Characterization of High Impedance Faults in Solidly Grounded Distribution Networks

High Impedance Fault (HIF) detection is increasingly a concern of distribution network protection engineers. Practical methods to deal with HIFs are in great demand in the USA, where HIFs are not detected by conventional protection devices. The lack of a globally accepted description of HIFs is a difficulty for HIF detection. In the effort to understand and explain HIFs, we have carried out a theoretical study, simulations, laboratory tests, and studied field recordings. To study the influence of factors affecting HIFs, we have developed an Alternative Transients Program (ATP) simulation model and designed laboratory tests. HIF field recordings provided by Iberdrola Distribución Eléctrica S.A.U. validate the findings. In this paper, we present a HIF characterization to improve HIF detection. This accurate characterization of HIFs allows us to develop a pattern recognition method to detect HIFs.