Application of Wavelet Multiresolution Analysis for
Classification of Faults on
Transmission lines.
D.Chanda* N.K.Kishore*'
Research Scholar Associate Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur- 72 1302. INDIA.
TeLNo. 03222-283060
Fax.No. 03222-255303
E-mail ItisIioi(ci''ee.iilh.i~.criic~i i l
* D.Chanda is at present a Sr. Lecturer, Jorhat Engg. College, Assam.
** Corresponding Author
Ahsrract: This paper presents a new method for
classification of faults based on Wavelet
Multiresolution Analysis (MRA). Daubechies eight
(D-8) Wavelet transforms of the three Phase currents
on a transmission line fed from both ends are used.
The summation of the 3rd level output of MRA detail
signals of current in each phase extracted from the
original signals are used as the criterion for the
analysis. The effects of fault distance, fault inception
angle and fault impedance are also examined.
Extensive simulations are carried out to generate
time domain input signal using EMTP (Microtran)
on a 230kV, 200km long line fed from both ends and
simulation results show that the proposed method is a
simple, effective and robust method suitable for high
impedance faults also.
Keywords: Wavelet transforms, Multi-resolution
analysis, EMTP, Fault classi-fication.
1.lntroduction
Digital relays require a fast and accurate algorithm for
the fault classification and its location. Hence, an
effective means for classifying the faults forms the basis
for achieving an efficient and accurate relay algorithm.
A very simple and widely used method for fault
classification is by recording the magnitudes of 3-phase
. voltages and currents as described by Phadke, et al [I].
But the main drawback of this method is the liniitation
of accurate measurement of the amplitudes during the
first few post-fault cycles and its susceptibility to the
influence of the short time disturbances in the system.
Charri et al. [2] analyze the transient information of a
resonant grounded distribution system using Wavelet
transform but the requirement of the frequencies of the
discharging and charging currents of the shunt
capacitance can be obtained only through an off-line
algorithm called Prony's method [3]. Robertson et al. [4]
distinguish single-phase faults from the capacitor
switching using wavefomi signatures without presenting
any algorithm or distinguishing features between
differcnt types of faults. Drisen et al. [5] analyze the
power system harmonics while Santoso et al. [6]
analyzes power system disturbances with Wavelet
0-7803076s 1 -X/03/$17.00 02003 IEEE
A.K.Sinha
Professor
transform.
J.Liane cl al. [7] proposed an algorithm for the
fault classi fi .ition based on Wavelet multiresolution
analysis (MI P I with
) Danbechies four (D-4) wavelet
measuring and comparing sharp variation in the values
of the currents for the three phases in the first stage
MRA detail signals extracted from the original signal.
But the algorithm employs zero-sequence component to
distinguish a ground fault from a phase fault. Cheng
Hong et al. [8] uses a B-Spline Wavelet transform for
fault classification purpose based on threshold values as
in [7] while W.Zhao et al. [9] propose an algorithm with
Daubechies eight (D-8) wavelet for the fault detection
and classification in underground cable system using two
different levels of MRA detail signals.
The neural networks have also been used as a
tool for pattem recognition schemes in case of fault
generated high frequency signals [lo]. FFT is used in
these schemes to process the original tinic domain signal
but it may give rise to inaccurate spectra leading to
frequency leaking [8] and has poor time localization
property for high frequency components of the signal.
However, the problem of time localization of FFT can be
solved to a large extent by using Short-time Fourier
Transform (STFT) which windows the input signal. But
it does not provide multiple resolutions in time and
frequency as the window size is fixed. Hence, this
method is inadequate for accurate analysis of localized
transient structure [ 1 I].
The wavelet multiresolution analysis (MKA) is
a new and powerfLil method of signal analysis well
suited to fault generated signals [ 121. The windowing of
Wavelet transform is adjusted automatically for low and
high frequencies i.e. it uses short time intervals for high
frequency components and long time intervals for low
frequency components. Wavelet analysis is based on the
decomposition of a signal into 'Scales' using wavelet
prototype function called 'mother wavelet'. The
temporal analysis is perfoinied with a contracted, high
frequency version of the 'mother wavelet', while the
frequency analysis is performed with a dilated, low
frequency version of the 'mother wavelet'.
This work presents an application of Wavelet
Multiresolution analysis (MRA) technique to fault
analysis and proposes a new fault classification
algorithm. The 3rd level MRA detail signal is found to
 Poster Papers / 1465
be most suitable and is used for the analysis, which
reduces the computational burden considerably. The
algorithm is generalized in nature. It does not depend on
any threshold value for classification of different types
of fault conditions irrespective of the system voltage or
parameters. Further, the algorithm is independent of the
effects of fault inception angle, fault distance and fault
impedance. Simulation results indicate that this method
is very effective in classifying the faults.
11. WAVELET ANALYSIS A N D MRA:
Wavelets are fiinclions that satisfy the requirements of
both time and frequency localization. The necessary and
sufficient condition for wavelets is that it must be
oscillatory, must decay quick1.y to zero and must have an
average value of zero. In addition, for the discrete
Wavelet transform considered here, the Wavelets are
orthogonal to each other.
Wavelets can pro\::de multiple resolutions in
both time and frequency. The bigi;:Il can be accurately
reproduced with the Wavelet analysis ushg relatively
small number of components [ 133. The analysing
waveleis are called the “mother wavelets” and its dilated
and translatcd versions are called the “daughter
wavelets”. It has a digitally implenientable counterpart
called the discrete Wavelet transform (DWT). The
generated waveforms are analyzed with Wavelet
multiresolution analysis (MRA) to extract sub-band
information from the simulated transients. Daubechies
Eight (D-8) wavelet is used in this work for the analysis
as it closely matches the signal to be processed which is
of utmost importance in wavelet applications. Also, the
efficacy of Daubechies wavelets based on the accurate
reso:istniction of power system transient signals as
, h c r i h e d i n i i i j and the suitability of Daubechies-4
(D-4) and Daubechies-8 (D-8) Wavelets for the analysis
of power systeiii transients from the family of
Daabechies Wavelets as described in [6] are the basis for
choosing Daubechies-8 wavelet. Moreover, Daubechies-
8 wavelet is niorc localized i.e. compactly supported in
time and hence is good for short and fast transient
analysis as compared to Daubechies-4 wavelet [ 161 and
provides almost perfcct reconstruction. Dniibechies-8
(D-8) wavelet is found to be more suitable as comyared
to Daubechies-4 (D-4) wavelet in representing the
transient signals because it is smoother and more
oscillatory in nature which is also the nature of the
transient signals. In this paper, Wavelet co-efficients of
the signal are derived using matrix equations [ 171 based
on decomposition and reconstruction of a discrete signal
using Mallat’s algorithm [ 131.
The derivation for the determination of Wavelet
coefficients using matrix equations for signal
decomposition and reconstruction as employed for the
h i l t classification is discussed in the Appendix I.
111. WAVELET MULTIRESOLUTION
ANALYSIS FOR T H E FAULT
CLASS1 FICATION:
Due to the unique feature of providing multiple
resolution i;i both time and frequency by wavelets, the
sub-band infoimation can be extracted from the original
signal. When applied to Faults, these sub-band
infomiations of faulted power system are seen to provide
useful signatures of Faults, so that thc fault classification
can be done elegantly. By randomly shifting the point of
Fault on the transmission line, a nuniber of simulations
are carried out employing EMTP (Microtran). The
generated time domain signal for each case is analyzed
using Wavelet ti-ansforni. From the different
decomposed levels. only 3rd level output is considered
for the analysis. As because the absolute values of the
summation of 3rd level output for all the inception
angles considered in the analysis are found higher as
compared to that of other level outputs. It indicates that
the total area under thc characteristics of 3rd level
outputs are more than that of other level outputs.
Another reason for the 3rd level output to be selected as
the parameter for fault Classification i s that the
summation of 3rd level output satisfies the characteristic
relationships for all types of faults as used in the
classification of faults. Moreover, as the sampling time
considered in the analysis is 8 O p which corresponds to
a sampling fiequency of 12.5kHz and the total number
of wavelet levels considered is 10, therefore, 10th level
wavelet output corresponds to a frequency band of 6.25-
12.5kHz. Down-sampling by two at each succecding
level (9th -1st level) will lead to a 3rd level output
corresponding to a frequency band of 97-195Hz i.e. it
includes 2nd and 3rd harmonic components which are
predominant in case of faults.
A generalized algorithm for fault classification based on
the Wavelet analysis is presented. However, the fault is
to be discriminated from other types of disturbances
before using the classification algorithm [ 191.
IV. Simulation:
The model power system considered for the analysis is
as shown in Fig. I .
The base values o f the voltage and the power i n the
system are taken as 230kV and IOOMVA. The frequency
of the system is taken to be 50Hz. The sequence
parameter line model is selected for the transmission
line, as this is the most suitable model for a transmission
line in the event o f faults.
The transmission line parameters are:
(A) Zero sequence parameters:
Ro=0.30S4R/km,Xo=2.8125mH/kni, C0=0.0044 pF/km;
( b , Positive
~ sequence parameters:
RI=0.~17?75 Wkm, Xl=1.0794 mH/km,
CI=0.0075pF/km;and
(C) Negative sequence parameters:Sanie as Positive
230kV. 200km line ~0
Sinusoidal
Source
I I
Fig. 1. 230kV transmission line system used for
the simulation studies.
 TENCON 2003 / 1466

. ..
Amplitude ratio betFeen source voltages at P and Q =
I .O, Load angle between sources =20°. Voltage angle of
'P' is leading with respect to that of 'Q'. This
corresponds to a flow of 267 MVA on transmission line
. from 'P' to 'Q'.
The total impedance of the generator and the
transformer .together on both sides are taken as
(0.2+j4.49)0 which corresponds to a X/R ratio of 22.45.
The current signals recorded at the two ends, considered
for the analysis are generated by simulating the system
on EMTP. The generated time domain signals are
sampled every 8016 and then used for the analysis using in degrees
Angle of Inception (al:)
Wavelet transform.
The data considered in the analysis is assumed
to be of finite duration and of length 2N, where N is an Fig.3. Effect of Inception angle (aF)
integ'er. If N is chosen to be 9, the total duration of the for L-L-L Fault at 195kni.
analysis comes out to Z9 (=512) x 80ps =40.96 ms,
which is about 2 cycles and is sufficient enough for the The results for the two extreme ends of the line
fault analysis. With N=9, there are (N+I) =9+1=10 are presented here to show the efficacy of the algorithm
Wavelet levels and if these 10 levels are added together even at the far end of the line as at the far end of the line,
then the original signal is faithfully reproduced at each the amplitude o f the current signal is always less when
of the sample points [ 181. the measurement is done at the other end i.e. at the
sending end. Hence, if the algorithm is valid at the far
V. Fault Classification : end, it will be valid at any distance over the total length
The types of faults considered in the analysis of the line.
are L-G, L-L-G, L-L, L-L-L faults. The simulations
'
If s,+sh+s, E 0 and also if,suni of any two of the
show that fault inception angle has' a considerable effect summations s,, SI, and s, is equal to zero, i.e. the
on the phase current samples and therefore also on magnitude of one of the summation is very small and
Wavelet transform output of post-fault signals. As the almost negligible in comparison to the equal magnitudcs
waves are periodic, it is sufficient to study the effect of of other two summations, then the fault i s classified as
inception angle in the range of 0' to 180". L-L fault i.e.
Through an exhaustive experimentation, the If sa + Sh = 0, then it is a fault involving a and b
parameter identified . for the classification is the phase.
summation of 3rd level output for the three phase If S, + S, = 0, then it is a fault involving a and c
currents. phase.
If S,=Summation of,3rd level values for current in phase s,
If Sh+ = 0, then it is a fault involving b and c
'a', phase.
Sh=Sunimation of 3rd level values for current in
phase 'b' and
S,=Sunimation o f 3rd level values for current in
phase 'c'.
If s,+sh+s, E 0, then the fault is classified as
L-L-L fault. In this case the magnitude of all the
summation values sa, s h and S, are comparable to each
other. This can be verified from the simulation results
shown in Fig.2. and Fig.3. While F i g 2 shows the plot
for a L-L-L fault at 5km, Fig.3 shows the same for a
L-L-L fault at 195km.
I lo4
in degrees
Angle of Inception (ap)

Fig.4. Effect of inception angle (ay) for

L-L fault involving phases 'a', 'b'
at Skm.
The effect of inception angle for L-L fault involving
phases a and b at distances of 5knl and 195kni are as
shown in Fig.4 and Fig.5. The simulation results shown
in Fig.4 and Fig.5 for a L-L fault, suggests that s.,+ s h =
I I
0 with s, << I s,,I Or I Sh I SO that s,+sh+s, 2 0 . r
s,+sh+s, f 0, then it is either a L-G or L-L-G fault.
If the absolute value of any two summations
Angle of Inception (aF)in degrees
(sa, Sh, s,) is equal and is always much smaller than the
Fig.2. Effect of Inception angle ( a F )
for L-L-L Fault at 5kni.
 Poster Papers / 1467
If the absolute value of any twosummations (S.,, S h , S,)
are not equal and are always much higher than the
absolute value of the 3rd summation, then it is a L-L-G
fault.
I
Ifs,,, = min ( S, I , I s h I , I S, , then I
If s,,,,,= I S, I & << I s.,I or I s h I , then it is a L-L-G
fault involving phases a, b and ground.
5 ?O 40 60 €0 lo0 120 140 1EO 180
I I
Ifs,,,,, = I S h & <<I S, or I S, 1, then it IS a L-L-G
* Angle of Inception ( a y ) in degrees fault involvin phases a, c and ground.
If S,,,, = ‘is.,I & << I Sb 1 or I S, 1, then it is L-L-G
Fig.5. Effect of inception angle (aF)for fault involving phases b, c and ground.
L-L fault involving phases ‘a’, ‘b’
The effect of inception angle for L-L-G fault
at 195km.
involving phases a, b and ground at distances of 5kni and
195km are shown in Fig8 and Fig.9. The simulation
results shown in Fi .8 and Fig.9 for a L-L-G fault,
absolute value of the 3rd summation, then it is a L-G I
suggest that S, I t fS, I t I S, I with I S, I << I S , I or
fad t. I
I s h SO that s,+S~,+s,
f 0.
If \s,,/ =I s,\ & <c. \sal,it is a L-G fault
involving phase a.
If IS,\ =I S,I & <<I shl. it is a L-G fault 2
P,
Y
12*10‘, , , ,

involving phase b.
If IS,\ =I s h l & << IS,[, it is a L-G fault
involving phase c.
The effects of inception angle on L-G fault involving
phase ‘a’ at 5kni and 195km distances are as shown in
Fig.6 and Fig.7. The siniulation results shown in Fig. 6 m
and Fig.7 for a L-G fault, suggest that I SI,I = I S, I with % 02- Is,I
I S., I >> I SI, I or I S, I so that S.,+SL,+S,f 0. z 06 ih Io !Msc-;-t-Ylm:
2 Angle of Inception ( a ~in)degrees
d
Fig.8. Effect of inception angle (ar)for
L-L-G fault involving phases ‘a’, ‘b’
and ground at 5km.

h
“18“

0 7.

-
$ Angle of Inception (aF)in degrees
d
m 2-.
Fig.6. Effect of inception angle ( a ~ )
/-
(3
0 1.
for L-G fault involving phase
‘a’ and eround at 5km.
s
2 Angle of Inception (ar)
in degrees
<
Fig.9. Effect of inception angle ( a , )for
L-L-G fault involving phases
‘a’, ‘b’ and ground at 195kin.

The simulations are also carried out to study the effect of

fault impedance and this algorithm is also found suitable
for high impedance faults with fault impedance as high
v) as 500R.
2 Angle of Inception (aF)in degrees The coiiiplete flow chart for the fault
classification is as shown in Fig. IO.
Fig.7. Effect of inception angle (at:)
for L-G fault involving phase
‘a’ and ground at 195km.
 TENCON 2003/ 1468
Algorithm [ 191.
I Transactions on Power Delivery, 1995, 10(3), pp. 1234-
4 1241.
I I
I 1
Determine S, Sh, S,.
or (S,+S,)=O or
L-L-G
fault
Fig. IO. A Flow-chart for the Fault Classification Algorithm.
VI. Conclusions:
In this paper an application of Wavelet MRA theory has
been proposed for the classification of faults on a power
transmission line. The property of niultiresolution in
time and frequency using Wavelets is found very
effective for this problem. A new generalized algorithm
is proposed which is independent of fault location, fault
inception angle and fault impedance. The algorithm is
simple, robust and generalized. It can be used for the
classification of high impedance faults as well, and is
also suitable for transmission lines at any voltage levels.
References:
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for power Systems’, Taunton,
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[2] Chaari, 0.. Meunier, M., and Brouaye, F., Wavelets:
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1301-1 308.
[3] Chaari, O., Bastard, P. and Meunier, M., ‘Prony’s
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479.
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Appendix I:
If (2N)diagonal matrix D be defined as D (l,l)=2”, D
( 2 , 2 ) ~ 2 -D~ ,(j,j)=2-(N+*-1)
where i=3,4 ,............ N+1 and j=2“’+1, 2“*+2, ...........
2i”
and if a= a vector of wavelet coefficients
then,a=DGy (6)
where y is the (2Nxl)vector of the signal.
(3) Signal Reconstruction and Individual Signal levels :
‘If a signal of length 2N is decomposed to ( N + I ) levels
and if the levels are denoted by (yl., y z , y,,
.......................... yN+I),then

Wavelet Analysis and MRA: Y I = ( A ~a(l)

)~
( I ) Dilatiori arid Wavelet Equation (161 y*=(AdT a(2)
The Wavelet transform involves two hi t i tinental
equations: (i) Dilation equation and f :.; Wavelet YF( AdT
equation. The Dilation equation links a \c,t!iny function
) its translates (p(2x). This is given by:
~ ( xand
1.-l

cp(x) = Cc,cp(2x-k) (1)

I =lI
where L is an evcii number.
Corresponding Wawclet equation is given by:
W ( s ).=
I.1,
c
1-1

(- 1)h ( 2 s + k - ( L -I)]
L.r‘p (2)
..
I he nunierical values of ck for D8 Wavelet considered
in this work are taken from the available literature The original signal is reconstructed as:
[ 16.171. n+l , .

If the input signal be denoted by g(x). Then the yr= CYk (8)
decomposed signal is given by k=l . .

g (x)= . . .

P I
......... + n,W[2N-‘s - (i- 2N-‘)] (31
’
,=2\
where a, represent Wavelet co-efficients.
(2) Ccilcirlcitiori of Wavelet Co-eficients :
The coeficients ‘a,’ are calculated usirig Mallat ‘s ‘. .
algorithrii [ I 31. The calculation of a, requires the
trmsforriiatiori matrices L, arid H, for i=1.2, ........N
wliiclz are of diitierisioin (2”‘s2‘), where L atid H are
foniied fi.onz Iow-pCiss and high-pass 0 8 filter
coeJficieiits.
The wavelet coefficients are calculated using L, and HI as
follows:

If we define A, = H , (n
V

,A+l
L,), (4) .

where k=0,1,2 ,...............N-1 and with HN=AN and

H,,= 1, then

is a ( 2 ” ~ 2dimension
~) matrix.