Real-Time Detection of Transients Induced by High-Impedance Faults Based on the Boundary Wavelet Transform

The development of modern protection functions is a challenge in the emerging environment of smart grids because the current protection system technology still has several limitations, such as the reliable high-impedance fault (HIF) detection in multigrounded distribution networks, which poses a danger to the public when the protection system fails. This paper presents the wavelet coefficient energy with border distortions of a one-cycle sliding window designed for the real-time detection of transients induced by HIFs. By using the border distortions, the proposed wavelet-based methodology presents a reliable detection of transients generated by HIFs with no time delay and energy peaks scarcely affected by the choice of the mother wavelet. The signatures of different HIFs are presented in both time and wavelet domains. The performance of the proposed wavelet-based method was assessed with compact and long mother wavelets by using data from staged HIFs on an actual energized power system, taking into account different fault surfaces, as well as simulated HIFs. The proposed method presented a more reliable and accurate performance than other evaluated wavelet-based algorithms.