Detecting arcing downed-wires using fault current flicker and half-cycle asymmetry

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/61.277718· OSTI ID:7115267

Sultan, A F; Swift, G W ^[1]; Fedirchuk, D J ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
2. Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg (Canada). System Operating Dept.

The downed-wires problem, known as high impedance faults, is described. A high voltage laboratory setup was devised to investigate the phenomenon. The laboratory model results agreed with field test results, and previous research efforts. The arcing fault model was justified. The setup was used as a source of fault current signal. A simple approach was taken to design an arcing fault detector. The algorithm utilizes the random behavior of the fault current. It compares the positive and negative current peaks in one cycle to those in the next cycle to measure the flicker in the current signal. The asymmetry of the current is calculated by comparing the positive peak to the negative peak, for each cycle; the moving window length is half a cycle. Both values are used as a signature of arcing. The result is filtered and compared with a suitable detection threshold. The algorithm was tested by traces of normal load, and no-load current disturbed by currents of faults on dry and wet soil, arc welders, computers, and fluorescent light loads, as well as short circuit currents. The algorithm performed well under the test conditions, except for the arc welder load. This load is also a source of insecurity for other algorithms. The detection criterion will be integrated with another detection method to improve the security during arcing load events. On-line testing is required to demonstrate algorithm dependability.

• OSTI ID: 7115267
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN 0885-8977; ISSN ITPDE5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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