Development of a solar-powered photovoltaic (PV) fault location system for medium voltage line in Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Ahmed, Salum | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mbuya, Benson | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kichonge, Baraka | |
| dc.contributor.author | Maagi, Mtaki | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kivevele, Thomas | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-17T08:24:29Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-09-09 | |
| dc.description | SDG-1: No Poverty SDG-3: Good Health and Well-Being SDG-7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG-8: Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG-9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG-11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG-12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG-13: Climate Action | |
| dc.description.abstract | This paper presents a fault location system designed for medium-voltage (MV) distribution lines in Tanzania, where frequent outages disrupt economic and social activities. Existing manual fault location methods are slow and costly, while high-voltage solutions are expensive and unsuitable for MV systems. Inefficient fault detection extends restoration times, undermining grid reliability and impeding development in resource-constrained regions. This study aims to develop a solar-powered photovoltaic fault location system that leverages real-time current measurements analyzed from TANESCO’s operational data to reduce outage durations and enhance network resilience. Prototype integrates SCT013 current sensors and an ATmega328P-PU microcontroller, programmed via the Arduino IDE. The system continuously monitors fault currents and triggers GSM-based SMS alerts with precise GPS coordinates. Data analysis using MATLAB and Python evaluates system accuracy and response time. Tests on a 220 V radial feeder revealed detection times of 5–6 s a > 99% improvement over traditional manual methods (≈ 900 s). Mean Absolute Error (0.2325 A) and RMSE (0.234 A) confirm high precision relative to typical MV fault currents (50–500 A). These results demonstrate a robust, low-cost solution for autonomous fault localization, offering rapid, near real-time fault notification. This approach provides a practical solution for improving the reliability and resilience of Tanzania’s MV power distribution lines, contributing to the nation’s sustainable development goals. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00202-025-03335-w | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/123456789/3462 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Springer Nature | |
| dc.subject | Fault location system | |
| dc.subject | MV distribution lines | |
| dc.subject | Solar-powered photovoltaic (PV) system | |
| dc.subject | Real-time current measurement | |
| dc.subject | Arduino IDE | |
| dc.subject | Fault current magnitude | |
| dc.title | Development of a solar-powered photovoltaic (PV) fault location system for medium voltage line in Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Article |