Novel Control Techniques of Petersen-coil

Xu Yao, Zeng Xiangjun, Member IEEE, Liu Zhanglei, Yi Wentao

School of Electrical & Information Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology
Changsha, Hunan Province, 410076, China

Abstract- Most Chinese Medium Voltage (MV) power and grounding capacitance. There are still no reports about
systems have been operated with neutral resonance grounded. the measuring methods of grounding resistance or damping
The resonance grounding method is hard to completely satisfy
the requirement of suppressing normal neutral-to-ground rate in domestic and abroad. Traditional methods for
voltage and self-extinguishing arc grounding faults in measuring ground capacitance are implemented by single-
distribution network with high asymmetry, where Peterson- phase earth fault test or by adding unbalanced capacitance
coil automatic tuning is also difficult to be implemented. In
test. They are unsafe and costly [1, 14].
order to improve them, some novel control techniques of
Petersen-coil are proposed in the paper. They include a new In order to solve the problems above, some novel control
grounding method based on Petersen-coil in parallel with a techniques of Petersen-coil (including a new grounding
reactor, a novel method for measuring insulation parameters method based on Petersen-coil in parallel with a reactor, a
to ground, and a novel control strategy of Petersen-coil.
Dynamic power system experimentations are carried out. novel method for measuring insulation parameters to ground,
Experimentation results show that the proposed neutral and a novel control strategy of Petersen-coil) are proposed
grounding method can restrain normal voltage of neutral point in the paper.
and ensure arc grounding fault self-extinguished, the proposed
measurement method of insulation parameters is simple,
convenient, precise and tested in real time without power II. THE NEW GROUNDING METHOD
supply interrupting.
In order to reduce neutral-to-ground voltage in normal
Keywords-Distribution systems, Petersen-coil, Insulation running while at the same time removing the arc grounding
parameters to ground, Neutral grounding method
fault during ground fault, a new grounding method is
I. INTRODUCTION presented as follows. The elementary diagram is shown as
Figure.1. In the figure, CA, CB, CC are the single phase
Many power distribution systems have been operated with
capacitance to earth respectively; a reactor with large
either neutral unearthed, high resistance earthed or
capacity (l) is connected with distribution network neutral
resonance earthed. The systems are usually called
directly, and a Petersen-coil with an adjustable capacity (L)
ineffectively earthed power systems [1-5]. Most Chinese
is connected with distribution network neutral by a switch
Medium Voltage (MV) power systems have been operated
(K). There are several secondary coils in the reactor. By
with resonance grounded [6,7]. Taking the influences of
injecting a current signal with variable frequency into one of
unbalance loads (such as rectifiers, drives, arc furnaces, and
the secondary coils of the reactor, the return voltage signal
single-phase loads) , neutral-to-ground voltage may exceed
can be measured from the other secondary coils. Based on
a safe level. In order to limit neutral-to-ground voltage,
injecting the current signal and the return voltage signal, the
damping rate and out-of-resonance of power compensation
grounding capacitance, grounding resistance and damping
network must be enhanced. However, the arc grounding
rate can be obtained. The total inductive impedance of
fault is difficult to self-extinguish by increasing damping
Petersen-coil will be adjusted to equal calculated capacitive
rate to limit neutral-to-ground voltage. Considering the
impedance on-line, so that Petersen-coil automatic tuning
above factors, the resonance grounding method is hard to
can be realized. In normal condition, considering the switch
satisfy the requirement of suppressing the neutral-to-ground
(K) is off, the Petersen-coil is free from the distribution
voltage and self-extinguishing the arc grounding fault in
systems. In this case, the distribution systems can be far
distribution network with high asymmetry at the same time
away the resonance frequency of the system, and neutral-to-
[8,9].
ground voltage can be restricted greatly. However, once
In addition, the neutral-to-ground voltage and the arc
one-phase grounding fault occurs, the Petersen-coil can be
grounding fault be affected directly by the insulation
automatically connected with the neutral point immediately
parameters to ground for distribution systems. In order to
so as to compensate the fault capacitance current absolutely
guarantee the secure operation of power system and
and to eliminate the arc grounding fault effectively. The
implement Petersen-coil automatic turning, the insulation
Petersen-coil will be taken out of service until the grounding
parameters to ground must be measured on-line [10-13].
fault is cleared.
The insulation parameters to ground include damping rate
By using the proposed neutral grounding method can
restrain normal voltage of neutral point, self-extinguish the
This work was supported in part by National Natural Science arc grounding faults, and improve reliability of distribution
Foundation of China 50207001, Hunan Provincial Natural Science
Foundation of China 07JJ3110. system.

978-1-4244-1706-3/08/$25.00 ©2008 IEEE.

 K
RA c RB cB RC cC
l A
I
RA CA RB CB RC CC
L

Figure.1 New neutral grounding method Figure.2 Insulation parameters to ground measuring
for distribution network

III. THE NOVEL MEASURING METHOD

I
The insulation parameters to ground include damping rate
and grounding capacitance. In the distribution systems, l
some parameters (such as: grounding resistance and
damping rate) are difficult to be measured, and traditional
methods for measuring ground capacitance are unsafe and
costly. In order to solve these problems, a novel method for
Figure.3 Equivalent circuit for insulation
measuring insulation parameters to ground (grounding parameters measuring
capacitance and damping rate) is presented in this paragraph.
The elementary diagram for measuring the insulation Noted that ,in this method, the leakage reactance of the
parameters to ground is shown in Figure.2. Considering the secondary side of voltage transformer installed in the inner
leakage reactance of the secondary coil is very small, the of the reactor would be a small value (less than 0.3ȍ); the
equivalent circuit is shown as Figure.3. In the figure, C power of the current signal injected to the distribution
( C = C A + C B + C C ) is the three-phase capacitance to system is less than 20W, which have little effect to power
system normal operation.
earth, R is the grounding resistance.
In the proposed grounding method above, by injecting a
current signal ( I ) with variable frequency into the IV. THE NOVEL CONTROL STRATEGY OF PETERSEN-COIL
secondary side of the voltage transformer installed in the In order to implement Petersen-coil automatic turning in
inner of the reactor, the return voltage signal ( U ) can be real time, a novel control strategy of Petersen-coil is
measured. Comparing phase difference between the current presented in the paper on the basis of Petersen-coil in
signal ( I ) and the return voltage signal ( U ), when it is zero parallel with a reactor grounding method. The elementary
diagram for Peterson-coil’s control is shown in Figure.4.
(that is resonance), this signal angular frequency ( ω0 ) is the
resonance angular frequency of the system. Based on
resonant principle, we can derive:
1
C = (1)
ω 0 2l
where, ω 0 is the resonance angular frequency of the system,
l is the value of the reactor.
On the basis of theory of shunt-resonance principle, the
grounding resistance (R) can be obtained by:
U
R = k2  (2)
I
where, K is the transformer ratio.
From (1) to (2), the damping rate can be calculated by:
1
d= (3)
Rω 0 C

Figure.4 Diagram for Peterson-coil’s control

 Based on Petersen-coil in parallel with a reactor this signal angular frequency ( ω0 ) is the resonance angular
grounding method, in normal operation, the variation of frequency of the system. Thus, the insulation parameters to
neutral-to-ground voltage and damping rate can be ground can be calculated. Based on the calculated grounding
monitored in real time. when neutral-to-ground voltage and capacitance and damping rate, Petersen-coil automatic
damping rate exceed setting values of themselves tuning will be implemented.
respectively, the grounding fault can be detected in
distribution systems, and Petersen-coil will be connected
with the neutral point immediately; when neutral-to-ground
voltage and damping rate are less than setting values of
themselves respectively, the grounding fault can be
considered to be cleared, and Petersen-coil will be taken out
of service automatically.
In order to guarantee the fault capacitance current can be
compensate absolutely, the total inductive impedance of I
Petersen-coil will be adjusted to equal calculated capacitive
impedance on-line. Based on this principle, we can derive:
U
IL + ϕ − j ω C U ϕ = 0 (4)
jω l U
where, U ϕ is the phase voltage of system, ω is the system
angular frequency, I L is Peterson-coil current.
From (4), the capacity of Petersen-coil can be calculated Figure.5 Distribution system model for
by: experimentation
2
Uϕ
Q = U ϕ I L = ω CU 2
ϕ − (5) With lumped capacitance instead of grounding
ωL
capacitance and tap-change type Petersen-coil applied, the
change of operation condition of power system can be
V. EXPERIMENT simulated by the variation of the value of lumped
Experiments have been carried out on a dynamic power capacitance. The capacity of the reactor is 120kVA. Test
system model in the laboratory, and the configuration for the results for capacitance measurement are shown in TABLE I.
experiment system is shown as Figure.5. The distribution From the TABLE I, we can find that test largest error is not
system voltage is 10kV. In the experiment, the reactor (l) is exceeding 1.59%, and Peterson-coil automatic tuning can be
connected with distribution network neutral directly, and the implemented by adjustment in real time. In addition, the
Petersen-coil with an adjustable capacity (L) is connected change of grounding resistance is simulated by changing
with distribution network neutral by a switch (K). There are resistance R, test results for grounding resistance and
two secondary coils in the reactor. By injecting a current damping rate measurement are shown in TABLE II. From
the TABLE II, we can find that both the largest error of
signal ( I ) with variable frequency into one of the grounding resistance and damping rate are not exceeding
secondary coils of the reactor, the return voltage signal ( U ) 3.5%. This is due to the value of reactor is not accurate and
can be measured from the other secondary coils. Comparing resonance angular frequencies can be sought exactly.
phase difference between the current signal ( I ) and the
return voltage signal ( U ), when it is zero (that is resonance),

TABLE I
EXPERIMENT RESULTS FOR CAPACITANCE MEASUREMENT
Actual Resonance Measured Measured capacitance Peterson-coil Peterson-coil
capacitance (μF) frequency (Hz) capacitance (μF) current (A) taper current(A)
81.99 18.42 81.21 147.3 23 146.3
69.62 19.25 68.51 134.9 20 133.9
60.68 21.42 60.13 109.0 14 119.6
49.93 23.61 49.47 89.7 10 90.6
41.63 25.85 41.24 74.8 6 75.6
 TABLE II
EXPERIMENT RESULTS FOR GROUNDING RESISTANCE AND DAMPING RATE

Actual resistance (kȍ) Measured resistance (kȍ) Actual damping rate Measured damping rate

300 311     0.033 0.032

80 82.9 0.124 0.120
15 15.2 0.663 0.654
5 5.1 1.99 1.95
2 2.03 1.95 4.89

REFERENCES
VI. CONCLUSIONS
[1] IEEE recommended practice for grounding of industrial and
In order to satisfy the requirement of suppressing the commercial power systems, IEEE Std142, 1991. PP.17-80, 1991.
[2] Joseph Sottile Jr., and Lawrence E. Holloway, “An overview of fault
neutral-to-ground voltage and self-extinguishing the arc monitoring and diagnosis in mining equipment,” IEEE Transactions
grounding fault at the same time in distribution network on Industry Applications, Vol.30, No.5, 1994, pp.1326-1332.
with high asymmetry, and implement Peterson-coil [3] Zeng Xiangjun, Li K.K., Chan W.L., Yin Xianggen, “On-site safety
automatic tuning in real time, some novel control techniques evaluation for earth fault in mining power systems”. IEEE
Transaction on Industry Applications Vol.39, No.6, Nov./Dec. 2003
of Petersen-coil (including a new grounding method based 1563-1569.
on Petersen-coil in parallel with a reactor, a novel method [4] Novak T., and Kohler J. L., “Technological innovations in deep coal
for measuring insulation parameters to ground, and a novel mine power systems,” IEEE transactions on industry applications,
control strategy of Petersen-coil) are proposed in the paper. Vol.34, No.1, 1998, pp.196-204.
[5] Zeng Xiangjun, Li K.K., Chan W.L., Su Sheng, "Grounding Faulted
Dynamic power system experimentations have been tested Feeder Detection with Fault Resistance Measurement in Mining
on a dynamic power system model in the laboratory. Results Power Systems". Industry Applications Conference, Fortieth IAS
show that that the proposed novel control techniques of Annual Meeting, 2005 Vol1, 2-6 Oct. 2005 PP.657 – 661.
Petersen-coil can improve reliability of distribution system [6] Yao Huannian. “The Resonance Grounding of the Electronic
System”(in Chinese) China Electronic Power Press,2001:34~36.
and implement Peterson-coil automatic tuning in real time. [7] Li Fushou. “Operation of Electric Power System with Neutral
The specific advantages are as follows: Ineffective Grounding” (in Chinese) China Electric Power Publication,
1) Petersen-coil in parallel with the reactor grounding 1993:48~49.
method proposed in the paper can restrain normal [8] Yao Huannian. “The Improvement of Neutral Ground for MV
Network in france” (in Chinese) Electric Power Automation
voltage of neutral points. What’s more, once one-phase Equipment,1998,3:43~46.
grounding fault occurs, the arc grounding fault can be [9] Du Dingxiang. “Selecting Neutral Grounding Mode for City
easy to self-extinguish; Distribution Network” (in Chinese) North China Electric
2) The proposed measuring method for insulation Power,2002(12):17~20.
[10] Zeng Xiangjun, Yin Xianggen, and Chen Deshu, “A novel technique
parameters to ground (grounding capacitance, damping for measuring grounding capacitance and ground fault resistance in
rate) is simple, convenient, precise and tested without ineffectively grounded systems,” IEEE Power Engineering Review,
power supply interrupting; Vol.20, No.5, 2000, pp.72-73.
3) Applying the proposed control strategy of Petersen-coil, [11] Zhao Zhengjun, Jiang Xinyu, “Research on capacitance current
mearsurement with signal injection in distribution network”, (in
the grounding fault can be detected exactly and quickly, Chinese) Guang Dong Electric Power, Vol.17, No.6, Dec.2004.
and Petersen-coil can be adjusted to compensate the [12] Lu Li, Sun Jiezhong, “ A new method to measure capacitance current
total capacitance to ground completely. in distribution network”, (in Chinese) Power System Technology,
In addition, the device based on the novel control Vol.25, No.5, May.2001.
[13] Zhang Xuhui, “Measurement device for grounding capacitance
techniques of Petersen-coil has been applied in the Wuhan current”, (in Chinese) Patents in China, July.2001.
Electric Power Company, and the techniques have been [14] R.Willheim, and M.Waters, “Neutral grounding in high-voltage
applied Chinese invention patent (Chinese patent transmission,” New York: Elsevier, 1956.
NO.200710034555.8).