Neural network approach for fault location in unbalanced distribution networks with limited measurements

This paper presents an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach for locating faults in distribution systems. Different from the traditional Fault Section Estimation methods, the proposed approach uses only limited measurements. Faults are located according to the impedances of their path using a Feed Forward Neural Networks (FFNN). Various practical situations in distribution systems, such as protective devices placed only at the substation, limited measurements available, various types of faults viz., three-phase, line (a, b, c) to ground, line to line (a-b, b-c, c-a) and line to line to ground (a-b-g, b-c-g, c-a-g) faults and a wide range of varying short circuit levels at substation, are considered for studies. A typical IEEE 34 bus practical distribution system with unbalanced loads and with three- and single- phase laterals and a 69 node test feeder with different configurations are considered for studies. The results presented show that the proposed approach of fault location gives close to accurate results in terms of the estimated fault location.