Improving the accuracy of multisided travelling wave determination of location of a fault in a power line by means of the difference–distance-measuring technique

Abstract

The double-ended travelling wave method of determination of location of a fault in electrical networks has significant errors due to changes in the propagation velocity of electromagnetic waves. We have developed a travelling wave method of improving the accuracy of location of a fault determination in power transmission lines that is based on navigation algorithms. The method is applicable to lines with branches. The distance to fault determination for the developed method is up to twice as accurate as the double-ended travelling wave location of a fault method. The accuracy of the developed method is less influenced by external factors (change of sag, soil resistance, the instantaneous value of the current at the fault time) than is the accuracy of the double-ended travelling wave location of a fault method. The proposed method allows reducing the errors in determining distance to the location of a fault, and its accuracy is less affected by external factors. The developed method can be incorporated into existing and prospective devices based on travelling wave methods of location of a fault determination.