The document presents a new indirect method for measuring and calculating the phase-earth capacity in distribution networks with an isolated neutral point, focusing on the determination of capacitive earth-fault currents. This method utilizes voltage ratios and connected capacitors to assess leakage currents and can be automated for periodic monitoring. The research aims to enhance safety and operational efficiency in networks by allowing for accurate measurements without creating artificial earth connections.
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The document presents a new indirect method for measuring and calculating the phase-earth capacity in distribution networks with an isolated neutral point, focusing on the determination of capacitive earth-fault currents. This method utilizes voltage ratios and connected capacitors to assess leakage currents and can be automated for periodic monitoring. The research aims to enhance safety and operational efficiency in networks by allowing for accurate measurements without creating artificial earth connections.
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Transactions on Electrical Engineering, Vol. 3 (2014), No.
2 48
Determination of the Value of the Capacitive
Earth-Fault Current in Distribution Networks Operated with Isolated Neutral Point
Ing. František Žák
EGE spol. s r.o., České Budějovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract —– The new indirect method of measurement
and calculation of the phase-earth capacity in networks with II. CALCULATION BASED ON THE NODE-VOLTAGE ANALYSIS isolated neutral point is based on creation of a short-term For the verification purpose of the artificial increase of phase capacity asymmetry in the network. The value of the the phase-to-earth capacitive asymmetry to determine the phase earth capacity in the network can be determined value of the capacitive earth-fault current, first the node- using the voltage ratio in the network and the capacity value voltage analysis was applied. For the calculation, a simple of the connected capacitor. When expanded, the method can circuit which is provided in Fig. 1 was used. be also used for the leakage current estimation. Furthermore, this method can be applied to periodic The leakage admittances can be described by the controls of the earth capacitive current value. For the equation using the average admittance and the deviation evaluation of the phase earth capacity, a single-purpose from the average value. r automation can be used and thus the whole process of Yi = Gi + jωCi (1) measurement and evaluation is conducted at a defined r r r period (at a given hour, day, month…) or on operator’s Yi = Y + ∆Yi = G + jωC + ∆Gi + ∆jωCi (2) command. In the network with isolated neutral point, the sum of Keywords — isolated neutral point, capacitive earth-fault currents flowing through the shunt admittances was current, measuring and calculation of phase earth capacity expressed using the node-voltage analysis. r rr r r r r r r value E (Y1 + aY2 + a 2Y3 ) = U 0 (Y1 + Y2 + Y3 ) (3) I. INTRODUCTION Where In distribution networks operated with isolated neutral E refers to the phase voltage value point the capacitive earth-fault current flows through the U0 refers to the network node-to-earth voltage point of fault in case of a single-phase-to-earth fault. The Y refers to the network phase shunt admittance magnitude of the current depends on the used type of line a, a2 refers to the complex operator and scope of network. There are many reasons for determining values of the capacitive earth-fault current. r 1 3 r 1 3 One of the most important reasons is the distribution a=− + j a2 = − − j 2 2 2 2 networks operation safety. During a single phase earth fault, it is necessary to adhere to the allowed values of the In addition, the shunt admittance description based on touch voltage. the equation (2) in the equation (3) was substituted to express the voltage zero-sequence component. Safety was one of the main reasons which lie behind this research to find an easy and easily applicable method a 2E for determination of the capacitive earth-fault current in distribution networks with isolated neutral point. Another reason was a frequently submitted request of the network aE operator for a change in the manner of the neutral point earthing when the operator requested conversion to networks with the capacitive earth-fault currents E compensation. To comply with the aforementioned request, it was necessary to determine the required U01 U02 U03 capacity of the arc-suppression coil. So far, the U0 YL1 YL2 YL3 ∆C measurement of the capacitive earth-fault current has been executed by the creation of an artificial earth connection. This, however, has brought the risk of the occurrence of a multi-phase earth fault.
Fig. 1.: Simple circuit for the calculation
Transactions on Electrical Engineering, Vol. 3 (2014), No. 2 49
Next, the equation (4) based on the equations jω∆C
expressing the sum of the complex operators (5) and on Y = jωC + condition that the sum of all deviations from the average 3 value is zero equation (6) was solved. r r r r r r r ∆Y1 = Y + jω∆C − Y v (∆Y1 + a∆Y2 + a 2 ∆Y3 ) r jω∆C U0 = E r r r r r r 2 jω∆C 3Y + ∆Y1 + ∆Y2 + ∆Y3 ∆Y1 = Y + jω∆C − Y − =+ 3 3 r r r r r r r r v Y (1 + a + a 2 ) + (∆Y1 + a∆Y2 + a 2 ∆Y3 ) r r jω∆C U0 = E r r r r r r jω∆C 3Y + ∆Y1 + ∆Y2 + ∆Y3 ∆Y2 = Y − Y = Y − Y − =− (4) 3 3 r r 1+ a + a2 = 0 (5) ∆Y1 + ∆Y2 + ∆Y3 = 0 r r r r jω∆C jω∆C (6) ∆Y3 = Y − Y = Y − Y − =− 3 3 (8) The equation (4) can be further reduced based on the aforementioned conditions. The equation (8) can be substituted for the equation (4). The networks operated in our region are relatively 2 jω∆C jω∆C jω∆C symmetric. The deviation of the phase-to-earth capacities r −a − a2 is usually, in particular in the case of three-phase cable U0 = E 3 3 3 lines, lower than 0.2 % of the network total phase-to-earth 3Y + jω∆C capacity. We can neglect the deviation for the calculation purpose and the equation (7) will have approximately zero r jω∆C value of the voltage zero-sequence component. If we U0 = E create a significant phase-to-earth capacity in the network 3Y + jω∆C (9) by connecting some capacity between one of the phases and earth, the voltage zero-sequence component will Now the shunt admittance Y is expressed as increase. The increase of the residual voltage value r jω∆C E Y= − 1 induces change of the voltage values and change in the 3 U 0 vector rotation of phase voltages in the network (Fig. 2). (10) r r r The equation (10) can be broken down to get the r (∆Y1 + a∆Y2 + a 2 ∆Y3 ) U0 = E r following form: 3Y (7) jω∆C E jωC0 = − 1 The previous equation (7) can be solved by neglecting 3 U 0 the leakage in the equation (2) and by adding ∆C phase- to-earth capacity to L1 phase. The value of the leakage is ∆C E C0 = − 1 negligible compared to the phase-to-earth susceptance and 3 U 0 usually equals a few percent. (11) Based on a trivial derivation it is obvious that this U01 analysis can be applied to determine the value of the capacitive earth-fault currents in networks with isolated neutral point. This analysis has already been applied and verified in practice several times. For practical application it is important to determine the magnitude of the connected capacity ∆C. It is important that a measurable U31 U12 change in the magnitude of the voltage zero-sequence U0 component occurred after the connection of the test capacity ∆C. The most accurate results are obtained if the value of the phase earth capacity of the network is higher than 0.2 times the amount of the connected test capacity ∆C up to the value of 8 times the amount of ∆C. In practice, the capacitive earth-fault currents in 6 kV U03 U02 networks are most frequently determined using the U23 connected capacity ∆C = 2 µF. The measured values of the capacitive earth-fault currents ranged between 1.3 A to 50 A. Fig. 2 The vectors of phase voltage and the zero voltage vector Within the framework of application in practice, there were networks where it was not possible to measure the voltage zero-sequence component with sufficient accuracy The average value of the shunt admittance can be or where the existing connection of the voltage expressed as follows: transformer prevented measurement thereof. In the course of the measurement processing it was then impossible to Transactions on Electrical Engineering, Vol. 3 (2014), No. 2 50
substitute the value of the voltage zero-sequence
component U0. For this reason, the equation (11) was modified to allow the substitution of the phase voltage values. For easier application of this method, the necessary software was created, which is based on the situation of the phase voltages prior to and after the additional capacity connection. From the change in the voltages it is possible to calculate the value of phase earth capacity of the network, including approximate determination of the network leakage current value. This method has extended the possibilities of determination of the capacitive earth-fault current value in networks with isolated neutral point. This method is an indirect method when it is not necessary to create an artificial phase-to-earth connection. With simultaneous measurements of all three phases, e.g. using the transient Fig. 3 An example of calculation screen in the software for the indirect network analyzer, even a short-time measurement period method. is sufficient. Usually a connection of the additional capacity for a few seconds is enough. Satisfactory results III. CONCLUSIONS were also obtained under standard operation when the This article has been written based on own knowledge measured voltages were read from the commonly and long-time experience acquired by the processing of available portable voltmeter with gradual measurements measurements in the distribution network. These of voltage in individual phases on the secondary sides of measurements and the conclusions resulting from them are voltage transformers. included in the measurement reports and are not publicly After the installation of the automatic measurement available. The described method has been verified in real system or after the implementation of the method in the operation and based on the results, a special-purpose control system, it is possible to execute the entire process automatic system for the measurement of the capacitive of measurement of the capacitive earth-fault current earth-fault current in a network with isolated neutral point automatically. This enables periodic monitoring of the has been developed. value of the capacitive earth-fault current in networks with isolated neutral point. The automatic processing of the measured data brings a higher accuracy and speed of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT measurement. In addition, the automatic measurement system enables to assess the magnitude of the leakage This research work was subsidized under the student current in the network. Detection of a higher value of the scientific project SGS-2012-047. leakage current in the network can alert us to an impaired insulating capacity of the network in a timely manner. The REFERENCES entire system can therefore contribute to the improvement [1] F. Žák.: „Měření zemního kapacitního proudu v síti 6 kV nepřímou of safety of the operation of the network with isolated metodou“ (“Measuring of the capacitive earth-fault current in a 6 neutral point. kV network using the indirect method”), May 2013