Field recorded waveform data.

To tackle the challenge of localization failure due to traveling wave dispersion during a mid-line fault in a long high-voltage cable, this study conducts an in-depth analysis of the refraction characteristics of the cumulative three-phase sheath currents at cross commutation points and direct grounding points, facilitated by detailed theoretical derivation. We introduce the novel concept of a ’first traveling wave attenuation index,’ which quantifies the peak of the initial faulted traveling wave. We strategically place distributed traveling wave detection devices solely in the first direct grounding box of each cross-interconnected main section, effectively segmenting the line into five distinct zones. These zones are identified based on the unique transient polarities exhibited by the first traveling wave of fault current at each impedance mismatch point along the cable. To overcome the issue of weak traveling wave signals collected at the first end measurement point, we propose an innovative peak detection method for the first wave. This method harnesses the power of empirical wavelet transform (EWT) and multi-resolution singular value decomposition (MRSVD), providing a significant boost in ranging accuracy compared to traditional wavelet methods. Simulation results validate the efficacy of our proposed fault location method, which accurately pinpoints the fault section by contrasting the polarity of the first wave peak of the sheath current detected at each measurement point. Notably, our method ensures safety and convenience as the equipment does not require direct contact with high voltage.