Improved Procedure for Earth Fault Loop Impedance Measurement in TN Low-Voltage Network

Liviu Neamt, Alina Neamt and Olivian Chiver
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Liviu Neamt: Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Department, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Alina Neamt: “Anghel Saligny” Technical College, 430295 Baia Mare, Romania
Olivian Chiver: Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Department, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: The difficulties and uncertainties related to earth fault loop impedance measurement are addressed in this paper. Based on the presentation of the measurement procedure implemented in the test equipment (diagrams and measured quantities, respectively, interpretation of results), the shortcomings and errors that accompany it are highlighted. The position in the power system, the influence of power transformers, and the use of effective quantities instead of phasors are important sources of errors, but, as will be seen, the switching of loads at the consumer sides and/or the occurrence of fault regimes during measurements can lead to the most serious impairment of the accuracy in the impedance assessment. The clarification of these aspects is achieved, both starting from the equivalent diagrams of the measurement circuits and the analytical interpretation of the phenomena associated with the measurements, as well as based on the modeling and simulation of TN low-voltage electrical distribution networks, in a specialized program, Eaton xSpider, which allows the complete and complex analysis of a large number of scenarios. Thus, essential conclusions were drawn regarding the level of errors and their causes, obviously, with the research coming with solutions to be implemented at the level of the measurement protocols of the devices used.

Keywords: electrical fault detection; electrical safety; power distribution; power grids (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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