Fault location in UPFC compensated double circuit transmission line using negative sequence current phasors

Double-circuit transmission lines are used in modern power systems to enhance the transmission capability and to improve system reliability and safety. However, the protection of double-circuit lines is a challenging task as the presence of flexible ac transmission system (FACTS) in modern power grid impairs the performance of the conventional distance protection schemes. Moreover, the high impedance faults cannot be detected by relays as they become under-reach. This paper proposes a negative sequence current based scheme for locating faults and identifying faulty circuit/ line in double circuit transmission line compensated by UPFC at one end. In the proposed scheme the current signals are collected from both ends of the line to be protected. Then the negative sequence components of the currents are calculated. The discrimination between internal and external fault is achieved from the phase angles of the negative sequence currents and the fault location is determined from the ratio of the negative sequence currents. Prior knowledge about the type of fault is not required for fault location estimation. Extensive fault simulation studies including high impedance faults have been performed. The scheme is immune to the fault inception angle and fault resistance.