Wavelets and power system transient analysis

In order to improve electric power quality, the source and causes of transient faults must be known before appropriate action can be taken. However, in order to determine the causes and sources of transient faults, one must have the capability to detect and localize those faults and further identify the types of fault. The purpose of this paper is to introduce to the instrumentation and measurement community a powerful method for transient analysis. The wavelet transform, which has received considerable interest in information theory and image compression, is proposed as an effective means of analyzing voltage and current waveforms recording during power system disturbances. The wavelet transform is introduced as a method for analyzing transients associated with power system fault and switching such as capacitor switching and single-phase switching. Disturbances that are not periodic require a more powerful mathematical technique than the Fourier series. The wavelet transform is one such tool that can be used. In this paper the wavelet theory is applied to model short-term events like single-phase switching.