Software for Automated Analysis of Faults and Protective Systems

FACES is a software for automated analysis of faults and protective systems in HV networks.

Fault analysis can be either an intensive work and/or a very long procedure in case of multiple or major disturbances in the high voltage power grid. In most cases, the operator has to go through all recorded data to identify the faults with a potential impact on the grid operation.

Some power companies are spending precious time and resources, dealing with system recovery while data are being collected and analyzed, and the faults located.

Others allow system reconnection without a comprehensive fault analysis, taking the risk of subsequent line collapse. Few spend time and resources analyzing the many protection behaviours considered as "nominal", yet sometimes already showing early signs of derating. Moreover unplanned electrical power outages are major concerns to power utilities throughout the world. Unfortunately, power outages will continue to happen and cannot be fully prevented. Outages are usually caused by lightning strikes, tree encroachments or equipment failures. Their impact can be reduced if power system operators use appropriate tools to quickly analyze the most critical events, their location and the root cause of the outages. FACES offers a practical solution, convenient for the control centre, and providing for the system operators and protection engineers the fault conditions and system overview immediately preceding and following any alarming condition or breaker operation.

FACES is a tool designed to analyze faults and protection system with special emphasis on automatic selection of the most critical events, fault location as well as fault signature analysis. The key to the successful development of the tool comes from a long experience gained as manufacturer of Digital Fault Recorders (DFR) in close cooperation with electrical power system experts.

Data management

Various sources of data are available to analyse incident. Some of them, like DFR, provide high data volumes but the existing tools that deal with this information lack of standardization. Information from other devices can be used to check or complete the data set to have a clearer view of the event. System operators have to deal with multiple vendor solutions, each one presenting an increasing complexity as the variety and the technology of the connected devices evolves. Thanks to FACES which offers a common platform to collect and compare data without taking care of device specific features, the operators will focus on their core activity.

IED synchronization

The event summary can be painful in case of large power system failures. A good synchronization between various sources of data is essential for accurate and automated fault analysis. However, in practice and despite the development of GPS-based clock synchronization, a number of devices situated in the substations do not still provide accurate time stamped data. In this case, FACES will re-synchronize the selected records to provide a comprehensive view of the event ensuring precise fault analysis and decision making.

Prioritization of faults

Only a few events really need an in-depth analysis, most of them appearing as normal network operation. FACES uses an efficient classification method to automaticly select the faults considering the following criteria: current level, relay operating zone, location reliability, protection system response and auto-re-close operation. This allows to focus on the following issues:

Prioritize the events with short circuit
Select permanent fault rather than fugitive fault
Locate the fault, with indication of the faulty phase(s)
Understand the cause of the fault and help quick power restore in case of long line

Fault location

Accurate fault location information is essential for reliable operation of an electrical power system. The information can be used by both system operators and power system protection engineers. One significant aspect of power system restoration concerns the time spent to find the actual fault location along the line. But another aspect also involves re-closing performance following a circuit breaker operation. FACES deals with both aspects.

FACES implements multiple fault location algorithms: single-end with or without parallel line, or multiple ends. Depending on the type of fault and the data available, FACES selects the most relevant algorithm and delivers the most accurate fault location as well as a window of uncertainty around the calculated position.

Signatures analysis

FACES provides reliable data processing to distinguish a flashover caused by a lightning strike from tree or crane touching the line, bird collisions or polluted insulators (due e.g. to salty atmospheres, dust, snow, bird excreta, etc.). The digitized information comes from the available Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) installed on the transmission overhead line system.

Protection system analysis

In addition to fault identification, FACES may evaluate the behavior of the protection system and compare it with performances expected by the electrical power public utility. Unexpected results may indicate bad settings or hidden failures and raise warnings or recommendations to the power system operators. These indications represent a significant improvement as they allow future fault prevention.

An adjustable solution

Scalable deployment which can be adapted to the number of substations or the number of users
Progressive integration into existing infrastructure
Manufacturers independent solution compatible with multiple data sources (DFR, numerical relays, PMU)

Information within minutes

Report layout built on user definable templates allowing report content customization to meet the needs of different users
Event notification available to selected users by email or SMS when they are directly concerned
Integration in utility Intranet
SCADA system Interface

Advantages and Applications

Dispatch summary information on all events

Events classifying and prioritisation

Provide control engineers with accurate information to enable fast decision making

Ability to differentiate the fault signature that initiates the transmission overhead line flashovers such as lightning strikes, sleet tree and crane contacting the line, electrocution of birds and polluted insulator rings

Ability to reduce the unscheduled outage time and minimize the operating cost

Generate simplified protection system analysis report which can be understood by a non-protection engineer

Accommodate various substation configurations (multiple busbars, ring bus) and mixed equipments

Offer early detection of hidden failures in the protection system and faulty equipment

Improve maintenance planning and reduce operational cost