Optimal Current Meter Placement for Accurate Fault Location Purpose using Dynamic Time Warping

This paper presents a fault location technique for transmission lines with minimum current measurement. This algorithm investigates proper current ratios for fault location problem based on thevenin theory in faulty power networks and calculation of short circuit currents in each branch. These current ratios are extracted regarding lowest sensitivity on thevenin impedance variations of the network structure. Proposed algorithm compares current ratios from offline calculations with corresponding values achieved from measurements with a look-up table system. Best solution based on Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) algorithm is introduced as an output (location of the fault) which includes the line and the distance. Among many current ratios to form look-up table system, the minimum number of them will be extracted by a multi-objective optimization technique using Bees Algorithm (BA). This extraction is based on lowest possible number of buses for instruments installation and required current measurements, estimation accuracy and sensitivity degree from thevenin impedances changes. Accuracy of proposed algorithm is evaluated in a widely used multi-machine network of Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSCC).