ELECTRICITE DU CAMBODGE

INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL SCIENCE

Calculation of shortcircuit currents

Lay Meng Hort
E-mail: laymenghort@gmail.com
Tel: 012 405 877

Contents
I. Introduction
II. Calculation of Isc by the
impedance method
III. Calculation of Isc values in a
radial network using symmetrical
compoment

Introduction

Lay Meng Hort

I. Introduction
Sizing an electrical installation and
the required equipment
determining the characteristics of
the equipment required to withstand
or break the fault current.

Introduction

Lay Meng Hort

I. Introduction
The maximum short-circuit current,
used to determine
The breaking capacity of the
circuit breakers
The making capacity of the circuit
breakers
The electrodynamic withstand
capacity of the wiring system and

Introduction

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I. Introduction
The minimum short-circuit current,
essential when selecting the timecurrent curve for circuit breakers
and fuses, in particular when:
Cables are long and/or the source
impedance is relatively high.
Protection of life depends on circuit
breaker or fuse operation,
essentially the case for TN and IT
electrical systems.
Introduction

Lay Meng Hort

I. Introduction

The main types of short-circuits

Characteristics of short-circuits
Duration (self-extinguishing, transient and
steady-state)
Origin
Mechanical (break in a conductor,
accidental electrical contact between two
conductors via a foreign conducting body
such as a tool or an animal)
Internal or atmospheric overvoltages
Insulation breakdown due to heat,
humidity or a corrosive environment
Introduction

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I. Introduction
Location (inside or outside a
machine or an electrical
switchboard)
Short-circuits can be:
Phase-to-earth (80% of faults)
Phase-to-phase (15% of faults). This
type of fault often degenerates into
a three phase fault
Three-phase (only 5% of initial
faults)
Introduction

Lay Meng Hort

I. Introduction

Introduction

Lay Meng Hort

I. Introduction
Consequences of short-circuits
At the fault location, the presence of electrical
arcs, resulting in
Damage to insulation
Welding of conductors
Fire and danger to life
On the faulty circuit
Electrodynamic forces, resulting in
- Deformation of the busbars
- Disconnection of cables
Introduction

Lay Meng Hort

I. Introduction
Excessive temperature rise due to an
increase in Joule losses, with the risk of
damage to insulation
On other circuits in the network or in near-by
networks
Voltage dips during the time required to
clear the fault, ranging from a few
milliseconds to a few hundred milliseconds
Shutdown of a part of the network,
the extent of that part depending on
the design of the network and the
discrimination levels offered by the
protection devices
Introduction

10

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I. Introduction
Dynamic instability and/or the loss of
machine synchronisation
Disturbances in control / monitoring circuits

Introduction

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I. Introduction

tandardised Isc calculations

The Isc value is obtained by applying
Ohms law:

Introduction

12

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I. Introduction
Example: Calculate Isc3 ( Parameters of
line should select from table below).

Introduction

13

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Equivalent impedance for AAC (IEC 61089)

Code
N 0.

Area
mm2

Diameter

R0

X0

N0.

mm

/km

/km

0.95

0.90

3.21
2.05
1.35
0.89
0.60
0.42
0.35
0.30
0.26
0.22
0.20
0.17
0.16
0.15

3.10
2.00
1.33
0.89
0.62
0.44
0.38
0.33
0.29
0.26
0.23
0.21
0.20
0.19

10

10

4.05

3.24

0.424

16

16

5.12

2.02

0.410

25

25

6.40

1.29

0.396

40

40

8.09

0.809

0.381

63

63

10.2

0.514

0.366

100

100

19

12.9

0.325

0.349

125

125

19

14.5

0.260

0.342

160

160

19

16.4

0.203

0.334

200

200

19

18.3

0.163

0.327

250

250

19

20.5

0.130

0.320

315

315

19

23.0

0.104

0.313

400

400

19

26.0

0.082

0.305

450

450

19

27.5

0.072

0.301

500

19

29.0

0.065
14

0.298

500

Z= (Rcos +xSin) /km

Number
of wires

Introduction

Cos
0.85

0.80

2.98 2.85
1.93 1.86
1.31 1.27
0.89 0.88
0.63 0.63
0.46 0.47
0.40 0.41
0.35 0.36
0.31 0.33
0.28 0.30
0.25 0.27
0.23 0.25
0.22 0.24
0.21 0.23

Lay Meng Hort

II. Temple of Cambodia

Thank You
Introduction

15

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