A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks
High impedance faults (HIFs) that cause a relatively smaller current magnitude compared to the traditional low impedance faults are not easily detectable but can cause an extreme threat to electric apparatus and system operation. This paper introduces a new method of detecting and interrupting HIFs...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Electronics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/10/1654 |
| _version_ | 1797551365674762240 |
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| author | Sagar Bhatta Ruiyun Fu Yucheng Zhang |
| author_facet | Sagar Bhatta Ruiyun Fu Yucheng Zhang |
| author_sort | Sagar Bhatta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High impedance faults (HIFs) that cause a relatively smaller current magnitude compared to the traditional low impedance faults are not easily detectable but can cause an extreme threat to electric apparatus and system operation. This paper introduces a new method of detecting and interrupting HIFs in DC power networks by specifying Z-source circuit breakers (ZCBs). The ZCB is a protective device for high power DC branches, with the capabilities of protecting bidirectional power flow and automatic/controllable turnoff function. In this new method, the operational mode of ZCB (i.e., either the detection mode or interruption mode) can be specified. Beyond previous research, the theoretical analysis has been performed on this method and the mathematical relationship between the maximum HIF resistance and required Z-source capacitance has been derived and verified. It has been found that the ZCB can respond to a HIF accordingly when its capacitances are properly adjusted in the ZCB circuit. With the adjustment of these Z-source capacitances, the ZCB can be specified to detect and report a HIF status to power system operators, or cut off the HIF branch and protect the rest of the DC system directly. The new method can detect/interrupt a HIF that is as small as 2 times of its nominal rated current and the effectiveness and general usage of the derived equation have been verified by both low power experiments in lab and high power simulation tests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:43:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac96e3f389ce449c8023dfa5806a6ecd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:43:41Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electronics |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac96e3f389ce449c8023dfa5806a6ecd2023-11-20T16:39:04ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922020-10-01910165410.3390/electronics9101654A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power NetworksSagar Bhatta0Ruiyun Fu1Yucheng Zhang2Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAHigh impedance faults (HIFs) that cause a relatively smaller current magnitude compared to the traditional low impedance faults are not easily detectable but can cause an extreme threat to electric apparatus and system operation. This paper introduces a new method of detecting and interrupting HIFs in DC power networks by specifying Z-source circuit breakers (ZCBs). The ZCB is a protective device for high power DC branches, with the capabilities of protecting bidirectional power flow and automatic/controllable turnoff function. In this new method, the operational mode of ZCB (i.e., either the detection mode or interruption mode) can be specified. Beyond previous research, the theoretical analysis has been performed on this method and the mathematical relationship between the maximum HIF resistance and required Z-source capacitance has been derived and verified. It has been found that the ZCB can respond to a HIF accordingly when its capacitances are properly adjusted in the ZCB circuit. With the adjustment of these Z-source capacitances, the ZCB can be specified to detect and report a HIF status to power system operators, or cut off the HIF branch and protect the rest of the DC system directly. The new method can detect/interrupt a HIF that is as small as 2 times of its nominal rated current and the effectiveness and general usage of the derived equation have been verified by both low power experiments in lab and high power simulation tests.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/10/1654DC power networkhigh impedance faultZ-source circuit breaker (ZCB) |
| spellingShingle | Sagar Bhatta Ruiyun Fu Yucheng Zhang A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks Electronics DC power network high impedance fault Z-source circuit breaker (ZCB) |
| title | A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks |
| title_full | A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks |
| title_fullStr | A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks |
| title_short | A New Method of Detecting and Interrupting High Impedance Faults by Specifying the Z-Source Breaker in DC Power Networks |
| title_sort | new method of detecting and interrupting high impedance faults by specifying the z source breaker in dc power networks |
| topic | DC power network high impedance fault Z-source circuit breaker (ZCB) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/10/1654 |
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