Pilot Protection of Voltage Source Converter High Voltage Direct Current Transmission Line Based on Directional Traveling Wave Amplitude

With the development of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission technology, the limitations of traditional protection methods in dealing with complex fault conditions have become increasingly apparent. This paper proposes a pilot protection method for Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-HVDC transmission lines based on the amplitude of directional traveling waves and designs a novel directional traveling wave amplitude protection algorithm. This algorithm utilizes the arrival time and amplitude information of traveling waves to quickly identify and locate fault positions. By detailing the basic principles of directional traveling wave amplitude and exploring its feasibility in VSC-HVDC systems, a specific protection algorithm process was designed, including fault detection, traveling wave direction determination, and fault location. Simulation results indicate that the algorithm can quickly and accurately identify and locate faults under various fault conditions, significantly enhancing the operational safety and stability of VSC-HVDC transmission systems. VSC-HVDC systems have significant advantages in long-distance, highcapacity transmission, and submarine cable transmission, particularly due to their flexible power control, absence of commutation failure, and compact design. However, existing protection methods have shortcomings in terms of rapid response, selectivity, and anti-interference capability. The protection method based on directional traveling wave amplitude detects the arrival time and amplitude of traveling waves by monitoring voltage and current traveling wave signals on the line, thus achieving fault location. Simulation experiments were designed for different scenarios, including Direct Current (DC)-side short-circuit faults, grounding faults, and Alternating Current(AC)-side faults, to comprehensively evaluate the algorithm’s performance. The results show that the algorithm can detect traveling wave signals within a few milliseconds after a fault occurs and quickly locate the fault point, with a location error of less than 50 meters.