Abstract: An equipment for locating the position of a fault (9) on a power transmission line (7) between two ends (11,13) of the line (7) comprising: a voltage (15A,B) and a current (17A,B) sensor located at each end (11,13) of the line (7) for deriving signals representative of the voltage V.sub.S,V.sub.R and current I.sub.S,I.sub.R at each end (11,13); and two interlinked microprocessors (21A,B), one located at each end (11,13) of the line (7), for calculating the distance x of the fault (9) from one end of the line (11) utilizing the signals and equations of the form:V.sub.f =V.sub.s cosh(Tx)-I.sub.S Z.sub.O sinh(Tx);andV.sub.f =V.sub.R cosh(T(L-x))-I.sub.R Z.sub.O sinh(T(L-x)),where V.sub.f is the fault voltage, T is the propagation constant of the line (7), Z.sub.0 is the characteristic impedance of the line (7) and L is the total length of the line (7).

Abstract: Discriminating circuits are coupled to receive signals from a protected transmission circuit. Each discriminating circuit also receives from a direction detector signals indicating whether any fault which occurs is forward of, or reverse of, a predetermined point. The discriminating circuit is arranged to produce an output signal to trip a circuit breaker of the protected circuit only if a fault occurs within the protected circuit. In this respect, the discriminating circuit only outputs a trip signal if it receives within the same time period both a signal from the direction detector indicating that the fault is appropriately located, and high frequency signals from the protected circuit. The system thus utilizes the high frequency noise invariably generated when faults arise in transmission circuits.

Abstract: Teed circuit protection is provided by a master unit at one terminal and slave units at the other terminals with broad band communication links between the master unit and the slave units. All units include line current transformers to the master unit signals derived from the current transformers to the master unit and circuit breakers controlled by operating signals sent from the master unit. The master unit has a logic decision-making facility which takes measurements of the amount by which a differential quantity proportional to the sum of the measurement signals exceeds a bias quantity proportional to the difference between the measurement signals proportional to the sum of the measurement signal exceeds slave units. The facility sends operating signals when that amount exceeds a threshold value. To prevent spurious operation of the circuit breakers a sequence of consecutive measurements may be taken all of which must exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: A fault in a section of an electrical power supply line is detected by measurement of voltage and current, filtering out high frequency components, and calculating approximations of Fourier transforms of a time window of the voltage and current at a predetermined frequency modified by a continuous phase change at that frequency and then calculating the impedance of the section from the modified Fourier transforms of voltage and current (FIG. 2).

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting the occurrence of a fault on a conductor or transmission line and for protecting the conductor or line in accordance with the determination of fault. The instantaneous value of the voltage (V) and current (i), or the modal components of that voltage and current in the case of a polyphase line, are formed into two functions S.sub.1R and S.sub.2R, which are of the general form V-iR and V+iR respectively where R is a replica of the surge impedance of the line. Superimposed components of these functions are derived by continuously subtracting the steady-state value of each function from its instantaneous value. The sequence in which the functions obtain a value outside a predetermined band of values is monitored to provide an indication of the existence and direction of a fault with respect to the measuring point. Trip and block signals are generated for operating circuit breakers.

Abstract: An electrical power fault protection relay operates when the calculated impedance of the section of the system it protects shows a sudden change. The instantaneous voltage and current is measured. A calculation device then calculates the Fourier transform of a window of the actual voltage and current over a time interval and of the modified current that would flow if the voltage on each side of the time interval was zero. The actual impedance is calculated from the ratio of the Fourier transforms of the actual voltage and the modified current.