Improving Safety of 20 kV Areal Lines using Fault Indicator and Fiberglass Crossarm

Twenty kV feeders of earth fault relay and high-voltage relays are installed on breakers to protect feeders against faults; however, a 20 kV back flow phase of wire sometimes ruptures and falls on the ground and the existing relays are unable to detect it. Moreover, distance and differential relay will not increase undistributed energy. This article presents a new method to detect wire rupture using the existing relays. By installing a fault indicator (a commutation sensor installed in the end of the main and branches lines), a feedback of voltage and feeder’s current status is created and if a wire ruptures, a breaker cut command will be issued and it will prevent many casualties.

Keywords:

fault indicator , high-voltage relay , SMS , undistributed energy , safety