Evaluation of single-ended impedance-based transmission fault location using fixed and variable window phasor estimation approaches

In this paper, the performances of fixed and variable window size phasor-based techniques reported in the literature are evaluated on a classical one-terminal impedance-based fault locator, pointing out the challenges and alternatives for applications in transmission systems equipped with high-speed protection functions. To do so, several Alternative Transients Program (ATP) fault simulations were carried out in a 230 kV/60 Hz power network, varying their parameters such as type, location, inception angle and resistance. The obtained results attest that phasors estimated from variable window size strategies may improve the fault locator performance, even in the first cycles after the disturbance occurrence, appearing themselves as potential alternatives to be applied in combination with high-speed phasor-based protection routines. •Novel analyses of phasor estimation methods with fixed and variable window lengths.•Investigation on the performance of one-ended phasor-based fault locator.•Analysis considering power networks equipped with high-speed protection functions.•Variable window strategies improve the fault locator for faulty data samples at shorter windows.