Adaptive fault identification and classification methodology for smart power grids using synchronous phasor angle measurements

Smart power grids (SPGs) entail comprehensive real-time smart monitoring and controlling strategies against contingencies such as transmission line faults. This study proposes a novel methodology for identifying and classifying transmission line faults occurring at any location in a power grid from phasor measurement unit measurements at only one of the generator buses. The proposed methodology is based on frequency domain analysis of equivalent voltage phase angle and equivalent current phase angle at the generator bus. Equivalent voltage and current phase angles are the angles made by three-phase equivalent voltage and current phasors with respect to reference axis. These angles are estimated through Park's transformation and frequency domain analysis is performed over a fixed time span equal to inverse of system nominal frequency using fast Fourier transformation. The proposed methodology can be utilised for relaying purposes in case of single transmission lines as well as for system protection centre (SPC) applications in power grid. The significance of the fault information from the methodology is for assisting SPC in SPGs for transmission line fault detection and classification to restore the transmission lines at the earliest and initiate wide-area control actions to maintain system stability against disturbances generated by occurrence and clearance of fault.