ARF TECHNOLOGIES BRINGS AN INTELLIGENT PROTECTION SOLUTION TO UNDERGROUND CABLE NETWORKS
ARF Technologies is strengthening grid reliability with the FdPro 401 Overcurrent Protection Relay, designed to enable more reliable detection of intermittent earth faults in underground cable networks. The solution contributes to operational continuity by providing reliable fault protection for underground cable networks used across energy, industrial, and critical infrastructure applications.
ARF Technologies supports the reliability and operational continuity of electrical grids with innovative protection, control, and time synchronization solutions developed for energy and critical infrastructure. The company has now expanded its portfolio with a solution designed to address intermittent earth faults in underground cable networks, contributing to reliable and selective protection in distribution grids. Factors such as insulation deterioration, moisture, issues at cable joints, and intermittent arcing in underground cables can lead to intermittent faults. These types of faults create challenging operating conditions for conventional earth fault protection functions that reset immediately when the fault signal disappears.
More Selective and Reliable Protection Against Intermittent Faults
Protection relays are critical protection and control devices that detect faults occurring in electrical grids, helping protect the relevant system and prevent faults from propagating. Developed by ARF Technologies, the FdPro 401 Overcurrent Protection Relay enables more reliable monitoring of intermittent earth faults through an adjustable reset time (Treset) feature added to its 50G earth fault protection function. Configurable according to different field conditions, this feature contributes to more selective isolation of the faulty feeder while supporting improved protection coordination with upstream protection systems.
Sinan Unan, CTO of ARF Technologies, commented on the solution: “Intermittent earth faults can make it difficult to accurately detect faults and maintain coordination between protection systems in electrical distribution grids. With the adjustable reset time feature we have added to the FdPro 401’s 50G earth fault protection function, we contribute to more reliable monitoring of these faults and more selective isolation of the faulty feeder. In this way, we strengthen coordination between protection systems while supporting continuity of power supply.”
