Development of fault section identification technique for low voltage DC distribution systems by using capacitive discharge current

The increasing importance of energy efficiency has led to several studies related to the construction of a reliable low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system. Specifically, studies on a protection scheme that considers the fault characteristics of an LVDC distribution system are essential to improve system reliability. When compared to a conventional distribution system, the most distinct feature of an LVDC distribution system is the existence of a capacitive discharge current from converters under a fault condition that results in the prompt operation of protection devices. Therefore, this study involves proposing a precise and rapid technique to identify the fault section in an LVDC distribution system. The technique involves two stages, namely: an analysis stage to analyze the capacitive discharge current and a decision stage to identify the fault section based on the fault type. A detailed discussion of each step is presented and its feasibility is verified based on the results of simulations with an ElectroMagnetic Transients Program and MATLAB^®.