Lightning position localization in transmission line by traveling wave method with iterative correction for multiple reflected waves

• Published in: Electric power systems research Vol. 244; p. 111545
• Main Authors: Fuqiang, Tian, Yudi, Li, Yufeng, Yin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2025
• Subjects: Fault location; Lightning strike; Transmission line; Traveling wave; Wave propagation characteristic; Fault location; Wave propagation characteristic; Traveling wave; Transmission line; Lightning strike
• ISSN: 0378-7796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epsr.2025.111545

•Travelling wave localization method for lightning faults.•Adaptive iterative method for fault localization.•Simultaneous calculation of the total length of the transmission line and the fault location.•No need to re-model taking into account material properties. The rapid localization of lightning faults helps to reduce the economic losses caused by lightning strikes. The traveling wave localization method is widely utilized for fault localization in transmission lines due to its advantages of better detection, localization, and analysis of faults. Based on the characteristics of high lightning energy and long impact time, we propose a new localization method. The method will monitor the arrival moments of multiple reflected waves to find the time required for each traveling wave journey, and then find the equivalent wave speed of the segment. Eventually, the equivalent wave speed and line length that satisfy the condition constraints are obtained using an iterative approach to determine the fault location further. Compared with the traditional method, this method takes into account the traveling wave front dispersion and the error effect brought by the line length, which helps to improve the localization accuracy further. By using PSCAD simulation software, simulation analyses were carried out for different fault distances, different total line lengths and lightning strikes on parallel lines. The fault location error of this method is finally verified to be less than 100 m, and the total line length calculation error is less than 250 m.