System and method for locating a disturbance in a power system based upon disturbance power and energy

Abstract

A disturbance locating system deployed within a power grid to estimate a location of a disturbance in a power system includes a voltage transducer, a current transducer and disturbance energy determination circuitry. The system may also include disturbance power determination circuitry. The voltage transducer couples to an output of a voltage transformer, the output of the voltage transformer representative of a voltage on a line within the power grid. The current transducer couples to an output of a current transformer, the output of the current transformer representative of the current flowing through the line, the output having a forward reference direction and a behind reference direction. The voltage and current transformers may be hard wired to the line. The disturbance energy determination circuitry couples to the voltage transducer and the current transducer. Based upon the inputs received, the disturbance energy determination circuitry determines disturbance energy flowing in the line and estimates a direction of disturbance energy flow with respect to the system as either in front of or behind of the disturbance locating system. The disturbance energy determination circuitry may include disturbance power determination circuitry that couples to the voltage transducer and the current transducer. In such case, the disturbance power is provided to the disturbance energy determination circuitry for estimating a relative direction to the disturbance.