Due to multiple transmitted datasets, complexity, and failure to detect high-impedance faults, many researches have been conducted to overcome protection problems. These studies have addressed some challenges such as the need for a threshold value for detection, or in some cases, prediction of power swings. This paper is an attempt to overcome the problems of previous researches using a new and accurate wide area protection method. The proposed method determines the closest bus to the fault, considering the highest variations in positive-sequence voltage according to the information received from PMUs. To detect the faulted line, all lines connected to the selected bus are examined. Then, the line with the same polarity of current changes on both sides of the line is selected as the faulted line. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated considering various faults in the IEEE 39-bus test system, simulated by DIgSILENT software. The results indicate that the proposed method can correctly detect the faulted line. It is also shown that the proposed method can detect high-impedance and unsymmetrical faults and distinguish power swing from fault conditions.
