Sequence Impedance

Introduction
In order to study the system in the unbalanced condition using symmetrical
components the component sequence impedances need to be defined. Sequence
impedances enable manufactures to specify the component impedances under various
unbalanced conditions through just three quantities and is therefore widely used.
Synchronous machines
Positive sequence impedance is time dependent with three identified parameters
depending on the period of the response studied; Steady state, transient, subtransient.
The three values are due to the time constant for the magnetic field to penetrate the
iron of the rotor and stator.
Negative sequence impedance is due to rotating currents at twice the power frequency
so are close to the subtransient positive sequence impedance.
Zero sequence impedance depends on the impedance of the connection of the star
point of the stator windings to earth.
Lines and cables
To a good approximation it can be assumed that overhead lines and cables are fully
transposed. The self and mutual impedances will the be the same for each phase and
the positive and negative sequence impedances will be identical. The zero sequence
is due to identical current in the phases and a return in the ground therefore is effected
by weather and geography of the transmission line. A typical equivalent circuit
representation of a three phase transmission line is shown in Figure 1.
Zs

Ia

VaS

VaL
Zm

Ib

Zs

Zm
VbL

Vbs
Zs

Ic

VcS

Zm
VcL

Figure 1. Equivalent circuit for a full transposed transmission line

For a fully transposed transmission line as depicted in figure 1. the voltage and
currents are then related by:
VaS Z s
V Z
bS m
VcS Z m

Zm
Zs
Zm

Z m I a VaL
Z m I b VbL
Z s I c VcL

(1)

Using the transformation to symmetrical components equation (1) can be written as

1 1
1 h 2

1 h

1 V0 S Z s
h V1S Z m
h 2 Vc 2 Z m

Z m 1 1
Z m 1 h 2
Z s 1 h

Zm
Zs
Zm

1 I 0 1 1
h I1 1 h 2
h 2 I 2 1 h

1 V0 L
h V1L
h 2 V2 L

this then gives

V0 S
1 1
V 1 1 h
1S 3
Vc 2
1 h 2

1 Zs
h 2 Z m
h Z m

Zm
Zs
Zm

Z m 1 1
Z m 1 h 2
Z s 1 h

1 I 0 V0 L
h I1 V1L
h 2 I 2 V2 L

which reduces to
V0 S Z s 2Z m

0
V1S
Vc 2
0

0
Zs Zm
0

I 0 V0 L
0 I1 V1L
Z s Z m I 2 V2 L
0

(2)

Thus by transforming to symmetrical components we have reduced the three

simultaneous equations into 3 independent equations for each sequence component.
The sequence impedances are:
Z 0 Z s 2Z m
Z1 Z 2 Z s Z m
Transformers
For power system studies we often neglect the magnetising impedance and the
positive and negative sequence impedances are given by the leakage inductance. A
good approximation of the leakage inductance for most power system transformers is
5% of the impedance which provides rated power. The zero sequence impedance
depends on winding arrangement of the transformer. For Kirchhoffs current law to be
satisfied Zero sequence current can only flow around a delta connected three phase
winding and not enter or leave it. Also, for a Y or star connected winding the neutral
point must be earthed for zero sequence currents to flow. For a transformer the
primary and secondary windings are also closely coupled, therefore, zero sequence

currents can only flow in a winding if zero sequence currents can flow in the other
coupled winding. This is depicted in Figure 2.

a)

Circulating I0 in
delta winding
External I0 can
not enter delta
windings

Kirchhoffs current law can not

be satisfied for I0 at the delta
winding terminals
b)
External I0 can not
enter star connected
windings because
Kirchhoffs current
law can not be
satisfied at the
neutral point

c)
External I0 can enter
an earthed star
connected windings
because Kirchhoffs
current law can be
satisfied at the neutral
point

Figure 2. Three winding arrangements and the possible zero

sequence current flow. a) Delta connected winding, b) Star
connected winding with unearthed neutral, c) Star connected
winding with an earthed neutral.
Connection of windings

Primary

Circuit
Representation
per phase

comments

Secondary
Zero
sequence
current can flow in
all windings

Zero
sequence
prevented
from
flowing due to the
unearthed primary
neutral
Circulating
zero
sequence in delta
allows penetration
of secondary zero
sequence
No zero sequence
current can flow

Zero sequence only

circulated in the
delta windins

Tertiary
winding
allows
zero
sequence to flow in
secondary winding

Table 1 Transformer winding configurations and their equivalent circuit.

The resulting zero sequence equivalent circuits for different transformer winding
configurations are given in table 1.

Conclusion
The nature of sequence impedances for different power system components has been
described. From the transmission line impedance it is shown that the symmetrical
components leads to independent equations. It is also shown how the zero sequence
impedance of transformers strongly depends on the winding configuration.