ReviewHigh impedance fault detection: A review

•A comprehensive and systematic survey of the literature of the high impedance fault (HIF) is presented.•HIF phenomenon is discussed and its physical and electrical aspects are studied.•The existing HIF detection techniques are evaluated and compared.•Other aspects of HIF such as its modelling and location are discussed.•Possible road to the future of the HIF is discussed.

Protection from the high impedance fault (HIF) has been one of the biggest challenges in the power distribution network. HIF typically occurs when the conductors in distribution network break and touch the ground surface; or lean and touch a tree branch. This fault, with current magnitude close to the load current level, is not detectable by over-current relays. This paper aims to review the literature related to the HIF phenomenon. In this work, the HIF detection techniques are categorized, evaluated, and compared with one another. Furthermore, the existing HIF models and HIF location techniques are reviewed. Finally, the shortcoming of the existing perspective toward the HIF phenomenon and the possible road to the future for HIF detection is discussed.