Directional ground-fault indicator for high-resistance grounded systems

Locating ground faults is a difficult and challenging problem for low-voltage power systems that are ungrounded or have high-impedance grounding. Recent work in pilot signals has renewed efforts in developing fault location methodologies. This paper presents a method for directional ground-fault indication that utilizes the fundamental frequency voltages and currents. Although the ground-fault current is small and usually less than the load currents, the fault has zero-sequence components that distinguish it from the load. Signal processing techniques are used to identify and compare the fault signals to determine the fault direction. The process takes advantage of the currents flowing from the distributed grounding capacitance. An experimental microprocessor-based directional indicator unit is tested in an industrial power distribution system. Directional indication of ground faults is applied near tap-off branch circuit connections. Promising results from field test conducted in a harmonic-noisy setting are presented. Directional indicator units simplify the search process on large networks, thus reducing the time and effort necessary to locate and remove the fault, and thereby significantly reduces the probability of a second ground fault with its destructive currents.