Non-Fault Detection Scheme Before Reclosing Using Parameter Identification for an Active Distribution Network

The distribution network line has the risk of an unsuccessful three-phase blind reclosing in permanent fault. Based on the response of the inverter of the distributed generation (DG) to the short-term low-frequency voltage disturbance to the line to be detected, this paper proposes a non-fault identification method for the distribution network before three-phase reclosing, based on model parameter identification. During the disturbance period, when there is no fault after the arc is extinguished, the detection line is three-phase symmetrical, and each phase-to-ground loop is its own loop resistance and inductance linear network, which is independent of the fault location, transition resistance and other factors. Furthermore, the R–L network without fault is used as the identification reference model, and the least squares algorithm is used to identify the resistance and inductance parameters of each phase loop of the detection line by using the voltage and current response information of the line side during the excitation period so as to identify the fault state. The non-fault criterion before three-phase reclosing, characterized by the difference between the calculated value of resistance and inductance and the corresponding actual value, is designed. Finally, PSCAD is used to build a distribution network with DG for verification, and simulations under different fault locations and transition resistances are carried out. The results show that when the line is in a non-fault state, the parameter identification results of the three phase-to-ground circuits are highly consistent with the true value; that is, the non-fault state is determined. When the fault continues, there is a large deviation between the parameter identification results of at least one phase-to-ground loop and the corresponding real value, which does not meet the condition of the non-fault criterion. The method in this paper is more sensitive than the detection method using response voltage. Moreover, it is not necessary to add additional disturbance sources, which is expected to improve the economy and feasibility of three-phase adaptive reclosing applications for distribution lines with a large number of DGs.