Fault-induced delayed voltage recovery in a long inhomogeneous power-distribution feeder

We analyze the dynamics of a distribution circuit loaded with many induction motors and subjected to sudden changes in voltage at the beginning of the circuit. As opposed to earlier work by Duclut et al. [Phys. Rev. E 87, 062802 (2013)], the motors are disordered, i.e., the mechanical torque applied to the motors varies in a random manner along the circuit. In spite of the disorder, many of the qualitative features of a homogeneous circuit persist, e.g., long-range motor-motor interactions mediated by circuit voltage and electrical power flows result in coexistence of the spatially extended and propagating normal and stalled phases. We also observed a new phenomenon absent in the case without inhomogeneity or disorder. Specifically, the transition front between the normal and stalled phases becomes somewhat random, even when the front is moving very slowly or is even stationary. Motors within the blurred domain appear in a normal or stalled state depending on the local configuration of the disorder. We quantify the effects of the disorder and discuss the statistics of distribution dynamics, e.g., the front position and width, total active and reactive consumption of the feeder, and maximum clearing time.