Application of a distance relaying scheme to compensate fault location errors due to fault resistance

This paper proposes a distance relaying scheme based on the current phase jump behavior during fault conditions to improve the apparent impedance estimated by the distance relay. For a nonpilot protection scheme, the measured impedance is affected by error due to the combined effects of fault resistance and prefault load. An experimental relation between the current phase jump introduced with fault inception and the X/R ratio seen by the distance protection is deduced. The phase jump correction factor obtained is an exponential function of the X/R ratio of the line. This factor is applied to the apparent impedance measured by the relay and it allows mitigating the adverse effect of prefault power. The relaying scheme improves significantly the accuracy in estimation of the resistive fault location. The application of this scheme does not require communication links from the remote end of line and is applicable to all types of fault.

► A distance relaying scheme based on the current phase jump during fault conditions is proposed.
► Relation between the current phase jump and the X/R ratio seen by the distance protection is deduced.
► Proposed scheme allows mitigating the adverse effect of fault resistance and prefault power.
► Improvement of estimated apparent impedance in comparison with conventional distance algorithms.