2013 International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy, Information and Communication (ICCPEIC)
A Two Stage Fault Location Algorithm for Locating
Faults on Transmission Lines
G.Dineshkumar,
Abstract - A continuous and reliable electrical energy supply
is the objective of any power system operation. Electricity is the
driving force behind industry and subsequently economy. There
are various types of faults appear in power system. Faults can
appear due to bad weather conditions, equipment damage,
equipment failure, environment changes and many
reasons. Any occurrence of a fault should be detected and
cleared by the protective relaying devices. Fast and accurate
fault location is a key task for accelerating system restoration,
reducing outage times, and hence, improving system reliability.
The aim of this project is to develop a two stage fault location
algorithm that can determine the distance to the fault. The
proposed two-stage fault-location algorithm is applicable for
transposed and untransposed transmission lines
independent of the fault resistance and source impedances. The
synchronization angle is determined by using Newton-Raphson
method. The maximum error reached from this algorithm is
less than: 0.18% for LG faults, 0.20% for LL faults, and 0.26%
for LLG faults.
Index Terms Fault location, Transmission
unsynchronized phasor measurements, Newton-Raphson
method.
I. INTRODUCTION
Power system consists of generation, transmISSIOn and
distribution of electric energy. Transmission lines are used to
transmit electric power to large load centers. The rapid
growth of electric power systems over the past few decades
has resulted in a large increase of the number of lines in
operation and their total length [7]. These lines are exposed
to faults as a result of lightning, short circuits, faulty
equipment's, disoperation, human errors, overload, and
aging. When a fault occurs on a transmission line, the
voltage at the point of fault suddenly reduces to a low value.
An important objective of all the power systems is to
maintain a very high level of continuity of service and when
abnormal conditions occur, to minimize the outage times [3].
G.Dineshkumar, PG Scholar, Department of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering, K.S.Rangasamy College of Technology, Namakkal(D.t), India-
637215. e-mail: dineshg333@gmail.com.
Dr.S.Thangavel, Professor and Head, Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology,
Namakkal(D.t), India-637215.
e-mail: hodeee@ksrct.ac.in.
[t is practically impossible to avoid consequences of natural
events, physical accidents, and equipment failure or miss
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12
Dr.S.Thangavel
operation which results in the loss of power, voltage dips on
the power system [8]. Natural events can cause short circuits
i.e. faults which can either be single phase to ground or
phase to phase or phase to phase to ground or a three phase
fault. Most faults in an electrical system occur with a
other
network of overhead lines are single-phase to ground faults
caused due to lightning induced transient high voltage and
from falling trees. [n the overhead lines, tree contact caused
by wind is a major cause for faults [10]. The appropriate
percentages of occurrences various faults are listed below:
Single line to ground fault 70-80%
and is
Line-Line to ground fault 10-17%
Line-Line fault 8-10%
Three phase fault 2-3%
Generation, Transmission and Distribution are three main
stages in power system. Among these the performance and
lines, maintenance of transmission play an important role in the
field of power system. Analysis of fault is very important for
the stable operation power system. A variety of fault-location
algorithms has been developed in the past. Depending on the
availability of the fault locator input data, these algorithms
can be categorized into three groups: one terminal, two­
terminal, and multi terminal algorithms [2].One-terminal
algorithms utilize only local data, which makes them
appropriate for implementation in stand-alone devices and
numerical relays. However, the accuracy of these algorithms
is adversely affected by the fault type, fault resistance, and
source impedances, although certain assumptions may be
used to compensate for the errors introduced by these factors.
Two-terminal algorithms [1]-[5] employ measurements at
both ends of a transmission line and, thus, a larger amount of
information is available, which makes their performance
superior in comparison to one-terminal algorithms. The two
terminal algorithms are divided into two categories: Using
synchronized measurements if the global positioning system
(GPS) is available, those using unsynchronized
measurements if the signal from the GPS gets lost and there
is no common time reference between measurements [4].
II. LUMPED TRANSMISSION LINE MODEL
The lumped parameter model was a n-equivalent circuit
which incorporates shunt resistive and capacitive elements
along with series resistive and inductive elements. To
develop the lumped model equation can be put in the
following form:
(1)
2013 International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy, Information and Communication (ICCPEIC) 13

(2)
Solving for the components Z I and � yields:
where, 2

Z'=Zcsinh(yl) (IS)
A=cosh(yl) (3)

B=Zcsinh(yl) (4) III. FAULT LOCAT[ON ALGOR[THM

C=-sinh(yl) (5) The algorithm uses a two-stage approach to determine the

Zc
distance to fault. [n the first stage, a lumped parameter line
D=cosh(yl) (6) model with neglecting shunt capacitance is considered and
calculations are performed to obtain an initial estimate for
The lumped transmission line model holds the appropriate the fault location and the synchronization angle. [n the
terminal behavior in equation with lumped circuit elements. second stage, these values are used as starting points of an
A n-equivalent circuit for lumped model is shown in the iterative process, where the line shunt capacitance effects are
fig.I. taken into consideration.

A. Basic Concepts ofFault Location Algorithm

The proposed fault-location scheme on a two-terminal

+ + transmission line SR is shown schematically in fig.2. At both
line ends (SR), there are current and voltage transformers
(CTs and VTs) which provide the transformed voltage and
current signals to the measurement units (MUs). Digital
Y'/2 measurements are performed in these units for determining
the fundamental frequency phasor of the three-phase
voltages and currents.

Line length 300 Km

Fig.l . Lumped parameter n-equivalents transmission line

The effects of the distribution of impedance across the line

are lumped together in quantities of ohms. Utilization of source
Kirchoff's voltage (KVL) and current (KCL) laws to the Busi Bus2
lumped parameter circuit yield the following results. L02ld
Fig.2. Single line diagram of transmission line model
(7)

( )
These measurements are transmitted to the fault locator
Z'Y'
= 1+-- V2 + Z' [2 (8) (FL), which is regarded as a stand-alone device, via
2 communication links upon the occurrence of a fault. It is
noted that there is no GPS control of the digital
(9) measurements performed at the two line ends. From the
figA. the following notations are adopted.

=Y'
( 1+ """"4) V1 + ( 1+ -- ) 11
Z'Y' Z'Y'
(10)
2
(16)

Comparing (8) and (10) allows the quantification of the A, (17)

B, C, and D parameters for the lumped equivalent circuit.

A=
( 1+--')
z'Y
(II)
2

B=Z' (12)

C=Y'
( 1+ � ') ZY
(13)
Fig.3. Lumped PI model of a three phase line
(
D= 1+--
') z'Y
(14)
2

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2013 International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy, Information and Communication (ICCPEIC) 14

In case of unsymmetrical fault types, one solution for the

synchronization angle is close to zero, while the others
laying quite far from zero can be rejected or characterized as
unrealistic if the corresponding fault location out of the range
of (0,I) p.u. In case of symmetric three-phase fau Its, it may
occur that two solutions exist which are both close to zero
and to each other and both seem to be realistic. In this case,
an initial guess of zero for may lead to a feasible but not
valid solution for the synchronization angle.

C. Fault Location Algorithm Stage-2

FigA. Transmission line model in post fault
In the first stage of the algorithm, the obtained results for
The symmetric phase impedance matrix is given by,
the synchronization angle and the distance to fault are not so
accurate due to the fact that the line shunt capacitance is
neglected. Therefore, utilizing these results as initial guess
(18)
values for the calculations considering the effects of shunt
capacitance of them line have been proposed. This can be
accomplished by neglecting the mutual capacitance between
The symmetric phase shunt admittance matrix is given by,
phases in the line and rewriting the shunt admittance matrix
in the following form:
(19)
[Yo� Yb
0

From the figA.

[YSR] =
0 �l
Let us define F(X) as a function vector composed of the
(25)

following two functions.

(20)
F J(X)=Re(f(X)) (26)
where,
o - Synchronization angle.
F2(X)=lm(f(X)) (27)
where,
The voltage at fault point F is,
X=[d,o]T (28)
(21)
Then the two unknown variables can be obtained by utilizing
B. Fault Location Algorithm Stage-l
the Newton- Raphson approach.
Xy+1 = Xy + �Xy (29)
In the first stage, a lumped parameter line model with
neglecting shunt capacitance is considered and calculations
(30)
are performed to obtain an initial estimate for the fault
location and the synchronization angle. In the initial stage of
the presented fault-location algorithm, the shunt parameters _aF(Xv)
of the transmission line are not considered. J(Xy) (31)
ax
(22) where,
Xv, XV+l = Variable vector at /hiteration.
Then, the synchronization angle can be determined by using V=O, 1, 2= Iteration number.
the well-known Netwon-Raphson method. J(Xy)= Jacobian matrix at the /h iteration.

(23) The iterative process can be terminated when the variable

update is less than the specified tolerance.
The iterations are terminated when the correction is
Smaller than the specified tolerance. IV. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

The expression of above equation is, The different types of faults with different fault locations
have been simulated to test the accuracy of the proposed
d:�)=2al cos(2o)-2b1 sin(2o)+a2cos(o)-b2sin(o) (24) algorithm, which employs only the postfault positive- and
negative-sequence voltages and currents in stage-l and

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2013 International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy, Information and Communication (ICCPEIC) 15

consider the impacts of line shunt capacitances in stage-2 in

order to compare the obtained results.
I I
Ph".'·
"
pOl'l1:f."

Q: �l : :: : �
l""'l;1i
lIree�astS��1

p!1lI!rgui

D>-<U
lIr1..Phm
U c�c ..
1Ir!Hl
. .•

PI Sedionnel ijL�,iin . ;.

Mtrtuall!!liidaMl!
�
r1e·"S1Faul
mN
ill
11-12

Fig.6. Transmission line model with shunt capacitance

The fig.6. represents the simulation model of transmission

Three·rMsefaull
Fig.5. Transmission line model without shunt capacitance
The fig.5. represents the simulation model of transmission
line without line shunt capacitance. The three phase source
block implements a balanced three-phase voltage source with
internal R-L impedance. Here specify the source internal
resistance and inductance either directly by entering R and L
values or indirectly by specifying the source inductive short­
circuit level and X/R ratio. The three phase mutual
inductance block implements a three-phase balanced
inductive and resistive impedance with mutual coupling
between phases. This block performs the same function as
the three-winding mutual inductance block. For three-phase
balanced power systems, it provides a more convenient way
of entering system parameters in terms of positive- and zero­
sequence resistances and inductances than the self- and
mutual resistances and inductances.
The three phase V-I measurement block is used to measure
instantaneous three-phase voltages and currents in a circuit.
When connected in series with three-phase elements, it
returns the three phase-to-ground or phase-to-phase peak
voltages and currents. The block can output the voltages and
currents in per unit (p.u) values or in volts and amperes. If
measure phase to ground voltages in per unit, the block
converts the measured voltages based on peak value of
nominal phase to ground voltage. The three phase PI section
Line block implements a balanced three-phase transmission
line model with parameters lumped in a PI section.
line with line shunt capacitance. The shunt capacitor block
models described in terms of its frequency-dependent S­
parameters. The Three-Phase Fault block uses three Breaker
blocks that can be individually switched on and off to
program phase-to-phase faults, phase-to-ground faults, or a
combination of phase-to-phase and ground faults.
A. Selection a/Line Parameters
The line parameters obtained from IEEE Std.C37.114-2004,
IEEE Guide for Determining Fault Location on AC
Transmission and Distribution Lines. It consisting of three
unique sets of modal quantities and the modal transformation
matrix and the equivalent systems at the line terminals. The
simulation of faults in a power network containing a
parameters of 400-kV, 300-km single-circuit transposed
transmission line. To simulate the synchronization error, the
phasor at terminal R have been rotated by 10 (0.1745
radians) in all cases. In order to show the errors of the
presented method itself, the CTs and VTs located at each line
terminal have been intentionally modeled as ideal
transforming devices.
TABLE I
PARAMETERS OF THE 400kV,50Hz TRANSMISSION
NETWORK
COMPONENT PARAMETER
L 300km
ZOL (0.314-+:i 1.0041)o/km

COL 2.4916J.lF/km

Line SR ZIL (0.0247+jO.3189)Olkm

CIL 3.6128J.lF/km

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2013 International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy, Information and Communication (ICCPEIC) 16

Z2L (0.0239+j0.2604)Olkm
C. Line to Line Fault
C2L 4.3040 /IFIkm
Consider, phase-'a' to phase-'b' fault is selected to estimate
Equivalent Z,s (1.312+j15)0 the fault locations at different conditions and it is tabulated
to compare the deviation from the actual value using two
System at tenninal Zos (2.334+j26.6)0 stage fault location algorithm. The algorithm reaches
S
convergence within six iterations at the first stage, while at
Es 1.00+jO p.u
the second stage, a maximum number of three iterations is
required, which manifests that fast convergence can be
Equivalent Z'R (2.624+j30)0
achieved.
System at tenninal ZOR (4.668+j53.2)0
TABLE III
R
ER 0.99 p.u
FAULT LOCATION ESTIMATION FOR LINE TO LINE FAULT

IEEE Std.C37.114-2004: IEEE Guide for Determining A.ctual fauIt Estimated fault location (p.u) Error
Fault Location on AC Transmission and Distribution Lines.
The signals are sampled at 1000 Hz and the Fourier ocation(p.u) (%)
Stage-I Stage-2
transform is applied to extract the voltage and current phasor.
The continuous prefault and postfault phasor data are singled
by averaging them within an interval of one cycle, just
preceding the fault, for prefault data and within an interval
0.2 0.l59481 0.l62001 0.0126
(3-5) cycles, after the fault inception, for postfault data.
0.4 0.463617 0.458371 0.0194
B. Single Line to Ground Fault

0.6 0.677872 0.68189 0.0272

Consider, phase-'a' to ground fault is selected to estimate
the fault locations at different conditions and it is tabulated to
0.8 0.760335 0.768079 0.0106
compare the deviation from the actual value using two stage
fault location algorithm. The fault resistance Rr is IOn. The
algorithm reaches convergence within six iterations at the
first stage, while at the second stage, a maximum number of It is observed that by applying the second stage of the
three iterations is required, which manifests that fast fault location algorithm and accounting for the line shunt
convergence can be achieved. It is observed that by applying capacitance, considerable improvement of accuracy is
the second stage of the fault location algorithm and achieved for the fault-location estimation.
accounting for the line shunt capacitance, considerable
improvement of accuracy is achieved for the fault-location D. Double Line to Ground Fault
estimation.
Consider, phase-'a' to phase-'b' to ground fault is selected
TABLE II to estimate the fault locations at different conditions and it is
FAULT LOCATION ESTIMATION FOR SINGLE LINE TO GROUND
tabulated to compare the deviation from the actual value
FAULT using two stage fault location algorithm. The algorithm
reaches convergence within six iterations at the first stage,
while at the second stage, a maximum number of three
Actual Estimated fault location (p.u) Error iterations is required, which manifests that fast convergence
fault can be achieved.
location (%)
(p.u) TABLE IV
Stage-l Stage-2
FAULT LOCATION ESTIMATION FOR DOUBLE LINE TO GROUND
0.2 0.162935 0.165938 0.011354 FAULT

0.4 0.446297 0.430381 0.010127

Actual fault Estimated fault location Error
0.6 0.678079 0.681906 0.027302 location(p.u) (p.u)
(%)
0.8 0.760328 0.767558 0.010814 Stage-l Stage-2

0.2 0.160553 0.163929 0.012023

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2013 International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy, Information and Communication (ICCPEIC)
0.4 0.450816 0.448609 0.016203
0.6 0.678019 0.681906 0.027302
0.8 0.760396 0.767704 0.010765
It is observed that by applying the second stage of the fault
location algorithm and accounting for the line shunt
capacitance, considerable improvement of accuracy is
achieved for the fault-location estimation.
V. CONCLUSION
This project shows that it is possible to develop fault­
location algorithms by utilizing unsynchronized voltage and
current measurements from both ends of the line without
requiring line parameters based on the lumped parameter
line model. The proposed two stage fault location algorithm
gives highly accurate response under various fault conditions
and very fast convergence for iterative calculations. This
algorithm independent of fault resistance and source
impedance. The proposed fault location algorithm may be a
better choice especially for the untransposed transmission
lines. The results obtained from the first stage are used as the
starting values for the second stage of iterative calculations.
In the second stage of the algorithm accounting the line
shunt capacitance, considerable improvement of accuracy is
achieved for the fault location estimation.
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ISBN: 978-1-4673-6408-9/13/$31.001020 l3lEEE
17
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