Detection of Live Downed Conductor Utilizing Smart Grid

In the gulf region particularly in country such as Saudi Arabia, faults occur due to fallen conductors on high impedance surfaces, where the fault resistance exceeds one kilo ohm with tangible fault current are challengeable to be detected by protection relays in main substation or downstream equipment (Pole Mounted Auto Reclosers), posing a serious risk to the public safety of human and properties.SEC Distribution Protection Engineering has continued the researches and studies with manufacturers and international research organizations i.e. EPRI to attain reliable and dependable solution to detect and isolate High Impedance Fault (HIF) in Distribution Network.The diligent efforts made by SEC Distribution Protection Engineering with Manufacturers/Companies along with the implementation of Certain Pilot Projects are here under:i-Developing the functions of protection relays i.e (ALSTOM, AREVA, GE, SEL, ABB, and Siemens)ii-Smart Overhead Line Indicators i.e (SEL, KRIES, Schneider Electric).iii-Installation of Fault Through Switch (FTS) which is an equipment installed at the end of branches and make an actual fault upon detection of phase loss.iv-Installation of Guard Wire Mesh (H-Configuration) on MV Feeders.v-Solution utilizing Smart Metering Infrastructure with EPRI.vi-High Impedance Ground Fault Detection Using LV side Measurements technique.Eventually, SEC Distribution Protection Engineering has developed a new economical solution for the detection of High Impedance Fault occurred due to downed conductors, utilizing Smart Auto-reclosers and Sectionlizers, which are installed at different locations in the feeder downstream and at the end of laterals.The new method used to detect HIF in the MV Distribution Network is based on operation of voltage protection (i.e., Under Voltage, Phase Loss, Negative Sequence Protection) in smart Auto-reclosers / Sectionlizers and then transmit the voltage protection operated signal to the Control Center. Then using script logic in SCADA Application (Zenon) in control center, a trip signal will be sent to the Smart Auto-reclosers in upstream to isolate the faulty zone within less than one second.The experiment has proven the success of the solution in detecting and isolating the open conductors along with all types of live down conductor faults in MV network.Therefore, this solution is endorsed to be used in KSA distribution network and will go far away in conserving lives and properties from such incidents. Moreover, the solution is reliable and fast since it is using the smart distribution equipment with communication and automation Infrastructure to detect and isolate the down conductor faults.