ANALYSIS OF DISTRIBUTION DISTURBANCES AND ARCING FAULTS USING THE CREST FACTOR

Transient analysis of distribution disturbances for fault discriminati on and event identification can be an important tool for the secure pr otection of power systems. A simple parameter which quantifies wave di stortion has been used to analyze many different behaviors. Theoretica l perspectives of the transients were studied and their impacts on cha nges in the crest factor were thoroughly examined. After testing the s cheme with real transient data, discrimination and identification guid elines based on the crest factor were developed. The identification me thod may not be complete, but it successfully discriminates arcing fau lts from other disturbances, providing security enhancement for distri bution protection.