Field validation of a novel PMU-based fault distance estimation solution for distribution networks

This paper presents the field validation of a novel fault distance estimation method in a real medium-voltage grid. The novelty is that this approach is a centralized fault locator which combines multiple synchronized measurements from Distribution Phasor Measurement Units (D-PMUs) installed at different grid locations, thus enabling the achievement of higher accuracy compared to typical distance relays that use local measurements only. The fault locator first identifies the faulted grid area delimited by one or more D-PMUs and secondly computes the precise location within the identified faulted area. This allows network operators to further decrease the fault search time and thus improve grid reliability indices.