Fault locator with 2 ended

measurement

Power Transmission
and Distribution

©
Siemens AG 2006
Fault Locator: Load and Fault Resistance

ILoad
ZLA ZLB VA VB

IA IB
VA RF VB IA
IB

Due to load current there is an angular = IA+IB - IA

displacement between the voltages. This angle
X
and possible differences in the source
impedance angle cause the angular displacement UARC/ISC1
between current IA and IB. As a result, the voltage 1 + k0
drop accross RF is affected by this angle between ZL1
the currents.

The single ended measurement cannot

compensate for this. R

Siemens AG 2006
©

Seite 2 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
 Fault Locator: 2 ended with transmission line equation

IA RL XL RL XL IB

CL CL CL CL
RL XL CL
VA RF VB
are distributed
positive sequence
VA
VB line resistance,
inductance and
capacitance
VRF

Based on measured positive sequence voltage and current from both line ends, the
positive sequence voltage drop along the line upto the fault location is calculated. At
the fault location the calculated voltages from end A and end B are equal.

Data from both ends are required for the computation.

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 3 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Fault Locator: 2 ended with transmission line equation

IA R’ X’ R’ X’ IB

C’ C’
R’ X’ C’
VA RF VB
are positive
sequence line
VA
VB resistance,
inductance and
capacitance
V(x) per km
VRF
x
V  x   V A  cosh   x   Z  I A sinh   x 
R ' jL' characteristi
   R' jL'  jC ' Propagation Z
jC ' c
constant
impedance
©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 4 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Fault Locator: comparison of results from both line ends

IA R’ X’ R’ X’ IB

C’ C’ The measured
VA RF VB current and
voltage signals at
end A and B are
VA transmitted via
VB communication
interface and then
synchronised at
VA(x) VB(y) each line end.
VRF
x y

  x, y   V A   x   V B  y  ideally :   x, y   0

By minimising the error ε the fault location (x,y) is obtained

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 5 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Fault Locator: multiple feeder sections

cable OHL cable

R’ X’ C’
IA R c ’ Xc ’ R’OHL X’OHL Rc’ Xc’ line/cable
IB
resistance,
Cc’ C’OHL Cc ’ inductance and
VA VB capacitance
per km for each
line section must
be set
VA RF
VB

V(x) VRF
x
©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 6 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Fault Locator: Non-symmetrical and Non-transposed
lines

L1 L1
d
d
L2 L3 d L2
L1 L2 L3
L3

dA dA dA

Non-symmetrical Symmetrical

The coupling impedances of the three phases are not

the same. By defining the centre conductor (in this
case L2), the impedance non-symmetry can be
considered in the calculation of the voltage profile.
©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 7 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Fault Locator: advantage of 2 ended method

 The measurement is not dependant on zero

sequence system data (XE/XL, RE/RL etc.)
 Fault resistance and load current do not affect the
accuracy
 Coupling of parallel lines only has a negligible effect
on the measurement
 Fault location accuracy is also achieved on non-
symmetrical and non-transposed lines

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 8 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Example: Single and 2 end fault locator –
Influence of load current and fault resistance

ILoad
ZLA ZLB

IA IB
VA RF VB

RF = 30 Ohm
ILoad = 300 A (10° between sources)
ZLA = ZLB = 2 + j15 Ohm (fault at 50%)
Line length = 100 km

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 9 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Measured single end fault location (L1-G with fault
resistance 30 Ohm and load current 300 A)

Z line
Single end
measurement from end
Error + 14 km B 64%
19,2
Fault
location 50
km = 50% 12,8
Error -7 km 43%
Single end
measurement
from end A

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 10 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Measured 2 end fault location (L1-G with fault
resistance 30 Ohm and load current 300 A)

Measuring error
due to load and
fault resistance is
eliminated

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 11 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Example: Single and 2 end fault locator –
Influence parallel line (mutual coupling of zero
sequence)

ILoad
VA ZLA ZLB

ZM0

ZLP

ZM0 = 15 + j100
ILoad = 300 A (10° between sources)
ZLA = ZLB = 2 + j15 Ohm (fault at 50%)
Line length = 100 km

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 12 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Measured single end fault location (L1-G with zero
sequence mutual impedance of parallel line)

Z line
Error + 27 km 77% Single end
measurement
from end B
Fault location
50 km = 50%

Error -9 km
Single end
measurement
41%
from end A

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 13 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution
Measured 2 end fault location (L1-G with fault
resistance 30 Ohm and load current 300 A)

Measuring error
due to zero
sequence mutual
coupling is
eliminated

©
Siemens AG 2006
Seite 14 Fault locator with 2 ended measurement Power Transmission and Distribution