Abstract: It is difficult to accurately locate fault in a distribution network by one-terminal or two-terminal traveling wave method. So， a multi-terminal traveling wave fault location method was proposed. In this method， a self-adaptive strategy for traveling wave detection based on Parks transformation was made. The theory of multi-terminal traveling wave fault location method was established on the basis of analyzing the defects of the two-terminal traveling wave method. The detected arrival time of traveling wave on the terminal of distribution lines was used in fault location. The proposed method avoids the difficulty in recognizing reflect waves， and is independent of different fault types， fault inception angles and different fault resistances. Various fault cases in a distribution network were simulated by PSCAD/EMTDC and MATLAB. The results verify that the proposed method can locate fault point quickly and accurately， showing the method reliable and suitable.

Key words: distribution network, multi-terminal traveling wave, fault location, Parks transformation, two-terminal traveling wave