Avaliação de um método prático de detecção de condutor rompido utilizando tensão em sistemas de distribuição radiais

Abstract

Several problems related to the primary distribution make the task of providing energy with quality and continuity challenging. A broken conductor is one of these events, and the methods for its detection still need to be fully efficient. One possibility to solve this problem is to use the voltage signal on the load side since its magnitude suffers a drop immediately after the conductor breaks in a radial system. This study evaluates a technique that uses this effect on the voltage signal as an input parameter for the phase loss protection function of current controllers, thus de-energizing the circuit even before it touches the ground and causing risk to people or vegetation in the area. For this purpose, simulations were conducted using Powerfactory software, and occurrence data of conductor breakage were generated, which were subsequently tested in the laboratory using a system composed of two test sets, two controllers, and two radio communicators. Through this system, it was possible to validate the method and determine the response time between the event’s start and the recloser’s complete opening.The research concludes that the proposed technique has demonstrated statistical effectiveness in detecting and isolating cases of conductor breakage in radial systems.