Fault Calculations

Fault Calculations

Fault Calculations

A review of:

Nature of Short Circuit Currents

Fault Types

Per Unit Quantities

Symmetrical Components

Calculation Examples
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Currents

L R

Vmax [sin(t + )] i(t) Fault

di
Vm [ sin(t + ) ] = L + Ri
dt

i(t) = Vmax [ sin(t + ) sin ( - )e R t / L]

Z

sin (t + ) = Steady state current

sin ( - )e R t / L = Transient current

 Fault Calculations

Fault Inception Angle

Vmax
I(t) = [ sin (t + ) sin ( - )e R t / L]
Z
Vmax
I(t) = [ sin (t + ) sin ( - )]
Z
= th e fa u lt o c c u r s a t V o lta g e m a x :
[ s in ( t + ) s in ( - )] = s in ( t)

- = 9 0 th e fa u lt o c c u r s a t V o lta g e z e ro :
[ s in ( t + ) s in ( - )]= s in ( t + 9 0 ) s in (9 0 ) = c o s ( t) -1

e(t)

Time

Time of fault Assume L is constant and R = 0

occurance
 Fault Calculations

Fault at Voltage Maximum

e(t)
i(t)

Time

Time of fault
occurance L is constant an R = 0
 Fault Calculations

Fault at Voltage Zero

i(f) = i(s) + i(t)

i i(t)= transient
e(t) current

i(s)= steady
state current
Time

Time of fault L constant and R = 0

occurance
 Fault Calculations

Fault at Voltage Zero R 0

i(t)= transient i(f) = i(s) + i(t)

e(t)
i current
i(s)= steady
state current
Time

- = 90

Time of fault L is constant and R 0

occurance
 Fault Calculations

Transient & Subtransient Reactance

jXd"
jXd'
jXd R

i(t) Fault

Vmax [sin(t + )]
 Fault Calculations

Asymmetrical Fault Current

Total Asymmetrical Current

i''max DC Component + AC Component
i'max

imax

Time

R = 0 and L is not constant

 Fault Calculations

Variation of Current with Time

During a Fault
 Fault Calculations

Variation of Generator Reactance

During a Fault
 Fault Calculations

Transient and Subtransient

Reactances

Instantaneous units are set with short circuit currents

calculated with subtransient reactances, that result in
higher values of current.

Time delay units can be set using the same values or

the transient reactance, depending on the operating
speed of the protection relays.

Transient reactance values are generally used in

stability studies.
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculation

Fault Types Single Phase to Ground

X
Z
A
a
G
X
C B

Z
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Fault Types Line to Line

A Z

G
C B

Z X

a
X
Z
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Fault Types Three Phase

X
A Z
a
G
C B

X
Z
a
X
Z
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Example 1 System Impedance

115kV 11.2 59.5 25kV

3 1.56
3

Transformer
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Example 1 Equivalent Impedance

115kV + +
Z1 V1 V2 Z2
3

V1 2 V2 2
V1 A1 = V 2A2 V1 A1 = V2 A2 =
Z1 Z2

V1 2
Z1 = Z 2 x
V2 2
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Example 1 Equivalent Impedance at 25 kV

Z25 = Z115 x
[] 25/3
115/3
2

115 kV 25kV
System 11.2 0.53

Xfrm 59.5 2.80

 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Example 1 Fault Calculation at 25 kV

0.53 2.80 1.56

25kV
3
I fault

25kV 25kV
IF = = 3 x 4.89 = 2952A
3 x Z
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System

Convert all system parameters to a common base

All components at all voltage levels are combined

Transformers become transparent to calculations

Operating system current and voltage values can be

derived as the last calculation
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System

Establish two base quantities:

MVA3
Standard practice is to define
- Base power 3 phase
kVL-L - Base voltage line to line

Other quantities derived with

basic power equations
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System

MVAbase x1000
I base = 3 x kV L-Lbase
kV2L-Lbase
Z base = MVA
base
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System
Per Unit Value = Actual Quantity
Base Quantity
Vpu = Vactual
Vbase
Ipu = Iactual
Ibase
Zpu = Zactual
Zbase
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System Base Conversion
Zpu = Zactual Zbase = kV 2base
Zbase MVAbase

Z1base = MVA1base Z2base = MVA2base X Zactual

2 kV 2
kV 1base X Zactual 2base

Ratio Z1base @Z2base =Z1base x kV 21base x MVA2base

Z2base
kV 22base MVA1base
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System Base Conversion

Z2pu = Z1pu x MVA2base

MVA1base

Use if equipment voltage ratings are the

same as system base voltages.
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System 25 kV Base

Select MVAbase = 100

100 x 103
Ibase = = 2309A
3 x 25

Zbase = 252 = 6.25

100
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System Transformers

11.5 / 25kV Delta Grounded Wye

20 / 26.7 / 33.3 MVA Z = 9.0%
Impedance is 0.09 per unit on a 20 MVA
base
Z100 pu = 0.09 x 100 = 0.45 pu
20
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Per Unit System Example 1

0.08 pu 0.45 pu 0.25 pu

25kV
3
I fault

1.0 1.0
IF = = 0.78 = 1.28 pu amperes
Z
I25kV = 1.28pu x 2309A = 2960A
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components

Provides a practical technology for

understanding and analyzing power system
operation during unbalance conditions

Protective Relaying
Principles and Applications
J. Lewis Blackburn
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Sequence Components

lc1
lb2 la2 la0
lb0
la1 lc0

lb1 lc2

Positive Negative Zero

 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
a operator

a=1 120 I a1=1 120

I b1=1 a1 240 = a2I a1
1 0 Ic1=1 a1 120 = aI a1

a2=1 240
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Network Equations

I a = I1 +I 2+I 0 [
I 1 = 1 Ia+aI b+a 2 Ic ]
3
I b = a 2 I 1 +aI 2 +I 0 I2 = 1 [Ia+a 2Ib+aIc]
3

I c = aI 1 +a 2I 2+I 0 I0 = 1 [Ia+Ib+Ic]
3
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Component Vectors
Ic=1 120

a=1 120 Ia=1 0

a 2 =1 240
Ib=1 240

[
I 1 = 1/3 Ia+aI b +a 2I c ]
aI b = 1 120 x 1 240 = 1 360
I 1=1/3 I a
a 2 I c= 1 240 x 1 120 = 1 360

I 2 = 1/3 [Ia+a 2Ib+aIc]

a 2 I b= 1 240 x 1 240 = 1 120
aI c= 1 120 x 1 120 = 1 240 I2 = 0
 Fault Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Network Equations

I a = I1 +I 2+I 0
In three phase systems, the
neutral current is equal to
I b = a 2 I 1 +aI 2 +I 0
In = (Ia + Ib + Ic) and,
therefore, In = 3Io.

I c = aI 1 +a 2I 2+I 0
 Fault Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Network Equations

The same equations apply to the voltages:

Va0 = 1/3(Va + Vb + Vc)

Va1 = 1/3(Va + aVb + a2Vc)

Va2 = 1/3(Va + a2Vb + aVc)

 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Network Representations
Z1

1 pu I1

Positive
Sequence Z2

I2

Negative
Sequence Z0

I0

Zero Sequence
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Three Phase Fault

Z1
X
1 pu I1

Positive Sequence
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Phase to Phase Fault
Z1
X
1 pu I1

Positive Sequence

Z2
X
I2

Negative Sequence
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Phase to Ground Fault
Z1
X
1 pu I1

Positive Sequence

Z2
X
I2

Negative Sequence

Z0
X
I0

Zero Sequence
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Open Conductor Condition
Z1
X
1 pu I1

Positive Sequence
Z2
X
I2

Negative Sequence

Z0
X
I0

Zero Sequence
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Transformer Representations

H L
Z 1 or Z2

N1 or N2

Grounded Wye - Grounded Wye

H L
Z0

N0
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Transformer Representations

H L
Z 1 or Z2

N1 or
N2
Delta - Grounded Wye
H L
Z0
N0
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Transformer Representations

H L
Z 1 or Z 2

R
N 1 or N2

Delta-Grounded Wye H L
with Grounding Resistor Z0

In = (Ia + Ib + Ic) N0
3R
In = 3I0 G
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Three Phase Fault

1 pu
0.08 pu 0.45 pu 0.25 pu I1

I 2 = I0 = 0
I a = I1 + I2 + I0 = I1 = 1.28 pu A
Ib = a2 I1 I c = a I1
I 25kV = 1.28 pu x 2309 A = 2960 A
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Phase to Ground Fault
0.08 pu 0.45 pu 0.25 pu
X

1 pu

Positive Sequence
I1 = I 2 = I 0
I1 = 1.0 = 1pu = 0.35puA 0.08 pu 0.45 pu 0.25 pu
Z 2.86 pu
X

Ia = I 1 + I 2 + I 0 = 1.05puA
Negative Sequence
I25k V = 1.05 x 2309 = 2424 A

0.27 pu 0.45 pu 0.95 pu

X

Zero Sequence
 Fault Calculations

Short Circuit Calculations

Symmetrical Components
Phase to Ground Fault
0.08 pu 0.45 pu
X
Transformer Low
1 pu I1
Side Faults
Positive Sequence
I1 = I 2 = I 0
I 1 = 1.0 = 1pu = 0.66 puA 0.08 pu 0.45 pu
Z 1.51pu
X
I2
I a = I 1 + I 2 + I 0 = 1.99puA
Negative Sequence
I 25k V = 1.99 x 2309 =4595A X

0.27 pu 0.45 pu

I0

Zero Sequence
 Fault Calculations

References
Blackburn, J. I., Protective Relaying Principles and Applications, Marcel
Dekker, Inc., copyright 1987

Blackburn, J. I., Symmetrical Components for Power Systems Engineering,

Marcel Dekker, Inc., copyright 1993

ABB Power T&D Co., Protective Relaying Theory and Application, Marcel
Dekker, Inc., copyright 1994

Stevenson, W.D., Elements of Power System Analysis, McGraw-Hill Book

Company, Inc., copyright 1962

IEEE Std 242-1986, IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and

Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems

Cooper Power Systems, Electrical Distribution System Protection, copyright

1990, Third Edition

2008 Beckwith Electric Co., Inc.