Fault location in distribution systems based on traveling waves

A single end fault location method for distribution systems, based on the traveling waves theory, is presented. The proposed scheme operates on the incident transient currents traveling from the fault point and measured at the substation. A cross-correlation function is used to identify the transient traveling waves. The voltages are estimates by using the transmission line modeling method while the distance to the fault is computed using the cross-correlation function. Although the complexity introduced by the many discontinuities created by the subfeeders in the system is considered, the results of several simulations and a field trial on a 23.8 kV system demonstrate the viability of this technique for distribution systems.