The Escalating Arcing Ground-Fault Phenomenon
- 1 November 1986
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications
- Vol. IA-22 (6), 1156-1161
- https://doi.org/10.1109/tia.1986.4504848
Abstract
The cause and avoidance of arcing fault burndowns of electrical equipments, particularly those operating in low-voltage solidly grounded systems, were well identified and documented in publications appearing in the 1960's [1]-[5]. The subsequent occasional appearance of similarly devastating arcing ground fault burndowns in equipments operating on medium-voltage low-resistance grounded systems seemed to be irreconcilable with the presence of the relative high value of the neutral grounding resistor. A failure analysis based on on-site observations produced a probable scenario of escalating arcing ground faults, which explains the mechanism that will render the usual and proper complement of time-overcurrent ground-fault relays inoperative. A detailed description of the escalating arcing ground fault phenomenon is presented. It further identifies preventive arcing escalation solutions that impact on the specification of switchgear, switchboards, and motor control equipments.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Effects of Arcing Ground Faults on Low-Voltage System DesignIEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 1972
- The Problem of Arcing Faults in Low-Voltage Power Distribution SystemsIEEE Transactions on Industry and General Applications, 1967
- Arcing Fault Protection for Low-Voltage Power Distribution System - Nature of the ProblemTransactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Part III: Power Apparatus and Systems, 1960