Development of a Digital System for Monitoring Emergency Conditions in 20 kV Distribution Networks

This article presents research on the possibilities of using information and communication technologies in monitoring systems for electrical networks with isolated neutral, aimed at improving and automating production functions in the energy sector. This aligns with the digitalization policy of Kazakhstan’s economy and is part of similar programs in the field of the electric power industry. This article explores an approach to organizing a digital monitoring system for emergency conditions, specifically single-phase ground faults in medium-voltage lines within the range of 6–35 kV, including the new voltage class of 20 kV. A version of such a system is proposed, based on a combination of a server, a wireless information network, and remote digital voltage measurement nodes. This wireless information and communication network is designed to detect the locations of single-phase ground faults (SPGF) using specialized zero-sequence voltage sensors installed at various points along the power transmission lines, along with wireless signal transmission channels to the dispatcher’s server. To ensure protection against industrial interference, based on the results of practical environment modeling, a transmission technology most resistant to external noise is selected. This article proposes the selection of equipment necessary for implementing wireless transmission technology and develops two versions of a digital voltmeter design based on low-power programmable microcontrollers. The proposed technical solutions require further experimental validation, and therefore, the authors plan to conduct additional research and practical experiments in the future.