Analysis of the Discharge Characteristics of Ground Fault Arc in a Distribution Network

The majority of current arc models often substitute the arc with a nonlinear resistor, and the waveform of the arc fault current is distorted before and after the zero crossing, but it does not adequately depict the process of arc restrike and extinction. In order to replicate single-phase arc-to-earth faults in the distribution system environment, this article builds an appropriate test platform. It then examines the zero rest properties of the arc under various system operating modes and transition resistance levels. The findings indicate that: 1) The neutral point is not grounded, the zero rest current in the overcompensated operation mode is greater than that in the undercompensated operation mode in both cases of negative -> positive and positive -> negative zero rest time, the arc extinguishing coil inductance is larger, and the longer the recovery time, the faster the recovery of the arc voltage force; 2) As the transition resistance value decreases, the size of the fault phase voltage and the rate of change decrease. As a result, the speed of arc voltage recovery increases. The air gap voltage recovers slowly, and in the two scenarios of negative->positive and positive->negative, the zero rest current lengthens. For the arc model to be perfected, it is crucial to analyze the zero rest properties of the distribution system ground fault arc.