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Testing of the Faulty Phase Earthing System Using Real-Time Simulator

Viktor Jurák
Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communictaion, Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Technická 12, 616 00 Brno, Czech Republic

David Topolánek
Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communictaion, Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Technická 12, 616 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Jaroslava Orságová
Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communictaion, Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Technická 12, 616 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract
To extinguish arc of a single-phase fault in resistor earthed distribution networks, an automatic reclosing system is usually used. However, this operation results in a short-term power supply interruption. As an alternative to the automatic reclosing function, it is possible to apply a faulty phase earthing (FPE) system. The main objective of this paper is to test the faulty phase earthing system using the real-time digital simulator (RTDS) environment, where behaviour of a real distribution network will be numerically simulated. One of the advantages of the real-time testing is the possibility to bring the output of the protection device (i.e. the input for the faulty phase earthing or triggering the circuit breaker operation) back to the simulation and, therefore, test the hardware in the loop. As a test object, the ABB feeder protection is used. This device is programmed according to the defined requirements of the FPE algorithm. The aim is to prove proper functionality of the algorithm and its correct implementation into the protection terminal settings, which is crucial for securing high reliability of the FPE system prior its installation to real resistor earthed network. The paper is focused on verification of the FPE system prior its real application in pilot test as alternative to autoreclosing system in real resistor earthed distribution network.