One-end fault location method for untransposed four-circuit transmission lines

This paper presents a fault location method suitable for untransposed four-circuit parallel transmission lines using the data available at one end of the line. The proposed method employs an accurate distributed parameter line model that fully accounts for mutual coupling between all the lines and shunt capacitance effects. The fault location algorithms are developed in phase-components, one for the case where the fault is in any one of the circuits, the second for the case where the fault involves any two circuits and the third for the case where the fault involves more than two circuits. The proposed method is tested using the transient data obtained by simulating a 500-kV four-circuit overhead transmission line under different fault conditions. The simulations are done using the software "DIgSILENT PoweFactory". Results obtained indicate that the method is capable of estimating the fault distance with high accuracy for various fault conditions. Also the robustness of the fault location method is investigated. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.