Power Distribution System Faults and Wildfires: Mechanisms and Prevention

Abstract

Wildfires are one of the most hazardous natural disasters in Australia in terms of fatalities, property damage and financial losses. Events of catastrophic wildfires are recorded across the world including in the United States and Canada. Failures along power distribution infrastructure and network faults have been identified as some of the causes for the initiation of wildfires. Thus, it is critical to better understand the mechanisms and the potential prevention strategies for wildfires caused by power distribution system faults. In this light, this paper presents how the power distribution network faults cause wildfires highlighting the main mechanisms. Further, this paper reviewed studies on recent advancements for the prediction, detection and prevention of wildfires. Condition assessment of power distribution infrastructure including poles, crossarms, overhead cables and other attachments are paramount to detect potential defects and to carry out timely replacements which can subsequently mitigate the possibility of wildfire initiation. Therefore, this paper summarized the studies on condition monitoring and surveillance techniques for power distribution infrastructure. Altogether, this paper aimed to enhance the awareness about the prevention strategies for wildfires caused by power distribution system faults.

Bushfire Management Strategies: Current Practice, Technological Advancement and Challenges

“…Accidental ignition is another key factor for bushfire initiation [49]. Human errors and accidental ignitions are reported in the cases of unattended campfires, burning of debris and improperly discarded cigarettes [50]. Further, there is a risk arising from faulty agricultural machinery generating sparks leading to spot fires [51].…”

“…In addition to accidental ignitions, power distribution system faults can be a root cause of fire initiation. Power distribution system faults can be broadly categorised into vegetation related faults, electrical apparatus failures, power distribution infrastructure failures and conductor failures [50]. In dry, hot, humid and windy conditions, sparks generated from a power distribution fault can ignite the biomass, initiating a fire.…”

“…Cost as a consequence is from the property losses, cost of injury due to fire and loss of businesses such as tourism and farming. Fire service response costs and justice costs can be categorised as costs incurred in response [50]. Detailed investigations about the causes and effects of bushfires have estimated the economic loss of large-scale bushfire events.…”

PMSNet: Multiscale Partial-Discharge Signal Feature Recognition Model via a Spatial Interaction Attention Mechanism

“…Sensors 2024, 24, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 21 discharges that can lead to fires [2]. In forested areas, the lack of maintenance of basic power distribution facilities, coupled with long-term exposure to the elements, can result in partial discharges (PDs), thus posing a potential fire hazard [3]. PD is an electrical phenomenon originating from localized arc discharges within insulating materials.…”

“…Partial discharges pose a serious threat to the development of fields such as the aerospace power chain where certain power systems located in specific hazardous areas may suffer from partial discharges that can lead to fires [ 2 ]. In forested areas, the lack of maintenance of basic power distribution facilities, coupled with long-term exposure to the elements, can result in partial discharges (PDs), thus posing a potential fire hazard [ 3 ].…”