Remote Fault Indicator Device Analyzer
Sponsored by:
Southern California Edison (graphic)
A Senior Design Project By:
Daniel Novoa
Ana (Faryana) Hafiz
David Escobedo
David LeGaspi
Adriana Ayuso
danieln818@gmail.com
faryana@sbcglobal.net
elacge121@yahoo.com
dlegaspi@manganinc.com
adriana.ayuso@gmail.com
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
(graphic of Cal State LA)
Abstract
The purpose of this senior design project is to design and build a remote fault indicator device
analyzer that will test the reliability of remote fault indicator devices before they are used. The
apparatus must be able to supply three phase power from a 120V standard outlet and simulate
various transmission line current levels. The remote fault indicator analyzer must also be able to
simulate a transmission line fault with the peak fault current measured at 1200A.
Introduction
One of the biggest problems in commercial power distribution systems is the occurrence of faults
on transmission lines. Faults are defined as short circuits that directly connect a portion of an
active circuit directly to ground. Fault monitoring along transmission lines is a high priority for
all power utility organizations. The presence of a fault on a power transmission line causes all of
the power being carried in that line to travel through the short circuit directly to ground. Since
the power of the line is now traveling into the ground instead of being distributed to customers,
there is a power outage in the area surrounding the affected transmission line. There are
precautions built into distribution power systems to isolate faulted transmission lines in order to
minimize power interruptions and prevent the high fault current from continuing to escape
through the short circuit. Protection devices such as relays and circuit breakers are strategically
placed in various locations throughout a power distribution system in order to immediately halt
active transmission line faults. However, in order to remove the transmission line fault and
restore the system to full operation, the actual fault must be located. Locating a fault is very
difficult because the affected area of a fault can over a quite large transmission line network
region. There is also additional difficulty in locating the fault because the actual short circuit
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object causing the fault could be anything. A device that has helped to significantly reduce the
time it takes to locate a transmission line fault is the remote fault indicator. A remote fault
indicator is connected to an overhead or underground transmission line and monitors the voltage
and current flowing through the line. In the event of a fault, the line current will instantaneously
spike to a very high level. The remote fault indicator device will sense this fault, record data on
its magnitude and length of active time, and then transmit all of this information wirelessly to the
power distribution engineers. With fault current information from several surrounding remote
fault indicators, the possible area containing the transmission line fault is significantly reduced.
The time it takes for the indicator device to inform the power distribution engineers of the fault is
also very short. Therefore, the engineers can begin working to repair the problem almost
instantaneously. Before the creation of these devices, the utility company would not know about
a line fault or power outage until the affected customers would call and inform them of the
problem.
As discussed above, the remote fault indicator device has become a very important tool in
monitoring power distribution systems. However, there have been problems with reliability of
these devices. There have been numerous situations in which defective fault indicator devices
have incorrectly reported the presence of a fault. There have also been numerous situations in
which the device did not report the fault on a transmission line when it occurred. These
defective devices can cause the company to waste time and money every time they malfunction.
Power distribution engineers have realized the need for all remote fault indicator devices to be
thoroughly tested before they are placed out on the transmission lines. Currently, power
distribution engineers do not have equipment to test the reliability of the remote fault indicators.
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Therefore, the creation of a remote fault indicator device analyzer will be the focus of this senior
design project.
The remote fault indicator analyzer will be an apparatus capable of simulating various
transmission line operating states. The analyzer will be capable of simulating the current flow
within a transmission line during normal operation as well as during the event of a fault. The
remote fault indicator devices will be able to be clamped onto this simulation transmission line in
the same way that it would clamp onto a real transmission line. Then, the remote fault indicator
analyzer will simulate different transmission line operation conditions for the device to detect.
There will also be monitoring devices built into the remote fault indicator analyzer in order to be
able to compare the levels of voltage and current being sent through the simulation with the
levels detected by the device.
The construction of a remote fault indicator analyzer that has the capability of testing the
reliability of remote fault indicator devices before they are dispersed will be an invaluable tool
that will reduce the occurrence of errors in transmission line fault detection.
Equipment *
GridSense Remote Fault Indicator Device
Phase Converter
Current Transformers
Voltage Transformers
Variable Voltage Transformer
Circuit Protection Devices
Voltage and Current Monitoring Device
IGBT Devices
FPGA or Microcontroller
Weekly Schedule *
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Role Play *
Advisors
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Kodzo Abledu
Industry Advisor:
Joe Salazar
Allen Thiel
Deliverables
The deliverables of this project include the actual remote fault indicator analyzer apparatus,
instruction manual, and all relevant design documentation. The remote fault indicator analyzer
must be easy to use and easy to obtain the required simulation result information. The apparatus
itself must also be very safe. There should be no dangers in operating the remote fault indicator
analyzer. Other specifications for the actual apparatus include:

The ability for the remote fault indicator analyzer to be powered from a standard 120V
electrical outlet

The remote fault indicators must be tested with three phase power

The apparatus must simulate a transmission line that carries 400A continuous during
normal operation and 1200A during the event of a fault

Fault pulses must be adjustable for widths between 4ns and 16ns (from a quarter cycle to
a full cycle)

Current levels should be able to be adjustable with its monitored values readily available
for verification
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
An emergency safety switch to prevent dangerous situations when operating the
apparatus

An enclosure for the remote fault indicator tester that will measure 19” in width but no
height requirements
References
Saadat, Hadi. Power System Analysis. Second Edition. Boston, Mass.: The McGraw-Hill
Companies, 2002.
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