Systems and methods for generator ground fault protection

A method for detecting winding-to-ground faults in a generator comprising:

• injecting, by a signal injection source comprising a signal generator in electrical communication with a winding of a electric power generator via an injection transformer, an injection signal to the winding using the injection transformer, the winding being coupled to ground via a winding-to-ground path;
• and
• detecting, by a protection module in communication with the signal injection source and the electric power generator, the occurrence of a winding-to-ground fault condition based at least in part on the injection signal and a signal relating to the current through the winding-to-ground path,
• wherein the injection signal is generated to enable the protection module to differentiate the injection signal from signals resulting from the normal operation of the electric power generator, and wherein the protection module receives the injection signal.

An intelligent electronic device, comprising:

• an injection output configured to be couple to a winding of a generator;
• a processor;
• a computer readable storage medium, comprising:
• a signal injection module executable on the processor and configured to generate an injection signal capable of being injected to the winding of the generator via the injection output, the winding being coupled to ground via a path;
• and
• a protection module executable on the processor and configured to receive the injection signal and a signal relating to the current through the path and configured to determine the occurrence of a winding-to-ground fault condition based at least in part on the injection signal and the signal relating to the current through the path.