Technology Research for Flexible Control System of

Neutral-Point Ground Impedance for Distribution

Networks

Yi Wentao
Li Sukang
power dispatching center
power dispatching center
Nanchang Power Supply Company
Nanchang Power Supply Company
Nanchang, Jiangxi, China Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
yafeifei@163.com

Abstract—As the power network appeared fault, the residual It only can compensate a partial capacitive current by
fault-current can be controlled under the allowed range by using using traditional Petersen-coil. A very small residual current
the traditional Petersen-coil to compensate the most part of can also threaten coal mine safety. To further enhance
capacitive current. Although the small residual fault-current can security operation index and further reduce the residual
also cause gas explosion in mining power supply system with
current, a novel control technology for the neutral-point
high reliability. A novel control technology of neutral-point
ground impedance is presented in the thesis by controlling the ground impedance is now proposed. MATLAB simulation
duty cycle of power electronics IGBT, The ground impedance have been carried out to verify the validity of the method.
control systems are with reactor continue changing, excellent
dynamic responding, high control precision and the residual II. NOVEL EQUIVALENT IMPEDANCE CONTROL
fault-current approaching zero, it can reduce the accident TECHNOLOGY BASED ON IBGT
probability. Theoretical derivation and MATLAB simulation A. IGBT Control Circuit Design
results show that the proposed method is with high precision,
high speed and noiselessness. It can improve distribution
automation, accelerate grounding fault arc self-extinguishing,
and enhance power quality.

Keywords- Distribution system; Fault-current; IGBT; mining

power supply system

I. INTRODUCTION
With the power systems expansion, mining power supply
system as a special branch, it has developed rapidly. At
present, most chinese mining power systems are of 6kV power
apply, and few newly established mining power systems adopt
10kV[1]. They have been operated with neutral point
non-direct grounded. The single-phase earth fault is a main
factor that influence the mining power systems security.
According to data statistics, The single-phase earth faults are
about 60 percent of whole electric faults[2]. Under the
scurviness condition in coal mine that contains flammable and
explosive gas, when the single-phase earth fault happened, it
can cause explosion by voltaic sparkle and insulation
breakdown by grounding over voltage. In recent years, it has
occurred gas explosion accident frequently in mining power
supply systems caused by electric fault. Bringing greatly
influence to the coal industry. In order to ensure safety,
according to the coal safety standard 457, the residual current
caused by single-phase earth fault is needed to be limited in
about 20 amperes in the mining power systems.
Figure 1. Equivalent impedance control circuit based on IBGT
The proposed equivalent impedance control circuit based
on IBGT is shown in Figure 1. In the figure,VT1,VT2 are the
two inverse parallel IGBT,R and L are the load of control
circuit[3,6], so the impedance angle is:
ϕ = arctan(ωL / R ) (1)
Where ω is angular frequency. The load current is sine wave
in steady-state by the ways of short circuit IBGT, and the
current angle lagging behind supply voltage(u1) is φ. Setting α,
Δ are the firing angle and the duty cycle of IGBT respectively.
Therefore, it can adjust output voltage(u2) by controlling duty
cycle(Δ) of IGBT(VT1,VT2) in the positive half cycle and
negative half cycle of supply voltage(u1) respectively. When
α=0 in the positive half cycle, setting ti's the voltage cross-zero
point. So the phase shift range of α is between φ and π (φ≤α

978-1-4577-0365-2/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE 1216

≤π). Setting: u1 = 2U 1 sin ωt ,triggering flow VT1 when I 0 = 2 I VT (6)
ωt=α, two equations can be derived:
If the load is only Petersen-coil, so R=0 in the circuit of Figure
。
di0 1 and the impedance angle φ=90 ,basing on the Figure 2,it can
L + Ri0 = 2U1 sin ωt be derived:
dt (2)
i0 |ωt =α = 0 θ = −2α + 2π (7)

2U 1 ⎡ α −ωt
⎤ From the three equations (5)-(7), one can derive the following
i0 = ⎢ sin (ωt − ϕ ) − sin (α − ϕ )e tan ϕ
⎥ three equations:
Z ⎣⎢ ⎦⎥
U1
I VT = θ − sin θ (8)
α ≤ ωt ≤ α + θ (3) 2π Z

Z = R 2 + (ωL ) ,θis the conduction angle of Where, Z = ωL , 0 ≤ θ ≤ π

2 .
Where,
IGBT. When ωt = α + θ ,it can be derived: i0 = 0 and U1
I 0 = 2 I VT = θ − sin θ (9)
−θ πZ
sin (α + θ − ϕ ) = sin (α − ϕ )e tan ϕ
(4)
U1 πZ
Z' = = (10)
Using equation (4), the curve(θ=f(α)) can be drawn in I0 θ − sin θ
Figure 2, φ is parametric variable.
Where, Z ′ is the equivalent impedance that we needed.
According to the definition of duty cycle(Δ), it can be derived:

θ
Δ= (11)
2π
From the two equations (10)-(11),it can be derived:

U1 πZ
Z' = = (12)
I0 2πΔ − sin 2πΔ

1
Where, 0<Δ< ,therefore, the neutral point grounding
Figure 2. The curve of α andθ 2
equivalent impedance that we needed can be obtained by
Froming the curves above,it can be found that when α≤φ,θ controlling duty cycle(Δ) of IGBT based on PWM signal. The
=180 ,when α>φ, θ<180 . Setting I VT , I 0 are current rms
。 。 shift range of impedance is: Z ≤ Z' ≤ ∞.
value of IGBT and current rms value of load respectively. The B. Selecting the Trigger Signal of IGBT
following equations can be obtained:
A couple of trigger signals of IGBT in Figure 1 must be
isolated, otherwise, it's able to cause IBGT short-circuit by
⎧ α−ωt 2 ⎫
1 α+θ ⎪ 2U1 ⎡ ⎤⎪ connecting the two cathodes of VT1 and VT2. Selecting trigger
( ) ( ) ⎥ ⎬d(ωt )
2π ∫α ⎪ Z ⎣⎢
tanϕ
IVT = ⎨ ⎢sin ωt −ϕ − sin α −ϕ e signals of IGBT with high precision are the key of flexible
⎩ ⎦⎥ ⎪⎭ controlling equivalent impedance values[7-10].
It's usually adopts high frequency carrier signals in
U1 sinθ cos(2α +ϕ +θ ) experiment, the high frequency carrier signals are series of
= θ− narrow pulse. The turn-on time of VT1 is : α < ωt < π ,and
2π Z cosϕ the turn-on time of VT2 is : α + π < ωt < 2π ,the
frequency of narrow pulse is between 20000Hz and 30000Hz.
(5)

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 III. MATLAB SIMULATION

A. The MATLAB Simulation for Controlling Neutral Point

Grounding Equivalent Impedance Values by Regulating
IGBT
The MATLAB simulation model is shown in Figure 3. u1 L
Where, u1 is AC voltage source, L is inductive load,
controlling the turn-on time of IGBT1 and IGBT2 by applying
two different pulse signals. The simulation model technical
parameters are shown in TABLE I. Figure 3. The simulation model of MATLAB

TABLE I. SIMULATION MODEL TECHNICAL PARAMETERS

Carrier Frequency of
Duty cycle(Δ) Voltage peak Load inductance Voltage Frequency
PWM
25％ 100V 0.01H 23kHz 50Hz

The pulse signal 1 is superposition with controlling signal Figure 5. The controlling signal “1b”
“1a” and controlling signal “1b”, “1a” and “1b” is shown in
Figure 4, Figure 5. The pulse signal 2 is superposition with
controlling signal “2a” and controlling signal “2b”, “2a” and
“2b” is shown in Figure 6, Figure 7. The load current
waveform can be obtained by controlling pulse signal 1 and
pulse signal 2 that triggering flow IGBT1 and IBGT2
respectively. The load current waveform is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 6. The controlling signal “2a”

Figure 4. The controlling signal “1a”

Figure 7. The controlling signal “2b”

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 the three-phase capacitance to earth and calculates the
capacitive current that converts two control signals by PI
regulator and control signal conversion circuit. The control
signals contain PWM trigger signal of IGBT and tuning signal
of Petersen-coil( l ) that are transmitted to IGBT control
module and Petersen-coil tuning circuit respectively. When
the single phase grounding fault occurring, the measurement
device stop measuring, switch(K) is closed instantly,
Petersen-coil and adjustable reactor that are well controlled
start operating in power network. Consequently, the
capacitive current can be compensated with high precision. It
Figure 8. The load current waveform can limit the residual fault-current approaching zero and
improve personnel safety especially in mining power supply
From the equation(9), (11) and TABLEⅠ, load current system. When the grounding fault disappearing, switch(K)
rms value can be calculated as: break off automatically, the Petersen-coil and adjustable
reactor exit operating. At the same time,the cutoff signal is
sent to IGBT control module by measurement device which
U1 100 π
I0 = 2πΔ − sin 2πΔ = − 1 = 9.594( A) continue to work.
πZ π 2π 2
(13)

The calculated load current rms value is equal to the current K

rms value of simulation waveform in Figure 8. From the CC
equation(12), equivalent inductance value can also be l CB
calculated as:
CA

Z ' = 10.423Ω ( Z = 3.14Ω ).

From the MATLAB simulation above, it concludes that the
neutral-point ground impedance value can be controlled with
high precision by adjusting duty cycle(Δ) of IGBT based on
PWM signal.
Figure 9. The novel passive system
B. The MATLAB Simulation for Controlling Novel Passive
System 2) The MATLAB simulation of Power Network Fault
The MATLAB simulation is in 35kV distribution
1) Design of novel passive system network, The simulation technical parameters are shown in
The novel passive system is shown in Figure 9. The TABLEⅡ. Setting the power network in normal operation
controllable switch(K), Petersen-coil( l ),an adjustable from 0s to 0.04s,the single phase grounding fault occurs at
reactor(L) and IGBT control module are in series connection 0.04s,the value of grounding resistance is 1 Ω ,the
with the high voltage side of distribution network between Petersen-coil controlled by IGBT operates at 0.045s.
neutral-point and ground. Using resonance method to
measured capacitive current[11]. The adjustable reactor value
is about one tenth of the Petersen-coil in Figure 9[4-5].
When distribution network in normal operation, the
switch(K) is broken away, Petersen-coil( l ) and adjustable
reactor(L) are not operated, the measurement device measures

TABLE II. SIMULATION TECHNICAL PARAMETERS

Simulation voltage 35kV Voltage transformation ratio 100

Transmission line inductance 0.001mH/km Petersen-coil ratio 50
Transmission line resistance 0.256Ω/km Transmission line length 100km
Transmission line capacitance 0.0527μF/km Grounding resistance 1Ω

The fault-phase voltage waveform of pre and post fault is

shown in Figure 10, the waveform of fault current that without

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being compensated by Petersen-coil is shown in Figure 11, the high control precision and the residual fault-current
waveform of fault current that is compensated by Petersen-coil approaching zero. It fits to apply in mining power supply
is shown in Figure 12. system with high reliability.
REFERENCES
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Figure 10. The fault-phase voltage waveform of pre and post fault hing House,2002.
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Figure 11. The waveform of fault current that without being compensated ty,Master Degree Thesis,2005.
by Petersen-coil [11] ZENG.Xiangjun,YI.Wentao,LIU.Zhanglei,“Novel Technique of Capa
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pp.77-80,2008.

Figure 12. The waveform of fault current that is compensated by

Petersen-coil

From three waveforms above, it can be found that the fault

current over 150A when the grounding fault occurring,and the
residual fault current approach zero when the Petersen-coil
that controlled by IGBT have operated. It has produced results
of high speed and precise.
IV. CONCLUSIONE
A novel flexible control system of neutral-point ground
impedance for distribution systems is developed in the paper.
Controlling neutral-point ground impedance value by
adjusting the duty cycle of power electronics IGBT. Results
show that the ground impedance control system is with
reactor continue changing, excellent dynamic responding,

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