Fault location in radial distribution systems based on decision trees and optimized allocation of power quality meters

One of the reasons for not achieving satisfactory indices of Power Quality (PQ) is due to the discontinuity of power supply in Distribution Systems (DS), usually caused by the occurrence of short-circuits. In this context, to characterize these occurrences, a database was compiled by simulations in the IEEE 34-bus DS using the ATP (Alternative Transients Program) software. In these simulations, the type, location and fault impedance were used as parameters. The voltages and currents of all three phases of the power quality meters optimally allocated in the DS were considered. Based on these measurements, the J48 decision tree algorithm was used to identify in which area of the 34-bus DS the single-phase faults occurred. In order to use the J48 decision tree, the WEKA (Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis) software was used. Promising results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm to locate the single-phase short-circuit situations considered.