Fault-Line Selection Method in Active Distribution Networks Based on Improved Multivariate Variational Mode Decomposition and Lightweight YOLOv10 Network

In active distribution networks (ADNs), the extensive deployment of distributed generations (DGs) heightens system nonlinearity and non-stationarity, which can weaken fault characteristics and reduce fault detection accuracy. To improve fault detection accuracy in distribution networks, a method combining improved multivariate variational mode decomposition (IMVMD) and YOLOv10 network for active distribution network fault detection is proposed. Firstly, an MVMD method optimized by the northern goshawk optimization (NGO) algorithm named IMVMD is introduced to adaptively decompose zero-sequence currents at both ends of line sources and loads into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Secondly, considering the spatio-temporal correlation between line sources and loads, a dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm is utilized to determine the optimal alignment path time series for corresponding IMFs at both ends. Then, the Markov transition field (MTF) transforms the 1D time series into 2D spatio-temporal images, and the MTF images of all lines are concatenated to obtain a comprehensive spatio-temporal feature map of the distribution network. Finally, using the spatio-temporal feature map as input, the lightweight YOLOv10 network autonomously extracts fault features to achieve precise fault-line selection. Experimental results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed method, achieving a fault detection accuracy of 99.88%, which can ensure accurate fault-line selection under complex scenarios involving simultaneous phase-to-ground faults at two points.