Symmetrical Three-Phase Fault

Prepared by: Christian A. Cagayan

Course Outline:
Introduction to Power System Analysis
Common Power System Studies
Types of Fault
Purpose of Short Circuit Calculation
Short Circuit Contributors
Characteristic of Short Circuit Current
Short Circuit Calculation Times
Symmetrical Fault Calculation
Introduction to Power System Analysis

It is the study of the behavior, reliability and

stability of the electrical network or system,
during different operating and loading conditions
(i.e. Normal, Contingency, Steady-State and
Transient).
It is used to verify the Power System design
practicality and workability; Verify the sizing of
the major electrical equipment.
Power System Analysis is considered as the
widest and most complicated study in the field of
Electrical Engineering.
Common Power System Studies

1. Load Flow Analysis

2. Short Circuit Study
3. Motor Acceleration
4. Cable Sizing Calculation
5. Relay Coordination
6. Harmonic Study
7. Arc Flash Calculation
8. Grounding Grid Calculation (Touch & Step
Potential)
9. Temperature Rise Analysis etc.
Types of Fault

Shunt fault unintentional connection between

phases or between phase and ground.

Symmetrical
1. Three Phase Fault fault
2. Line to Ground Fault (L-G)
Unsymmetrical
3. Line to Line Fault (L-L) fault

4. Double Line to Ground Fault (L-L-G)

Series fault open circuits which may be caused

by broken conductors.
Shunt fault
Symmetrical fault (Three-Phase fault)

The symmetrical fault occurs when all the three

conductors of a 3-phase line are brought
together simultaneously into a short circuit
condition as shown in Fig. 13-4 (a) Schematic
diagram (b) positive sequence network.
This type of fault gives rise to symmetrical
currents i.e. equal fault currents with 120 deg.
displacement.
This type of fault occurs infrequently in practices
as majority of the faults are unsymmetrical
nature.
Symmetrical fault
Basic Assumptions

An important assumption is that the fault is

bolted, that is, it has zero impedance.
This assumption simplifies calculation, since the
resulting calculated values are a maximum and
equipment selected on this basis will always
have an adequate rating.
Symmetrical fault (3-phase fault) results in the
maximum short circuit current available in the
system. In most systems the 3-phase fault is
frequently the only one calculated.
Basic Assumptions

Bolted line to line (L-L) currents are about 87%

of the 3-phase value.
Bolted line to ground (L-G) currents can range
from about 25-125% of the 3-phase value,
depending on system parameters. However, L-G
currents more than 100% of the 3-phase value
rarely occur in industrial and commercial system.
Unsymmetrical fault

- On the occurrence of an unsymmetrical fault, the

currents in the three lines become unequal and
so is the phase displacement among them.
- However, the system impedances and the
source voltages are always symmetrical through
its main elements such as generators,
transmission lines, synchronous reactors etc.
- There are three ways in which unsymmetrical
faults may occur in a power system (see Fig. 13-
5, Fig. 13-6 and Fig. 13-7).
Line to Ground fault through a fault
impedance
Double-Line to Ground fault
Double-Line fault
Purpose of Short Circuit Calculation

1. Determine the duty rating of protective devices

and bus bracing capability.
2. Determine the proper size of cables.
3. Determine the settings of relays.
4. Properly coordinate the protective devices.
5. Determine whether the short-circuit MVA is
sufficient to start large motors without excessive
voltage dip.
6. Study the effect of power system harmonics.
7. Arc Flash Study.
Short Circuit Contributors

1. Utility
2. Generator
3. Synchronous Motor
4. Induction Motor
Short Circuit Contributors

UTILITY GENERATOR

SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR INDUCTION MOTOR

Characteristic of Short Circuit Current
Characteristic of Short Circuit Current
Characteristic of Short Circuit Current
Characteristic of Short Circuit Current
Short Circuit Calculation Times
1.) First Cycle
a. RMS Symmetrical used in sizing the Short
Circuit Rating of Low Voltage MCCB, and Switch-Fuse
combination.
b. Asymmetrical used in sizing the Short Circuit
Rating of MV Switch-Fuse combination, and Close and
Latch rating of MV Power Circuit Breaker (Asymmetrical =
1.6 RMS Symmetrical; Peak = 2.6 RMS Symmetrical).

Contributions: Consider Subtransient Impedances from all

sources.
Short Circuit Calculation Times
2.) 1.5 to 4 Cycles used in sizing the Interrupting Rating
of MV Power Circuit Breakers.
Contributions:
a. Induction motors NEGLECT
b. Synchronous motors - Xd
c. Generators Xd
d. Utility Xd
3.) 30 Cycles used in estimating the performance of Time
Delay Relays and Fuses.
Contributions:
a. Utility Xd
b. All others - NEGLECT
Symmetrical Fault Calculation
Short Circuit Calculation by:
1.) Thevenin Equivalent
2.) Network Reduction
3.) Bus Admittance Matrix
Steps for Fault Calculation:
1. Draw a single line diagram.
2. Choose base kVA and convert all percentage
reactances (per unit) to this base value.
3. Draw reactance diagram showing one phase of the
system and the neutral. Indicate the reactances in per
unit. The transformer in the system should be
represented by a reactance in series.
Symmetrical Fault Calculation
Steps for Symmetrical Fault Calculation:
4. Find the total per unit reactance of the network up to the
point of fault.
5. Find the full load current corresponding to the selected
base kVA and the normal system voltage at the fault point.
Short Circuit Formulas:
=

=


=

=

() = ()

= =

Three Phase Fault
Three Phase Fault
Three Phase Fault

1 = = ()
1 +
= 1
2 = 0 = 0
= =
() = ()
On a balanced three phase system, the same magnitude
of fault currents will flow in each phase of the network if
a three phase fault occurs.
Since faults currents are balanced, the faulted system
can, therefore, be analyzed using the single phase
representation.
Sample Problem 1
Sample Problem 2
Thevenin Equivalent
Thevenins Theorem states that, with respect to a given
pair of terminals, any electric circuit can be represented
by a single voltage source in series with a single
impedance.
Thevenin Equivalent
Fault MVA:
The short circuit current at any point in the power system
is generally expressed in terms of a fault MVA. By
definition,
Sample Problem 3
Sample Problem 4
Network Reduction
1.) Draw the Single Line Diagram.
2.) Draw the Impedance Diagram.
3.) Convert all parameters to per-unit.
4.) Reduce the network between the source(s) and the
fault location.
5.) Calculate the fault current.
Sample Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Solution to Problem 5
Bus Admittance Matrix
Bus Admittance Matrix

1 1
NOTE: = =
+
Bus Admittance Matrix
Bus Admittance Matrix
Bus Admittance Matrix
Elements of
Systematic Fault Analysis Using
Bus Impedance Matrix
Systematic Fault Analysis Using
Bus Impedance Matrix
Systematic Fault Analysis Using
Bus Impedance Matrix
Sample Problem 6
Fault at bus 1 and 2 in Fig. 7.3 are of interest. The pre-fault voltage
is 1.05 per unit and pre-fault load current is neglected.
(a) Determine the 2 x 2 positive-sequence bus impedance matrix.
(b) For a bolted three-phase short circuit at bus 1, use to
calculate the subtransient fault current and the contribution to the
fault current from the transmission line.
(c) Repeat part (b) for a bolted three-phase short circuit at bus 2.