Traveling Wave Analysis in Distribution Systems with Capacitor Banks: An Approach for Fault Detection

• Grant number: 25/25377-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Electrical, Magnetic and Electronic Measurements, Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Augusto Souza Fernandes
• Grantee: João Augusto Marcon de Castro
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years, the expansion of power distribution systems, combined with the increasing integration of distributed energy resources, has driven advances in monitoring and protection systems. The allocation of capacitor banks in distribution systems helps regulate voltage levels and reduce losses, improving the efficiency and stability of the system. However, the presence of capacitor banks can alter the transient behavior of the network, affecting methods based on the traveling wave theory. In this context, the present research project aims to investigate the impact of capacitor banks on fault detection methods grounded in traveling wave theory. The objective is to develop an approach capable of accurately identifying the fault inception instant, even in the presence of interferences caused by capacitor banks on the frequency and amplitude of the wavefronts associated with the event. The proposed methodology will focus on digital signal processing techniques, including the Short-Time Fourier Transform, the Wavelet Transform, and the Hilbert-Huang Transform. The test system considered will be the CIGRÉ 14-bus distribution network, modeled in the PSCAD software, encompassing fault scenarios with and without the presence of capacitor banks. The results will be evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, detection time, and false positive rate. Ultimately, the study aims to identify the most robust digital signal processing technique and its best parametric settings, providing a foundation for the development of more reliable and efficient protection tools for distribution systems. (AU)