Bahir Dar University Institute of Technology

School of Computing and Electrical Engineering

Eeng-5161: Power System II
Nov 2011
1. FAULT ANALYSIS
1. 1 Introduction
Fault (short circuit ) current calculation is an important part
of
power system (PS) design, which enable the system
engineer to
set relay protection and selection of various equipments
such us
circuit breaker, bus bar etc.
Short circuit (SC) occur in PS when equipment insulation
fails,
due to:-
+system over voltages (lighting or switching);
+insulation contamination;
+other mechanical causes. SC current may be (I
sc
)>>normal current I
nom
and if it is
allowed to
persists, may cause thermal and mechanical damage to
equipments. It is therefore necessary to remove faulted
sections of
a system from service as soon as possible.

commonly occurring types of fault are (Fig.1.1):-
+ three phase, phase- to-phase, two-phase-to ground,
and phase-to ground fault. From these phase-to ground is
the
most frequent and three-phase is the most sever.
a) Three-phase S.C (k
(3)
)
b) L-L-L, E (k
(3E)
)
C) L-L. (k
(2)
)
d) L-L, E (k
(2E)
)
e) L-E (k
(1)
)
f) L-E fault with fault impedance
Fig .1.1. Common types of
fault or short circuit (S.C). L-
Line, E-earth
or
R
f

Current flowing to faulted place is termed fault current (I
f
).
The fault MVA is frequently used as a rating
(the fault MVA = V
L
I
f
*10
-6
, where V
L
is the nominal line
voltage of the faulted part). The fault MVA is often referred to
as the fault level.
fault current calculations can be divided into the
following two main types:
+ All three lines are short-circuited, when the network remains
balanced electrically. For these calculations, normal
single-phase equivalent circuits may be used as in ordinary
network calculation;
+ Faults other than three-phase short circuits when the network is
electrically unbalanced. To facilitate these calculations a special
method for dealing with unbalance network is used, known
as the method of symmetrical components.
The main objects of fault analysis :
1. To determine maximum and minimum three-phase short
circuit current;
2. To determine the unsymmetrical fault current for single and
double line to ground faults, and sometimes for open circuit faults;
3. Investigations of operation of protective relays;
4. Determination of rated rupturing capacity of breakers;
5. To determine fault-current distribution and bus bar-voltage
levels during fault condition.

1.2 Symmetrical Fault Analysis
1.2.1 Series R-L circuit transient
Closing switch SW(Fig.1.2) at t = 0 represent bolted three-
phase short circuit.
Fig.1.2. Current-
voltage
wave forms in R-L
circuit transient
Using KVL for the circuit,
) t Vsin( 2 Ri(t)
dt
di(t)
+ = + = L
t>0 (1.1)
Solution for (1.1) is
(
(
(

+ = + =
T
t
)e sin( ) - t sin(
Z
V 2
(t)
dc
i (t)
ac
i i(t) =
A
(1.2)
Where
) - t sin(
Z
V
2 (t)
ac
i + = =
T
t
)e sin(
Z
V 2
(t)
dc
i

2
(X)
2
R )
2
R Z
2
+ = + = L (
R
L 1
tan

=
=
R
X 1
tan

fL 2
X
L
X
R
L
T
t
= = =
Eq.(1.3)(1.6)
+ The total fault current in (1.2), called the asymmetrical
fault current (fig.1.2).
+i
ac
(t) called symmetrical or steady state fault current and
sinusoid
+The dc offset current i
dc
(t) decay exponentially with time
constant T = L/R.
The rms ac fault current is I
ac
= V/Z. The magnitude of the
dc
offset which depend on , varies from 0 when = to
when = (t/2). For = ( - t/2) maximum fault current is
(
(
(

+ =
T
t
e )
2

- t sin(
Z
V 2
i(t) =
A
(1.7)
ac
I 2
The RMS of i(t) is
( ) ( ) ( )
T
t 2
2e 1 I
2
T
t -
e
ac
I 2
2
ac
I
2
(t)
dc
I
2
ac
I (t)
rms
I
ac

+ =
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = + =
(1.8)
Eq.(1.8) can be written as
I
rms
(t) = K(t)I
ac

(1.9)
Where K(t) =
|
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
R
X
4
2e 1
t
per unit
(1.10)
t= t*f - is time in cycle. K(t) is called asymmetrical factor and
t varies from 1 to \3 as it can be seen from (1.10).
1.2.2 Balanced fault calculation in power system
The balanced three-phase fault in unloaded synchronous
machine can be modelled by the series R-L circuit of fig.1.2,
if time varying inductance L(t) or XL(t) is employed.
Oscillogram of current in one of phase for 3-ph fault is in Fig.1.3.
Fig.1.3
As we know from machine modelling there are three
reactances Xd, Xd and Xd. There for different currents
flow
from time of occurrence of faults. These currents are:
+ Sub-transient current which flow immediately after the
occurrence of fault (1)
' '
d
X
g
E
' '
I (0) I
ac
= =
'
d
X
g
E
'
I =
d
X
g
E
I =
+ I

>I

>I
(1)
(2)
(3)
+ Transient current which flow few cycle later the occurrence of
fault (2)
+The sustained (steady state) fault current (3)
The sub-transient current I

is initial symmetrical current which

does not include dc components. To consider dc components
some coefficient (value of 1.4 to 1.8)is used.
For practical system a simplified fault current calculation
procedure called E/X method is used. In this method the
Thevenin theorem is applied. Then the fault current I
f
is
I
f
= V
f
/X
th
or I
f
= I/X
th
p.u.
Where V
f
is pre-fault voltage at point of fault and its value is
taken 1p.u.; I-normal load current.
The three phase short- circuit volt-amperes
P.U
X
B
MVA
x.p.u
I
L
V 3
f
I
L
V 3
MVA
F = = =
The following assumption will be made in practical short circuit
current calculations:
+All generated voltages of synchronous machines are equal &
in phase and represented by sub-transient reactances, hence
no load is considered for fault calculation. Generally, load has
negligible impact on the faulted phase.
+Neglect resistance except at the lower voltage where
resistance is larger.
+ All shunt reactances neglected (loads, charging &
magnetizing reactances).
+ All mutual reactances neglected.
+ Induction motors are either neglected (<38kW) or represented
as synchronous machines.
1.2.3 The bus impedance matrix for fault calculation
For general network fault calculation Zbus is used.
By definition,
1
bus
Y
bus
Z

= (1.11)
Z
bus
is symmetrical
Using Zbus, the sub-transient fault current can be calculated
as:
kk
Z
F
V
' '
Fk
I =
(1.11)
Where, VF is pre-fault voltage at bus k, Zkk is self
impedance
of bus k.
The voltage at any bus n during fault can be calculated:
F
V
kk
Z
nk
Z
1
n
V
|
|
.
|

\
|
= n = 1, 2 N (1.12)
Where, Znk is transfer impedance between bus k and n.
The bus impedance equivalent circuit is shown in fig. 1.4.
Fig.1.4. Bus impedance equivalent circuit (rake
equivalent)
1.3 Unsymmetrical Fault (short circuit)
1.3.1 Method of symmetrical component
To solve problems in unsymmetrical conditions of power system,
method of symmetrical component is used. Any unbalanced
phasors of a three-phase system can be resolved in to
three-balanced system of phasors. The balanced sets
of components are:
+ +ve sequence ;- equal in magnitude and 120
o
phase
displacement; a, b, c phase sequence as original phasers.
This sequence is always representing by subscript 1
(V
a1
, I
a1
etc.)
+ -ve sequence ; equal in magnitude and 120
o
phase
displacement; a, c, b phase sequence and have
subscript 2 (V
a2
,I
a2
, etc)
+ Zero sequence components consisting of three phasors
equal
in magnitude and with zero phase displacement from
each
other and have subscript 0 (V
a0
,I
a0
etc) .
Each of the original unbalanced phasors is the sum of its
components (Fig.1.5) and the original phasors expressed in
terms of their components are:
c0
V
c2
V
c1
V
c
V

b0
V
b2
V
b1
V
b
V
a0
V
a2
V
a1
V
a
V
+ + =
+ + =
+ + =
(1.13)
Using operator a, which is rotating the phasor 120
o
anticlockwise.

a=1<120
o
= 0.5+j0.866; a
2
=1<240
o
= -0.5-j0.866 ;
a
3
= 1< 360
0
= 1<0
0
=1+jo.
Fig.1.5
V
b1
= a
2
V
a1
; V
b2
= aV
a2
; V
b0
= V
ao
V
c1
= aV
a1
; V
c2
= a
2
V
a2
; V
co
= V
ao
(1.14)
Substituting in eq (1.13) yield;
a0
V
a2
V a
a1
V
c
V

a0
V
a2
aV
a1
V
b
V
a0
V
a2
V
a1
V
a
V
2
2
+ + =
+ + =
+ + =
a
a
(1.15)
By solving the eq (1.15) for sequence component:
( )
( )
( )
c
V
b
V a
a
V
3
1

a2
V

c
V
b
aV
a
V
3
1

a1
V
c
V
b
V
a
V
3
1
a0
V
2
2
a
a
+ + =
+ + =
+ + =
(1.16)
Sequence components for other phases can be found by
considering eq.(1.14.)
The above equation similarly works for current too.
In three-phase system the sum of line current equal to current
through neutral I
n
.
In the absence of neutral I
n
= 0. For A connected system I
0
=0.

I
n
=I
a
+I
b
+I
C
; I
a0
= (1/3)I
n
I
n
=3I
a0

+ Zero- sequence network is always different depending on way
of system grounding. Z
0
=Z
1
for transformer; Z
0
=2-3.5Z
1
for line
and Z
0
of generator is small. See fig.1.7, for zero sequence
current flow through transformer.
1.3.3. Unsymmetrical fault on power system
Sequence component voltage drop equation can be written as:
0
Z
a0
I - 0
a0
V
2
Z
a2
I - 0
a2
V
1
Z
a1
I -
f
V
a1
V
=
=
=
(1.17)
I
a1
V
f

3Z
n
Z
g0

z
0

F
V
a0

V
a2

+F
-
V
a1

-
+
-
Where F is point of fault
I
0

Fig.1.6. equivalent circuit for sequence impedance network
Fig.1.7 Zero sequence equivalent circuits of 3-phase transformer
Single Line- to- ground fault on a power system
For 1-E (K
(1)
), I
a1
= I
a2
= I
a0
= I
a
/3
Then
0
Z
2
Z
1
Z
f
V
a1
I
+ +
= (1.18)
c
a
b
With Z
f
F
3Z
0
Z
2
Z
1
Z
f
V
a1
I
+ + +
=
(1.19)
Finally fault current is
a1
3I
(1)
a
I =
(1.20)
It can be seen from eq.(1.19),that I = 0, when Z
f
Yh.
For ungrounded system no path exist for current flow.
Sequence network connection is shown in fig.1.8.

V
f
Z
1

Z
2

Z
0

Fig.1.8. Sequence connection for single-line to ground fault
I
a1

-
+

I
a1

I
a2

I
a0

Line-to- Line fault on a power system
2
Z
1
Z
f
V
a1
I
+
=
(1.21)
I
a
=0
I
b

I
c

With Z
F ,
F
Z
2
Z
1
Z
f
V
a1
I
+ +
=
(1.22)
The fault currents:
I
a
(2)
=0 ;
I
b
(2)
= -\3 I
a1
;
I
c
(2)
= \3 I
a1

In most case Z
1
=Z
2
;

(3)
f
I
2
3
1
2Z
f
V 3
(2)
f
I = =
Finally line-to-line fault current
(3)
f
I 0.866
(2)
f
I =
(1.23)
Fig.1.9. Sequence network connection for line-to-line fault
Z
1

I
a1

I
a2

V
a1

V
a2

Z
2
-
+
V
f

-
+
+
-
Double line to ground fault on a power system
Vb=Vc= 0; Ia=0
V
a0
=1/3(Va+0+0) =V
a1
=V
a2
2
Z
0
Z
2
Z
0
Z
1
Z
f
V
a1
I
+
+
=
(1.24)
I
F

I
b

I
c

From eq.(1.24), the network sequence Z connection is in
fig.1.10
Fig.1.10. Sequence network connection for double line-to-ground fault
+
Z
1

I
a1

V
a1

V
a2

Z
2
-
+
V
f

- +
-
Z
0
V
a0

+
-
I
a0

I
a2

1.3.4. Sequence bus impedance matrices
Single line-to-ground fault:
(1.25)
F
3Z
2 kk
Z
1 kk
Z
0 - kk
Z
f
V
2 k
I
1 k
I
0 k
I
+

+
=

Line-to-line fault:
F
Z
2 kk
Z
1 kk
Z
f
V
2 k
I
1 k
I
+

(1.26)
0
0 k
I =
(1.27)
Double line-to-ground fault:
(
(
(
(

+

+

F
3Z
0 kk
Z
2 kk
Z
)
F
3Z
0 kk
(Z
2 kk
Z
1 kk
Z
f
V
1 k
I
(1.28)