Journal of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers (2017) 31(2)42 53 31-2-6

http://dx.doi.org/10.5207/JIEIE.2017.31.2.042 ISSN 1229-4691(Print) ISSN 2287-5034(Online)

Analysis of Open-Phase Conditions in Korean Standard

Nuclear Power Plants and Fault Detection Scheme

Choong-koo Chang*

Abstract

Because of partial losses of power known as open-phase faults, controlled reactor shutdown has
occurred in nuclear power plants around world. Depending on transformer wiring and loading, such
conditions can be difficult to detect, because phase voltage measurements can appear to be normal.
Many of the identified events went undetected for several weeks. These findings were sufficient for
staff to conclude that an open phase condition is a credible event having safety significance and must
be considered in the electric power system design for nuclear power plants. This paper elaborates the
processes and results of the open-phase fault studies on the standard nuclear power plants in Korea.
The ETAP unbalanced load flow module is used for the system analysis. The analysis described in
this paper has been performed to determine the response of unit auxiliary transformers and standby
auxiliary transformers during open-phase conditions to aid in the development of system protection
schemes designed to detect such conditions.

Key WordsOpen Phase Fault, Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Auxiliary Power System,
Unit Auxiliary Transformer (UAT), Standby Auxiliary Transformer (SAT)

1. Introduction protect against this particular event, an open phase

Open phase fault means that the one phase of two
or three phase systems being disconnected circuit.
The open phase fault unbalances voltage and results
in overheating or the vibration of the equipment in
operation. Consequently, electrical equipment can be
damaged and the plant is shut down. In order to
* Main authorKEPCO International Nuclear
Graduate School (KINGS)
Tel052-712-7303, Fax052-712-7281
E-mailckchang@kings.ac.kr
Received2016. 9. 20.
Accepted2017. 2. 1.
detection scheme should be implemented but an
open-phase detection scheme that is both reliable
and secure is not yet commercially available.
The challenge initiated by open-phase faults in a
nuclear power plant, according to reports published
by
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
is that the loss of a phase on the offsite power
source can potentially damage both redundant trains
of the safety related power distribution system, but
may not be detectable by existing protection
systems [1, 2].

42
Copyright 2017 KIIEE All right's reserved
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/3.0/)which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
 Choong-koo Chang

The consequences of an open-phase fault can be generator was stopped.

entirely different from one nuclear power plant to
another. The research performed by electric power
research institute (EPRI) has shown that the
consequences largely depend on the specific design
of the offsite power transformer feeding the plants
nuclear safety systems [3]. This means that
in-depth power system analysis is required to
determine the exact consequences for each plant.
This paper examines the possibility of the failure of
open-phase detection in the auxiliary power system
of Korean standard nuclear power plants by system Fig. 1. Open phase fault in Byron nuclear power
analysis. The analysis will be performed by using plant (NPP) phase
ETAPTM, a recently-developed unbalanced load flow
simulation program. This paper will propose an Subsequently, the medium-voltage busbar
optimum open phase fault detection scheme based connected to the unit auxiliary transformer (UAT)
on the simulation and study results. was transferred to the SAT side automatically due
to the loss of power. Nevertheless, all medium
2. Instance of Open Phase Fault
voltage motors were tripped because the SAT side
and Its Cause bus was in open phase fault condition. Furthermore,
an emergency diesel generator connected to a 4kV
2.1 Open Phase Fault in the Byron medium voltage engineered safety feature (EFS) bus
Nuclear Power Plant
did not start automatically because of the
non-operation of the undervoltage relay. The station
On January 30th, 2012 a broken insulator fell to blackout (SBO) condition lasted for 8 minutes until
the ground led to the C phase ground fault and
phase imbalance had occurred due to the impact of
voltage unbalance [4]. As a result the reactor was
tripped (Fig. 1).
When the open phase fault occurred, the protective
relays of the station auxiliary transformer (SAT)
receiving offsite power did not pick up the fault and
it therefore fault continued for a long time (Fig. 2).
At that time, two of four reactor coolant pumps
connected to the 6.9kV medium-voltage busbar
powered from the SAT were suspended by the
operation of under voltage relays. As a result, the
reactor was tripped and 30 seconds later the main Fig. 2. Conceptual diagram of the electric power
system of Byron

31 2, 2017 2 43
ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME

the operator opened the incoming circuit breaker of open fault occurs in the primary winding, the phase
the ESF bus to activate the EDG starting sequence. voltage is maintained as it was before the fault. The
This was a situation that would have been likely to reason is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 [6].
lead to a serious accident, but further incidents were
fortunately prevented from spreading through the
action of the operators [5].

2.2 The causes of Open Phase Fault

Detection Failure

The above example is a case in which the

transformer and low voltage side bus protection
relays failed to detect the open phase fault that
occurred in the transformers high voltage side.
Consequently, the failure of open phase fault Fig. 3. Conceptual diagram of an electric power
detection led to the SBO accident. The undervoltage system for open phase analysis
relay failed to operate despite the open phase fault
when the phase voltage maintains a certain level.
Through a variety of analyses, the causes of the
fault were found to be as follows:
The shape of the transformer winding and
core
The size and type of load (motor or
non-motor)
System grounding method
Fig. 4. Open circuit fault at primary winding of
Characteristics of cables and overhead lines Y- connection transformer and induced
Location of open phase fault voltage on the secondary winding
Fig. 3 is the conceptual diagram of an electric
power system for open phase fault analysis by using Whether or not the under voltage relays can detect
the electrical transient analysis program (ETAP) or open phase faults depends on the type of
the electromagnetic transients program (EMTP) transformer winding as shown in Table 1.
software tool.
Table 1. Open phase detection performance of
undervoltage relay and transformer
2.2.1 The Effects of Transformer Core winding type Experimental
and Winding
Descript. Detectable (I) Undetectable(II)
If a transformer's primary winding is a solidly Y-Y shell Y-Y legged
grounded wye connection and the secondary Transformer
type Y-Y 5 Legged Y- legged/shell
winding is a delta connection, even if a single phase -Y shell Y--Y shell ( tertiary)

44 Journal of KIIEE, Vol.31, No.2, February 2017


The undervoltage relay installed on the
transformers belonging to Group I can detect the
fault when an open phase fault has occurred.
The reverse phase overcurrent relay for the
electric motors connected to the bus can also
detect the open phase fault when a fault has
occurred on the primary winding of the
transformer feeding the bus. On the other hand,
the undervoltage relay of the transformers
belonging to Group II cannot detect the
single-phase open fault [7].
2.2.2 Type and Size of Loads
The characteristics of loads are also important to
detect open phase faults accurately. Depending on
the loading capacity and load types, voltage
characteristics are different in the same system.
According to the EPRI report [8], due to the
backfeed effect of the electric motors, the line to the
neutral voltage of the transformer varies with load
factor under the same single phase fault condition.
In order to detect the single phase fault with
undervoltage relay, it is necessary to predict
accurately how the voltage varies with the change
of the load factor when a single phase open fault has
occurred through an analysis of the electrical
system.
2.2.3 Other Items Affecting Open Phase
Fault Detection Failure
Among the items listed in the Section II.B the last
three items that affect the open phase fault detection
failure as follows. But it is not more severe than the
effect of the former two items.
System grounding methods affect the ground fault
current. The primary winding of UATs and SATs
are solidly grounded. Therefore, if the open phase
line is grounded with sufficiently low impedance
then the ground fault current is high and the ground
31 2, 2017 2
Choong-koo Chang
fault relay installed on the neutral line can detect the
fault. But, if the open phase line is non grounded or
grounded with high impedance then the ground fault
current is very small and the relay cannot detect it.
This latter issue is the focus of this study.
In the presence of an open phase, the flow
direction of back-fed current into system
capacitances (capacitively coupled voltage
transformers, line capacitances, bushing
capacitances, and so forth), or a high-impedance
ground fault is opposite to the direction of normal
current. By using some form of directional sensing
the open phase condition can be detected. But the
use of directional current sensing at low magnitudes
would be difficult.
Regarding the location of open phase fault, if the
open phase condition has occurred at the primary or
secondary sides of a transformer when the
transformer has no load, the open phase fault may
be not detectable. On the other hand, the open phase
at the branch feeders is detected by negative phase
current relay. If a branch feeder is not loaded, the
same issue as the transformer will occur. However,
the failure of a single branch circuit does not
severely damage the safety system of a nuclear
power plant.
3. The Standard Electric Power
System of NPP in Korea
The main power system (MP) provides the
generators electrical output to an AC power grid
like a transmission system and the station auxiliary
loads. The main power system transforms 22kV
(generator rated voltage) into the rated voltage of
the power grid, such as 765kV, 345kV or 154kV, to
supply electrical power via a switchyard system and
provide power to the unit auxiliary power system
for distribution to station electrical loads.
45
ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
The auxiliary power system (AP) provides a
reliable source to all electrical AC loads in the power
station. The AP system provides a reliable AC
power supply of adequate capacity to the various
auxiliaries of the plant during the plant normal
operation, abnormal conditions, and accident
conditions.
3.1 System Configuration
The main power system consists of four major
components: main generator, isolated phase bus,
generator circuit breaker, and main transformer.
The AP system includes all station AC power
systems except for the main power system. It
consists of the UATs, SATs, 13.8kV and 4.16kV
medium voltage power systems and 480V low
voltage power systems, diesel generators, and
alternate AC source.
Several voltage levels are used to match the
requirements of various station loads. Large motors
(1,500 HP and larger) such as reactor coolant pump
motors, condensate pump motors, feed water booster
pump motors, circulating water pump motors,
start-up feed water pump motors, and 13.8kV load
center transformers are supplied at a nominal
voltage of 13.8kV. The remaining large motors (250
to 1,250 HP) and 4.16kV load center transformers
are normally supplied at a nominal voltage of
4.16kV.
Motors rated from 0.5 to 225 HP (0.5 to 60 HP
at motor control centers and the others at load
centers), the control rod drive motor generator sets,
valve operator motors, and the lighting
transformers are supplied at a nominal voltage of
480V. Motors rated less than 0.5HP are generally
supplied from 120V single phase distribution
panels. These panels receive power from the 480V
motor control centers.
46
3.2 Major Components and Their
Design
The normal power source for the non-class 1E
and the class 1E auxiliary power subsystems is via
the UATs fed from either the main generator when
the unit is operating or the switchyard when the
plant is shutdown or is in start-up. An alternate
power source through the SATs fed from the
switchyard is also provided to non-class 1E and
class 1E auxiliary power subsystems when the
normal power supply via UATs is not available.
Two redundant on-site emergency diesel generators
are provided to supply power to the class 1E
auxiliary power subsystem if the power supply from
the UATs and SATs fail (Fig. 5).
3.2.1 Main Generator
The rated voltage of the generator is 22kV, the
neutral is high-resistance grounding through a
grounding transformer which is loaded by a resistor
and includes ground protection relay. The generator
line-side terminals are connected to the isolated
phase bus using a flexible copper blade that
prevents the transfer of the vibration from the
generator to the isolated phase bus (IPB).
3.2.2 Main Transformer
During normal operation, the main transformer is
used as a step-up transformer installed between the
main generator and the switchyard. When the plant
is shutdown, electrical power from the grid is
supplied for plant loads, with the main transformer
operating as a step-down transformer. The main
transformer bank consists of three single-phase
transformers connected delta on the low voltage side
and solidly neutral grounded wye on the high
voltage side.
The typical low voltage rating is 95-100% of the
Journal of KIIEE, Vol.31, No.2, February 2017

generator voltage rating while the typical high
voltage rating is 100 to 105% of the nominal voltage
of the switchyard.
3.2.3 Unit Auxiliary Transformer and
Standby Auxiliary Transformers
There are two UATs and SATs per each unit, and
each transformer provides 13.8kV and 4.16kV power.
During normal plant operation, each UAT provides
power to two non-class 1E 13.8kV switchgears, one
class 1E 4.16kV switchgear, and two non-class 1E
4.16kV switchgears. If power from the UAT is
unavailable, even though offsite power is not lost,
the power supply is automatically transferred to the
SAT. For the protection of UATs and SATs,
differential current protection, ground fault
protection, over current protection, and mechanical
protection are provided.
3.2.4 13.8kV Auxiliary Power System
The 13.8kV auxiliary power system consists of
four (4) non-class 1E switchgears per unit and
furnishes power to large motors such as reactor
Fig. 5. Conceptual Diagram of OPR 1000 Electric Power Systems
31 2, 2017 2
Choong-koo Chang
coolant pump motors, condensate pump motors,
feedwater booster pump motors, circulating water
pump motors, seawater bypass pump motors, and
associated 480V load centers. The protective
relaying for the 13.8kV switchgear feeders and
buses can be classified as follows:
Protection of large motors and transformers
Protection of buses and feeders
The basic protective schemes consist of ground
fault protection, instantaneous over current and
timed over current protection.
3.2.5 4.16kV Auxiliary Power System
The 4.16kV auxiliary power system consists of
four non class 1E switchgears, two class 1E
switchgears and a non-class 1E AAC source.
The first non-class 1E switchgear group designed
M consists of two switchgears. One of the two
furnishes power to large non-class 1E loads such as
the turbine chilled water pump and 480V load
centers. The other switchgear, which is fed from the
class 1E 4.16kV bus, supplies power to the central
chiller and the loads required as TMI action plan
47
ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
requirements in NUREG-0737. The second
non-class 1E switchgear group N furnishes power
to the similar non-safety loads.
The 4.16kV class 1E loads are divided into two
redundant and independent load group divisions I
and II. Each division of a unit is capable of
providing the power required to safely achieve cold
shutdown. Each load division is capable of being
supplied from the following sources, listed in
decreasing order of priority:
Main generator
Main transformer and UATs (offsite preferred
power-I)
SATs (offsite preferred power-II)
EDGs (emergency diesel generators)
AAC (alternative AC source)
4. Simulation of Open Phase
Faults on the Primary Side of
UAT and SAT
Case studies were performed to analyze open
phase faults and their effect on the electric power
system in the NPP. The cases of study were
developed based on the following design and
operation conditions.
4.1 Study Cases and Conditions
The 13.8kV and 4.16kV switchgear bus
voltages were monitored mainly during normal
and fault conditions because all of the loads and
distribution systems are under the influence of
a medium voltage bus. The open phase fault
condition was assumed for each operation mode.
The load condition of the transformers was also
considered to view the voltage level after a
fault. Normal operation with a loss of coolant
accident (LOCA) is the maximum loading
48
condition and hot standby mode is the minimum
loading condition. Based on the simulation
result, the possibility of fault detection by
protective relays when an open phase fault
occurs was reviewed.
4.2 Simulation Method and System
Model
4.2.1 Simulation Method
The ETAP 14.0 software was used to simulate
open phase faults on the auxiliary power systems of
a hypothetical OPR 1000 nuclear power plant. In
ETAP, the unbalanced load flow (ULF) module was
enhanced to accurately simulate steady state open
phase conditions of power systems. This
enhancement is in response to the requirements for
the nuclear generation plants to conduct single and
double open-phase fault studies for their off-site
power supplies. In order to study these extremely
unbalanced operating conditions, induction motor
models have been enhanced in the ULF
calculations. Features of the ULF module are as
follows [9]:
Open-phase A, B, or C phase
Modeling of 2-winding and 3-winding
transformer excitation branch
Include buried delta winding for 2-winding and
3-winding transformers
Report sequence values of voltages and current
flows
4.2.2 Simulation Model
A simplified system model was used for all
simulations. Fig. 5 and 6 depict the system model
that was used for the open phase circuit simulation
of an OPR 1000 nuclear power plant. The technical
data of the major equipment for simulated system
are as below.
Journal of KIIEE, Vol.31, No.2, February 2017
 Choong-koo Chang

Main Transformer 4.3 Simulation Results

Capacity: 1,060MVA
Rated voltage: 765/20.9kV Simulations using the ETAP-ULF module were
Tap range: 2 x 2.5% performed for four operation modes - normal,
%Z: 16.28 at 1,060MVA (Positive sequence) startup, hot standby, unit trip with LOCA - of
X/R ratio: 82.22 auxiliary power systems. Phase A was opened on all
Unit Auxiliary Transformer simulations as an open-circuit condition. A true
Capacity: 48/32-16MVA open phase-that is, there was no ground fault on
Rated voltage: 22/14.49-4.47kV either side of the faulted phase-was assumed. The
% Z at 48MVA base (Positive sequence) results of these simulations are as shown in the
Primary and secondary (ZHX): 8.45% following subsections. In the simulations the voltage
Primary and tertiary (ZHY): 30% level of offsite power was considered as a normal
Secondary and tertiary (ZXY): 40.21% condition (1pu).
OLTC tap: 10% (8 x 1.25%)
Standby Auxiliary Transformer 4.3.1 Normal Operation
Capacity: 43/29-14MVA A simulation was conducted on conditions of the
Rated voltage: 154/13.8-4.16kV normal operation mode of an OPR1000 nuclear
%Z at 43MVA (Positive sequence) power plant. The main generator is synchronized to
- ZHX: 7.84% - ZHD: 11.7% the power grid and the UAT supplies power to the
- ZHY: 21.61% - ZXD: 17.3% auxiliary loads required for normal operation. Table
- ZXY: 31.36% - ZYD: 35.1% 2 provides the resulting voltages at the primary and
%Z at 43MVA (Zero sequence) secondary terminals of the UAT.
- ZHX0: 7.84% - ZYD0: 29.84%
- ZHY0: 9.14% - ZHXD0: 4.45% Table 2. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase
- ZXY0: 13.64% - ZHYD0: 6.10% voltages (%)
- ZHD0: 9.95% - ZXYD0: 12.05% Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A
- ZXD0: 14.71% Primary of UAT 100.4 99.4 99.6
OLTC tap range: 10% (8 x 1.25%)
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 90.6 92.2 115.3
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 92.0 93.7 117.3

4.3.2 Startup operation

Fig. 6. Connection type of standby auxiliary
transformer
A simulation was conducted on the starting
condition of the nuclear power plant before the
synchronization to the grid. Electrical loads of each
division are powered from the UATs. Table 3
provides the resulting voltages at the primary and
secondary terminals of the UAT.

31 2, 2017 2 49
ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME

Table 3. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase Table 6. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase
voltages (%) voltages (%)
Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A
Primary of UAT 100.0 98.7 99.0 Primary of UAT 99.9 98.4 98.7
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 89.4 91.7 115.0 Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 88.4 90.3 113.7
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 90.8 93.2 116.2 Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 89.2 90.8 113.1

4.3.3 Hot Standby Operation Table 7. SAT Primary and MV Bus phase to
A simulation was conducted on hot standby mode. phase voltages (%)
Electrical loads for maintaining the nuclear power Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A
plant in hot standby conditions are powered from Primary of SAT 100.1 99.9 99.9
UATs or SATs. Table 4 and 5 provide the resulting Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 94.5 102.7 102.5
voltages at the primary and secondary terminals of Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 93.9 102.3 102.0
the UAT and SAT each.
4.4 Analysis of Simulation Results
Table 4. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase
voltages (%) 4.4.1 Undervoltage Protection Scheme
Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A The undervoltage relay gives an alarm or trips
Primary of UAT 100.0 98.9 99.1 voltage-sensitive loads, such as induction motors,
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 91.5 93.6 115.3 whenever the line voltage drops below the calibrated
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 93.0 95.3 116.9 setting. A time-delay relay is normally used to
enable it to ride through momentary sags and thus
Table 5. SAT primary and MV bus phase to phase prevent nuisance operation. The voltage transformer
voltages (%)
(VT) for undervoltage relays is the V connection
Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A and the voltage provided for undervoltage relays is
Primary of SAT 103.9 103.0 103.1 the phase to phase voltage.
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 94.9 102.0 101.6 The degraded voltage relay and the loss of voltage
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 94.9 102.3 101.8 relay are provided for the class 1E 4.16kV buses in
the NPP. The degraded voltage relay is set at the
4.3.4 Unit Trip and LOCA Operation voltage corresponding to 90% of the motor control
(Normal Loads) center (MCC) voltage. It is about 95% of the MV
A simulation was conducted on LOCA conditions bus nominal voltage. The delay time of the degraded
immediately after the unit trip. The loading capacity voltage relay is 4 minutes.
is the maximum in this operation mode. Load The loss of voltage relay for a class 1E bus is set
shedding is not performed at the 4.16kV switchgear at 70% of the motor rated voltage and is about 67%
buses intentionally unless the undervoltage relay of the bus nominal voltage. The delay time of the
picks up voltage degradation. Tables 6 and 7 provide loss of voltage relay is 1.0 second. In case of class
the resulting voltages at the primary and secondary 1E bus voltage loss, the emergency diesel generator
terminals of the UAT and SAT each. (EDG) is started by the undervoltage on the bus; all

50 Journal of KIIEE, Vol.31, No.2, February 2017

 Choong-koo Chang

breakers for 4.16kV motor feeders are tripped and will be much deeper than the results above.
reset load sequencer. Upon detection of the EDG
rated speed and rated voltage, the EDG circuit Table 8. The possibility of open phase fault
breakers on class 1E 4.16kV bus can be closed, and detection by the undervoltage relays for
class 1E 4.16kV bus
the load sequence logic starts automatically
sequencing the ESF loads on the EDG. Operation Mode Degraded volt. Losses of voltage
The following undervoltage relays are provided relay (95%) relay (67%)
Normal operation Possible Impossible
for the 13.8kV switchgears; Startup Possible Impossible
27LU&27LS, undervoltage relays for incoming Hot standby (UAT) Possible Impossible
breaker closing permission: set at 80% of Hot standby (SAT) Uncertain* Impossible
motor rated voltage (76.5% of bus nominal Unit trip with LOCA
voltage), instantaneous trip (UAT) Possible Impossible
27B, undervoltage relay for bus voltage status: Unit trip with LOCA
set at 52% of bus nominal voltage, (SAT) Uncertain* Impossible
instantaneous trip [Note] * Accuracy level of the numerical
type undervoltage relay is 0.5%.
27M, undervoltage relay for motor shedding:
70% of motor rated voltage (67% of bus Table 9. The possibility of open phase fault
nominal voltage), approximately 2 sec delay at detection by the undervoltage relays for
0.5pu non-class 1E 13.8kV bus
27R, undervoltage relay for residual voltage 27LU/LS 27B 27M
transfer: set at 30% of bus nominal voltage, 0.2 Operation Mode (67.5%) (52%) (67%)
sec time delay Normal operation Impossible Impossible Impossible
Startup Impossible Impossible Impossible
4.4.2 Detectability of Open Phase Hot standby (UAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
Faults by Undervoltage Relays Hot standby (SAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
The loading capacity of the non-class 1E 13.8kV Unit trip & LOCA (UAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
bus and the class 1E 4.16kV bus is maximum in unit Unit trip & LOCA (SAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
trip with LOCA mode. And, phase to phase voltage
is the minimum when a single phase open fault is On the other hand, the phase current imbalance
occurred during the maximum loading condition. relay (device 46) provided for medium voltage
Based on the simulation results and undervoltage motors can detect the single phase open fault and
protection scheme of the NPP, the detectability of trip the motor. The 46 relay compares the phase
the open phase faults at each operation mode can be current magnitudes and operates when one phase
summarized in Tables 8 and 9. current is significantly different in magnitude from
The simulation and analysis results described in either of the other two-phase currents. Another type
the above Section 4.3 and 4.4 are all based on the (46) responds to the negative-sequence current and
assumption that all motor loads are in running unbalance is defined as the ratio of negative to
condition. However, if a large motor is started in the positive sequence currents. If the unbalance exceeds
single phase open fault condition, the voltage drop 1020% then the relay will conclude that a fault is

31 2, 2017 2 51
ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
occurring and will trip within 24 seconds.
5. Open Phase Fault Detection
Methods
Analysis of the voltage and current magnitude
before and after open phase fault ensure that the
existing protection relays are normally able to detect
the failure. In the case of a switching surge, large
motor starting current, transformer inrush current
and lightning should be considered, which may
create transient voltages.
If the existing protective relays cannot detect an
open phase fault, additional protective relay and
provision should be provided. The open phase fault
detection methods complementing design
vulnerabilities were introduced in the reference [10]
as follows:
Phase current detection
Sequence-current detection
Voltage detection
Acoustic monitoring
Power-line carrier capacitive-coupled method
PLC magnetically coupled method
Transformer neutral current injection method
Among the above mentioned open phase fault
detection methods, the transformer neutral current
injection method illustrated in Fig. 7 is the most
reliable and secure method where the transformer
primary winding is a wye connection and the neutral
is grounded. This measures the magnitude of the
zero sequence current, harmonic current and
injection signal before and after an open phase fault
and determines fault based on the results.
However, where the primary winding of a
transformer is a delta winding such as a UAT in the
NPP, no neutral line is available. In that case,
schemes using a signal injection at the generator
neutral can detect open phase faults.
52
Fig. 7. Transformer neutral current injection type
open phase detection circuit
6. Conclusions
Until the U.S. NRC took notice of the design
vulnerability in the electrical power systems of
nuclear power plants [1], the risk of open phase
detection failure was overlooked in most nuclear
power plants and nuclear power plants in Korean as
well. This study has shown that Korea standard
nuclear power plants also may not detect an open
phase fault depending on operation conditions. This
means that appropriate protection scheme should be
provided for nuclear power plants to prevent damage
of the safety related power distribution systems led
by an open phase detection failure.
The following conclusions were reached as a
result of this study:
The degraded voltage relays installed on the
class 1E 4.16kV bus can detect an open phase
event when the plant power is supplied from
the UAT. However, those relays cannot detect
an open phase event when the plant power is
supplied from the SAT.
The loss of voltage relays for the class 1E
4.16kV bus cannot detect an open phase event
in either case when the plant power is supplied
from the UAT and SAT.
No undervoltage relay installed on the
Journal of KIIEE, Vol.31, No.2, February 2017

non-class 1E 13.8kV switchgear (27LU/LS,
27B, and 27M) can detect an open phase event.
Negative-sequence current relay can protect
the motors during an open-phase event when
they are loaded from the UAT.
The machine model and loading capacity can
be an important factor in determining the exact
response to open phase conditions. Simulation
results indicate that differences can occur
depending on the level of detail that is included
in the machine model.
It seems that the transformer neutral current
injection type is the most reliable and secure method
for standard nuclear power plants in Korea. Prior to
the installation of the open phase fault detection
system at an actual nuclear power plant, further
study and review are required to confirm the
functions and performances of existing relays and to
check the voltage degradation and loss of voltage
fault records.
31 2, 2017 2
Choong-koo Chang
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was supported by a 2016
Research Fund of the KEPCO International
Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS)
Biography
Choong-koo Chang
Received his M.S. in Electrical
Engineering from Inha University in
1990, and Ph.D. degree in Electrical
Engineering from Myongji University
in 2001. He worked for Sangjin
Engineering as an Executive Vice
President from 2001 to 2012. From 1993 to 1998 he
worked as a senior engineer for Samsung
Electronics. He participated in nuclear power plant
design projects as an electrical systems engineer
from 1985 to 1993 at KOPEC. He is currently an
associate professor in KEPCO International Nuclear
Graduate School(KINGS).
53