Current Differential Protection of Transmission Line Using the Moving Window Averaging Technique

We propose a new approach to current differential protection of transmission lines. In this approach, we transform the instantaneous line current(s) by using a moving window averaging technique. If the time span of moving window is equal to one-cycle time, then the steady-state value of the transformed current is zero for a periodic signal which is composed of fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Signal distortions (e.g., a fault) cause the transformed currents to deviate from the nominal zero value. This permits the development of a sensitive, secure, fast, and yet simple current differential protection scheme. The scheme can be applied in toto to series-compensated transmission lines. Results on a four-machine ten-bus system and comparative evaluation with state-of-the-art methods brings out promise of the proposed method.