What term describes any faults that are not three-phase symmetrical faults?

The term that describes any faults that are not three-phase symmetrical faults is asymmetrical faults. In power systems, faults can be categorized based on their characteristics. A symmetrical fault involves all three phases being equally affected, such as a three-phase short circuit, where the electrical parameters remain balanced throughout.

On the other hand, asymmetrical faults, also known as unsymmetrical faults, occur when the fault affects the system in a way that does not maintain this balance. Common examples of asymmetrical faults include line-to-ground faults, line-to-line faults, and double line-to-ground faults, which disturb the balance among the three phases. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for engineers involved in designing and analyzing electrical systems since asymmetrical faults can lead to different protection strategies and behaviors in the system compared to symmetrical faults.