If the short circuit is on one of two parallel linesand isnot
ateitherendoftheline,orifthe shortcircuitis of another type than three-phase-that
is, one-line-to-ground, line-toline, or two-line-to-ground-then some synchronizing power can still be transmitted past the fault, but the amplitude of the powerangle curveisreducedin comparisonwith thatofthe pre-faultcondition. In some cases the system will be stable even with a sustained short circuit, whereas in others the system will be stable only if the short circuit Is cleared with sufficient rapidity. Whether the system is stable during faults willdepend not only on the system itself, butalsoonthe type of fault, location of fault, rapidity of clearing, and method of clearing-that is, whether cleared by the sequential opening of two or more breakers, or by simultaneous opening-and whether or not the faulted line is reclosed, For any constant set of these conditions, the question ofwhether thesystem isstable dependsupon howmuch power it was carrying before the occurrence of the fault. Thus, for any specified disturbance, there is a value of transmitted power, called the transient stability limit, below which the system is stable and above which it is unstable. The stability limit isonekind of power limit, butthepowerlimitofa system is not always determined by the question of stability. Even in a system consistingofa synchronous generator supplying powerto a resistance load, there is a maximum power received by the load as the resistance of the load is varied. Clearly there is 8. power limit here with no question of stability. Multimachine systems. Few, if any, actual power systems consist of merely one generator and one synchronous motor. Most power systems have many generating stations, each with several generators, and many loads, most of which are combinations of synchronous motors, synchronous condensers, induction motors, lamps, heating devices, and others. The stability problem on such a power system usually concerns the transmission of power from one group of synchronous machines to another. As a rule, both groups consist predominantly of generators. During disturbances the machines of each group swing more or less together; that is, they retain approximately their relative angular positions, although these vary greatly with respect to the machines of the other group. For purposes of analysis the machinesofeachgroup can be replaced by oneequivalent machine. If this is done, there is one equivalent generator and one equivalent synchronous motor, even though the latter often represents machines that are actually generators.