Modeling of Short-Gap Arc in High-Impedance Grounding Faults of Distribution Networks and Its Extinction Analysis
Zeng Xiangjun1, Xiao Chunquan1, Yu Kun1, Deng Qingbo1, Lan Yuting2
1. School of Electrical and Information Engineering Changsha University of Science and Technology Changsha 410114 China;
2. Mianyang Power Supply Company of State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company Mianyang 621051 China
Adverse weather represents a primary cause of high-impedance grounding faults (HIF) in distribution networks. These faults create a current path formed by a short-gap arc in series with a high-impedance grounding medium. The persistent arc constitutes a significant hazard to both personnel and equipment. Consequently, developing an accurate model for the HIF arc is essential for safety assessment and for elucidating its extinction mechanism, which remains insufficiently understood. Existing arc models demonstrate notable limitations when applied to short-gap faults in open-air environments. Their physical foundations are often mismatched, and their characterization of dynamic processes is incomplete, thereby failing to adequately describe the nonlinear behavior inherent in arc extinction and reignition cycles. To address these shortcomings, a novel short-gap arc model tailored for distribution network HIFs is introduced. Its development is grounded in an analysis of the physical mechanism governing the dynamic competition between charged particles during the current-zero period. Simulation results confirm that the proposed model describes the nonlinear extinction and reignition characteristics during the current-zero interval with greater accuracy across varying gap distances when compared to established models.
A comprehensive experimental campaign was undertaken within a full-scale 10 kV distribution network laboratory. Analysis of the acquired data revealed consistent current-zero pause features within the distorted fault current waveform. The length of the gap was identified as the critical parameter determining the duration of these pauses. Further investigation into the physical arc combustion process focused on the dynamic competition between ionization and deionization of charged particles occurring at current-zero. This competition was fundamentally linked to the dielectric strength recovery process. The volt-ampere characteristic of the arc was subsequently formulated based on the dynamic motion features of charged particles within the short gap, culminating in the construction of a dynamic short-gap arc model for HIFs. Additionally, a "First-Principles Arc Suppression Theory" was advanced, which clarifies the physical criteria and control pathway necessary for achieving reliable arc extinction.
The effectiveness of the proposed short-gap arc model was validated through extensive simulations of distribution network HIFs. The simulated voltage-current characteristics accurately replicated the nonlinear distortion patterns observed for different gap lengths. Quantitative comparison with field experimental data yielded waveform correlation coefficients of 0.9432, 0.9327, and 0.9563 for gap distances of 2 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm, respectively. This performance surpasses the maximum coefficient of 0.9197 attained by existing models, demonstrating a marked improvement in characterizing HIF arc features. The model also accurately represented the extinction and reignition patterns occurring at the current zero-crossing. In simulation, reliable arc extinction was achieved by implementing a voltage suppression method that reduced the fault-point voltage below the instantaneous breakdown voltage (Uc) specific to different gap distances, thereby validating the proposed First-Principles Arc Suppression Theory.
The principal conclusions derived from this work are: (1) Field experiments on distribution network HIFs indicate that the arc waveform displays regular nonlinear distortion in open environments. The arc voltage waveform is approximately sinusoidal, whereas the arc current waveform exhibits pronounced nonlinear distortion around the zero-crossing. The volt-ampere characteristic curve shows a distinct hysteresis loop attributable to thermal inertia. Under consistent atmospheric conditions, the short gap length is a key factor influencing the zero-crossing distortion. (2) The physical process of AC breakdown across an air gap during HIFs was examined. A short-gap arc model for HIFs, with parameters possessing clear physical significance, was developed. Subsequent analysis of the arc's periodic reignition dynamics led to the formulation of the "First-Principles Arc Suppression Theory", which elucidates the physical criteria and control pathway for new arc suppression devices to achieve reliable extinction. (3) Validation against field data and benchmark models confirms the superior accuracy of the PSCAD-implemented model in simulating real-world scenarios with varying gap distances, thus supplying highly reliable data for subsequent research endeavors.
曾祥君, 肖春泉, 喻锟, 邓清波, 兰宇婷. 配电网高阻接地故障短间隙电弧建模及消弧分析[J]. 电工技术学报, 0, (): 34-.
Zeng Xiangjun, Xiao Chunquan, Yu Kun, Deng Qingbo, Lan Yuting. Modeling of Short-Gap Arc in High-Impedance Grounding Faults of Distribution Networks and Its Extinction Analysis. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 0, (): 34-.
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