A NEW APPROACH TO FAULT-DIAGNOSIS IN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION NETWORKSUSING A GENETIC ALGORITHM

In this paper, a new approach to fault diagnosis in electrical distrib ution network is proposed. The approach is based upon the parsimonious set covering theory and a genetic algorithm. First, based on the caus ality relationship among section fault, protective relay action and ci rcuit breaker trip, the expected states of protective relays and circu it breakers are expressed in a strict mathematical manner. Secondly, t he well developed parsimonious set covering theory is applied to the f ault diagnosis problem. A 0-1 integer programming model is then propos ed. Thirdly, a powerful genetic algorithm (GA) based method for the fa ult diagnosis problem is developed by using information on operations of protective relays and circuit breakers. The developed method can de al with any complicated faults, and simultaneously determine faulty se ctions and any hidden defects in the feeder protection systems. Test r esults for a sample electrical distribution network have shown that th e developed mathematical model for the fault diagnosis problem is corr ect, and the adopted GA based method is efficient. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Limited.