4.

13 Open Conductor Faults:

When one or two phases of a balanced three-phase line opens it creates an unbalance in the
system and results in the flow of unbalanced currents. Such conditions occur in the system when
one or two conductors of a trnansmission line are broken due to storm or if fuses, isolators or
circuit breakers operate only on one or two phases leaving others connected. Such open conductor
faults can also be analysed with the help of [Z Bus ] matrices of sequence networks.

Figure 4.75: Open Conductor faults on a section of three phase system

In Fig. 4.75, a section of a three phase system between buses i and j is shown. Fig. 4.75 (a)
shows one conductor open while Fig. 4.75 (b) shows two conductors open between points k and
k . The positive direction of currents Ia , Ib and Ic are shown in the figure. For the analysis of
such faults, the Thevenins impedance between two buses i and j is required and the relationship
between the elements of [Z Bus ] and Thevenins impedances at each bus of the network needs
to be established.

Let [V
0 ] be the vector of open-circuit bus voltages corresponding to the initial (pre-fault) value
of bus current vector [ I0 ] injected in a network with bus impedance matrix [Z Bus ]. We can
then write

208
 [V
0 ] = [Z
Bus ][I0 ] (4.134)

If the bus currents are changed to a new value, [

I0 + I], the new bus voltage [V]
can be
expressed as:

[V]
= [Z Bus ] [I0 + I]
= [Z
Bus ][I0 ] + [Z
Bus ][I] (4.135)
= [V
0 ] + [V]

where,[V]
represents the change in the values of the original bus voltage [V
0 ].

Fig. 4.76 represents a power system with buses i and j taken out along with the reference node.
The circuit is not energised so that [V 0 ] and [I0 ] are zero. Currents [Ii ] and [Ij ] are
injected into the ith and jth buses respectively, through current sources connected between the
node and the reference node.

Figure 4.76: Change in bus voltage [V]

due to current [Ii ] and [Ij ]

209
The changes in bus voltage [V]
can be calculated from equation (4.135) as

1 i j N
V 1 Z11 Z1i Z1j Z1N I
1 1




Vi i Zi1 Zii Zij ZiN Ii

V = j Zj1 Zji Zjj ZjN I
j j




VN N ZN 1 ZN i ZN j ZN N IN

V Z I + Z I
1 j
1i i 1j




Vi Zii Ii + Zij Ij

V = Z I + Z I (4.136)
j j
ji i jj




VN ZN i Ii + ZN j Ij

The modified voltage at ith bus can be written as :

Vi = Vi0 + Vi = Vi0 + Zii Ii + Zij Ij (4.137)

ij Ii in equation (4.137), one obtains

adding and subtracting Z

Vi = Vi0 + (Zii Zij )Ii + Zij (Ii + Ij ) (4.138)

Similarly the modified voltage at jth bus can be written as

Vj = Vj0 + V
j = Vj0 + Zji Ii + Zjj Ij (4.139)

ji Ij in equation (4.139) , one obtains

adding and subtracting Z

Vj = Vj0 + (Zjj Zji )Ij + Zji (Ii + Ij ) (4.140)

Since the network is symmetrical

Zji = Zij (4.141)

Thus the equations (4.138) and (4.140) can be represented by an equivalent circuit shown in
Fig. 4.77, which is also the Thevenins Equivalent circuit of the network as seen from the ith
and jth buses.
From the figure it can be observed that the Thevenins open circuit voltage between ith and jth
buses is (Vi0 Vj0 ).

210
 Figure 4.77: The Thevenins Equivalent of the original network

To calculate the open circuit impedance between ith and jth buses, the initial voltages Vi0 and
Vj0 are set equal to zero and an ideal current source I is connected between the two busses.
Next, the resulting voltages Vi and Vj are calculated. Note that Ii = I and Ij = I.

Vi = (Zii Zij )I (4.142)

Vj = (Zjj Zji )(I)

(4.143)

Next, calculate the voltage difference Vij between ith and jth buses as:

Vij = Vi Vj = (Zii + Zjj 2Zij )I (4.144)

Hence,
Vij
ZT hevenin,ij = = (Zii + Zjj 2Zij ) (4.145)
I
Once the Thevenins equivalent is established, the analysis of open-conductor faults can proceed
further. The opening of all the three phases is equivalent to the removal of the line i j totally
(0) (1) (2)
from the network. If zij , zij and zij are the the three sequence impedance of the line i
j, then the removal of this line from the network can be simulated by adding zij(0) ,
zij(1) and
zij(2) to the corresponding Thevenins equivalent network of the three sequence networks of the
original network as seen from ith and jth buses.
Let x represents the fractional length of the broken line i j from ith bus to the break point
k, where 0 x 1.

211
The positive sequence impedance of the conductor segment between the ith bus and the point of
break k is xzij(1) , and the positive sequence impedance of the remaining conductor from point k to
j th bus is (1 x) zij(1) . These two impedances are then added to represent the broken conductor.
This is illustrated in Fig. 4.78

Figure 4.78: Positive sequence equivalent network with line open between buses k and k

(a) (b) (c)

If Vkk , Vkk and Vkk represent the phase component of voltage drops between points k and
(0) (1) (2)
k, then Vkk , Vkk and Vkk represent the sequence components of the voltage drops between
points k and k. These sequence voltages have different values depending on the type of open
conductor fault.
(1)
zij(1) + (1
To further simplify the circuit, the voltage Vkk and the total series impedance [x
Vkk(1)
zij(1) ] = zij(1) is replaced by a current source
x) (1)
(1)
and a parallel impedance zij as shown in
zij
Fig. 4.79.
(1) (1)
Further, the parallel combination of zij and
zij is and hence, is replaced by an open circuit.
The final simplified positive sequence impedance equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 4.80

Similarly, the negative sequence and zero sequence equivalent networks are shown in Fig.4.81 (a)
and (b) repectively. These equivalent networks are identical to the positive sequence equivalent
network but do not contain any internal voltage sources.
Vkk(1) Vkk(2) Vkk(0)
The equivalent currents (1)
, and are due to open conductor fault between k and
zij zij(2) zij(0)
k. If no conductor is open then the sequence voltages are all zero and the current sources are
not present in the equivalent circuit. Further, the current sources can be regarded as current
injections into the buses i and j of the original sequence networks. All through the calculation

212
 Figure 4.79: Thevenins Equivalent with transformed current source

Figure 4.80: Final positive sequence Thevenins Equivalent circuit repesenting the opening of line i
j between buses k and k

(0) (1) (2)

process, the bus impedance matrices [Z
Bus ], [Z
Bus ] and [Z
Bus ] of the original network are
used.

The current injections at the buses i and j can be tabulated as:

213
Figure 4.81: Final (a) negative sequence (b) zero sequence Thevenins Equivalent circuit repesenting
the opening of line i j between k and k

Positive Sequence Negative Sequence Zero sequence

Vkk(1) Vkk(2) Vkk(0)
at ith bus
zij(1) zij(2) zij(0)
Vkk(1) Vkk(2) Vkk(0)
at j th bus (1) (2) (0)
zij zij zij
(0) (1) (2)
The sequence voltage drops Vn , Vn and Vn at any bus n due to the current injections
at the buses i and j can be calculates from equation (4.136) as:

(0) (0) (0)

(0)
(Zni Znj )Vkk
V =
zij(0)
n

(1) (1) (1)

(Zni Znj )Vkk
Vn(1) = (4.146)
zij(1)
(2) (2) (2)
(Zni Znj )V
Vn(2) =
kk
(2)
z
ij

Next, the Thevenins equivalent impedances for each sequence network, as seen from the busesk
and k, are calculated as follows:
(1) is found out as :
From Fig.4.78, the positive sequence equivalent impdeance Zkk

(1)
(1) Zth,ij zij(1) )
(
Zkk zij(1) +
= x
(1) (1)
zij(1)
+ (1 x)
Z th,ij+ (
zij )

214
 (1) zij(1) )2
(
Z = (1) (4.147)
zij(1)
kk
Z th,ij

Similarly from Fig. 4.81 (a) and (b), the negative sequence and zero sequence Thevenins equiv-
alent impedances can be expressed as:

(2) ( zij(2) )2
Zkk =
Z (2) zij(2)

th,ij
(4.148)
(0) ( zij(0) )2
Zkk =
Z (0) zij(0)

th,ij

The open-circuit voltage from point k to k can be calculated as:

(1) zij(1) )2
(
V
th,kk = (1) (1)
(Vi(1) Vj(1) ) (4.149)
Z zij
th,ij

(1)
Zkk zij(1)
=

substituting from equation (4.147) in equation (4.149), the final value of
zij(1) (1)
Zth,ij zij(1)
(1)
Vth,kk is obtained as:

(1)
(1) Zkk
Vth,kk = (Vi(1) Vj(1) )


(1)
(4.150)
zij
(1)
Also prior to the occurance of open-conductor fault on any conductor, the current Iij flowing
in phase a is the positive sequence component and is given by the relation:

(Vi(1) Vj(1) )
Iij(1) = (4.151)
zij(1)

Substituting equation (4.151) in equation (4.150), one gets

(1) (1) (1)

Vth,kk = Zkk Iij (4.152)

The Thevenins equivalent network as seen from points k and k for the three sequence networks
are shown in Fig. 4.82
We are now ready to discuss the two possible cases of open-circuit fault i.e. (a) open phase open
(b) two phases open. We will be discussing them in the next lecture.

215
 Figure 4.82: Thevenins Equivalent networks as seen from k and k

4.13.1 One Phase open:

Consider that phase a conductor is open as shown in Fig. 4.75(a), hence phase a current Ia = 0.
As a result:

Ia(1) + Ia(2) + Ia(0) = 0 (4.153)

(1) (2) (0)

where, Ia , Ia and Ia are the symmetrical components of phase a current. Since phases b and
c are closed , the voltage drops .

Vkk ,b = 0 Vkk ,c = 0 (4.154)

216
 The symmetrical components of voltage drops across the fault point can be calculated as :

V (0) 1 1 1 V V
a kk ,a kk ,a
(1) 1 1
Va = 1 a a2 0 = Vkk ,a
3 3 (4.155)
(2)
Va 1 a a 0
2 Vkk ,a

Hence,
1
Va(0) = Va(1) = Va(2) = Vkk ,a (4.156)
3
It implies that open conductor in phase a causes equal voltages to appear across points k and
k of each sequence network. Hence, the three equivalent sequence networks can be connected in
parallel across points k and k as shown in Fig. 4.83.

Figure 4.83: Connection of Equivalent sequence networks to represent open phase a between k and
k

(1)
The current Ia is given as :

(1)
Zkk
Ia(1) = Iij

(1) Z Z (0)
(2)
Zkk +
kk kk
(2) (0)
Zkk + Zkk

simplifying

(1) (2) (0)

Zkk [Zkk + Zkk ]
Ia(1) = Iij (4.157)
Z (0) Z (1) + Z (1) Z (2) + Z (2) Z (0)
kk kk kk kk kk kk

(1) (2) (0)

The sequence voltage drops Vkk , Vkk and Vkk can be calculated with reference to Fig.4.83 as:

(2) (0)
(1) (1) Zkk Zkk
Vkk = Ia

(2)
Zkk (0)
+ Zkk

(1)
Substituting Ia and simplifying we get:

217
 (1) (2) (0)
Zkk Zkk Zkk
Vkk(1) = Vkk(2) = Vkk(0) = Iij (4.158)
Z Z + Z (1) Z (2) + Z (2) Z (0)
(0)
kk
(1)
kk kk kk kk kk

(1) (2) (0)

, Z , and Z are obtained from the impedance parameters of the sequence networks
Z kk kk kk
[equation (4.147) and equation (4.148)].

Iij is the pre-fault current or load current in phase a of the line i j

Vkk(1) Vkk(2) Vkk(0)

Next, the equivalent injected currents (1)
, and are calculated.
zij zij(2) zij(0)
(0) (1) (2)
Further, Vi ,Vi and Vi representing the changes in the symmetrical components of
bus voltage are calculated using equation (4.146).
Finally, the bus voltages after fault are calculated using superposition principle as :

Vi(1) (F ) = Vi(1) (0) + Vi(1)

Vi(2) (F ) = Vi(1) (4.159)
Vi(0) (F ) = Vi(2)

4.13.2 Two Phases open:

When two phases b and c are open then,

Vkk(1) ,a = Va(0) + Va(1) + Va(2) = 0

Ib = 0 (4.160)
Ic = 0

The sequence components of line current are:

I(0) 1 1 1 I
a a
(1) 1
Ia = 1 a a2 0
3
(2)
Ia 1 a a 0
2

Simplifying one gets the condition:

1
Ia(0) = Ia(1) = Ia(2) = Ia (4.161)
3
equation (4.161) indicates that the three equivalent sequence networks are in series and to ensure
V + Va(1) + Va(2) = 0 the circuit should be closed.The interconnection of the sequence networks is
a
(0)

shown in Fig.4.84.
From the equivalent circuit of Fig.4.84, the sequence currents can be calculated as :

218
Figure 4.84: Connection of Equivalent sequence networks to represent open phases b and c between
k and k

(1)
Zkk
Ia(1) = Ia(2) = Ia(0) = Iij

(4.162)
Z + Z + Z (2)
(0)
kk
(1)
kk kk

Iij is the pre-fault current in phase a.

The sequence voltage can be calculated as:

(1) (0) (2)

(1) (1) (0) (2) Zkk (Zkk + Zkk )
Vkk = Ia (Zkk + Zkk ) = Iij (0)

(1)
Zkk + Zkk (2)
+ Zkk

(1) (2)
Zkk Zkk
Vkk(2) = Ia(2) Zkk
(2)
= Iij (0) (1)
(4.163)
Zkk + Zkk (2)
+ Zkk

(1) (0)
Zkk Zkk
Vkk(0) = Ia(0) Zkk
(0)
= Iij (0) (1)
Zkk + Zkk (2)
+ Zkk

Remaining calculations are similar to those performed for single conductor open case. In the
next lecture we will be looking at an example of open conductor fault analysis.

219