitance. The resistor which is in
parallel with the Petersen-coil is adjusted to control
over-voltage. The method of Petersen-coil tuning has been
310
developed and has been tested on power systems for several
years.
To improve power quality, some other novel techniques for
grounding fault feeder protection based on testing the fault
resistance or the energy dissipation in the fault point are also
presented. The proposed grounding fault protection methods
are implemented in FTU for distribution automation systems.
Experimental results show that the optimization for neutral
grounding methods and the protections proposed can improve
power quality by reducing over-voltage, residual current and
the grounding fault duration.
VI. REFERENCES
[ I ] L.Angrisani, P.Daponte, M.D’ Apuzzo, A.Testa. “A measurement
method based on the wavelet transform for power quality analysis” IEEE
Transaction on Power Delivery, Vol. 13, No.4, Oct. 1998, pp.990-998.
[2] Fushou Li. “Electrical Power system with neutral ineffective Grounding”
Beijing: Electric power publication (in Chinese). 1993. pp98-I 1 I
[3] “IEEE recommended practice for grounding of industrial and commercial
power systems,” IEEE Std 142, 1991. pp. 17-80,
[4] D.Griffel, Y Harmmand. “A new deal for safety and quality on MV
networks”. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 12, No.4, 1997,
3313.1428-1433.
[5] Zeng Xiangjun, Yin Xianggen, and Chen Deshu. “A novel technique for
measuring grounding capacitance and ground fault resistance in
ineffectively grounded systems,” IEEE Power Engineering Review,
V01.20, NOS, 2000, pp.72-73
[6] Zeng Xiangjun, Li K.K., Chan W.L., Yin Xianggen, ‘On Site Evaluation
for Ground Fault in Mining Power Systems’, 2001 IEEE Indusfry
Application Sociefy Annual Meeting, Chicago, U.S.A., Oct. 2001, Vol. 2,
pp. 1404- I4 I0
[7] Zhu Jun. David L. Lubkeman. “Automated fault location and diagnosis
on electric power distribution feeders”. IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, V01.12, No.2, 1997, pp.801-809.
[8] Zeng Xiangjun, Yin Xianggen, Zhang Zhe, Chen Deshu, and Wen
Minghao, “Study on feeder grounding fault protection based on zero
sequence admittance” (in Chinese) Proceedings of the Chinese Society
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[9] Zeng Xiangjun, Yin Xianggen, Chen Deshu, and Zhang zhe, “Ground
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VII. BIOGRAPHY
Zeng Xiangjun was bom in Hunan, China in 1972. He received his MSc.
degree from Wuhan University, and PhD degree from Huazhong University of
Science & Technology. He is at present an Associate Professor in Changsha
University of Science and Technology, China. He currently works as a
Post-doctor in Huazhong University of Science & Technology and
Xiangneng-Xuji Company. His research interest is real-time computer
application in power systems control and protection.
K. K. Li received the MSc. degree from the University of Manchester
Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, U.K., and the PhD degree
from City University, London, U.K. He has worked as a Protection Engineer
in Hong Kong. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of
Electrical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research
interests are power system protection and applications of artificial intelligence
in power systems.
W. L. Chan obtain his BSc(Eng) and MPhil degree from University of Hong
Kong and PhD. degree from City University, London. He is now with the
department of Electrical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
while his major interests are in microprocessor applications in power systems
and applications of artificial intelligence.
Yin Xianggen received his PhD. in electrical power engineering from
Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 1989. He is at present the
professor at the same university. His research interests are power system
control and protection relaying.