A Physics-Driven Approach for Identifying Leakage Users in Low-Voltage
Distribution Systems
Abstract
Wiring faults, caused by improper connections between neutral lines and
protective earth (PE) lines due to negligence by electrical technicians,
are a prevalent type of earth fault in low-voltage distribution systems
(LVDS). These faults can cause the load current of affected users to
flow back to the transformer’s neutral point via the PE line as residual
current, leading to nuisance tripping of residual current devices
(RCDs). To maintain normal power supply, users may disable RCDs, which
compromises safety and can result in severe hazards such as electric
shocks and electrical fires. This paper proposes a method to locate
users with wiring faults by leveraging abundant metering data within
LVDS and utilizing leakage fault analysis devices. We construct a linear
model of residual current considering multiple fault scenarios. Based on
this model, a multiple linear regression (MLR) approach is developed to
identify and locate anomalous users by analyzing the correlation between
their load currents and the residual current of the LVDS. Experimental
results under various scenarios validate the performance of the proposed
method.