Intelligent system identifies and locates transmission faults

When faults occur on major transmission lines, the bulk power system is immediately exposed to potentially costly outages. During peak loading conditions, when line availability is most critical, a lengthy outage can be detrimental to system operations. In an age of open access and retail wheeling, power exchanges are bound by contract, and any unnecessary delay of energy restoration compromises a utility´s competitive position. It is necessary for protection and operation personnel to locate the fault as accurately and as expeditiously as possible. Within large utility systems, major transmission lines are located in remote or inaccessible areas, which makes fault finding difficult. The combination of using a two-ended algorithm along with the advent of improved communication technology, mathematical techniques, and PC applications made possible the development of an automatic fault location system. IFL is a PC/Windows-based operator´s tool that uses two-ended loop fault analysis to identify fault types and location. The system is innovative in its integration of mature, low cost, and reliable instrumentation, combined with advanced applied mathematics to achieve a mission-critical system for electric system maintenance and operation