Note that the generator in Figure 18.1 is grounded through an impedance, which is installed
to limit the ground fault current. It is the usual practice to ground the neutral in some
manner, so the generator and transformer low-voltage winding are not just floating above
ground. In many cases, resistance grounding is achieved using a distribution transformer,
as shown in Figure 18.3. As long as the neutral is to be grounded, adding impedance (usually
resistance) has the advantage of limiting the fault current of phase-to-ground faults, and
thereby limiting the damage done by these faults. If the neutral impedance is high enough,
the ground fault current may be limited to rated generator current, or even less. There is no
general agreement as to the best value for this current-limiting impedance. If the impedance
is too high, the fault current is low and the phase relaying lacks sensitivity. For example,
a current lower than rated current makes it difficult for the differential relays to operate for
ground faults, and suggests that sensitive ground fault relays be used in addition to differential
_protection.