A Simple Method for Evaluating Ground-Fault Current Transfer at the Transition Station of a Combined Overhead-Cable Line

Abstract

When a substation is fed by a combined overhead-cable transmission line, a significant part of the ground fault current flows through cable sheaths and is discharged into the soil at the transition station where cables are connected to the overhead line. Such a phenomenon, known as ldquofault application transfer,rdquo may result in high ground potentials at the transition station which may cause shocks and equipment damage. The scope of this paper is to present new analytic formulas which can be used for the direct calculation of the fault current transferred at the transition station and its ground potential rise as well as the substation earth current. The proposed formulas allow evaluating the influence of the main factors to the fault application transfer phenomenon and can be employed, at the preliminary design stage, to easily assess the most appropriate safety conditions to avoid dangerous effects.