In order to avoid the complex network solution operation of the ring network in the method of traveling wave fault location

a new method of traveling wave fault location based on Dijkstra algorithm is proposed. After a certain transmission line fault in the power grid

the initial traveling wave arrival time is recorded at all substations. Dijkstra algorithm is used to calculate the shortest path

shortest path distance matrix is established

and the shortest path matrix and the initial traveling time are utilized to calculate the fault distance

then the fault distance matrix is established. Finally

the validity of the elements in the fault distance matrix is identified and the exact fault location is obtained by combining all the effective fault distances. The proposed method is proved to improve the reliability and accuracy of network location without complex network operation by the simulation results.