Traveling Wave Network Location Method Based on Virtual Fault Time Difference Information

To address the issues of location accuracy in traveling wave (TW) network location methods, which are susceptible to clock synchronization errors and TW speed inaccuracies. We propose a TW network location method based on virtual fault time difference information, simulating the propagation of TWs using virtual faults (VFs). Theoretically, the study analyzes the impact of transition resistance and TW heads (TWHs) aliasing on TWHs calibration, proposing an optimal effective time difference criterion that is unaffected by these factors. Algorithmically, VFs are first set in the faulty line, and a path search algorithm is used to obtain all TWH paths from the VF point to the measurement points. Subsequently, based on the optimal effective time difference selection criteria for different fault areas, steps such as filtering VF wave head paths and simulating virtual fault TWHs yield the optimal time difference matrix for the VFs. The accuracy of the VF location is assessed by calculating the degree of difference between the time difference information of virtual and real faults. An optimization algorithm continuously adjusts the VF point location and TW speed, gradually converging the VF point to the real fault point until they coincide, at which point the VF location corresponds to the real fault location. Verified by the PSCAD simulation platform, the proposed method can achieve precise fault location under various fault types, transition resistances, and noise interferences.