Rodrigo Trevizan, along with Matt Reno from Sandia National Laboratories and Zheyuan Cheng from Quanta Technology, submitted a journal paper titled “A Method for Location of Faults in Meshed Secondary Low-Voltage Power Distribution Systems” to the IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery on November 8, 2024.
The detection of faults in low-voltage systems is a pressing issue for power utilities, particularly in meshed low-voltage power distribution systems that are deployed to enhance reliability in high-density urban areas. These systems face unique challenges when it comes to short-circuit location, as faults can be fed from multiple feeders, leading to severe damage and service interruptions. Traditional methods for locating faults often require time-consuming on-site inspections or costly investments in additional sensors and monitoring equipment.
The innovative approach presented in this paper addresses the critical need for real-time monitoring of low-voltage systems using time-synchronized sensor data. The primary goal of the fault locator is to minimize the time required for utility crews to identify the location of faults, thereby accelerating repairs and reducing the duration of power interruptions for customers. This advancement not only benefits utilities but also enhances service reliability for consumers.
The IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery is a highly esteemed journal in the field of electrical engineering, known for its rigorous peer-review process and commitment to publishing cutting-edge research. As a leading publication of the IEEE Power & Energy Society, it covers a wide range of topics related to electric power delivery, making it an ideal platform for disseminating significant findings in this area.
This technical advance is the result of two projects: Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development funding for “Fault Resilience for Downtown Areas and Critical Customers in Low-Voltage Meshed Networks,” and the Department of Energy Office of Electricity’s Microgrid Program Annual Operating Plan project “Advanced Protection for Microgrids and DER in Secondary Networks and Meshed Distribution Systems.”
For further inquiries, please contact Rodrigo Trevizan.