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Cahier Technique No. 158: Calculation of Short-Circuit Currents
Cahier Technique No. 158: Calculation of Short-Circuit Currents
B. De Metz-Noblat
F. Dumas
G. Thomasset
Foreword
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no. 158
Calculation of short-circuit
currents
Benot de METZ-NOBLAT
Graduate engineer from ESE (Ecole Suprieure dElectricit), he
worked for Saint-Gobain first as a research engineer, then in
maintenance and new projects on a production site.
He joined Schneider Electric in 1986, and is currently responsible for
the Electrical System Analysis Group at the Research and
Development Department.
Frdric DUMAS
After graduating as doctor engineer from UTC (Universit de
Technologie de Compigne) in 1993, he joined Schneider Electric.
Works for the the Electrical System Analysis Group at the Research
and Development Department, and is in charge of research projects in
the field of industrial and distribution networks, including the
development of software for electrotechnical calculations.
Georges THOMASSET
A graduate engineer from IEG (Institut dElectrotechnique de
Grenoble) in 1971, has since conducted numerous research, design
and implementation of complex industrial network projects in
Merlin Gerins Technical Management Department.
He has long and valuable experience as responsible of the technical
section for the industrial unit in the Engineering and Contracting
Department from 1984 to 1996. He is now responsible of the general
technical development of offers at the Schneider Electric Applications
and Services Activity.
Lexicon
Abbreviations
Breaking capacity.
BC
MLVS
Main low voltage switchboard.
Symbols
A
Cross sectional area of conductors.
Ik
Initial short-circuit current
(IEC 60909).
Ir
Rated current of a generator.
Is
Service current.
Isc
Steady-state short-circuit current (Isc3
= three-phase, Isc2 = two-phase, ).
Summary
1 Introduction
p. 4
p. 5
p. 7
p. 10
p. 11
p. 11
p. 12
p. 13
p. 18
p. 19
p. 23
p. 23
p. 24
p. 26
p. 27
p. 31
Bibliography
p. 32
1 Introduction
Upstream Ssc
HV / LV
transformer rating
usc (%)
Isc
at transformer
terminals
Power factor,
coincidence factor,
duty factor,
foreseeable expansion
factor
Breaking capacity
Conductor characteristics
c Busbars:
- length,
- width,
- thickness.
c Cables:
- type of insulation,
- single-core or multicore,
- length,
- cross-section,
c Environment :
- ambient temperature,
- installation method,
- number of contiguous circuits.
Isc
of main LV switchboard
outgoers
Breaking capacity
Inst. trip setting
at head of secondary
switchboards
Breaking capacity
Isc
at end of final
outgoers
Secondary
distribution
circuit breakers
Isc
at head of final
switchboards
Breaking capacity
Load
rating
Main LV
switchboard
distribution
circuit breakers
Isc
Main
circuit breaker
Final
distribution
circuit breakers
Cable or I2t
characteristic
1 > 2
a5
Fuse time-current
curve
s
Transient
overload
I2t = k2A2
Design
current
Transient
overload
IB Ir Iz
IB
Circuit breaker
time-current
curve
Isc BC
Ir
Iz
Consequences of short-circuits
The consequences are variable depending on
the type and the duration of the fault, the point in
the installation where the fault occurs and the
short-circuit power. Consequences include:
c at the fault location, the presence of electrical
arcs, resulting in:
v damage to insulation;
v welding of conductors;
v fire and danger to life;
c on the faulty circuit:
v electrodynamic forces, resulting in:
- deformation of the busbars;
- disconnection of cables;
L3
L3
L2
L2
L1
L1
Ik"
Ik"
c) Phase-to-phase-to-earth shortcircuit.
d) Phase-earth short-circuit.
L3
L3
L2
L2
L1
L1
Ik"
Ik"
Ik"
"
Ik
Short-circuit current,
Partial short-circuit currents in conductors and earth.
In calculations, the various currents (Ik") are identified by an index.
Fig. 5: different types of short-circuits and their currents. The direction of current is chosen arbitrarily.
(See IEC 60909).
R2 + X 2
ia = sin ( t + ) where
I = maximum current = E ,
Zsc
Zsc
Zs
ia = I sin ( t + )
idc = - I sin e
R t
L
I
t
i = ia + idc
Fault initiation
Fig. 7: graphical presentation and decomposition of a short-circuit current occuring away from the generator.
a) Symmetrical
i
I = 2 Ia
i =
b) Asymmetrical
idc
ip
i =
Fig. 8: graphical presentation of the two extreme cases (symmetrical and asymmetrical) for a short-circuit current.
R
t
L
The factor e
is inversely proportional to the
aperiodic component damping, determined by
the R / L or R / X ratios.
K
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2 R / X
a) 0
t (s)
b) 0
t (s)
c) 0
t (s)
d) 0
t (s)
0.1
0.3
0.5
e) 0
t (s)
Subtransient
Transient
Steady-state
Fig. 10: total short-circuit current Isc (e), and contribution of its components:
a) subtransient of each reactance;
b) transient reactance;
c) steady-state reactance;
d) aperiodic component.
Note that the decrease in the generator reactance is faster than that of the aperiodic component. This is a rare
situation that can cause saturation of the magnetic circuits and interruption problems because several periods
occur before the current passes through zero.
Symmetrical
Subtrans.
Transient
Steady-state
Asymmetrical
Isc = Un / (Z)
sc 3 =
Three-phase fault
+ X
where
ZL
Zsc
ZL
sc 3 =
U/ 3
Zsc
sc 2 =
U
2 Zsc
ZL
Phase-to-phase fault
ZL
Zsc
U
ZL
Phase-to-neutral fault
Zsc
Zsc
ZL
ZLn
sc1 =
V
ZLn
ZL
Phase-to-earth fault
Zsc
sc(0) =
V
Z(0)
U/ 3
Zsc + Z Ln
Z(0)
U/ 3
Zsc + Z(0)
sc2 =
U
=
2 Zsc
3
sc 3 0.86 sc3
2
As, Xup =
Xup
=
Zup
Zup2 - Rup2 ,
Rup
1 -
Zup
3 Z T = usc
630
800
1,000
1,250
1,600
2,000
4.5
5.5
i.e.:
W = 3 RT n2 RT =
W
3 n2
Notes:
5
v when n identically-rated transformers are
connected in parallel, their internal impedance
values, as well as the resistance and reactance
values, must be divided by n.
v particular attention must be paid to special
transformers, for example, the transformers for
rectifier units have usc values of up to 10 to
12 % in order to limit short-circuit currents.
When the impedance upstream of the
transformer and the transformer internal
impedance are taken into account, the shortcircuit current may be expressed as:
sc
' sc - sc
Zup
U2 / Ssc
=
=
=
sc
sc
ZT
usc U2 / Sn
sc
100 Sn
=
sc
usc Ssc
Figure 14 indicates the level of conservative
error in the calculation of Isc, due to the fact that
the upstream impedance is neglected. The figure
demonstrates clearly that it is possible to neglect
the upstream impedance for networks where the
short-circuit power Ssc is much higher than the
transformer kVA rating Sn. For example, when
Ssc / Sn = 300, the error is approximately 5 %.
c Link impedance
The link impedance ZL depends on the
resistance per unit length, the reactance per unit
length and the length of the links.
v the resistance per unit length of overhead
lines, cables and busbars is calculated as:
RL =
A
where
A = cross-sectional area of the conductor;
= conductor resistivity, however the value used
varies, depending on the calculated short-circuit
current (minimum or maximum).
sc =
U
3 (Zup + Z T )
Initially, Zup and ZT may be considered
comparable to their respective reactances. The
short-circuit impedance Zsc is therefore equal to
the algebraic sum of the two.
' sc =
d
XL = L = 15.7 + 144.44 Log
r
U
3 ZT
Isc/Isc
(%)
Psc = 250 MVA
12
10
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Pn
(kVA)
Fig. 14 : resultant error in the calculation of the short-circuit current when the upstream network impedance Zup
is neglected.
);
(
) ; For "sandwiched-phase" busbars
(e.g. Canalis - Telemecanique), the reactance is
considerably lower.
or triangular
Notes:
v the impedance of the short links between the
distribution point and the HV / LV transformer
may be neglected. This assumption gives a
conservative error concerning the short-circuit
current. The error increases in proportion to the
transformer rating.
v the cable capacitance with respect to the earth
(common mode), which is 10 to 20 times greater
than that between the lines, must be taken into
account for earth faults. Generally speaking, the
Current
Resistivity
(*)
Copper
Aluminium
1 = 1.25 20
1 = 1.5 20
1 = 1.25 20
0.0225
0.036
PH-N
0.027
0.043
PH-N
0.0225
0.036
PH-N (**)
PE-PEN
1 = 1.25 20
1 = 1.5 20
0.0225
0.036
PH-N (**)
0,027
0.043
Phase-Neutral
PEN-PE if incorporated in
same multiconductor cable
1 = 1.25 20
0.0225
0.036
Separate PE
Resistivity value
( mm2 / m)
Concerned
conductors
(*) 20 is the resistivity of the conductors at 20 C. 0.018 mm2 / m for copper and 0.029 mm2 / m for aluminium.
(**) N, the cross-sectional area of the neutral conductor, is less than that of the phase conductor
Fig. 15: conductor resistivity values to be taken into account depending on the calculated short-circuit current
(minimum or maximum). See UTE C 15-105.
Wiring system
Busbars
Three-phase
cable
Spaced single-core
espacs
3 touching
cables (flat)
Diagram
Average reactance
per unit lengt
values (m / m)
0.15
0.08
0.15
0.085
0.095
0.145
0.19
Extreme reactance
per unit length
values (m / m)
0.12-0.18
0.06-0.1
0.1-0.2
0.08-0.09
0.09-0.1
0.14-0.15
0.18-0.20
1
0.8
ZL
0.1
0.08
0.05
x U2
where
100 Sn
U = no-load phase-to-phase voltage of the
generator,
Sn = generator VA rating.
10 Z =
m / m
0.2
XL
RL
0.02
0.01
10
20
50
c Asynchronous motors
When an asynchronous motor is cut from the
network, it maintains a voltage across its
terminals that disappears within a few
Subtransient
reactance
Transient
reactance
Steady-state
reactance
Turbo-generator
10-20
15-25
150-230
Salient-pole generators
15-25
25-35
70-120
Subtransient
reactance
Transient
reactance
Steady-state
reactance
High-speed motors
15
25
80
Low-speed motors
35
50
100
Compensators
25
40
160
16 For example, the arc resulting from a shortcircuit between conductors or busbars may
reduce the prospective short-circuit current by
c Various impedances
Other elements may add non-negligible
impedances. This is the case for harmonics filters
and inductors used to limit the short-circuit current.
They must, of course, be included in calculations,
as well as wound-primary type current
transformers for which the impedance values vary
depending on the rating and the type of
construction.
U
17 Z LV = Z HV LV
UHV
A simple means of avoiding these difficulties is the
relative impedance method proposed by H. Rich.
ZT
2
UHV
ZL
2
ULV
UHV
ZT
ULV
ZL
A
Upstream network
U1 = 20 kV
Psc = 500 MVA
3L
Overhead line
3 cables, 50 mm2, copper,
length = 2 km
G
A
Generator
1 MVA
Xsubt = 15 %
2 transformers
1,000 kVA
secondary winding 237 / 410 V
usc = 5 %
10 m
B
Main LV switchboard
busbars
3 bars, 400 mm2 / ph, copper,
length = 10 m
3L
Link 1
3 single-core cables, 400 mm2,
aluminium spaced, flat,
length = 80 m
LV sub-distribution board
Link 2
3 three-phase cables,
35 mm2, copper,
length = 30 m
3L
Motor
50 kW
(efficiency: 0.9, cos : 0.8)
usc = 25 %
Solution
Section
Calculations
Results
(the circled numbers X indicate where explanations may be found in the preceding text)
X ()
20 kV
1. upstream network
Zup = 20 x 103
/ 500 x 106
1
2
0.78
Xc o = 0.4 x 2
Rc o = 0.018 x
3. generator
XG =
0.15
7
2, 000
50
20 x 103
15
x
100
106
0.8
0.72
R G = 0.1 X G
10
60
11
6
X (m)
20 kV
Fault A
4. transformers
1
5
4102
x
x
2
100
106
ZT =
R ()
XT ZT
R (m)
5
4.2
R T = 0.2 X T
5. circuit-breaker
X cb = 0.15
15
0.15
6. busbars
(3 x 400 mm2)
XB = 0.15 x 10-3 x 10
1.5
0.84
410 V
RB = 0.0225 x
10
3 x 400
Fault B
7. circuit-breaker
8. cable link 1
(3 x 400 mm2)
X cb = 0.15
Xc1 = 0.15 x 10
Rc1
0.15
3
x 80
80
= 0.036 x
3 x 400
12
2.4
Fault C
9.circuit-breaker
X cb = 0.15
Xc 2 = 0.09 x 10 3 x 30
Rc 2 = 0.0225 x
0.15
2.7
30
35
19.2
Fault D
11. motor 50 kW
Xm =
25
4102
x
100
(50 / 0.9 x 0.8) 103
Rm = 0.2 Xm
12
605
121
RC
= 0.19 hence k = 1.55 on the curve in
XC
figure 9 and therefore the peak Isc is equal to:
ZA =
R2A
X 2A
3
1.80 hence
20 x 10
6,415 A
3 x 1.80
IA is the "steady-state Isc" and for the purposes
of calculating the peak asymmetrical Isc:
RA
= 0.55
XA
hence k = 1.2 on the curve in figure 9 and
therefore Isc is equal to:
1.2 x 2 x 6,415 = 10,887 A .
A =
(410 / 20,000)2
XB =
[(XA 0.42) +
[(RA 0.42) +
0.84 10-3
XB = 6.51 m and
RB =
RB = 1.2 m
These calculations make clear, firstly, the low
importance of the HV upstream reactance, with
respect to the reactances of the two parallel
transformers, and secondly, the non-negligible
impedance of the 10 meter long, LV busbars.
ZB =
RB2
B =
410
35,758 A
3 x 6.62 x 10-3
XB2
= 6.62 m hence
RB
= 0.18 hence k = 1.58 on the curve in
XB
figure 9 and therefore the peak Isc is equal to:
ZC =
2
2
RC
+ XC
19 m
C =
410
12,459 A
3 x 19 x 103
1.55 x
2 x 12,459 27,310 A
2
2
RD
+ XD
31.42 m
D =
410
7, 534 A
3 x 31.42 x 10-3
RD
= 1.06 hence k 1.05 on the curve in
XD
figure 9 and therefore the peak Isc is equal to:
1.05 x
2 x 7,534 11,187 A
ZM = 624 m , hence
M =
410
3 x 624 x 10-3
379 A
X MD
605
=
+ 2.7 10-3 34, 5 m
19
121
RMD =
+ 19.2 10-3 25.5 m
19
ZMD = 43 m hence
410
MD =
= 5,505 A
3 x 43 x 10-3
giving a total at D of:
7,534 + 5,505 = 13,039 A rms, and
Isc 20,650 A.
c Fault en B
As for the fault at C, the current produced by the
motor may be calculated on the basis of the
"motor + cable" impedance:
ZM = 636 m hence
M =
410
3 x 636 x 10-3
372 A
= 152.5 A
20 x 10-3
This figure, compared to the 6,415 A calculated
previously, is negligible.
7, 440 x
= R'D
2
2
R'D
+ X'D
28.02 m
410
8,448 A
3 x 28.02 x 10-3
hence the peak Isc:
' D =
2 x 8,448 11,945 A
sc = 1.4
sc = 11,945 + 4.8 x 95 x 2 x 20
= 24, 842 A .
Compared to the figure obtained by the full
calculation (20,039), the approximate method
allows a quick evaluation with an error remaining
on the side of safety.
2 = a 2 11 + a1(2) + 1(0)
3 = a 1(1) + a 2 1(2) + 1(0)
a = e
I1(1)
I2(1)
Negative-sequence
I1(2)
I3(2)
Geometric construction of I1
I1
I1(1)
I1(2) I1(0)
I2(0)
I3(0)
1
3
+ j
between 1, 2 ,
2
2
zero-sequence
I1(0)
I2(2)
= -
and 3 .
Positive-sequence
I3(1)
2
3
I3
I2
I1
t
t
Geometric construction of I2
I1(1)
I1(0)
I2
a2 I1(1)
a I1(2)
I1(2)
Fig. 23: graphical construction of the sum of three balanced three-phase systems (positive-sequence, negative-sequence and zero-sequence).
Elements
Z(0)
Transformer
(seen from secondary winding)
No neutral
Yyn or Zyn
Dyn or YNyn
primary D or Y + zn
free flux
forced flux
10 to 15 X(1)
X(1)
0.1 to 0.2 X(1)
Machine
Synchronous
0.5 Z(1)
Asynchronous
Line
3 Z(1)
Rated
voltage
Un
Voltage factor c
for calculation of
Isc max.
Isc min.
LV
230 - 400 V
0.95
Others
1.05
1.1
HV
1 to 230 kV
Type
of short-circuit
Ik
General situation
c Un
Fault occurring
far from the generators
c Un
=
3 Z(1)
3 Z(1)
In both cases, the short-circuit current depends only on Z(1), which is generally replaced by Zk,
c Un
Z(1) + Z(2)
Phase-to-earth
Phase-to-phase-to-earth
(Zsc between phases = 0)
c Un 3
c Un 3
2 Z(1) + Z(0)
c Un
2 Z(1)
c Un 3
Z(1) + 2 Z(0)
Fig. 26: Short-circuit values depending on the positive-sequence, negative-sequence & zero-sequence impedances of the given network
(see IEC 60909).
0.004
RL = 1 +
(e - 20 C) RL20
C
2 k "
K = 1.02 + 0.98 e
R
X
Ikmax = max Ir
1.0
Minimum time delay tmin
0.02 s
0.9
0.05 s
0.8
0.1 s
> 0.25 s
0.7
0.6
0.5
0
Fig. 27: factor used to calculate the short-circuit breaking current Ib (see IEC 60909).
2.4
6.0
Xd sat
max
2.2
1.2
1.4
2.0
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
1.8
5.5
5.0
Xd sat
4.5
1.6
4.0
1.4
3.5
1.2
3.0
1.0
2.5
0.8
2.0
max
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
0.6
min
1.5
0.4
1.0
0.2
0.5
0
0
1.7
2.0
min
0
1
"
Three-phase short-circuit current Ik / Ir
"
Three-phase short-circuit current Ik / Ir
10 MVA
10 MVA
E
15 km
40 km
8 MVA
5 kV
4 MVA
4 MVA
15 kV G
F
2 MVA
cos : 0.8
2 MVA
cos : 0.8
6 MVA
cos : 0.8
20 km
30 km
5 kV
M
4 MVA
5 kV
2 MVA
cos : 0.8
Fig. 30
Solution
c On the basis of the positive-sequence and
negative-sequence diagrams (see fig. 31 ), the
following may be calculated:
a =
U2
30 2
=
j 3.1
Ssc
290
U2
6
302
=
x
j 5.4
Sn
100
10
c1 = 0.35 x 40 j 14
c2 = 0.35 x 30 j 10.5
c3 = 0.35 x 20 j 7
c4 = 0.35 x 15 j 5.25
b = usc
U2
8
302
=
x
j9
Sn
100
8
d = usc
e =
g =
U2
302
x 0.6 =
x 0.6 j 90
S
6
f = usc
U2
8
302
=
x
j 18
Sn
100
4
U2
302
x 0.6 =
x 0.6 j 270
S
2
sc1 =
c Un 3
0.773 kA
b'
E
d
c4
g
b'
E
c3
d'
c'4
c1
f
c2
c'3
c'2
H
f
f'
g
Fig. 31.
Fig. 32.
c'1
f'
f'
Positive-sequence and
negative-sequence diagram
Zero-sequence diagram
j 3.1
j 5.4
j 17.25
j 5.4
j 5.4
j 5.4
j 39.45
E
E
j9
j 5.25
j 270
j 14
j 18
j 90
G
F
j 18
H
Z(1), Z(2)
j 42
j 15.75
F
Z(0)
j 270
j 21
j7
H
Z(1), Z(2)
Z(0)
Fig. 33.
Z'
j 3.1
Za
j 5,4
j 5.4 j 5.4
j 5.4 + j 5.4
= j 3.1 + j 2.7 = j 5.8
Za = j 3,1 +
j 5,4
E
Zc
j9
j 5.25
j 270
j 14
G
j 270
j 18
Zc = j 14 + j 18
+ j 270
= j 302
j 288
Zb
j7
Z(1) =
j 9 + j 90
= j 99
j 5.25
j 18
j 90
H
j7
Z(1), Z(0)
Z' =
Za x Zb x Zc
Za Zb+Za Zc+Zb Zc
= j 5.381
j 5.25
Z=
j 288
j 10.631 j 288
j 10.631 + j 288
= j 17.253
j7
+j7
H
H
Fig. 34.
Zero-sequence diagram
Positive-sequence diagram
j 3.1
j 5.4
j 13,05
j 5.4
j 5.4
j 5.4
j 27.2
E
E
j9
j 5.25
j 270
j 14
j 18
G
j 90
j 18
j7
j 42
j 15.75
Z(1), Z(2)
Z(0)
j 270
j 10,5
j 21
j 31.5
Z(1), Z(2)
Z(1) = Z(2) = j 13.05
Z(0)
Z(0) = j 27.2
Fig. 35.
Various methods for the calculation of shortcircuit currents have been developed. Some
have been included in a number of standards
and are consequently included in this
"Cahier Technique" publication as well.
Several standardised methods were designed in
such a way that short-circuit currents could be
calculated by hand or using a small calculator.
When computerised scientific calculations
became a possibility in the 1970's, electricalinstallation designers devised software for their
particular needs. This software was initially run
on mainframe computer systems, then on
minicomputers, but was difficult to use, and
therefore limited to a small number of experts.
This software was finally transferred to the PC
microcomputing environment, proving much
easier to use. Today, a wide range of software
packages are available which comply with the
applicable standards defining the calculation of
Isc currents in LV applications, for example
Bibliography
Standards
c IEC 60909: Short-circuit current calculation in
three-phase AC systems.
c IEC 60781: Application guide for calculation of
short-circuit currents in low voltage radial
systems.
c NF C 15-100: Installations lectriques basse
tension.
c C 15-105: Guide pratique,
Dtermination des sections de conducteurs et
choix des dispositifs de protection.
Schneider Electric Cahiers Techniques
c Analyse des rseaux triphass en rgime
perturb l'aide des composantes symtriques,
Cahier Technique n 18 - B. DE METZ-NOBLAT
c Neutral earthing in an industrial HV network.
Cahier Technique no. 62 - F. SAUTRIAU.
c LV circuit-breaker breaking capacity.
Cahier Technique no. 154 - R. MOREL.
Other publication by Institut Schneider
Formation (ISF)
c Electrical Installation Guide,
Ref.: MD1ELG2E
(information on this 400 page pbulication is
obtainable on www.schneiderformation.com)
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