Fault location algorithms for super high voltage power transmission lines

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach for calculation of fault location on high voltage transmission lines. The proposed fault location algorithm utilizes statistical information about the equivalent impedances of the system at the unmonitored end of the transmission line. Knowledge about the distribution laws of these values or their numerical characteristics, which are more accessible for practical use, results in more accurate fault location for lines with grounded neutral, especially in case of distant short circuit through the large transient resistance. The proposed algorithm is based on modelling of the faulted line and the method of Monte-Carlo. The utilized line model with distributed parameters is described by two-port network theory equations. The algorithm automatically eliminates the effect of line shunt capacitance and calculates not only the expected value of the distance to the fault, but also another important additional characteristic for the fault location, namely, the length of the line segment, where short circuit may have occurred. Furthermore, the possibility to reduce the costs on the inspection of transmission line faulted segment and fault point location is described in the paper. © 2003 IEEE.