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Making Short-Circuit Calculations Easy Smart Grid
Jun 1, 2000 12:00 PM, By John Paschal, P.E. Update
Data Center
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Problem
Using the new kVA method, you only need one calculation to determine the short-
Drywall
circuit values at every point within an entire electrical power system.
In this day of high fault currents, it's more important than ever to protect electrical
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equipment from extremely high current levels. Otherwise, the equipment will explode Subscribe to Digital Edition
as it attempts to interrupt the fault. But fault current calculations have always been
difficult to get a handle on, until now.
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The new "Easy Way" kVA approach is taking the place of the abstract "Per Unit"
method of short-circuit calculations from the past. With the kVA method, you can easily
visualize what currents will flow where. And you can calculate them using an
inexpensive handheld calculator in moments, regardless of the complexity of the
electrical power system.
This method is simple because there are no awkward "base" changes to make, since
kVAs are the same on both the primary and secondary sides of every transformer.
Perhaps best of all, you only need one calculation to determine the short-circuit values
at every point within the entire electrical power system. With the old Per Unit method,
you needed a separate calculation for each point in the system.
You can obtain short-circuit kVA values from the electrical utility company, but short what's wrong here?
circuit power is also protected by generators and motors. The kVA produced by
motors equals the motor starting inrush current, and the kVA produced by generators What's Wrong
equals the kVA nameplate rating divided by its nameplate subtransient reactance Here?
rating "Xd." Oct 21, 2010 4:58 PM
For example, a 1000kVA generator with a subtransient rating of 0.15 instantaneously What’s Wrong Here?
produces 1000/0.15, or 6666kVA. A 100hp motor instantaneously produces Oct 21, 2010 11:41 AM
100,000/.17kVA, or 588kVA. If this motor and generator connect to the same bus, then FREE Exhibition Hall Admission
What's Wrong Building on the Past and Moving
the short-circuit power available at that bus is the sum (6666 + 588), or 7254kVA. If the
Here? Toward the Future!
electrical utility is rated to deliver 100kVA to this same bus, then the total short-circuit
Oct 7, 2010 2:26 PM
power available at that bus is 107,254kVA.
Keep abreast on code changes
View all What's Wrong Here? Make your business more
Using the kVA method also greatly simplifies the short-circuit power attenuation (or
holdback) provided by reactors, transformers, and conductors. For example, a What's Wrong Here profitable
2000kVA 7% impedance transformer will pass through its windings a maximum of Sponsored By: Improve worker safety at job sites
2000/.07, or 28571kVA of power, if infinite power flows to one side of its windings. If
instead of an infinite current source, the above bus connects to this transformer, then Exhibit Hall Hours
the amount of power that will be "let through" the transformer is the reciprocal of the February 23, 2011, 10AM - 6PM
sum of the reciprocals of the two, or 1/(1/107254 + 1/28571), or 22561kVA. You can February 24, 2011, 10AM - 5PM
determine transformer impedance, reactor impedance, or cable size with the kVA product of the week
method quickly enough to make "what if" calculations.
Electrical benders
Comparisons over several years have found results of the kVA method to be accurate November 1, 2010
within 3% of computer calculations using expensive software, so you can even use
the kVA method as a "check" on the input and output of a computer calculation. This is
an excellent benefit because standard engineering procedure requires you to check
calculations using a different method from the one originally used. Professionals provide answers to your questions.
Become an expert!
Editors Note: EC&M's b ook, "Short-Circuit Calculations The Easy Way," explains the
entire "Easy Way" kVA method in a step-b y-step format. Availab le from EC&M Books,
call (800) 543-7771 to order. OSHPD
Aniruddha Natekar
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