An improved FTU-based matrix algorithm is presented for faults locating in complex distribution networks with multiple source multiple and faults. Firstly, the paper supposes the only power source and the positive direction according to the structural characteristics of the distribution system, and build the description matrix D which is based on the positive direction and the relevancy between different feeders. Based on the fault currents direction sent from the feeder terminal unit (FTU), we can set up the fault information vector F. Secondly, combined with the description matrix D, by searching the nonzero elements in the fault information vector F , we can establish the fault location vector L according to the fault locating criterion. Finally, by observing the elements in fault location vector L, we can find out the fault area location quickly. This algorithm can solve the problems of feeder terminal fault, circle net fault and multiple source multiple fault, all of which cannot be solved by other algorithm completely. And this method needs not matrix multiply or standardization. It's easy to build the description matrix D, which is very sparse and has good real-time and practicality. The criterion of this algorithm is proved to be effective by simulation in MATLAB environment.
Misoperation analysis of steady-state and transient methods on earth fault locating in compensated distribution networks
