Adaptive distance relay setting for series compensated line

•Adaptive distance relay setting for fixed series compensated line is proposed.•Impedance across series compensation and MOV is calculated in an iterative way.•Influence of fault resistance on trip boundary is compensation using active power calculation.•The influence of shunt capacitance effect is considered in the algorithm.•Local end informations are used for adaptive setting.

Distance relay protecting series compensated line has limitations with metal oxide varistor (MOV) operation, prefault system condition, high resistance fault and shunt capacitance. This paper proposes an adaptive first-zone distance protection scheme for line with fixed series compensation connected at one end using local measurements. Impedance offered by series capacitor and MOV combination is estimated using relay end fault current. The method has ability to compensate the error due to high resistance fault. The technique is tested for different system operating condition, level of compensation and fault resistance of a 400 kV series compensated line and simulated through EMTDC/PSCAD. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.