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Stochastic modeling of power system faults

ARTICLE in ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS RESEARCH SEPTEMBER 2015
Impact Factor: 1.75 DOI: 10.1016/j.epsr.2015.04.015

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M.T. Correia de Barros

Rede Elctrica Nacional

University of Lisbon

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Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Electric Power Systems Research

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/epsr

Stochastic modeling of power system faults

Andr dos Santos a,b, , M.T. Correia de Barros a
a
b

Instituto Superior Tcnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
Rede Elctrica Nacional S.A., Rua Cidade de Goa 4, 2685-038, Sacavm, Portugal

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 25 August 2014
Received in revised form 2 March 2015
Accepted 26 April 2015
Keywords:
Power system faults
Fault rate
Fault type
Fault resistance
Stochastic modeling
Short-circuit computation

a b s t r a c t
Correct modeling of power system faults is a key issue in a diversity of power system studies, such as
in network planning, equipment specication and protection systems coordination. The present paper
addresses the probabilistic description of faults, based on available data collected by transmission system
operators for different voltage levels. Fault rate and individual fault characteristics are stochastically
modeled, namely fault location, type and resistance. A fault resistance model is suggested, based on
Weibull distribution, which parameters are set per voltage level. The proposed fault description is a
useful tool for power system planning and design, when a stochastic approach of the power system
faults characteristics is adopted. Time series of fault input data and simulation results are presented in a
common format, so to allow using the same statistical tools as used in power system monitoring and eld
data reporting. The model is able to reproduce atypical years, as happen in real transmission networks.
The developed fault model is used to generate stochastic short-circuit events, which are then used for
short-circuit current computation. The methodology is applied to the IEEE RTS and simulation results are
shown for the probability of amplitude and time constant values. These results are prone to be used to
specify network circuit breakers and current transformers using a probabilistic approach.
2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Correct modeling of power system faults is a key issue in a
diversity of power system studies, such as in network planning,
equipment specication and protection systems coordination. Currently used methods, underlying international guidelines and
standards [13] are deterministic, based on worst case scenarios.
These are typically associated to extreme events leading to the
highest or lowest short circuit currents. Consequently, the deterministic approach results into over-dimensioning during most of
the operating time. Furthermore, as the likelihood of occurrence
is disregarded, no quantitative information is provided to support
investment decisions.
Contrary to deterministic methods, a probabilistic approach
quantitatively incorporates uncertainty, based on quantifying the
likelihood of each event, and eventually its associated uncertainty.
The approach allows quantifying the degree of exposure to a particular event and this information may be combined with associated
costs in a risk analysis methodology.

Corresponding author at: Rede Elctrica Nacional S.A., Av. Estados Unidos da

America,
55, 1749-061 Lisboa, Portugal. Tel.: +351 210013464.
E-mail addresses: andre.santos@ren.pt (A. dos Santos),
teresa.correiadebarros@ist.utl.pt (M.T.C.d. Barros).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2015.04.015
0378-7796/ 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Probabilistic methods have been developed based on Monte

Carlo simulations [4] or analytical formulation [5,6]. The rst
are very powerful but require high computational efforts, while
the analytical methods overcome this requirement by assuming
simplications, thus providing less accurate results. Probabilistic
methods were developed for all sorts of system studies, such as
system planning [7,8], power ow [9], transient stability [10,11],
protection system performance [12,13], equipment design, including circuit breakers [14] and current transformers [15,16], and
voltage dips assessment [17,18]. Most of these works encompass
short circuit calculations. However the detailed description of input
data, such as fault location, type, resistance and duration is not
addressed. Notwithstanding, these are critical parameters to obtain
condent results.
The present paper addresses the probabilistic description of
fault input data, based on available data collected by transmission system operators. These data are used to generate stochastic
short-circuit events, which are then used for short-circuit current
computation. The methodology is applied to the IEEE RTS, aiming
to allow probabilistic specication of equipment, such as circuit
breakers and current transformers. Results are presented for the
maximum interrupted fault current, as well as the associated network time constant. The developed method allows obtaining the
probabilistic distribution of these quantities, thus being adequate
for a risk assessment approach to equipment specication.

30

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

2. Relevant fault characteristics

Fault rate and individual fault characteristics are crucial information used to support power system planning and operation
strategies, both technically and economically. Fault rate is a key
index to evaluate bulk power system performance, as it reveals
very important features such as: correct equipment design, suitable maintenance, equipment ageing and abnormal environmental
conditions. Additional important information is provided by the
individual fault characteristics. For instances, a large number of line
to line faults may indicate an inadequate line geometry design as
regards environmental conditions, such as wind, and a high fault
resistance occurrence may indicate special needs for sensitive earth
fault protection.
Individual fault characterization starts by identifying where, in
the bulk power system, the fault has occurred. This means identifying which network element was affected and, in the case of
transmission lines its exact location. Most power system faults
occur in transmission lines and busbars, and they correspond to the
highest sort circuit current values, hence they are the most relevant
for equipment specication.
Short-circuits are also characterized by the number of affected
phases. Faults may affect one single phase and ground (SLG), two
phases (LL), two phases and ground (2LG) and three phases (3PH).
Fault type distribution depends on the voltage level, line geometry,
terrain relief and weather conditions. Therefore, this characteristic
is strongly system dependent.
The resistance that characterizes each fault depends on the short
circuit type and cause. Its value aggregates the arc and the ground
resistances. Additionally, depending on the specic fault, it may
include the tower or the touching objects resistance. The fault resistance may be time constant or vary with time, as in case of arc
elongation by wind effect. For faults not involving the ground, it is
assumed that only the arc contributes to the fault resistance, thus
its value being negligible.
Fault duration is also an important characteristic, in the case of
system stability analysis, equipment design and voltage dips characterization. However, it is not relevant in the scope of the present
paper.
Some of the identied fault characteristics are not independent.
Indeed, the underlying phenomena indicate and operational data
conrm that fault type, as well as fault resistance, depend on the
fault location. However, at the planning and design stage, uniform
characteristics are considered, and the fault characteristics may be
treated as independent of the fault location. Also at the planning
and design stage, a planning criterion for the transmission line fault
rate is considered. This criterion unique, thus the line fault rate
being considered constant in time and along the all line length.
The line design, including shielding, the towers and the grounding
resistance, are chosen toward this planning criterion.
All the identied characteristics occur randomly in time. This
very nature of power system faults suggests a stochastic modeling
approach.

3. Fault modeling
3.1. Modeling approach
In the present paper, a fault simulation methodology based on
Monte Carlo simulation is presented. The occurrence of faults in
a network element, such as a transmission line or a busbar, is
simulated during a time span of representative signicance. The
simulation time span is divided into an equal number of time intervals (trials) of equal duration, such as a second, an hour, or a year.
The methodology output is a set of occurrences, each characterized

by a fault time, a fault location, a fault type and a fault resistance.

Simulation results are analyzed using the same statistical tools as
used in power system monitoring and eld data reporting, thus
allowing a straightforward comparison between simulation results
and eld data.
3.2. Fault rate
Transmission line and busbar fault rates are two indexes that
characterize a network performance. These rates are key information used to support investment and maintenance decisions. This
is done by analyzing trends over several consecutive years. Also
important is to pin point atypical years, during which the number
of faults is abnormally low or high, and identify the corresponding causes. These may be abnormal weather conditions or other
unexpected environmental events.
The proposed methodology receives as input the network fault
rate average value, for transmission lines and busbars. As output,
the network fault rates are calculated on a yearly basis, along the
chosen simulation time span.
During a Monte Carlo simulation, the transmission lines and
busbars elements will fail at a given rate z(t), which individually
characterizes each element. During a trial t0 , the probability of fault
occurrence PF in a network element is dened as [19]:

t0

PF (t0 ) = 1 exp

z () d

(1)

For each trial, a random number is generated according to a uniform distribution over the interval [0,1]. The generated number is
compared to the corresponding probability of fault occurrence PF
and, if higher, the corresponding network element is assumed to
fail during the trial.
Recorded network performance data usually refer to yearly line
faults per 100 km, l , and yearly busbar faults per 100 busses, b .
Accordingly, a constant failure rate zi (t) = i is assumed for each
network element. All busbars will have the same failure rate and
transmission lines will have different failures rates, according to
their length li :
bi =

b
100

(2)

li =

li l
100

(3)

Simulation results obtained for the network elements are then

converted into system performance indexes. The analysis can be
done by voltage level or for the overall network.
3.3. Line fault location
The probability of a fault occurring at a given location along a
transmission line is considered uniform. This assumption is in line
with a planning and design stage practice, which considers a unique
planning criterion. Accordingly, to assess the location of each transmission line fault, a random number is generated according to a
uniform distribution over the interval [0,1]. The generated value
gives the fault location in per unit, this being the line length.
3.4. Fault type
Fault type probabilistic distributions are dened, on a yearly
basis, for transmission lines and busbars.
To assess the fault type that characterizes a particular fault generated by Monte Carlo simulation, the interval [0,1] is divided into
four segments, with lengths given by the probability of occurrence

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

31

Fig. 2. Transmission line fault in a meshed network.

Fig. 1. Worst fault location inside a substation, corresponding to the highest interrupted current.

of each fault type. A random number is associated to each fault, generated according to a uniform distribution over the dened interval.
The segment corresponding to the generated number denes the
fault type.
3.5. Fault resistance
Only transmission line faults involving the ground are assumed
to be characterized by a fault resistance. The fault resistance associated to SLG and 2LG faults is described statistically. Field data have
been published corresponding to 230 kV and 138 kV [20], as well as
for 60 kV [21]. A study developed by the authors, briey outlined
in Appendix, shows that published data can be tted by Weibull
distributions:

 

f rf

r 1
f



rf

exp

(2)

where, rf is the fault resistance value and f(rf ) the corresponding

probability density. The Weibull distribution is characterized by
the scale parameter > 0 and the shape parameter > 0.
The fault resistance value associated to a SLG and 2LG fault is
assessed using the inverse transform method [22]: a random number v is generated according to a uniform distribution over the
interval [0,1], and this value is used in the cumulative function
distribution F to nd the corresponding fault resistance rf :
rf (v) = F 1 (v)

Fault currents feed from network side A, IAB , and side B, IBA , when
both circuit breakers CBA and CBB are closed;
Fault current IA when CBB is open;
Fault current IB when CBA is open.
As regards the short circuit current time constant Ta , it is dened
for the positive sequence I+ , considering the network topology with
all circuit breakers closed, as suggested in [23]:
Ta =

Xeq
0 Req

(7)

where, 0 is the power frequency and, Xeq and Req are dened by:
Req + jXeq =

V f
I+

(8)

where, V f is the pre-fault voltage.

Short-circuit current calculation is performed using classical
symmetric component theory applied to meshed networks [24].

(5)
4. Application examplefault characterization

where,
F 1 (v) = 1 e(v/)

Transmission line fault clearance requires the operation of circuit breaker at both ends. As this operation depends on the tripping
command by the local line protection system, it is not reasonable to assume that all circuit breakers will interrupt the fault
current simultaneously. The opening sequence will determine the
short circuit current magnitude interrupted by each circuit breaker.
Considering a transmission line fault in a meshed network, which
equivalent is represented in Fig. 2, any of the circuit breakers CBA
or CBB may operate rst. The rst only interrupts its own fault current contribution, while the last extinguishes the short circuit as
the interrupted current is the total short circuit current. Since any
of the circuit breakers may be the last to operate, four short circuit
currents contributions have to be evaluate to identify the highest
interrupted current (Fig. 3):

(6)

3.6. Short-circuit current calculation

Different fault clearance processes may result into different
interrupted short circuit current values. This is the case of busbar and transmission line faults in meshed networks. The proposed
methodology targets the determination of the highest short circuit
currents owing in each circuit-breaker involved in fault clearance,
for each of the stochastically generated faults.
For equipment specication, in case of circuit breakers and current transformers, further to the short circuit current magnitude,
it is important to evaluate its time constant, as both are relevant
parameters in the selection procedure.
Faults inside the substation are cleared by the operation of all
local circuit breakers, following the busbar protection trip command. It is assumed that all short circuit currents in the different
feeders are interrupted simultaneously. As regards the worst scenario, it corresponds to a fault adjacent to a circuit-breaker, as
shown in Fig. 1. In this case, all contributions from feeders add up
and have to be interrupted by one single circuit breaker.

4.1. Input data

4.1.1. Network topology
The proposed method was applied to the test network IEEE RTS
96 [24]: 32 generators corresponding to 3.4 GW installed power;
33 circuits, with two voltage levels, 230 kV and 138 kV, consisting
of 1630 km transmission lines and 24 stations, including ve substations, with one transformer each. In the present application, it is
assumed that each station contains two busbars per voltage level.
4.1.2. Generating units modeling
The generating units are represented by a generator and a power
transformer, which require the creation of additional busbars, as

Fig. 3. Generating unit.

32

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

Table 1
Generating units modelassumptions.
Generator

Transformer

Nominal voltage level

is 10 kV
Yn winding connection.
Equal zero, positive
and negative sequence
impedances.
Zero, positive and
negative sequence
reactances equal to the
subtransient reactance.
Time constants (s)
3

Nominal power (MVA)

13

20

50 and 76

100

155 and 197

350

10

400

Low side nominal

voltage level is 10 kV.
Ynd (30 ) winding
connection.
Equal positive and
negative sequence
impedances.
Time constants (s)
0
.032

Nominal power (MVA)

1020

0
.064

2050

0
.095

50200

0
.143

200500

Fig. 4. Line fault rate in the Portuguese transmission network [26]220 kV (solid)
and 150 kV (dash).

in Fig. 5. The average value in the time span 20062012 was considered: 0.29 faults/100 busses/year (138 kV) and 0.46 faults/100
busses/year (230 kV).
Internal faults in the generating units and substation transformers were not considered.
4.1.6. Fault type
The fault type distribution for the 138 kV and 230 kV transmission lines was obtained from a statistical study conducted by
the authors for the Portuguese Transmission System, from 2004
to 2012, after analyzing all network faults. The fault type distribution was calculated, on a yearly basis, for the 150 kV and 220 kV
networks. Results are presented in Figs. 6 and 7, including the statistical values: average and standard deviation. The average values
have been considered as input data for the simulation.
Concerning busbar fault type distribution, no eld data was
available to the authors. Therefore this distribution was derived
from the fact that busbar faults are typically due to insulator
ashover or switching human error, resulting into SLG faults and
3PH faults, respectively. Since the probability of occurrence of
human error is much lower than insulator ashover, an 80%20%
distribution was considered.

shown in Fig. 7. Detailed modeling data, not available in [24], are

shown in Table 1.

4.1.7. Fault resistance

It was assumed that the fault resistance distributions for the
138 kV and 230 kV follow the Weibull distribution with parameters
presented in Table 2. The Weibull distribution parameters were
obtained by tting the published data shown in appendix.

4.1.3. Network transformer modeling

Substation transformer connections were assumed Ynyn0.
Other modeling data was taken directly from [25].

4.2. Simulation results

4.1.4. Transmission line modeling

Transmission line data was considered as per [25]. As usual in
short circuit calculations, the line capacitances were neglected.
4.1.5. Fault rate
Transmission line fault rate data is drawn from the Portuguese
Transmission System [26], Fig. 4. Published data for the transmission network voltage levels 150 kV and 220 kV are used to
describe the 138 kV and 230 kV transmission lines of the IEEE
RTS network. The average value in the time span 20062012 was
used for this purpose: 2.80 faults/100 km/year (138 kV) and 1.9
faults/100 km/year (230 kV).
As regards busbar fault rate, a statistical study was undertaken
by the authors for the 150 kV and 220 kV Portuguese Transmission
System. The index faults per 100 busses was calculated for 2003
up to 2012, considering all existing substation topologies and the
number of substations in service each year. Results are presented

Network operation was simulated by Monte Carlo over 80 years.

Statistical information was drawn from simulation results.

Fig. 5. Bus fault rate in the Portuguese transmission network220 kV (solid) and
150 kV (dash).

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

33

Fig. 6. Fault type in the 150 kV Portuguese transmission network from 2004 to 2012 (percentage), including computed average and standard deviation.

Fig. 7. Fault type in the 220 kV Portuguese transmission network from 2004 to 2012 (percentage), including computed average and standard deviation.

Table 2
Fault resistanceWeibull distribution parameters.
Voltage (kV)

()

138
220

33.1156
38.2712

1.4594
1.8406

4.2.1. Line fault rate

Line fault rate was computed for the 138 kV and 230 kV
networks separately. Results are presented in Figs. 8 and 9, the
pre-dened yearly average fault rate being highlighted. The calculated average values, for the 138 kV and 230 kV networks, are
2.83 faults/100 km/year and 1.97 faults/100 km/year, respectively.

Fig. 8. Line fault rate in the 138 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of
network operation.

These results are consistent with the pre-dened values. Simulation results reproduce atypical years as happen in real transmission
systems.
4.2.2. Fault type
Fault type distribution was computed separately for the 138 kV
and 230 kV networks, results being shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
Statistical analysis of results is also included. Results show the random nature of fault type distribution, respecting the predened
average value. Fault type distributions with the highest average values present the highest relative values of the standard deviations.
The smaller average value corresponds to LL faults in the 138 kV

Fig. 9. Line fault rate in the 230 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of
network operation.

34

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

Fig. 10. Fault type in the 138 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of network operation.

Fig. 11. Fault type in the 230 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of network operation.

network, which is of the same order of magnitude as the standard

deviation. As a result, some of the simulated years are characterized by the absence of such fault type. This is in accordance with
the observation made in the Portuguese Transmission System, for
instance for the year 2012.
4.2.3. Fault resistance
Transmission line fault resistances, corresponding to SLG and
2LG, generated over the simulated time span were analyzed statistically considering 10  resistance bins. Results per voltage level are
presented in Figs. 12 and 13. For comparison with the predened
Weibull distributions, these are also plotted.

Fig. 12. Fault resistance in the 138 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of
network operation. Comparison with predened Weibull distribution.

5. Application exampleshort-circuit calculation

5.1. Short-circuit current amplitude
Short circuit currents, occurring during the 80-year time span,
were computed, considering both transmission line and bus simulated faults. Results obtained for the maximum interrupted current
are presented in Figs. 14 and 15 for the 138 kV and 230 kV networks.
The density and cumulative distributions are shown.
The density distribution allows identifying typical values and
limits for each voltage level. For the 138 kV network, results are
in the range 500 A to 9 kA, and indicate a typical value around

Fig. 13. Fault resistance in the 230 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of
network operation. Comparison with predened Weibull distribution.

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

Fig. 14. Short-circuit current distribution (density and cumulative values) in the
138 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of network operation.

35

Fig. 17. Fault time constant distribution (density and cumulative values) in the
230 kV networksimulation results for 80 years of network operation.

5.2. Short-circuit current time constant

Short-circuit current time constant was also computed for each
generated fault. Statistical results are presented in Figs. 16 and 17,
for 138 kV and 230 kV networks, showing the density and cumulative distributions.
Results indicate that nearly 60% of the faults have a short-circuit
time constant lower than 5 ms. The higher computed time constant
values are from 5 to 35 ms in the 138 kV network, and from 5 to
60 ms in the 230 kV network. For faults with time constant higher
than 5 ms, results do not allow to identify typical values.
6. Conclusions

Fig. 15. Short-circuit current distribution (density and cumulative values) in the
230 kVsimulation results for 80 years of network operation.

Fig. 16. Fault time constant distribution (density and cumulative values) in the
138 kVsimulation results for 80 years of network operation.

2 kA. Results are in the range 1 kA10.5 kA for the 230 kV network,
showing a typical value around 3 kA.
The cumulative distribution gives important information to
establish circuit breaker and current transformer requirements,
considering a probabilistic approach. For instance, for the 138 kV
network, results show that the maximum interrupted current is
lower than 8 kA, for 98% of the faults. For the 230 kV network this
value is 11.5 kA.

A stochastic fault model, suitable to probabilistic power system

studies, is presented. Fault rate and individual fault characteristics
are modeled, namely fault location, type and resistance. The developed model is able to reproduce atypical years, as happen in real
transmission networks.
Fault input data are given based on utilities collected records,
for different voltage levels. These include time series of line and
bus fault rate and fault type. A fault resistance model is suggested,
based on Weibull distribution, which parameters are set per voltage
level.
Time series of fault input data and simulation results are presented in a common format, so to allow using the same statistical
tools as used in power system monitoring and eld data reporting,
and thus a straight forward comparison between simulation results
and eld data.
A stochastic short circuit calculation methodology, which
identies the highest interrupted current by circuit breakers, is
developed and applied to the IEEE RTS network. Results are shown
for the probability of amplitude and time constant values, as density
and cumulative distributions plots.
Results indicate that typical values and limits are dependent
on the network voltage level. A typical value around 2 kA is found
for the maximum interrupted short circuit current in the138 kV
network, computed results being in the range 500 A to 9 kA. For the
230 kV network, results are in the range 1 kA10.5 kA, showing a
typical value around 3 kA.
As regards the short circuit current time constant, the results
indicate that nearly 60% of the faults have a short-circuit time constant lower than 5 ms. The higher computed time constant values
are from 5 to 35 ms in the 138 kV network, and from 5 to 60 ms in
the 230 kV network. For faults with time constant higher than 5 ms,
results do not allow to identify typical values.
Simulation results are prone to be used to specify network
circuit breakers and current transformers probabilistically. For

36

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937

instance, for the 138 kV network, results show that the maximum
interrupted current is lower than 8 kA, for 98% of the faults. For the
230 kV network this value is 11.5 kA.
The proposed stochastic description of power system faults
applied to short-circuit calculation allows obtaining valuable information that enriches current knowledge of the system planner and
designer, which is usually based on maximum and minimum values. The typical values, its ranges and distribution, obtained with
the proposed model, broaden the overall knowledge the power
system at the planning and design stage, allowing solutions assessment based on risk analysis.

The Edison Electric Institute & Bell System study has published
the mode and average statistic values, Table A1. This information
was used to calculate the scale and shape parameters of a Weibull
distribution that best ts the collected data. Curve tting and the
cumulative distribution of the collected measurements are presented in Fig. A1.
The EDF study published a distribution of fault resistance observations in 60 kV networks, as presented in Table A2. A Weibull
distribution was tted to the data and is presented in Fig. A2. In
this gure, the area of the histogram bars is proportional to the
relative frequency of each bin and its value equals to observation
frequency/bin width.

Appendix A.
References
A study developed by the authors suggests that the random
nature of fault resistance can be described by a Weibull distribution. This study was based on the statistical analysis of collected
measurements, carried out by Edison Electric Institute & Bell System [20] for 220 kV and 132 kV networks and by EDF [21] for the
60 kV networks.
Table A1
Fault resistance after [19].
Network (kV)

Range ()

Mode ()

Average ()

132
220

868
5132

15
25

30
34

Fig. A1. Fault resistance density and cumulative distributionWeibull functions for
the 220 kV (solid) and 132 kV (dash) tted to published experimental data (circle).
Table A2
Distribution of fault resistance occurrences in the 60 kV network after [20].
Obs.
(%)

10
25

]10; 20]
15

]20; 40]
25

]40; 80]
24

]80;200]
8

>200
3

Fig. A2. Histogram of fault resistance observations in the 60 kV and tted Weibull
distribution function.

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Andr dos Santos works in the Portuguese Transmission System operator since
2002, currently is head of Protection and Automation Conception and Design
division. For more than 10 years was responsible for protection studies in the
transmission network, and in the design of protection schemes used in Phase Shift

A. dos Santos, M.T.C.d. Barros / Electric Power Systems Research 126 (2015) 2937
Autotransformers, EHV capacitor banks and shunt reactors, and schemes based
on nonconventional instrument transformers. Was Protection Engineer Advisor
on several transmission level substation projects part of the Portuguese National
Transmission Grid. Secretary of CIGRE SC B5/WG 16: Modern Techniques For
Protecting Busbars In HV Networks and member of CIGRE WG B5.23 Short circuit protection of circuits with mixed conductor technologies in transmission
networks. Currently he is doing his PhD thesis in Instituto Superior Tcnico (IST),
the Engineering School of the University of Lisbon in the subject of Stochastic
Prediction of Voltages Sags Depth and Duration in Electric Power Transmission
Systems.
Professor Maria Teresa Correia de Barros has a long academic career at Instituto
Superior Tcnico (IST), the Engineering School of the University of Lisbon. Together
with teaching and research, she fullled different management positions, namely as

37

Vice President of the Scientic Council of IST and Pro-Rector of the university. From
2001 to 2009 she was working in Industry, at EDP -Energias de Portugal, namely
as Member of the Executive Board of Labelec, the company in charge of Studies,
Development and Testing.
Her main research interests are the elds of High Voltage Engineering, Electromagnetic Transients and Electrical Power Quality. Currently she is Vice-President of
the Power Systems Computation Conference, Chair of International Conference on
Power Systems Transients and Member of the Advisory Board of the International
Journal on Electrical Power & Energy Systems, published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
For more than 25 years she actively contributed to CIGR activities. Professor Correia de Barros become an IEEE Fellow (2000) in recognition of her contribution to
modeling and analysis of power systems transients. Since 2002, she is also a Fellow
of the Portuguese National Engineers Association (Membro Conselheiro da Ordem
dos Engenheiros). She was granted the CIGR Technical Committee Award 2008.