A method for locating phase faults in a microgrid in off-grid mode. The method includes obtaining a grid topology of the microgrid having at least two busbars and determining the position of all circuit breaker position of the grid topology. Further, acquiring measurement data which includes current magnitude and voltage magnitude. Monitoring the at least two busbars for a voltage dip in one of phase-to-phase or phase-to-neutral voltages. On detecting a voltage dip, determining a defect phase having a minimum phase-to-neutral voltage value. And for the defect phase performing busbar analysis and feeder analysis, using phase-directional information.

A system includes a location unit to direct one or more distributions of electrical signals through different conductive pathways of conductive pathways to plural components of an electric system. The location unit receives a modified version of one or more of the electric signals that is modified by passage through one or more of the conductive pathways. The location unit determines a location of an electric fault based on a position where the modified version is measured in its passage through one or more conductive pathways. A coupling unit couples the location unit to the electrical system. A method includes distributing plural electrical signals through different conductive pathways to several components of an electric system, receiving a modified version of one or more electric signals, and determining a location of an electric fault in the electric system based on a position where the modified version is measured in its passage.

This document describes systems and techniques for evaluating and improving distribution-grid data transportability. These systems and techniques allow engineers to quantify the data transportability of a communication system within or connected to a distribution grid, which represents an ability to transport in real-time telemetry from source locations (e.g., sensors in the distribution grid) to control mechanisms. Distribution engineers can use the sensor readings to perform grid analytics, control operating parameters, and operate protection systems. Distribution engineers can also use the transportability of the communication system to evaluate the observability of the distribution grid, which represents an ability to combine actual measurements and various types of computations (e.g., analytics, estimators, forecasters) from a system model. Distribution engineers can then generate a sensor allocation plan that indicates the number and location of sensors to maximize observability for a fixed sensor cost and/or minimize sensor cost for predetermined observability.

Cable network test instruments are disclosed. The test instruments are configured to collect signal data at a node from a cable network system and analyze the collected data to determine whether intermittent noise is present. Methods of locating intermittent noise are also disclosed.

A grounded socket and a method for insulation fault location in an ungrounded power supply system including insulation monitoring by a standard insulation monitoring device superimposing a measuring voltage on the ungrounded power supply system for determining an insulation resistance of the ungrounded power supply system. The grounded socket includes a housing having electrical contacts, a signaling device for signaling an insulation state, and a current measuring device for detecting and evaluating a differential current, the current measuring device having a measuring current transformer and evaluating electronics, and the current measuring device being configured for high-resolution detection and evaluation of a measuring current driven by the measuring voltage as a differential measuring current.

The invention relates to a transient based method for identifying faults in an electric power transmission and/or distribution system (100) having at least one current transmission line (L.sub.12, L.sub.13, L.sub.23) comprising the following steps: —generation of a physical model of the at least one current transmission line (L.sub.12, L.sub.13, L.sub.23), the physical model depending on the fault parameters and describing the behavior of voltage and/or current transients due to the fault in the at least one current transmission line, fault parameters comprising a fault location parameter on said current transmission line (L.sub.12, L.sub.13, L.sub.23) and a fault impedance parameter, —measurement of voltage and/or currents evolution at least at one specific location in the said power system (100), —iterative simulation of the voltage and/or current evolution by the physical model at the measurement point with a set of fault parameters where at each step of iteration, simulated and measured voltage and/or current evolutions are compared and the set of fault parameters is adapted according to a convergence criterion, —identification of a fault with its fault parameters when convergence of the measured voltage and/or current evolutions and simulated voltage and/or current evolutions is reached in a limited number of iterations.

A diagnostic device includes electrical connectors, load, power supply, switching circuitry, sensors, and processor. The connectors include first and second sets of terminals for connecting to the conductors of a branch circuit in an upstream and downstream direction, respectively, at an outlet location along the circuit. The switching circuitry can isolate the upstream and downstream sections of the circuit from the outlet location, and selectively connect or disconnect the power supply or the load to the upstream or downstream section. The sensors measure electrical characteristics on the conductors of the circuit to monitor load currents, such as on power, neutral and ground lines, of the upstream and downstream circuit sections. The processor controls the switching circuitry, and obtains diagnostic information corresponding to the monitored load currents on the upstream and downstream sections of the branch circuit, from the measurements performed by the sensors.

The present invention discloses a safe operation method for voltage reduction arc suppression of a ground fault phase of a non-effective ground system, for use in ground fault safety operation of a neutral point non-effective ground generator or distribution network. When a single-phase ground fault occurs, an external voltage source is applied at a non-effective ground system side between a bus and the ground, or between a line and the ground, or between a neutral point and the ground, or between a shunting tap of a non-effective ground system side winding of a transformer and the ground, to reduce the fault phase voltage to be lower than the continuous burning voltage of a ground arc, thereby meeting the requirements of long-term non-stop safe operation. The operation means and control method effectively prevent power outages, and improve the reliability and security of power supply.

The present disclosure relates to the determination of impedances in an electrical network. Methods and apparatuses for determining one or more impedances within a root and branch network are disclosed. The impedance of a common root part and the impedance of a branch of the electrical network may be determined based on the current in the common root part, the current in a branch of the electrical network and the voltage across the common root part and the branch. By determining the impedance of different parts of the electrical network in this way, the network may be monitored over time and the location of any faults or impending faults in the network may be identified more exactly without requiring invasive network probing and testing.

A method and device can be used with a power transmission line. Pre-fault voltage and current phasors and during-fault voltage and current phasors for each of first, second, and third terminals are determined based on disturbance records. Using an assumed faulted section, values for a propagation constant of each section, a surge impedance of each section, and a fault location parameter are computed. The computing is based on simultaneously solving pre-fault and during-fault objective functions for the assumed faulted section with the computed pre-fault and during-fault voltage and current phasors. The pre-fault and during-fault objective functions are formulated based on equating junction voltages determined from two of the terminals, conservation of charge at the junction, and equating fault location voltages determined from one terminal and the junction. The values determined for the propagation constant, the surge impedance, and the fault location parameter can be compared with predefined criteria.