New Methods of Fault Simulation and Location for Smart Grids Based on Synchronized Measurements

研究目标和方法本研究的目的是开发一种精确的、计算效率高的技术，以便使用同步测量来定位和识别电力系统中的故障。该方法是利用几个同步传感器捕捉断层引发的行波的到达时间，并根据记录的行波到达时间对断层的位置进行三角测量。该方案的智能优点是利用稀疏分布的传感器记录的同步电压样本，以便准确地确定电力系统故障的位置。目前这些传感器的使用仅限于同步相量。该项目将首次利用在整个电力系统中同步的波点采样。这将带来变革性的变化，导致新的应用程序可以利用与电力线上的行波相关的信息。更广泛的影响该项目将扩大同步测量的应用领域，同步测量正在智能电网中迅速部署。这将对该国所有主要公用事业的系统保护和服务质量的新投资产生影响。两名研究生将在电网领域接受培训，这对设计国家未来的能源系统至关重要。此外，项目成果将通过实验练习纳入课程。此外，来自代表性不足群体的学生将通过大学的stem团队、NUPrime（多元文化工程）和WIE（工程中的女性）项目作为目标，并得到REU补充的支持。

Research Objectives and ApproachesThe objective of this research is to develop an accurate and computationally efficient technique in order to locate and identify faults in power systems using synchronized measurements. The approach is to capture the arrival times of the fault-initiated traveling waves using a few synchronized sensors and triangulating the location of the fault based on the recorded arrival times of these waves.Intellectual MeritThe intellectual merit of the proposal is the utilization of synchronized voltage samples recorded by sparsely placed sensors in order to accurately determine the location of faults in power systems. Current utilization of these sensors is confined to synchronized phasors. This project will utilize for the first time the point-on-wave samples which are synchronized throughout the entire power system. This will be transformative leading to new applications that can exploit information related to traveling waves on power lines.Broader ImpactsThis project will expand the application areas for synchronized measurements which arerapidly being deployed in increasing numbers in smart grids. This will have an impact on the new investments on system protection and quality of service for all major utilities in the country. Two graduate students will be trained in the area of electric grids, crucialto designing nation's future energy system. Furthermore, project's results will be incorporated into the curriculum through lab exercises. Also, students from underrepresented groups will be targeted through the university's STEMteams, NUPrime (multi-cultural engineering) and WIE (women in engineering) programs and supported by REU supplements.