CHAPTER 4: VOLTAGE DIP SIMULATION 4.

1 INTRODUCTION

The r.m.s voltage depression caused by a fault propagates through the network and manifests itself as a voltage dip at remote observation points. The effects, in terms of voltage dips, of a fault at a given position can be represented graphically in a single-line diagram of the power system. The resulting single-line diagram is called the dip influence zone. 4.1.1 THE SIMULATION TOOL DIgSILENT PowerFactory was selected as the simulation tool. The choice of DIgSILENT PowerFactory was motivated by ease of availability within the Eskom environment. PowerFactory uses sophisticated multilevel modelling of the power system and can cover the whole range of transient phenomena in electrical power systems [30]. Three different simulation functions are available to study fault levels in a power system, namely: A basic steady-state function that uses a symmetrical steady-state network model under balanced network conditions. Only the fundamental components of voltages and currents are taken into consideration. A three-phase steady-state function that uses a steady-state network model under both balanced and unbalanced conditions. An electromagnetic transient model that uses a dynamic network model for short-term and mid-term transients under both balanced and unbalanced network conditions. The simulation of voltage dips was performed within the following boundaries: Only dip events caused by short-circuits are of interest to this study. Protection systems including auto-reclose settings are not simulated. Thus, the expected simulation results are limited to fault distances and magnitudes only. Multiple fault conditions are not simulated. The power system models for the steel plant and paper plant were created in PowerFactory. Lumped parameter models were employed to model underground cables and overhead lines. Sequence impedances, tower top geometries, underground cable data (core size, configuration) and current ratings were obtained from Eskoms conductor data tables [31].

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4.1.2 DIP MACROS AND DIP INFLUENCE ZONES The following process was adopted in performing dip simulations: Building a model of the power system that includes busbars of interest and parts of the system that feed these busbars. Using DIgSILENT PowerFactory macros to define dip influence zones for the two monitored sites. The macros were developed by Schilder [32] and are discussed below. The simulation results are presented graphically on the power system to give dip influence zones for each plant. Schilder [32] conducted a research study to develop macros and guidelines for dip performance studies, using DIgSILENT PowerFactory as the simulation tool. In [32] several macros, including the Area of Sensitivity macro, were successfully developed and tested. The author of this thesis used results of the research conducted in [32] to calculate dip influence zones for the steel plant and the paper plant, specifically the Area of Sensitivity macro. The macro uses the method of critical distances to calculate dip influence zone for a selected monitored busbar. The Area of Sensitivity macros works as follows: Four input parameters may be specified (shown in figure 4.1 below), namely: o o o Fault resistance (represented by symbol Zf in the macro). Voltage dip sensitivity in per unit (represented by symbol Vsens). Type of fault (0 refers to three-phase fault, 1 refers to single-line-to-ground fault, 2 refers to line-to-line-to-ground fault, 3 refers to line-to-line fault). o Method of short-circuit calculation. With the input parameters set up, the user then selects lines of interest (multiple lines selected simultaneously). The macro applies specified input parameters at predefined locations on each single selected line, one at a time. For each location on each selected line, the remaining voltage at the monitored site is calculated and compared with Vsens. If the calculated remaining voltage is smaller (less severe) than Vsens, the macro stops doing calculations for this fault location and proceeds to the next location. The point on a line at which the calculation is stopped marks the boundary of the dip influence zone on that line for the given set of input values. The macro calculates voltage values (remaining voltage), first on the lines closest to the monitored site and then proceeds to lines further away from the monitored site.

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Figure 4.1: Input Dialog Box of Area of Sensitivity Macro [32] The output of the macro is a list of lines falling within the dip influence zone defined by the input parameters. The macro gives line distances (relative to the monitored site) for each line in the dip influence zone. The distance on each line is the point at which the zone ends. An example of the output of the Area of Sensitivity macro is presented in figure 4.2. The output window shows the monitored site (Enstra in this case) and lines in the dip influence zone defined by the input parameters. Once a dip influence zone is defined, one or more input parameters may be changed and the process repeated.

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Number of line(s) in selection: 4 Calculating short-circuits... Fault type selected: 2-Phase Short-Circuit Dip sensitivity for monitored site Enstra132: Results for line Benoni_Bpp/Modder East T_, of length 15.25 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.10 pu Fault distance is 0.00 km, remaining voltage is 0.58 pu Results for line Benoni_Bpp/Modder East T_Modder East, of length 0.38 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.10 pu Fault distance is 0.00 km, remaining voltage is 0.60 pu Results for line Benoni_Enstra/Modder East T_Modder East, of length 0.38 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.10 pu Fault distance is 0.00 km, remaining voltage is 0.50 pu Results for line Benoni_Enstra/Modder East T_, of length 15.29 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.10 pu Fault distance is 0.00 km, remaining voltage is 0.50 pu
Figure 4.2: Example of output of Area of Sensitivity macro The dip influence zone is obtained by representing the fault distances graphically on the network, for each monitored site. The basic steps to produce dip influence zones are summarised as follows: (1) Model the appropriate network in a power system simulation tool (PowerFactory). (2) Use the Import function of PowerFactory to import the DPL (DIgSILENT Programming Language) macros, specifically the Area of Sensitivity macro developed in [32]. (3) Select the busbar to be monitored. Thereafter, select all circuits where the influence of faults on the monitored busbar is to be determined. (4) Right-click the mouse while the cursor is on one of the selected objects. Select Execute DPL scripts on the right-click menu. (5) Select the DipSensitivity macro. (6) Provide input data for the macro, that is, fault resistance, dip sensitivity (remaining voltage), fault type and method of fault calculation, as illustrated in figure 4.1. (7) Press Execute button.

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(8) The results appear as a list of lines that form part of the dip influence zones. Distances on the lines are shown (boundaries of the exposed area). (9) Repeat steps (6) to (8) for a selected range of Vsens values as well as for different shortcircuit types. (10) Plot fault distances on the selected lines. For each fault type, dip influence zones are then obtained by joining the points (fault distances). These zones are dependent on the dip sensitivity set at the monitored site.

4.2
4.2.1

SIMULATION RESULTS
INTRODUCTION TO THE SIMULATION RESULTS

The simulation results discussed in section 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 were generated by the author using the Area of Sensitivity macro. To explain how the dip influence zones were plotted consider the output of the macro shown in figure 4.3. Figure 4.3 restates the macro input data as follows: Fault type is 2-phase short-circuit (phase-to-phase). Fault resistance is zero. Dip sensitivity at the monitored site is 0.5pu.
Number of line(s) in selection: 48 Calculating short-circuits... Fault type selected: 2-Phase Short-Circuit Dip sensitivity for monitored site Mill Scaw88kV: Results for line Union_Mill Scaw 88kV, of length 0.17 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.50 pu Fault distance is 0.17 km, remaining voltage is 0.50 pu Results for line Germiston South_Tailings Booster 88kV, of length 1.94 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.50 pu Fault distance is 1.10 km, remaining voltage is 0.50 pu Results for line Germiston Factories_South West Vertical (1) 44kV, of length 0.51 km Fault resistance is 0.00 ohm and dip sensitivity 0.50 pu Fault distance is 0.00 km, remaining voltage is 0.69 pu

Figure 4.3: Example of macro outputs used to plot dip influence zones
The results are to be interpreted as follows: The entire Union DS/Mill Scaw 88kV line is part of the dip zone defined by the parameters set above (Zf = 0, Vsens = 0.5, fault type = phase-to-phase). Union DS/Mill Scaw line is 0.17km

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