Wavelet Transform and Fractal Theory for Detection and Classification of Self-extinguishing and Fugitive Power Quality Disturbances

In this paper, fractal theory and wavelet transform are combined to detect and classify self-extinguishing and fugitive scenarios of power quality disturbances (PQDs). After deciding whether the disturbance is simple or complex, the additional voltage is denoised through Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT); the denoising process is adapted according to whether the distorted voltage contains oscillatory transients or not. At the detection stage, the grille fractal dimension of the DWT decomposition detail is computed. Then, a threshold is deduced to detect the start and end moments of the disturbance. The results reveal that the proposed detection scheme yields accurate location of PQDs even in the presence of high oscillatory transients. An algorithm based on geometric and statistical approaches is developed at the classification stage to recognize PQDs automatically. The geometric classification is based on Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), whereas the statistical classification is based on Multifractal Detrended Fluctuations Analysis (MFDFA) and an energy metric. The results prove that the combination of geometric and statistical classification can serve as an effective discrimination tool for PQDs. The major strength of the proposed approach is its ability to interpret the impact of each disturbance on the multifractal behavior of the nominal voltage, thus giving the possibility to draw the necessary generalizations for real-time applications.