New Method for High Impedance Faults Detection ...

High Impedance Faults (HIFs) detection has always been difficult, because their signs are not clear. This paper presents a new method for HIFs detection in distribution networks. The proposed method can easily discern the HIFs from other same phenomena in distribution networks such as capacitors switching, linear and nonlinear loads switching. This method has been used Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) properties and time variations of current waveform in four stages for HIFs detection. One advantage of proposed method compared to other methods is HIFs detection from random nonlinear loads switching.