Mathematical simulation of extra-high voltage overhead transmission lines for travelling-wave-based relay protection devices

Abstract

The complexity of transient processes during travelling-wave propagation in extra high voltage overhead lines is deter-mined by the fact that many frequency components are presented in the electromagnetic wave front. For the correct analysis of the aforementioned transient processes and for further development of travelling-wave-based relay protec-tion and fault location devices, it is necessary to take into account the parameters of the environment where electromagnetic wave propagation occurs. For the transmission line, these parameters are longitudinal inductance, longitudinal resistance, shunt capacitance and shunt resistive conductance. It is worth mentioning that for a variety of reasons unit-area longitudinal inductance and resistance are the parameters which depend on frequency, thus travelling wave velocity is different for different frequency components of the electromagnetic wave front. The popular researches which address this problem either fail to consider the dependence of overhead line inductance and resistance on frequency or this dependence is considered approximately for the high-frequency range, which can cause significant errors in the transient processes analysis during travelling wave propagation. In view of this, the development of the approach to overhead transmission lines simulation, which will allow both determining the line parameters in a wide frequency range and evaluating steady-state behaviour and transient processes in long-distance transmission lines, arrears relevant. The main research method to establish extra-high voltage transmission line parameters employs the simulation study in COMSOL Multiphysics. A number of assumptions were made in the simulation process: homogeneous soil layer, entire transmission line section and absence of transmission line conductor sag. The usage of finite elements method (FEM) for differential equation solution in the above-mentioned software is also seen as an assumption. The approach to extra-high voltage transmission lines simulation has been offered. This approach consists of the usage of Maxwell’s equations in combination with numerical integration with finite elements method (FEM). Frequency response for transmission line parameters and travelling-wave propagation velocity rate for different frequency components have been obtained. The results obtained can be used in updating of electrical power system models for further research in the relay protection field. The suggested approach will allow evaluating line parameters of other voltage types and obtaining more accurate values of transmission line parameters and travelling wave propagation speed along transmission lines for high-frequency range. The use of these transmission line models will enable to formulate approaches to improve the existing algorithms of travelling-wave-based relay protection and fault location devices.