Investigation into the Performance of Impedance-Based Fault Location Algorithms in Medium Voltage Distribution Networks using COMTRADE Data

Except for large metropolitan cities, medium voltage distribution networks have a high percentage of overhead lines. Overhead lines are one of the network elements with the highest number of fault occurrences. Besides, distribution networks have many laterals and branches. This topological structure of the distribution network creates difficulties, especially in locating single-phase ground faults. Many methods proposed in the literature require additional devices that are quite difficult to apply in the field or are expensive. In this study, two different impedance-based fault location algorithms were applied to COMTRADE data obtained from existing protection relays in the field. Both algorithms gave similar results and successfully detected the location of the single phase ground fault occurring in the field without requiring an additional measurement setup.