Fault location for underground distribution feeders: An extended impedance-based formulation with capacitive current compensation

Underground distribution systems are normally exposed to permanent faults, due to specific construction characteristics. In these systems, visual inspection cannot be performed. In order to enhance service restoration, accurate fault location techniques must be applied. This paper describes an extended impedance-based fault location algorithm for underground distribution systems. The formulation is developed on phase frame and calculates the apparent impedance using only local voltage and current data. The technique also provides an iterative algorithm to compensate the typical capacitive component current of underground cables. Test results are obtained from numerical simulations using a real underground distribution feeder data from the Electrical Energy Distribution State Company of Rio Grande do Sul (CEEE-D), southern Brazil. Comparative results show the techniques accuracy and robustness in respect to fault type, distance and resistance.