Presenter

Fault Location
Principles Dr. Murari Mohan Saha was born in 1947 in Bangladesh. He received
B.Sc.E.E. from Bangladesh University of Technology (BUET), Dhaka in 1968
and completed M.Sc.E.E. in 1970. During 1969-1971, he was a lecturer at the
E.E. dept.,BUET. In 1972 he completed M.S.E.E and in 1975 he was awarded
with Ph.D. from The Technical University of Warsaw, Poland. He joined ASEA,
Sweden in 1975 as a Development Engineer and currently is a Senior
Dr. MURARI MOHAN SAHA Research and Development Engineer at ABB AB, Vsters, Sweden. He is a
Senior Member of IEEE (USA) and a Fellow of IET (UK). He is a registered
ABB AB European Engineer (EUR ING) and a Chartered Engineer (CEng). His areas of
interest are measuring transformers, power system analysis and simulation,
Vsters, Sweden and digital protective relays. He holds 35 granted patents and produces more
KTH/EH2740 Lecture 4 than 200 technical papers. He is the co-author of a book, entitled, Fault
location on Power Networks, published by Springer, January 2010.
ABB Group ABB Group
March 26, 2012 | Slide 1 March 26, 2012 | Slide 2

Contents

Introduction

One-end fault location

Two-end/Multiterminal fault location

Introduction
Fault location on distribution networks

Conclusions

Information about book on Fault Location

ABB Group ABB Group

March 26, 2012 | Slide 3 March 26, 2012 | Slide 4

Introduction What is a Fault Locator? Introduction

It is a device or apparatus placed at one end of a station, which displays the When a fault occurs on a line (distribution or
distance to fault (in km or in % of line) following a fault in a transmission line. transmission), it is very important for the utility to
identify the fault location as quickly as possible for
improving the service reliability.
Line section length
Fault distance If a fault location cannot be identified quickly and this
ZA ZB
produces prolonged line outage during a period of
ZL peak load, severe economic losses may occur and
reliability of service may be questioned.
All these circumstances have raised the great
importance of fault-location research studies and thus
Line Line
Relay Relay the problem has attracted widespread attention among
Fault researchers in power-system technology in recent
Locator
years.
ABB Group ABB Group
March 26, 2012 | Slide 5 March 26, 2012 | Slide 6
Introduction Introduction

Fault location is a process aimed at locating the

occurred fault with the highest possibly accuracy. A fault-location function can be implemented into:
Fault locator is mainly the supplementary
microprocessor-based protective relays
protection equipment, which apply the fault-location
algorithms for estimating the distance to fault. digital fault recorders (DFRs)
When locating faults on the line consisting of more
than one section, i.e., in the case of a three-terminal stand-alone fault locators
or multi-terminal line, the faulted section has to be
post-fault analysis programs
identified and a fault on this section has to be located.

ABB Group ABB Group

March 26, 2012 | Slide 7 March 26, 2012 | Slide 8

Introduction Introduction
General division of fault location techniques:
Fault locators versus protective relays
technique based on fundamental-frequency currents
differences related to the following features: and voltages mainly on impedance measurement
accuracy of fault location technique based on traveling-wave phenomenon
speed of determining the fault position technique based on high-frequency components
of currents and voltages generated by faults
speed of transmitting data from remote site
knowledge-based approaches
used data window
unconventional techniques (fault indicators installed either in
digital filtering of input signals and complexity substations or on towers along the line; monitoring transients of
of calculations induced radiation from power-system arcing faults using both VLF
and VHF reception )
ABB Group ABB Group
March 26, 2012 | Slide 9 March 26, 2012 | Slide 10

Voltage & Current Measurement Chains

vp vs Matching Analogue v2(n)

VTs A/D
Voltage & Current Measurement POWER
Transformers Filters

Chains SYSTEM
ip CURRENT is Matching Analogue i2(n)
CTs
TRANSFORMERS A/D
Transformers Filters

ABB Group ABB Group

March 26, 2012 | Slide 11 March 26, 2012 | Slide 12
Voltage & Current Measurement Chains Voltage & Current Measurement Chains
HV
4
a b c
C1 3
LCR
Tr
CVT up 2

BURDEN
1

Voltage (105 V)
C2 ui A-FSC us
0

3
ip Rp Lp Rs' L's is'
ie 4
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
ir im R'2 Time (ms)
CT
Rm Lm CVT transformation under ag fault on
L'2
transmission line close to the relaying point
ABB Group ABB Group
March 26, 2012 | Slide 13 March 26, 2012 | Slide 14

Voltage & Current Measurement Chains

1.5
Primary and recalculated secondary currents (104 A)

0.5

0
is'
0.5 One-end Fault Location
1
ip
1.5

2
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time (ms)

Possibility of CT saturation under unfavorable conditions: presence of

d.c. component in primary current and remanent flux left in the core

ABB Group ABB Group

March 26, 2012 | Slide 15 March 26, 2012 | Slide 16

One-end Fault Location Error Sources One-end Fault Location Reactance Effect
Combined effect of fault resistance Rf and load
for ground faults - reactance effect A B

F
Incorrect fault-type identification

Mutual coupling

Line parameter uncertainty, especially zero sequence X B X B X B

R F#
RF#
F F RF# F
ZA ZB ZA_p
ZL ZA_p
ZA_p

Rf
A A A
R R R
Line Line
Relay Relay Pre-fault Pre-fault
No pre-fault power flow power flow
Fault power flow from A to B from B to A
Locator
 One-end Fault Location Algorithm Compensating
for Remote End Infeed Effect

A Line section length B

Fault distance

EA EB
First Stand Alone Numerical IA IF IB
ZSA p ZL ZSB
Fault Locator on Commercial Use RF
(1-p) ZL

Fault Locator

UA IApZL IFRF
IFA (1- p)ZL ZSB
where: IF DA
DA ZSA ZL ZSB

One-end Fault Location Algorithm Compensating One-end Fault Location Algorithm Compensating for
for Remote End Infeed Effect Remote End Infeed Effect Case of Parallel Lines

IFA ZL
UA IApZL RF
DA ZSA FL
ZOM
ZSB

IOAP
p pK1 K2 K3RF 0
2 p ZL (1-p) ZL

FL
UA Z RF
where: K1 1 SB
IAZL ZL P

UA ZSB
K2 1 IFA
IAZL ZL UA IApZL RF ZOMIOAP
DA
IFA ZSA ZSB (1- p)(ZSA ZSB ZL ) ZSB
K3 1 DA
IAZL ZL
where:
2ZSA 2ZSB ZL

One-end Fault Location Algorithm Compensating for One-end Fault Location Algorithm Compensating for
Remote End Infeed Effect Hardware Configuration Remote End Infeed Effect Field Results Experienced
Input signals from:
Line protection Measuring transformers Collection of I0 in
Trip Currents Voltages
Phase selection
parallel lines Installation Event Results
1) 2)
1 Sweden, 130 kV, 76 km P-E fault, July 1982 67.6 km
67.0 km (error 0.8%)
Relay input Input transformers
2 USA, 138 kV, 23.3 km Five staged faults on parallel Maximum error of 3%
lines, October 1983 (without compensat.)
Filter low pass
3 Spain, 400 kV, 135 km P-E fault, March 1984 Displayed in the
93 to 99% of line range 93 to 99%
Multiplexer
4 Italy, 380 kV, 88.5 km P-E fault, February 1984 16 % (no error)
Hold circuit
16% of line
5 Norway, 45 kV, 29.3 km P-P fault, December 1984 77% (error 0.5%)
Analog/digital converter 77% of line
6 Finland, 110 kV, 130 km P-E faults, June 1985 Displayed in the
78 to 90% of line range 78 to 90%
Micro processor Data and program memory
(error max 0.4%)
7 India, 400 kV, 236 km P-E faults, December 1987 (no error)
Peripheral interface adapter Parameter setting 76 to 78% of line

Led-indykator Telemeter output Printer output

 Optimization of One-end Fault Location

EA ZA A dZL (1d)ZL B ZB EB
F
{iA}
FL d
Optimization of One-end Fault {uA}
Location
Aim:
improving fault location accuracy by introducing
compensation for shunt capacitances
limiting influence of uncertain parameters on fault
location accuracy
to get simple formulae by applying generalized fault
loop model and fault model

Optimization of One-end Fault Location Optimization of One-end Fault Location

Symmetrical components approach appears as very
Generalized fault loop model:
effective technique for transposed lines and fault
location algorithm is formulated in terms of these U A_P d Z 1L I A_P RF ( a F1 I F1 a F2 I F2 a F0 I F0 ) 0
components (positive-, negative- and zero-sequence)

d, RF unknown distance to fault (p.u.) and fault resistance

V A 0 1 1 1 V Aa
1 UA_P , IA_P fault loop voltage and current (dependent on fault type)
V A1 3 1 a a 2 V Ab
Z1L line impedance for the positive-sequence
V A 2 1 a 2 a V Ac
IF1, IF2, IF0 symmetrical components of the ttotal fault current

aF1, aF2, aF0 weighting coefficients (dependent on fault type)

a exp(j 2 / 3)

Optimization of One-end Fault Location Optimization of One-end Fault Location

Fault loop voltage and current (in terms of symmetrical components):

Total fault current can be expressed as the weighted sum of

Fault loop voltage: U A_P a1U A1 a 2 U A2 a 0U A0 its symmetrical components:

Fault loop current Z 0L I F a F0 I F0 a F1 I F1 a F2 I F2

single line: I A_P a1 I A1 a 2 I A2 a 0 I A0
Z 1L
aF0, aF1, aF2 weighting coefficients (complex numbers),
Fault loop current parallel lines: dependent on fault type and the assumed priority for using
particular symmetrical components,
Z Z
I A_P a1 I AI1 a 2 I AI2 a 0 0LI I AI0 0m I AII0 IF0, IF1, IF2 zero-, positive- and negative-sequence
Z 1LI Z 1LI components of total fault current, which are to be calculated
or estimated
a1, a2, a0 share coefficients (dependent on fault type)
Optimization of One-end Fault Location Optimization of One-end Fault Location

Compensation for shunt capacitances of the line:

Fault location formula: '
d ( n ) Z iL A i
sh
IFi
sh
(1 d ( n ) ) Z iL B i( n1)
'

A IAi IAAi IBi

( n 1 )
F B
After resolving into
A 2 d A1d A 0 A 00 RF 0
2
real/imag parts the
comp
I Ai
unknowns: d, RF are UAi UFi UBi
determined
' th th
0.5d ( n 1) Y iL A i 0.5(1 d ( n 1) )Y iL B i( n1)
'
A 2 K 1 Z 1L ( n 1 )

A1 L 1 Z 1L K 1 Z A_P IFi

A 0 L1 Z A_P Z 0L comp
U A_P d( n) Z 1L a1 A1sh I comp a 2 A sh comp sh
2 ( n 1) I A2 a 0 A 0 ( n 1) I comp comp comp


( n1) A1 Z 1L A0 RF( n ) ( a F1 I F1 a F2 I F2 a F0 I F0 ) 0
(a F1 I A1 a F2 I A2 ) M 1
A 00 comp ' th
I A_P I A1 I A1 0.5d ( n 1) Y 1L A1 ( n 1 )
U A1
comp ' th
I A2 I A2 0.5d ( n 1 )
Y 2L A 2 ( n1 ) U A2
comp ' th
I A0 I A0 0.5d ( n 1) Y 0 L A 0 ( n 1 )
U A0

Optimization of One-end Fault Location

Example: 400kV, 300km line; a-g fault, d=0.8 pu, RF=10

No compensation With compensation

1
daver.=0.7806 p.u. 1
daver.=0.8032 p.u.
Fault Location on Parallel Lines
Distance to fault (p.u.)

Distance to fault (p.u.)

0.8 0.8
with measurements at one-end
0.6 0.6

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Fault time (ms) Fault time (ms)

Due to compensation the error decreases from 1.94% to 0.32%

Fault Location on Parallel Lines under Availability of Fault Location on Parallel Lines under Availability of
Complete Measurements at One End Complete Measurements at One End

BB
Traditional one-end FLs for parallel lines apply
AB
the following standard input signals:
IAB
phase voltages
phase currents from the faulted line
F zero-sequence current from the healthy line
(to compensate for the mutual coupling)
AA BA
IAA
Limitationss of the traditional one-end FLs:
FL d pre-fault measurements are required
VAA remote source impedance data has to be provided
 Two-end Fault Location

One-terminal methods have some limitations due to

necessity of taking simplifying assumptions

Two-Terminal methods give better results but require

communications
Two-end Fault Location Methods using Global Positioning Satellites (GPS)
- synchronized phasors from both ends
Methods requiring time-tagging of events
- no synchronized phasors
Low-speed communications needed for two-end fault
location
Analyze data from two ends at a third, more convenient site

Two-end Fault Location Synchronized Measurements Two-end Fault Location Unsynchronized Measurements

GPS
A B A B
d [p.u.] d [p.u.]
~ ~ ~ ~
RF RF

MUA MUB MUA MUB

FL FL
d, RF d, RF

Two-end Fault Location Unsynchronized Measurements Two-end Fault Location use of incomplete measurements

Need for phase alignment:

sampling interval FLT DETECTION AT "A" Use of incomplete two-end measurements:

tA
two-end currents and one-end voltage (2xI +1xV)
TB-A tA=0
FLT DETECTION AT "B"
tB
one-end current and two-end voltages (1xI +2xV)
tB=0 two-end voltages (2xV)

FLT
two-end currents (2xI)
t
tFLT t=tB=0 (1t)
t
()
Two-end Fault Location use of: 2xI +1xV Two-end Fault Location use of: 1xI +2xV

Fault location (FL) function added to current differential relay

Use of two-end synchronised measurements of three-phase Immunity of fault location to saturation of CTs at one line
currents and additionally providing the local three-phase voltage side is assured by rejecting currents from saturated CTs

A
A B
B
F dA Z L (1 d A ) Z L
dA Z L (1dA)Z L SATUR.

SYSTEM A SYSTEM B SYSTEM A SYSTEM B

F pre
IB
{iA} {IB} {IA} I A e j
DIFF
DIFF {iB} FL COMMUNICATION VB
RELA
{vA}
REL
B V A e j dA , RF
dA, RFA
FL

Three-end Fault Location

Use of measurements:
synchronized three-phase currents from all (A, B, C) ends
three-phase voltage at Fault Locator bus A
IA
PROTECTIVE
RELAY 'C'
Three-end & Multi-end Fault C
IB IC
Location
A
B

IA
IC T IC IB
PROTECTIVE
IB IA PROTECTIVE
RELAY 'A' RELAY 'B'
VA FL FL RESULTS

Solution Selection of faulted line section

Fault location algorithm consists of three subroutines General algorithm:
(SUB_A, SUB_B, SUB_C) and the procedure for selecting
the valid subroutine 1. Fault distance calculation assuming the fault
to be on the AT, TB or TC segment: 3 different
IC SUB_C C results
SYSTEM C 2. Selection procedure is based on checking the
dC
rejection conditions:
A SUB_A SUB_B
dA dB B fault occurring outside the section range
SYSTEM A SYSTEM B calculated fault resistance has negative value
T
IA
IB correctness of the estimated remote source
VA FL impedances
FL RESULTS
 Fault Location Example Fault Location Example (1)
IA PROTECTIVE
RELAY 'C' C a-g fault at the section TB, dB=0.6 p.u., RFC=0.3
FC IB IC C

SUB_B
A B
T
A B
1
FA FB 2

1.8 0.8

IC T IC IB 0.6
1.6
(dA)av=1.6933 (RFB)AV=0.3232

Distance to fault [p.u.]

IA IB IA PROTECTIVE

Fault resistance []
PROTECTIVE 1.4 0.4
RELAY 'A' RELAY 'B'
1.2 0.2
VA FL RESULTS
FL 1 0

0.8
(dC)av=0.6726 -0.2
Network parameters: 0.6 -0.4 (RFC)AV= 0.6721
' '
Line: Z 1L (0.0276 j0.3151), Z 0 L (0.275 j1.0265) (/km) 0.4
(dB)av=0.6042
-0.6

C1L 0.012 F/km C0 L 0.008 F/km 0.2

-0.8

-1

System A: Z 1SA (0.65125 + j3.693) , Z 0SA (1.159 + j6.5735)

0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50
Post fault time [ms]
60
Post fault time [ms]

System B: Z iSB = 2Z iSA

System C: Z iSB = 3Z iSA SUB_B is selected as valid one

Four-end Fault Location

Use of measurements:
synchronized three-phase currents from all (A, B, C, D) ends
three-phase voltage at Fault Locator bus A
SYSTEM C

SYSTEM D

Fault Location in Distribution

(Medium Voltage) Networks

Introduction Issues for Distribution Networks

Network grounding
Fault location in MV networks differs from that in HV/EHV ungrounded networks
transmission lines
Petersons coil
When a current of a faulty line is not directly available in the
FL, certain error is introduced when assumed the current at resistance grounded
the substation Lack of measured data for tapped loads
MV line may be multi-terminal and/or contain loops what fault on a main or on a tap?
creates problem in single ended fault location Unbalanced network configuration and load
In the case of MV line, there are often loads located between Dynamic change in a network configuration
fault point and the busbar. Since the loads change and are
unknown to the FL it is difficult to compensate of them Change in conductor impedance
Multiple faults
Algorithm Structure Fault-Loop Impedance Measurement
Z1
Digital Fault Recorder
or
EMTP/ATP simulator Z2
currents voltages

Zk
Estimation of the
impedance
I kA
impedance
I k I kB
Which feeder
I kC
Estimation of the short-circuited? V kA Zm
distance Information from
relays and/or CBs V k V kB
distance V kC

Impedance Measured at the Faulty Feeder Distance to Fault Estimation

Phase-phase fault loop:

V pp I kpp I kA I kB Equivalent diagram of the cable segment with fault:
Zk
I kpp V pp V A V B lfk-1 Zsk-1 (1-lfk-1 )Zsk-1
k-1 k
Phase-ground fault loop:
Z 0 Z1
V ph k kN Rf
Zk 3Z 1
I kph k kN I kN Zpk-1 Zpk
I kN I kA I kB I kC

Z 0 , Z 1 Fault-loop impedances for fault at the considered node

Scheme of the Considered Network

150 kV/10 kV

HV LV
Zsys IL

EMTP/ATP simulation with an Vsys IS

Utility Network
VS

Rg Rtg
Substation
grounding
Scheme of Distribution Network Distance to Fault Calculation from the Recorded Data

Idea of the feeder model representation: Current measured at the faulty feeder: Feeder 2.08

No File Fault type Estimated Distance

equivalent a equivalent b grounding system
connection
to Fault, m
7
1 97031400.MAT A-B GAMR-RURW - 8867 m
5 6
GAMR-BJCG - 8935 m
1 2 3 4
2 97031401.MAT A-B BETR-GAMR - 8491 m
9 8
10
16 17 18 19 3 97031402.MAT A-B GAMR-RURW - 8880 m
12 GAMR-BJCG - 8918 m
11
20
4 97031403.MAT A-G GAMR-RURW - 8780 m
14
GAMR-BJCG - 8776 m
13 21
15 5 97031404.MAT A-G BETR-GAMR - 8431 m
equivalent c equivalent d equivalent e

Actual fault at 8999 m

Distance to Fault Calculation from the Recorded Data

Current measured at the substation: Feeder 2.08

No File Fault type Estimated Distance

to Fault, m
1 97031400.MAT A-B GAMR-RURW - 8854 m
Comparison of EMTP/ATP simulation
GAMR-BJCG - 8762 m with recorded Stage Fault
2 97031401.MAT A-B GAMR-RURW - 8745 m
GAMR-BJCG - 8755 m
3 97031402.MAT A-G GAMR-RURW - 8776 m
GAMR-BJCG - 8772 m
4 97031403.MAT A-G GAMR-RURW - 8897 m
GAMR-BJCG - 8889 m

Actual fault at 8999 m

EMTP Simulation: Comparison with Recorded Stage Fault EMTP Simulation: Comparison with Recorded Stage Fault
 Conlusions Benefits of Fault Location

Quick elimination of permanent fault to:

minimize outage time
facilitate service and maintenance
minimize production losses
Conclusions reduce cost

Pinpointing of weak spots due to temporary

fault to:
assist patrol in finding excessive tree growth
allow rapid arrival at the site of vandalism

Conclusions
Accurate fault location is key to improved operations and
lower maintenance cost
Selection of a fault location method depends on network
configuration, communications, and requirements
One-terminal methods have limited accuracy
Two-terminal methods give higher accuracy
Analysis at convenient site using data from existing P
devices
The fault location algorithm can easily be expanded to cover
lines with three-terminals and even more
Fault location algorithm for Medium Voltage Network is
based on voltage and current phasor estimation. The
algorithm was investigated and proved on the basis of
voltage and current data obtained from EMTP/ATP
simulations as well as recorded at DFR experiences

Fault Location On Power Networks

Fault Location on Power Lines enables readers to pinpoint the
location of a fault on power lines following a disturbance.
The nine chapters are organised according to the design of
different locators. The authors have compiled detailed
information to allow for in-depth comparison.
Fault Location on Power Lines describes basic algorithms
used in fault locators, focusing on fault location on overhead
transmission lines, but also covering fault location in
distribution networks.
Fault Location on Power Networks An application of artificial intelligence in this field is also
Book Series Power Systems presented, to help the reader to understand all aspects of fault
ISSN 1612-1287 location on overhead lines, including both the design and
Publisher Springer London application standpoints.
DOI 10.1007/978-1-84882-886-5 Professional engineers, researchers, and postgraduate and
undergraduate students will find Fault Location on Power
Copyright 2010 Lines a valuable resource, which enables them to reproduce
ISBN 978-1-84882-885-8 (Print) 978-1-84882-886-5 (Online) complete algorithms of digital fault locators in their basic
forms.
Table of Contents

1. Fault Location - Basic Concepts and Characteristic of

Methods
2. Network Configurations and Models
3. Power-line Faults - Models and Analysis
4. Signal Processing for Fault Location
5. Measurement Chains of Fault Locators
6. One-end Impedance-based Fault-location Algorithms
7. Two-end and Multi-end Fault-location Algorithms
8. Fault Location in Distribution Networks
9. Artificial Intelligence Application
References (352)