Development of fault section identification technique for low voltage DC distribution systems by using capacitive discharge current

• DOI: 10.1007/s40565-017-0362-4
• Publication Date: 2019-11-07
• Authors: Chul-Ho Noh; Chul-Hwan Kim; Gi-Hyeon Gwon; Yun-Sik Oh

The increasing importance of energy efficiency has led to several studies related to the construction of a reliable low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system. Specifically, studies on a protection scheme that considers the fault characteristics of an LVDC distribution system are essential to improve system reliability. When compared to a conventional distribution system, the most distinct feature of an LVDC distribution system is the existence of a capacitive discharge current from converters under a fault condition that results in the prompt operation of protection devices. Therefore, this study involves proposing a precise and rapid technique to identify the fault section in an LVDC distribution system. The technique involves two stages, namely: an analysis stage to analyze the capacitive discharge current and a decision stage to identify the fault section based on the fault type. A detailed discussion of each step is presented and its feasibility is verified based on the results of simulations with an ElectroMagnetic Transients Program and MATLAB®.