Closed-Form Solution for Traveling Wave-Based Fault Location on Non-Homogeneous Lines

In this paper, a closed-form solution for traveling wave (TW)-based fault location on non-homogeneous lines (NHLs) with multiple sections is proposed. It is able to accurately estimate the fault location on NHLs, taking into account the different propagation velocities, irrespective of the number of sections, including the effects of line electrical parameters uncertainties. The algorithm can be applied to non-homogeneous transmission networks composed by overhead transmission lines (OHLs), underground cable lines (UCLs), submarine cable lines (SCLs), or by any other line section with considerably different electrical characteristics. A wide variety of fault scenarios were simulated in a 380 kV/50 Hz NHL consisting of multiple OHL, UCL, and SCL sections. In each simulation, the proposed algorithm performance was compared against those obtained from an existing two-terminal TW-based fault location approach. The obtained results reveal that the proposed closed-form TW-based solution is generalist and reliable, being useful for fault location applications on NHLs.