University of Brasília (UnB)

Electrical Systems Protection Laboratory (LAPSE)

Using Current Traveling Waves to Implement

Directional Elements in Parallel Lines
Fernando Marinho de Magalhães Júnior (UnB/LAPSE)
Bruno Carlos Ribeiro Monteiro (UnB/LAPSE)
Felipe Vigolvino Lopes, D. Sc. (UnB/LAPSE)

November, 2017 Workshop on Communication Networks and Power Systems - 2017

Introduction UnB/LAPSE

Goals of the Work

• Propose a new traveling wave-based directional element using only
current signals for parallel lines
 The classification of the fault in forward or reverse can improve the
performance of other protection schemes and accelerate the trip
decision without compromising the protection security.
 By not using voltage traveling waves, the method ensure an
adequate operation, hence the coupling capacitor voltage
transformer (CCVT) does not accurately reproduce high frequency
signals in its secondary windings.
 By using a communication channel that does not need to be
syncronized, identify the faults as internal or external.
 In case of internal faults, identify the faulty line.
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Traveling Waves in Parallel Lines UnB/LAPSE

Internal Faults
• Positive Refraction Coefficients
• Measured current traveling waves will have different polarities in
each terminal indicating a forward fault for both terminals.

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Traveling Waves in Parallel Lines UnB/LAPSE

External Faults
• Positive Refraction Coefficients
 Measured current traveling waves will have same polarities in
terminal M indicating a reverse fault.

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Traveling Waves in Parallel Lines UnB/LAPSE

External Faults
• Positive Refraction Coefficients - Specific Case
 Measured current traveling waves will have different polarities
in terminal N, likewise the traditional directional elements.
 If both lines have the same propagation velocity and same
lengths, a reverse fault would be identified.

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Algorithm Description UnB/LAPSE

Considerations
• Detection of Forward and Internal Faults
 The method always works adequately for internal faults.
 For external faults, in a specific but common case, the method
could indicate a reverse fault instead of a forward fault.
 For this reason, the proposed method can be only used to
accelerate trip decision and can not be used to block trip
decision.
 The proposed algorithm was elaborated to detect forward faults
and internal faults, by using a communications channel.

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Algorithm Description UnB/LAPSE

Obtaining Current Traveling Waves

• Clarke´s Transformation Referenced to Each Phase
 Alpha and Beta components were used.

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Algorithm Description UnB/LAPSE

Obtaining Current Traveling Waves

• Differentiator-Smoother filter
 Extraction of aerial mode of current traveling waves.

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Algorithm Description UnB/LAPSE

Obtaining the Directionality

 • Product of the Measured Current Traveling Waves
• For each aerial mode component in each terminal, the following
product is applied:

Where is the product obtained, is the aerial mode component for

one of the parallel lines (line 1) and is the aerial mode component
for the other parallel line (line 2).

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Algorithm Description UnB/LAPSE

Detection of Forward and Internal Fault

 • Threshold
 A positive threshold is applied in .
 If it is exceeded, then a forward fault is detected.
• Detection of internal fault
 If a forward fault is obtained in both lines, then a internal fault is
detected.
 If , then line 1 is the faulty line.
 If , then line 2 is the faulty line.

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Evaluation UnB/LAPSE

Simulation
• Simulated System
 Proposed by IEEE Power System Relaying Commitee, which
considers a coupled parallel line, with transposition cycles.
 IEEE Power System Relaying Commitee, “EMTP Reference
Models for Transmission Relay Testing,” [S.1], 2004, available in
http://pes-psrc.org/Reports/EMTP%20REf%20Model-Final.pdf
• Simulations on Alternative Transients Program
 Internal Phase A-Ground Fault.
 External Downstream Phase-A-Ground Fault.

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Evaluation UnB/LAPSE

Results of the Simulations

• Internal Phase A-Ground Fault
 Only aerial alpha component referenced to phase A is shown, as
it demonstrates the operation of the method.

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Evaluation UnB/LAPSE

Results of the Simulations

• External Downstream Phase A-Ground Fault
 Only aerial alpha component referenced to phase A is shown, as
it demonstrates the operation of the method.

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Conclusion UnB/LAPSE

Result
• The presented traveling wave-based directional element has shown
a good performance in analyzed fault scenarios, being able to
correctly indicate forward faults without the use of voltage signals
• By using directional elements at both line ends, internal faults can
also be correctly detected.
• In case of internal faults, the faulty line com be identified by analysis
of the traveling waves´ amplitude.

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 University of Brasília (UnB)
Electrical Systems Protection Laboratory (LAPSE)

Thank you!
Fernando Marinho de Bruno Carlos Ribeiro Felipe Vigolvino Lopes, D. Sc.
Magalhães Júnior (UnB/LAPSE) Monteiro (UnB/LAPSE) (UnB/LAPSE)
fernandomarinho@aneel.gov.br brunomonteiro@gmail.com felipevlopes@unb.br

November, 2017 Workshop on Communication Networks and Power Systems - 2017