Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization

The existing earth fault detection methods for low-voltage distribution networks demonstrate poor adaptability to faults with fault resistance. To address this problem, the composition of residual current during non-fault states and its impact on earth fault detection are analysed. A distributed ear...

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Main Authors: Zhongyu Sun, Bingyin Xu, Wei Wang, Tony Yip, Fan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525003199
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author Zhongyu Sun
Bingyin Xu
Wei Wang
Tony Yip
Fan Li
author_facet Zhongyu Sun
Bingyin Xu
Wei Wang
Tony Yip
Fan Li
author_sort Zhongyu Sun
collection DOAJ
description The existing earth fault detection methods for low-voltage distribution networks demonstrate poor adaptability to faults with fault resistance. To address this problem, the composition of residual current during non-fault states and its impact on earth fault detection are analysed. A distributed earth fault detection method is then proposed. This method divides a low-voltage distribution network into multiple protection zones and uses the differential residual current of each protection zone to identify earth faults, effectively reducing the impact of residual current during non-fault states. Furthermore, a time synchronization technique using phase voltage as a reference is proposed, which achieves low-cost time synchronization without relying on external clocks. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulations and field tests in an actual low-voltage platform. Compared with conventional approaches, the proposed method exhibits significant enhancements in both sensitivity and reliability.
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institution OA Journals
issn 0142-0615
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
spelling doaj-art-3a66a1c6b9e2469a9162d2b87cd5a5962025-08-20T02:07:56ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems0142-06152025-08-0116911077110.1016/j.ijepes.2025.110771Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronizationZhongyu Sun0Bingyin Xu1Wei Wang2Tony Yip3Fan Li4School of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Shandong, Jinan 250061, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Shandong, Jinan 250061, China; School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Shandong, Zibo 255000, China; Corresponding author at: School of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Shandong, Jinan 250061, China.School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Shandong, Zibo 255000, ChinaKehui International Ltd, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 7GX, UKState Grid Weihai Power Supply Company, Shandong, Weihai 264200, ChinaThe existing earth fault detection methods for low-voltage distribution networks demonstrate poor adaptability to faults with fault resistance. To address this problem, the composition of residual current during non-fault states and its impact on earth fault detection are analysed. A distributed earth fault detection method is then proposed. This method divides a low-voltage distribution network into multiple protection zones and uses the differential residual current of each protection zone to identify earth faults, effectively reducing the impact of residual current during non-fault states. Furthermore, a time synchronization technique using phase voltage as a reference is proposed, which achieves low-cost time synchronization without relying on external clocks. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulations and field tests in an actual low-voltage platform. Compared with conventional approaches, the proposed method exhibits significant enhancements in both sensitivity and reliability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525003199Differential residual currentEarth fault detectionLow-voltage distribution networksTime synchronizationProtection zones
spellingShingle Zhongyu Sun
Bingyin Xu
Wei Wang
Tony Yip
Fan Li
Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
Differential residual current
Earth fault detection
Low-voltage distribution networks
Time synchronization
Protection zones
title Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
title_full Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
title_fullStr Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
title_full_unstemmed Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
title_short Distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
title_sort distributed earth fault detection method for low voltage distribution networks using phase voltage synchronization
topic Differential residual current
Earth fault detection
Low-voltage distribution networks
Time synchronization
Protection zones
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525003199
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