Fault Passage Indicators for Sensitive Earth Faults

Dec 2015

Electricity Distribution

Reference: NIA_SSEPD_0023

Status: Complete

Start Date: Dec 2015

End Date: Mar 2018

Funding Licencee(s): Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution and Southern Electric Power Distribution

Contact: SSEN Future Networks Team

Funding Mechanism Network Innovation Allowance

Research Area: None

Core Technology(ies): Fault Management

Estimated Expenditure: £256,000.00

Introduction: To establish the magnitude of reduction in Customer Minutes Lost (CMLs) achievable by locating SEF faults with a revised FPI supplied by Bowden Brothers and modified to be sensitive to currents as low as 4A through tests at PNDC, field trials and a post-trial evaluation.

Objectives:

1. Determine, from testing, that the revised FPIs successfully meet the required standard
2. Train operational staff in the correct use of the revised FPIs
3. Perform a field trial with trained operational staff
4. Monitor and evaluate the reduction in customer hours lost per Customer affected by an SEF fault in the trial area when compared to previous years.

Expected Benefits: This project will be successful if we are able to determine the ability of the revised FPI to reduce CMLs due to SEF faults.