EXPERT WORKSHOP SERIES

Session 4:
Sensitive Earth Fault Detection – Concepts
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Earth Fault Detection in Systems with Isolated or Compensated Starpoint

Earth fault detection:

• Is there an earth fault in the network?
• Which phase is affected?

Page 2 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Earth Fault Detection in Systems with Isolated or Compensated Starpoint

Earth fault detection:

• Is there an earth fault in the network?
• Which phase is affected?

Determination of the direction of the earth fault: where is the fault?

Page 3 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Earth Fault Detection in Systems with Isolated or Compensated Starpoint

Earth fault detection:

• Is there an earth fault in the network?
• Which phase is affected?

Determination of the direction of the earth fault: where is the fault?

Methods:
• Methods based on 50(60)Hz steady state quantities (cos, sin)
• Methods based on steady state harmonics (normally 5. harmonic)
• Methods based on transients at fault inception
• Methods based on current injection at the star point
• Special functions for intermittent earth faults

Page 4 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Earth Fault Detection in Systems with Isolated or Compensated Starpoint

Earth fault detection:

• Is there an earth fault in the network?
• Which phase is affected?

Determination of the direction of the earth fault: where is the fault?

Methods:
• Methods based on 50(60)Hz steady state quantities (cos, sin)
• Methods based on steady state harmonics (normally 5. harmonic)
• Methods based on transients at fault inception
• Methods based on current injection at the star point
• Special functions for intermittent earth faults
These functions are normally integrated in the short circuit protection devices
(overcurrent relays, distance relays)

Page 5 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Detection of the Displacement Voltage (Zero Sequence Voltage)

Open Delta Winding

L1
L2
L3

Normal operation:
UN
3
UL1 = UL2= UL3 = 58V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  = 0V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3 = 3 · U0 Earth fault in L1:
100V UL1 = 0V
3 UL2 = UL3 = 100V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  =173V
3 U0
100V
3
Normal operation: 0V
Earth fault: 100V

Page 6 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Detection of the Displacement Voltage (Zero Sequence Voltage)

Open Delta Winding

L1
L2
L3

Normal operation:
UN
3
UL1 = UL2= UL3 = 58V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  = 0V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3 = 3 · U0 Earth fault in L1:
100V UL1 = 0V
3 UL2 = UL3 = 100V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  =173V
3 U0
100V
3
Normal operation: 0V
Earth fault: 100V

Page 7 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Detection of the Displacement Voltage (Zero Sequence Voltage)

Open Delta Winding

L1
L2
L3

Normal operation:
UN
3
UL1 = UL2= UL3 = 58V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  = 0V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3 = 3 · U0 Earth fault in L1:
100V UL1 = 0V
3 UL2 = UL3 = 100V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  =173V
3 U0
100V
3
Normal operation: 0V
Earth fault: 100V

Page 8 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Detection of the Displacement Voltage (Zero Sequence Voltage)

Open Delta Winding

L1
L2
L3

Normal operation:
UN
3
UL1 = UL2= UL3 = 58V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  = 0V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3 = 3 · U0 Earth fault in L1:
100V UL1 = 0V
3 UL2 = UL3 = 100V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  =173V
3 U0
100V
3
Normal operation: 0V
Earth fault: 100V

Page 9 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Detection of the Displacement Voltage (Zero Sequence Voltage)

Open Delta Winding

L1
L2
L3

Normal operation:
UN
3
UL1 = UL2= UL3 = 58V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  = 0V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3 = 3 · U0 Earth fault in L1:
100V UL1 = 0V
3 UL2 = UL3 = 100V
UL1 + UL2 + UL3  =173V
3 U0
100V
3
Normal operation: 0V
Earth fault: 100V

Page 10 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

How can we measure the residual current IE = -(IL1+IL2+IL3)?

IL1 Relay inputs Holmgreen

connection
IL2

IL3

IL1+IL2+IL3
IE

Page 11 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

How can we measure the residual current IE = -(IL1+IL2+IL3)?

IL1 Relay inputs Holmgreen

connection
IL2

IL3

IL1+IL2+IL3
IE

IL1 Relay inputs Internal

Computation of IE
IL2

IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3

IE

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How can we measure the residual current IE = -(IL1+IL2+IL3)?

IL1 Relay inputs Holmgreen IL1 Relay inputs

connection
IL2 IL2

IL3 IL3

IL1+IL2+IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3
IE

IE

IL1 Relay inputs Internal

Computation of IE IE measurement
IL2 with core balance ct
(high sensitivity possible)
IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3

IE

Page 13 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

How can we measure the residual current IE = -(IL1+IL2+IL3)?

IL1 Relay inputs Holmgreen IL1 Relay inputs

connection
IL2 IL2

IL3 IL3

IL1+IL2+IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3
IE

IE

IL1 Relay inputs Internal

Computation of IE IE measurement
IL2 with core balance ct
(high sensitivity possible)
IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3

IE

Page 14 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

How can we measure the residual current IE = -(IL1+IL2+IL3)?

IL1 Relay inputs Holmgreen IL1 Relay inputs

connection
IL2 IL2

IL3 IL3

IL1+IL2+IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3
IE
Caution:
In meshed
IE systems, we may
Internal have operational
IL1 Relay inputs
circulating residual
Computation of IE IE measurement
currents!
IL2 with core balance ct
(high sensitivity possible)
IL3
IL1+IL2+IL3

IE

Page 15 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Sensitive Directional Earth Fault
Detection with sinφ Measurement
Applied in Systems with Isolated Starpoint

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Earth fault in a system with isolated neutral

3I0A
ICE

3I0B

3I0C

3I0E

3I0D

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Sensitive Directional Earth Fault Relays with sinφ Measurement

Application: systems with isolated Starpoint

Page 18 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Sensitive Directional Earth Fault Relays with sinφ Measurement

Application: systems with isolated Starpoint

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Sensitive Directional Earth Fault Relays with sinφ Measurement

Application: systems with isolated Starpoint

Page 20 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Sensitive Directional Earth Fault
Detection with cosφ Measurement
Applied in Systems with Earth Fault Compensation

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Earth fault in a system with earth fault compensation

Icoil

3I0A

Ires
3I0B

3I0C
3I0E
Icoil 3I0D

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Sensitive Directional Earth Fault Relays with cosφ Measurement

Application: systems with earth fault compensation

Page 23 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Sensitive Directional Earth Fault Relays with cosφ Measurement

Application: systems with earth fault compensation

Page 24 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Sensitive Directional Earth Fault Relays with cosφ Measurement

Application: systems with earth fault compensation

Page 25 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Transient Directional Earth Fault
Detection

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Operating principle of a transient earth fault relay

Charging oscillation after fault inception:

Page 27 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Operating principle of a transient earth fault relay

Charging oscillation after fault inception: Operating principle:

• Detection of the fault inception point

• Elimination of the operational circulating zero

sequence current 3I0 (important for meshed
systems)

• Calculation of the active energy E0 over a limited

period, starting from the fault inception point

• The direction of the earth fault is then derived

from the sign of the active energy E0

Page 28 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Transient earth fault relay: Fault indication survey

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Intermittent Earth Fault Detection

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Intermittent earth faults

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Intermittent earth faults

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Intermittent earth faults

Page 35 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Page 35 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

• •

• •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly •

without any intervention

• •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly •

without any intervention

• •

• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is

tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly •

without any intervention

• Intermittent fault: e/f extinguishes quickly but has •

frequent restrikes (after shorter or longer intervals);

timers (for tripping/signalling) may never expire
•

• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is

tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types: Intermittent earth fault detection:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly • Triggered with first fault inception and with every
without any intervention restrike

• Intermittent fault: e/f extinguishes quickly but has •

frequent restrikes (after shorter or longer intervals);

timers (for tripping/signalling) may never expire
•

• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is

tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types: Intermittent earth fault detection:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly • Triggered with first fault inception and with every
without any intervention restrike

• Intermittent fault: e/f extinguishes quickly but has • Determination of direction with first fault inception
frequent restrikes (after shorter or longer intervals); and with every restrike
timers (for tripping/signalling) may never expire
•

• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is

tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types: Intermittent earth fault detection:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly • Triggered with first fault inception and with every
without any intervention restrike

• Intermittent fault: e/f extinguishes quickly but has • Determination of direction with first fault inception
frequent restrikes (after shorter or longer intervals); and with every restrike
timers (for tripping/signalling) may never expire
• Counting of restrikes (and integration of I0) within
• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is a certain interval (only if in selected direction)
tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement •

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types: Intermittent earth fault detection:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly • Triggered with first fault inception and with every
without any intervention restrike

• Intermittent fault: e/f extinguishes quickly but has • Determination of direction with first fault inception
frequent restrikes (after shorter or longer intervals); and with every restrike
timers (for tripping/signalling) may never expire
• Counting of restrikes (and integration of I0) within
• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is a certain interval (only if in selected direction)
tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement • Tripping based on counter (or integrated I 0)

Page 36 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Intermittent earth faults

Earth fault types: Intermittent earth fault detection:

• Transient fault: Earth fault extinguishes quickly • Triggered with first fault inception and with every
without any intervention restrike

• Intermittent fault: e/f extinguishes quickly but has • Determination of direction with first fault inception
frequent restrikes (after shorter or longer intervals); and with every restrike
timers (for tripping/signalling) may never expire
• Counting of restrikes (and integration of I0) within
• Permanent fault: e/f starts and remains until it is a certain interval (only if in selected direction)
tripped. Can be detected by the transient e/f
function or by cosφ / sinφ measurement • Tripping based on counter (or integrated I 0)

• Counter resets if no restrikes detected during

a settable interval

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Selection Table for Directional Ground Fault Functions

Page 44 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Systems with Earth Fault Compensation:
Increase of the Residual Current

3I0ZA 3I0ZA

3I0ZB 3I0ZA

IAdditional

Ires + IAdditional

Page 45 Unrestricted | © Siemens 2025 | SI EA

Systems with Earth Fault Compensation:
Increase of the Residual Current

Resistor in starpoint
is temporarily connected
if an earth fault is not
3I0ZA 3I0ZA
self-extinguishing
→ Increased fault
3I0ZB 3I0ZA current makes fault
IAdditional localisation easier

Ires + IAdditional

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