Fundamental Notions

Transients

electrical manifestation of a sudden change in circuit
conditions
switch opens
switch closes
network fault

transient period is very short relative to the time spent in

steady state operation, but is extremely important
greatest stresses on circuit components
excessive currents and voltages
circuit damage

January 2004

Power System Transients

Understanding Transients
Most power engineers have only the
haziest concepts of what is happening
in the circuit during transients
Some view the subject as bordering
the occult

Transient can be understood

Course objective: Learn to

calculate and assess behaviors, and

prevent or control damaging transient
energies
January 2004

Power System Transients

Basics of Transients
circuit parameters: R, L, and C

all components and devices have all three parameters

these attribute differ to a greater or lesser degree
under steady-state conditions, one will dominate
in transient conditions the conditions are very different

lumped vs. distributed parameters

in reality, parameters are distributed in nature

in circuit analysis, we frequently lump the parameters for
ease of analysis

under many conditions, good analysis requires using
distributed parameters
January 2004

Power System Transients

Lumped Parameter Modeling

When are the resistance, inductance, and capacitance
effects important or necessary to model?

an inductor?

a capacitor?
January 2004

Power System Transients

Energy Concepts
electric field energy storage:

1
2

CV2

magnetic field energy storage:

1
2

L I2

energy dissipation:

January 2004

R I2

Power System Transients

Energy Balance
Under steady-state conditions

dc circuit the energy stored is constant

ac circuit the energy is being transferred cyclically between
the Ls and Cs of the circuit

Sudden changes in a circuit causes a

redistribution of energy

energy redistribution cannot take place instantaneously

change in the magnetic field requires a change
dI
in current, but is opposed by the induced emf: e = L dt

change in the electric field requires a change
dV dQ
=
in the charge or the voltage, but is opposed I = C
dt
dt
by the flow of current:
January 2004

Power System Transients

Energy Conservation Law

Redistribution of energy following a circuit change
takes a finite time
All circuits at all times are governed by the
conservation of energy

Esupply = Estorage + Edissipation

dEsupply
dt

January 2004

dEstorage
dt

dEdissipation

Power System Transients

dt

Circuit Modeling
set down the differential or algebraic equations

use Kirchhoffs voltage and current laws

example:
switch closing
I
Sw
V

January 2004

R
C

Power System Transients

V1

1
V = IR + I dt
C
dQ
dV1
I=
=C
dt
dt
dV
V V1 = RC 1
dt
dV1
dt
V V1 = RC

Circuit Modeling
dV1
dt
=
V V1 RC
t
ln (V V1 ) =
+ const
RC
V1 = V A e

RC

V1

given : V1 (0 )
A = V V1 (0 )

V1 = V (V V1 (0 )) e

January 2004

V1(0)
t

RC

Power System Transients

Time

Lump Circuit Characteristics

Three basic circuit types:

e
C

January 2004

L
R t

RC

jt
L

e
C

Power System Transients

LC

jt
LC

Lump Circuit Characteristics

the only kind of response that is evoked when a linear
electric circuit comprising lumped elements is
disturbed takes the form of exponential functions or
combinations of exponential functions with real or
imaginary components (sine or cosine functions)
for circuits with more elements, the responses may be
more complicated but they are no more complex

January 2004

Power System Transients

Superposition
very powerful tool for solving problems

in a linear system, if a stimulus S1 produces a response R1
and a stimulus S2 produces a response R2, then S1 and S2
applied simultaneously will evoke a response R1+R2

switching operations

an event in which a new path for current is created or an
existing path is eliminated
including faults, circuit breaker operations, and lightning strikes

transients are a response to switching operations

January 2004

Power System Transients

Superposition and Switches

Example
opening a switch
Z1
E

Z2

Time

Contacts part

I1 = A sin ( t )

I1

I 2 = A sin ( t ) u (t )
I1 + I 2 = 0 t >
January 2004

Time

Power System Transients

I2

Superposition
Example

initially, C1 is charged to 100 kV and C2 is uncharged

switch S is closed and at 40 s later the gap G sparks over

determine the current in R2 and the voltage on C1
immediately after the sparkover

S
C1
5 F

January 2004

R1
100
C2
0.5 F

Power System Transients

G
R2
1.0 k