TASTING – Fault location for MV distribution networks using sparse distributed measurements

Supervisors: Marc Petit, Trung Dung Le, Alexandre Bach (GeePs, CentraleSupelec – University Paris-Saclay)
Starting Date: December 2024/January 2025 (36 months)
Location: Gif-sur-Yvette (in Paris area)
Keywords: fault location, MV distribution networks, digital substations, phasor measurement units, hardware-in-the-loop

Context

This offer is part of TASTING, a four-year project that has received state funding managed by the National Research Agency under the France 2030 program. This project aims to address the main challenges related to the modernization and security of electrical systems with an emphasis on the cloud/edge continuum. Its structure responds to the PEPR TASE call for "Technological solutions for the digitization of intelligent energy systems," co-led by CEA and CNRS. The project focuses on scientific challenges surrounding ICT infrastructure, which is considered a crucial element in driving the significant transformations expected in energy infrastructures over the next decades. Seven academic laboratories are involved in TASTING: G2Elab, GeePs, IRIT, CEA-LIST, L2EP, L2S, and SATIE, as well as the Ctrl-A team from Inria. The project also benefits from an industrial partner: RTE (Electricity Transmission Network).

The participation of RTE, a key player in transmission systems, in the TASTING project represents a significant asset. As an associated partner, RTE brings concrete use cases and active support for academic research within the various institutions involved. Its involvement ensures the identification of real scientific barriers for the development of solutions created within the TASTING project. These solutions will thus be directly applicable at scale, maximizing the impact of innovations on the resilience and flexibility of intelligent energy networks.

The proposed use cases are as follows:

• UC1: Distribution of ICT resources
• UC2: Distributed control of PS & DER -> Active management on 63kV loops -> Different solutions for distributed controls (AI, Agent, ADMM, others)
• UC3: Ensure real-time optimal UFLS through digital control
• UC4: Fault location (PS & IT)
• UC5: Multi-energy/infrastructure DT

Smart digital substations enable to improve the power system reliability thanks to more collected data in real time (or close to real time). As an example, grid operators (both TSOs and DSOs) need to identify and locate faults faster and faster to ensure the grid reliability and improve the quality of service. Additionally, they are interested in solutions for predictive maintenance that could enable a maintenance before a fault tripping. The fault location issue is more complex in radial distribution grids as only few measurements are available. Typically, in MV (medium voltage) grid currents and voltages are only measured in the primary substation (that connects MV grids to HV grids, at the TSO-DSO interface). Consequently, the capability to locate a fault precisely enough is quite low especially in a radial network with a large number of secondary lateral branches, and with uncertainties of network parameters (impedances) and power flows in radial branches. Nevertheless, new sensors – phasor measurement units (PMU) – are now proposed to get access to more synchronized data in a wider area network.

Objectives and Research program

In the present PhD project, we propose to use PMUs that would be installed in only few MV/LV secondary substations to improve the fault location capabilities. A first algorithm developed during the PhD of A. Bach [1] [2] for line-to-ground faults will be extended to line-to-line faults, and the influence of distributed generators on the performances will be assessed. Furthermore, the initial algorithm will also be extended to transient faults as their occur in compensated neutral grounded MV grids. PMU recently bought by the GeePs will be used for experimental tests, either in a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) approach or in on-site approach.

The research work will be organized as follows:

• Literature review on the following topics:
  o Fault location in compensated MV distribution networks
  o Phasor measurement units for MV networks (D-PMU)
  o Fault behaviour of distributed generators/active loads
• Modeling and analysis of permanent/transient faults using software such as EMTP-RV or Matlab/Simulink
• Extension of the previous fault location method [1][2] in case of line-to-line faults and transient faults.
• Optimization of additional measurement (e.g. PMU) placement and number
• Performance analysis: Sensitivity study of the method to uncertainties (line impedances, fault resistance and distance, production, consumption, measurement noise, sampling frequency).
• Tests with HIL approach/on-site measurements

Candidate profile

• Eligible candidates should have a Master degree on electrical engineering.
• Experience in power system simulation and HIL would be an advantage.
• Good communication skills (both oral and written)

Contact

Please send a CV and a motivation letter to:

Marc Petit, e-mail : marc.petit@centralesupelec.fr
Trung Dung Le, e-mail: trungdung.le@centralesupelec.fr
Alexandre Bach, e-mail: alexandre.bach@centralesupelec.fr

References

[1] A. Bach, T. D. Le and M. Petit, "Deployability of a Probabilistic Earth Fault Location Method for MV Distribution Feeders," in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 1174-1185, April 2024, doi: 10.1109/TPWRD.2024.3361077.
[2] A. Bach, T. D. Le, and M. Petit, “Sensitivity assessment of a novel earth fault location method with optimally placed distributed measurements for MV networks,” IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 1358–1367, 2023, doi: 10.1049/gtd2.12740. [3] J. De La Cruz, E. Gómez-Luna, M. Ali, J. C. Vasquez, and J. M. Guerrero, “Fault Location for Distribution Smart Grids: Literature Overview, Challenges, Solutions, and Future Trends,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 2280, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16052280. [Online]. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en16052280
[4] F. Conte, F. D’Agostino, B. Gabriele, G. -P. Schiapparelli and F. Silvestro, "Fault Detection and Localization in Active Distribution Networks Using Optimally Placed Phasor Measurements Units," in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 714-727, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TPWRS.2022.3165685.
[5] M. Jamei et al., "Phasor Measurement Units Optimal Placement and Performance Limits for Fault Localization," in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 180-192, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1109/JSAC.2019.2951971.
[6] Q. Cui and Y. Weng, "Enhance High Impedance Fault Detection and Location Accuracy via $\mu$ -PMUs," in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 797-809, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1109/TSG.2019.2926668.
[7] K. Pandakov, C. Adrah, Z. Liu, HK Hoidalen, OK Kure, “Hardware-in-the-loop testing of impedance protection with compensation of fault impedance and DG infeed current”, J. Eng., 2018, Vol. 2018 Iss. 15, pp. 1018-1022
[8] D. Celeita, M. Hernandez, G. Ramos, N. Penafiel, M. Rangel, and J. D.Bernal, “Implementation of an educational real-time platform for relaying automation on smart grids,” Elect. Power Syst. Res., vol. 130, pp. 156–166,2016.