Arcing faults detection on overhead lines from the voltage signals

This paper presents a simple algorithm for arcing faults detection on overhead lines. The algorithm is based on the harmonic analysis of the bus voltage signals. It uses only the sine components of the odd higher harmonics of the bus voltage. Such an approach provides the algorithm with insensitivity to the cosine components of the bus voltage odd higher harmonics which can be generated by current odd cosine higher harmonics. The algorithm can be used for blocking the automatic reclosing of lines with permanent faults. A very simple arc model has been adopted. The algorithm was successfully tested with signals recorded on a real power system and signals obtained through computer simulated and laboratory tests. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.