connected to phase conductors of a distribution system

Technical field

The invention concerns an apparatus connected to the phase conductors of a distribution system used for compensation of ground fault currents. It is aimed especially at the compensation of fault curents at the point where there is an accidental contact with ground in a distribution system.

Background and summary of the invention

The current solution employs a continuously tunable neutral-earthing reactor connected in-between the transformer neutral point and earth potential to compensate for fault capacitive current while an accidental contact with ground (so-called ground fault) occurs. If the distribution system is insulated i.e. a transformer does not have the neutral point terminal and compensation of fault currents is required a device for creating the artificial neutral point must be used. It means using a so-called earthing transformer or Bauch's transformer with a tunable earthing reactor connected to the secondary winding of this transformer. This earthing reactor is tuned into resonance with the overall capacity of distribution system and it compensates for capacitive current of the distribution system while there is a ground fault. The compensations of the active (resistive) fault current are based on the principle of current injection into an auxiliary winding of the earting reactor. The disadvantage of this system is its big power consumption that requires its own power supply (it usually requires connection of this system to a substation self-consumption supply). The compensation of phase non-symetry of the distribution system is done indirectly by inserting a damping resistor into an auxiliary winding of the earting reactor. It is important to highlight that the inserted resistor increases active component of the fault current if a ground fault (i.e. a contact of single phase with ground) occurs. The damping resistor is not constructed for permanent load during the contact of single phase with ground and therefore it must be disconnected. The compensation of the phase non-symmetry in the distribution system is also done directly by inserting a variable earthing inductance or capacitance in-between each phase of a power grid and the point of earth potential. By tuning the earthing reactances into resonance with each phase capacitive component the system compensates fault capacitive current. The compensation of the active current component is done in a fault state by appropriate tuning of the earthing reactances of phases that are not affected by the fault. Over the past years, the so-called active filters, sometimes also called power conditioners, have been used widely for compensation of harmonics of a distribution system as well as for compensation of a reactive power. The active filter is connected in-between phases of the distribution system, yet it is not connected to the earth potential. This equipment cannot compensate for ground fault currents at the point of contact with the ground in the distribution system, nor compensate for phase non-symmetry in trouble-free state of the distribution system.

The present methods and devices used for compensation of ground fault currents are usually based on the above-mentioned resonance methods. In fault (limit) states, this resonace principle (more exactly resonance) may cause very dangerous overvoltages and overcurrents in the distribution system. A serious disadvantage of the existing devices for compensation of ground fault currents is their inability to eliminate higher harmonics of fault currents. In case of ground fault, the first harmonic of the ground fault current is suppressed;, however the higher harmonics of the ground fault current flow permanently through the point of contact with the ground, and they usually are- not negligible. Other disadvantages of some of the present qualitatively equivalent solutions are their dimensions and weight, as well as; their price in a wide power range.

The main objective of this invention is to create new equipment that will eradicate the disadvantages of the present solutions and atithe same time to find as many functions-- -as > "possible•- ^■ that- ^' - coukk-'b'e performed by this new device.

A solution meeting the objective is an apparatus compensating ground fault currents that is connected to the phase conductors of a distribution system. It is based on the insertion of a controlled current source in-between the phase conductors of the distribution system a d earth potential, firstly for compensation of ground fault currents* ', and for compensation of higher harmonics at the point of ground fault; an also for eliminating the phase non- symmetry in trouble-free i state , of the distribution system, as well as for compensation of the higher harmonics of the distribution system and for compensation of the reactive power of the distribution system.

Mai advantage of the invention consists in the fact that a controlled current source is continuosly tunable allowing to generate practicall arbitrary curve of the ' currents, with a variable magnitude of the fundamental harmonic as well as higher harmonics, and also variable phase-shift for each harmonic component. Through compensating currents, the controlled current source has a direct countereffect on ground fault currents at the point of contact with the ground. A significant advantage of the invention is the possibility of compensation not only the fundamental harmonic of the fault current but also of its higher harmonics.

A controlled current source can be created' by a multi-phase power electronics converter or it can be composed of single-phase power electronics converters.

A voltage source inverter can be used as the controlled current source. It ^' can'fce directly connected at its ac ¹ side' thi'dugh ιηρΐιΐ < inductors? ¾d the r phase ^; onductors of the distribution' syste'nr and to the ^! earth potential ί The voltage source inverter can be also ^: connected to^h se conductors of the distribution system through a converter transformer; T e^ voltage ^: source " inverter must be completed by a current 'control loop of the current on its ac side.

A ^! current source inverter can also be used as the controlled current source. It can be directly connected at its ac side through input inductors: to phase "conductors of the distribution systent ^' and to ^■ the earth potential. It is necessary to include capacitors at' ac terminals of the current source inverter. A current source inverter can also be connected to phase conductors of the distribution system through a converter transformer Again, it is necessary -to complete * ^! this eormectioh with: capacitors at the ac terminals Of the current source inverter. The current source inverter must be completed by 'a'curfefit control loop of the current on its ac side.

A frequency converter can also be used as the controlled current source. An indirect' frequency converter can be used for the desired functions of the invention, either with a voltage source inverter at its output or with a current source inverter at its output. The connection of the power converter to the phase conductors of the distribution system and to earth potential depends On ^; the type of employed inverter. It is described above, including the closed control loop of the current. The input part of the frequency converter must be connected to the power suply, e;g. it can be connected through an input converter transformer to the substation self-consumption supply. Considering the state of the art in power electronics technology, a controlled current source based on the voltage source inverter or an indirect frequency converter with a voltage source inverter seems to be the optimal solution.

It is evident that the account of the above-mentioned particular components constituting a controlled current source is not complete. Under certain conditions this task can be performed for example by an active voltage source rectifier, an active current source rectifier, a direct frequency converter or a matrix converter.

Brief description of drawings

The invention is further explained in drawings. Fig'. I . shows a diagram of the circuitry of equipment based on the invention, Fig. 2 shows a vector diagram describing a method for the compensation of ground fault currents, Fig. 3 presents a vector diagram describing a compensation of phase non-symmetry during a trouble-free state of the distribution system.

Description of the preferred embodiment

Fig. 1 presents a version of the invention with a controlled current source 1, connected in-between each phase of the distribution system and the earth potential. We can see there impedances 4 of phase conductors of the distribution system against the earth potential and a transformer 3. Fault currents flowing in a circuit during ground fault 2 are denoted 5, 6 and 7, respectively.

A controlled current source 1 is created by using single-phase power electronics converters (in the following text also reffered as PEG), A controlled current source 1 can be also realized by using multi-phase power electronics converter. A controlled current source 1 can generate an arbitrary current curves of a variable magnitude of the fundamental harmonic, as well as the higher harmonics, and also a variable phase shift for each harmonic component

A fault current 7 is identified during a ground fault 2 occurring in one of the phases of the distribution system. ..The estimated, current 7 serves as command for a current control loops of PEC. A . current source 1 generates compensating current 8 of the same magnitude ^: as fault current 7, but with a reversed polarity. Current controllers ensure setting of the appropriate , compensating current 8 thus eliminating the fault currents. A controlled current source 1 works similarly also in compensation of higher harmonics of fault currents eliminating particular harmonic components, such as the 5th, 7th, 1 1th and 13th harmonic. The explained effect is described in a vector diagram in Fig. 2.

This invention makes it possible to compensate for a phase non- symmetry of the distribution system in trouble-free state. This is accomplished by setting the controlled current source 1 so as to compensate for the current causing phase non-symmetry in the distribution system. This effect is described ^, in a vector diagram in Fig. 3.

In ^{5 ;} case' of ^s need, the ^; eoTinection according to' Fig. ^: 'li' ^; a¾sO Allows compensation of harmonic currents as Well as' voltages ^; of the distribution systeiri, and also compensation of reactive p'ower of · t s distribution ' system. Compensation of harmonics of the distribution system is achieved by appropriate setting of the controlled current source 1 so as to generate currents having a countereffect on certain components of the higher harmonics in the current of the grid. In case of requirement of the reactive power compensation the controlled current source ^: 1 generates currents thaf compensate the- reactive Component of current of the distribution system. Thus it compensates the power factor of the system.

Voltage UO is in-between a transformer neutral point 3 and the earth potential (see the vector diagrams). UO can reach up to the level of the phase voltage (JL N) during ground faults. The phase voltages i phases that are not affected by ground fault can reach tip to' the 'le el of the line to line voltages. Ul ,U2, U3 are the phase voltages' agairist the' earth potential (see the vector diagrams). In a trouble-free state of the ' distributio system currents II, 12., 13 flow through' the- phase ground impedances into the earth. The current resulting from non- symmetry of the ground impedances is denoted In.

Art advantage of the device according the invention is that it does 'riot require a transformer neutral point. Thus it can be used in isolated power grids. Besides the above-mentioned functions, a very important quality of the device according to the invention is that it allows compensation of phase non-symmetry in trouble-free state of the distribution system. This is again achieved through- a ^' direct countereffect on the' current that is causing phase non-symrrietry iri th© distribution system. Furthermore, in case of need of compensation of harmonic currents and voltages of the distribution system as well as compensation of the reactive power of the distribution system, the apparatus according to the invention allows this compensation. The device according to the invention is markedly more variable compared to existing solutions that do not allow to perfom many of the functions of this device, especially compensation of higher harmonics of a fault current as well as compensation of harmonics and also of reactive power of the distribution system. The device according to the invention is markedly immune against non-symmetries and possible changes of circuit parameters. The great advantage of this solution compared to the existing ones is its robustness.