The Model and Method

In DC Short Circuit Program

BASED ON:

Industrial Power Systems Data Book, GE

09/19/01
1. Introduction
The task of the DC short circuit program is to calculate the following 3 values for each of
its components when DC power system has 1 or more faults in bus or branch:

1. Maximum current, I max

di
2. Initial rate of rise:
dt
3. Time constant: Tt
Based on these values, the current-time curves can be constructed, which are very helpful
to understand the DC system under the fault.

The sources of short circuit current in direct current systems include:

1. Motors
2. Generators
3. Rectifiers
4. Batteries

The loads are ignored in the DC short circuit current, which is the same for the AC short
circuit program.

The network is modeled by the resistance diagram and inductance diagram which are
used to calculate the maximum current and rate of rise respectively.

The most important part here is to find the equivalent circuits to represent each of the
sources by their short-circuit characteristics and use superposition method or matrix
inversion technique to calculate the current initial rate of rise and the maximum short
circuit current.

2. Model
2.1 Battery equivalent circuit
The short circuit characteristics of lead batteries permit the use of a simple equivalent
circuit, shown following, for calculating maximum current and rate of rise respectively.
The magnitude of the voltage source (EB) is determined on the basis of two Volts per cell
and is defined by the following equation:

EB = 2 x No. of cells (1)

One of the resistances of the equivalent circuit represents the internal resistance (RB) of
the battery and is determined by the formula:

EB
RB = (2)
100 × I (8HR)

Where:
RB = Battery internal resistance;
EB = Battery internal voltage;
I = Current in Amperes
I(8HR) = 8-hour ampere rating of the battery (amps).

The other resistance (RC) in the equivalent circuit represents the conductors connecting
the cells together, and is determined on the basis of the conductor size and its length.

The inductance (LB) in the equivalent circuit of Fig. 1 represents the inductance of the
conductors connecting the cells.

According to the different method to calculate the RB, the battery editor gives the user 4
choices for battery size type:
• Eight Hour Rating
EB
RB =
100 × I (8HR)
• One Minute Rating
 EB
RB =
10 × I (1Min)
• Custom Rating
RB =User setting value
• Max SC Value
EB
RB =
MF × I dc
Where: RB = Battery internal resistance
EB = Battery actual voltage
Idc = Battery DC rated current in amps
MF = Short-circuit current Multiplying Factor

2.2 Rectifier equivalent circuit

The short circuit characteristics of power rectifier also permit the use of a simple
equivalent circuit, as shown following, for calculating maximum current and rate of rise
respectively.

According to the different method to calculate the R, L, the Rectifier editor gives the user
5 chooses for rectifier type:
1. Power Rectifier
2. Synchronous Converter
3. Double-Wye Rectifier
4. Double-Way Rectifier
5. Other Rectifier

A. Power Rectifier
The following information are needed to define a Power Rectifier.
Actual Volt Rectifier rated voltage
Rated DC Current Rectifier rated current (Amps)
Per Unit AC Z Rectifier per unit AC impedance (If total AC Z is known, this
value is calculated automatically)
Total AC Z Rectifier AC impedance in Ohms impedance (If Per Unit AC Z is
known, this value is calculated automatically)
Circuit Resistance Interconnect cable resistance
Circuit Reactance Interconnect cable reactance

The rectifier Total AC Z (Ohms) is equal to:

Actual Voltage
Z(ohms) = Zac (ohms) × 2.3 ×
Rectifier Rated DC current

The rectifier equivalent resistance (R) is calculated as follows:

Zac × actual voltage

R=
1.15 × Rectifier Rated DC current

The rectifier equivalent inductance L (henries) is equal to:

Actual voltage
L=
6 × Frequency × IDS

Where, IDS = Rectifier Short-Circuit Current (amps) for bolted fault:

1.02 × Rectifier rated Dc current
IDS =
Zac

B. Synchronous Converter
The following information is needed to define a Synchronous Converter.
Actual Volt Rectifier rated voltage
Rated DC Current Rectifier rated current (Amps)
Per Unit AC Z Rectifier per unit AC impedance (If total AC Z is known, this
value is calculated automatically) (For Information Only - not
used in the calculation)
Total AC Z Rectifier AC impedance in Ohms impedance (If Per Unit AC Z is
known, this value is calculated automatically) (For Information
Only - not used in the calculation)
Circuit Resistance Interconnect cable resistance
Circuit Reactance Interconnect cable reactance
PU Resistance Rectifier per-unit resistance, used to calculate the rectifier
resistance (RR)
PU Rate of Rise Current rate of rise, used to calculate the rectifier inductance
(Henries)
The synchronous converter resistance (R) is equal to:

PU resistance × actual voltage

R=
Rectifier Rated DC current

The synchronous converter equivalent inductance L (henries) is equal to:

Actual voltage
L=
Rectifier Rated DC current × PU Rate of Rise

C. Double-Wye Rectifier
The following information is needed to define a Double-Wye Rectifier.
Actual Volt Rectifier rated voltage
Rated DC Current Rectifier rated current (Amps)
Per Unit AC Z Rectifier per unit AC impedance (If total AC Z is known, this
value is calculated automatically)
Total AC Z Rectifier AC impedance in Ohms impedance (If Per Unit AC Z is
known, this value is calculated automatically)
Circuit Resistance Interconnect cable resistance
Circuit Reactance Interconnect cable reactance
AC Resistance Total AC resistance including rectifier transformer and AC system
AC Reactance Total AC reactance including rectifier transformer and AC system

The rectifier equivalent resistance (R) here is not a constant, it depends on the
terminal voltage of the rectifier. This means the short circuit calculation for system
with this kind of rectifier needs iterations.

R = F(Vt)

The function F can be calculated from the regulation curve of rectifier, see “GE Industrial
Power Systems Data Book (Section .172)” for details.
The resistance and reactance constants (K3 & K4) for determining peak fault current
factor (K1) are calculated as follows:

2 * Circuit Reactance
K3 =
AC Reactance
AC Resistance + 2 * Circuit Resistance
K4 =
AC Reactance

The rectifier equivalent inductance (henries) is equal to:

Actual voltage
L=
6 × Frequency × IDS

Where, IDS = Rectifier Short-Circuit Current (amps) for bolted fault:

 1.02 × Rectifier rated Dc current
IDS =
Zac

D. Double-Way Rectifier
The following information is needed to define a Double-Way Rectifier.
Actual Volt Rectifier rated voltage
Rated DC Current Rectifier rated current (Amps)
Per Unit AC Z Rectifier per unit AC impedance (If total AC Z is known this
value is calculated automatically)
Total AC Z Rectifier AC impedance in Ohms impedance (If Per Unit AC Z is
known this value is calculated automatically)
Circuit Resistance Interconnect cable resistance
Circuit Reactance Interconnect cable reactance
AC Resistance Total AC resistance including rectifier transformer and AC system
AC Reactance Total AC reactance including rectifier transformer and AC system

The rectifier equivalent resistance (R) here is also not a constant, it depends on the
terminal voltage of the rectifier. This means the short circuit calculation for system
with this kind of rectifier needs iterations.

R = F(Vt)

The function F can be calculated from the regulation curve of rectifier, see “GE Industrial
Power Systems Data Book (Section .172)” for details.
The resistance and reactance constants (K3 & K4) for determining peak fault current
factor (K1) are calculated as follows:

Circuit Reactance
K3 =
2 * AC Reactance
AC Resistance + 0.5 * Circuit Resistance
K4 =
AC Reactance

The rectifier equivalent inductance (henries) is equal to:

Actual voltage
L=
6 × Frequency × IDS

Where, IDS = Rectifier Short-Circuit Current (amps) for bolted fault:

1.02 × Rectifier rated Dc current
IDS =
Zac

E. Other Rectifier
The following information is needed to define a Rectifier Type Other.
Actual Volt Rectifier rated voltage
Rated DC Current Rectifier rated current (amps)
Per Unit AC Z Rectifier per unit AC impedance (If total AC Z is known, this
value is calculated automatically) (For Information Only - not
used in the calculation)
Total AC Z Rectifier AC impedance in Ohms impedance (If Per Unit AC Z is
known this value is calculated automatically) (For Information
Only - not used in the calculation)
Circuit Resistance Interconnect cable resistance
Circuit Reactance Interconnect cable reactance
Equiv Resistance Rectifier Equivalent resistance (RR) in Ohms
Equiv Reactance Rectifier Equivalent reactance (XR) in Ohms

In this case it is assumed that the rectifier equivalent resistance and reactance are known.

2.3. DC generators
The short circuit characteristics of generator also permit the use of a simple equivalent
circuit, as shown following, for calculating maximum current and rate of rise
respectively.

Fig.3

The available types of Generator are following 4 kinds:

Class GA GB GC GD
Pole face winding No No Yes Yes
Temp. rise 40° C 40°/50° C 40° C 40° C
Loading Continuous Continuous Continuous Continuous
Ventilation Open Open Forced and open Forced and open
Speed Constant Constant Constant Constant
Volts rated 120 or 125 230-250 300 600 250 600 750
Field winding Shunt or Shunt or Shunt or Shunt or
compound compound wound compound wound compound wound
wound
Each of these classes has a curve “Transient Resistance Of Armature Circuit In Per-Unit
Vs. (Horse Power *Rated Speed /1000) Of Machine” for user to get the Transient
Resistance (R) of the generator.

Calculation of Generator Equivalent Reactance (L):

For Type GA, GC, and GD generator, the armature circuit unsaturated inductance in
henries is calculated as follows:
19.1 × C x × Rated Voltage
L=
120 × Frequency × Rated DC Current × 1000

For Type GA,Cx = 0.6

For Type GC & GD, Cx = 0.2

For Type GB generator, the inductance in millihenries is obtained from curve

“Inductance Of Armature Circuit In Per-Unit Vs. (KW *Rated Speed /1000) Of
Machine”

2.4 DC motors
The short circuit characteristics of motor also permit the use of a simple equivalent
circuit, as shown following, for calculating maximum current and rate of rise
respectively.

Fig.4

The available types of Generator are following 6 kinds:

Class MA MB MC MD MEX MEY
Pole face No No No Yes No No
winding
Temp. rise 40° C 40° C 40°/50° C 40° and 75° C 75° C
60° C
Loading Continuous Continuous Nema Continuous 1 Hour 1 Hour
Ventilation Open Open Open Forced and Self-closed Self-closed
open
Speed Constant Constant Adjustable Adjustable Adjustable Adjustable
Volts rated 115 230-250 230 230 250 300 230 230
375 500 600
750
Field winding Shunt or Shunt or Shunt or Shunt or Compound Series
compound compound compound compound wound
wound wound wound wound

Each of these classes has a curve “Transient Resistance Of Armature Circuit In Per-Unit
Vs. (Horse Power *Rated Speed /1000) Of Machine” for the user to get the Transient
Resistance (R) of the motor.

Calculation of motor Equivalent Reactance (L):

For Type MA and ME motor, the armature circuit unsaturated inductance in henries is
calculated as follows:
19.1 × C x × Rated Voltage
L=
120 × Frequency × Rated DC Current × 1000

For Type MA,Cx = 0.4

For Type MB,MC and MD motor, the inductance in millihenries is obtained from curve
“Inductance Of Armature Circuit In Per-Unit Vs. (KW *Rated Speed /1000) Of
Machine.”

2.5 Network
Networks are modeled by two-system diagrams, an inductance diagram and a resistance
diagram:
3. Short circuit calculation method
Resistance and inductance diagrams are created to aid in the calculation of short-circuit
values. The resistance diagram is used to calculate the maximum current for a short
circuit at any point in the system. The inductance diagram is used to calculate the initial
rate of rise and time constant of the total short-circuit current.

By converting the voltage source to current source, all the models for battery, generator,
rectifier and motor are converted to an equivalent current source and an equivalent
resistance/reactance, so we can build the short circuit calculation model as:

[G R ][V ] = ∑ I generator + ∑ I motor + ∑ I battery + ∑ I rectifier + ∑ I k (3-1)

From equation (3-1) and the condition for fault points (Vk = 0), all I k can be calculated;
then from equation (3-1), all the bus voltage can be calculated.

Knowing bus voltage and branch resistance, the maximum current in each branch can
also be calculated.

Equivalent system resistance Req can be calculated by opening all the current source and
inputting a unit current in the fault bus in above resistance diagram, and getting the Vk in
the following equation:
⎡V1 ⎤ ⎡0⎤
⎢ .. ⎥ ⎢..⎥
[G R ]⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
⎢Vk ⎥ ⎢1⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ .. ⎦ ⎣..⎦

The Rate of rise of short circuit current and equivalent system inductance can be
calculated in the same way as the maximum current and equivalent system resistance
discussed above by using inductance diagram instead of resistance one.
Time constant is calculated by equivalent system resistance (ohm) and equivalent
system inductance (Henries):

Leq
Time constant =
Req

4. Result outputs
4.1 Graphic output
The current-time curve for short circuit current is one of them. The value of the curve can
be calculated by the maximum current, rate of rise and time constant.

4.2 Text mode output