High impedance fault location in DC distribution systems

A DC power distribution system comprising:

• a DC power distribution network;
• a plurality of measurement devices operatively coupled to the DC power distribution network at a plurality of spaced apart locations;
• an electronic control system structured to execute program instructions stored in a non-transitory memory medium during a high impedance fault condition of the DC power distribution system to:
• receive a plurality of first measurements from a first one of the measurement devices, each of the first measurements comprising a voltage measurement and a forward fault current measurement,
• receive a plurality of second measurements from a second one of the measurement devices, each of the second measurements comprising a reverse current measurement,
• determine an inductance of a first portion of the DC power distribution system extending between the first measurement device and the high impedance fault, a resistance of the first portion of the DC power distribution system, and a resistance of the fault using the plurality of first measurements and the plurality of second measurements, and
• identify a physical location of the fault in the DC power distribution system using at least one of the inductance of the first portion and the resistance of the first portion.

A DC power distribution system comprising:

• at least one DC power distribution line;
• at least two power sources coupled to the DC power distribution line and structured to provide DC power to the DC power distribution line;
• at least two smart circuit breakers operatively coupled to the DC power distribution line between the two power sources, each of the smart circuit breakers structured to sense one or more electrical characteristics associated with the DC power distribution line and to controllably interrupt current through the DC power distribution line;
• and
• a control system structured to determine the location of a high impedance fault between two of the smart circuit breakers devices using one or more electrical characteristics sensed by each of the two smart circuit breakers to calculate inductance and resistance of a portion of the DC power distribution line between one of the smart circuit breakers and the high impedance fault.