A new method for discrimination of ground faults causes in distribution lines

Since most problems in distribution lines are ground faults, the technology to distinguish the causes in the distribution lines will be very useful in preventing faults beforehand or, at least finding any problems at an early stage. The waveforms of ground faults which were collected from data concerning problems in the distribution lines and ground fault experiment are analyzed. The technology which could predict classified groups drawn from the scale of I0 (the waveform of ground fault current) and V0 (the waveform of ground fault voltage), and both of them in the ground faults is studied. The results demonstrated that I0 could be classified into three groups, that is, leaking ground faults are sine curve shaped, gap discharge ground faults are triangular, and intermittent discharge ground faults are needle shaped. Also, simulated equivalent impedance of the causes of ground faults by EMTP is calculated. Furthermore, the influence caused by the condition of the distribution lines is investigated. With these results, a technique is proposed which could predict the cause of problems in ground faults.