Research on Fault Section Location in an Active Distribution Network Based on Improved Subtraction-Average-Based Optimizer

The high penetration of distributed generation (DG) in the distribution system poses a challenge to the protection techniques and strategies of active distribution networks, making it difficult to adapt traditional methods to the fault diagnosis of the new power system. A method based on the improved subtractive optimiser algorithm for fault diagnosis is proposed to address this situation. Firstly, a fault localization model applicable to DG grid connection is constructed, which can effectively deal with the impact of the dynamic switching of DGs on the system and make up for the shortcomings of the traditional single-power network model; secondly, to solve the model, the original algorithm is improved using multi-strategy fusion, and the improved subtraction-average-based optimizer (ISABO) is obtained. Through the test of classical functions, its excellent solving performance and decoupling ability are verified; finally, the ISABO algorithm is applied to the 33-node test system to make it operate in various complex fault conditions. The results show that the ISABO algorithm is feasible in solving the fault location problem and can adapt to the connect/disconnect state of the interconnection switch and the dynamic casting and cutting of multiple DGs. Compared with the original SABO algorithm, its positioning accuracy can always be maintained at 100%, and the positioning speed is increased by 46.68%, symmetrically improving positioning speed, positioning accuracy, and fault tolerance.