Hybrid Pattern Recognition and Multi-resolution Analysis (MRA) Based Fault Location in Power Transmission Lines

This paper proposes a fault (line-to-line) location on Ikeja West – Benin 330kV electric power transmission lines using wavelet multi-resolution analysis and neural networks pattern recognition abilities. Three-phase line-to-line current and voltage waveforms measured during the occurrence of a fault in the power transmission-line were pre-processed first and then decomposed using wavelet multi-resolution analysis to obtain the high-frequency details and low-frequency approximations. The patterns formed based on high-frequency signal components were arranged as inputs of the neural network, whose task is to indicate the occurrence of a fault on the lines. The patterns formed using low-frequency approximations were arranged as inputs of the second neural network, whose task is to indicate the exact fault type. The new method uses both low and high-frequency information of the fault signal to achieve an exact location of the fault. The neural network was trained to recognize patterns, classify data and forecast future events. Feed forward networks have been employed along with back propagation algorithm for each of the three phases in the Fault location process. An analysis of the learning and generalization characteristics of elements in power system was carried using Neural Network toolbox in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. Simulation results obtained demonstrate that neural network pattern recognition and wavelet multi-resolution analysis approach are efficient in identifying and locating faults on transmission lines as the average percentage error in fault location was just 0.1386%. This showed that satisfactory performance was achieved especially when compared to the conventional methods such as impedance and travelling wave methods.