SIMPLEST METHOD TO COMPUTE SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENTS WITHIN FEW

MINUTES
To compute the short circuit current there are three methods,
1. Per Unit method
2. Ohmic method
3. Short circuit MVA method

The per unit method is the one that is followed by most of the power system
engineers , because the results are accurate . People tend to prefer this method
even it takes more computational time to solve.

IEC 60909, used the actual impedance of the system to compute short circuit
current. IEC 60909-4, covers detailed calculation procedure for a simple system.
Most of the commercial softwares like ETAP, Easy Power and DigSilent
Powerfactory, PSS/E etc uses this method to perform short circuit analysis.

The above two methods will take considerable time to compute short circuit
current. It is agreed that they yield accurate results but, will it help you compute
the magnitude of short circuit current within few minutes???

The answer is NO. Short circuit MVA method helps to compute the SCC with few
minutes. This method helps you to crack the interview or competitive exams
where the time matters. It does not involve any complex computation as you do
in per unit method.

Let us see a simple example, consider the below given system (3-phase fault at
Bus-3)
STEP 1: Compute Short Circuit MVA of Grid

Grid’s SC-MVA can be calculated from the given short circuit

MVASC=1.732×VL-L×Isc
MVASC=1.732×110,000×25,000
MVASC= 476.3

STEP 2: Compute SC- MVA of Transformer

Transformer MVA
MVASC=
Impedance
(Note: This formula is applicable for Motors and Generators , instead of
impedance we should take the Xd’’ of the respective equipment.)
16
MVASC=
0.08
MVASC=200

STEP 3: Compute the SC-MVA of the Cable

( I have modelled the cable as impedance, its value is R=0.01Ω & X=0.04Ω)
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 2
MVASC=
𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
11,0002
MVASC=
0.04123
2 2
Where, Impedance Z =√𝑅2
+ 𝑥 2 = √0.012 + 0.042 = 0.04123
MVASC=2934.7
To compute the Equivalent MVAsc at the fault location following procedure
should be adopted.
1. If the elements are connected in series , then we have use the formula
that we use when resistors are connected in series.
2. If the elements are connected in parallel, then we have use the formula
that we use when the resistors are connected in series.
Note: Instead of Resistance value use the MVAsc value.
For our case, we have to use the strategy 1 (i.e Resistors connected in parallel)
1 1 1
Equivalent MVAsc =Inverse 〈 + + 〉
476.3 200 2934.7

MVAsc = 134.4
𝑀𝑉𝐴𝑠𝑐
Short Circuit Current =
1.732×𝐿𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
134.4
Short Circuit Current = = 7.054 kA
1.732×11,000

This results can be verified with ETAP simulation results . Don’t forget to multiply
the C-factor value with Short Circuit Current to match the IEC-60909 results.
The Short Circuit MVA does not involve any complex computations when
compared to the Per Unit and Ohmic method.
1. There is no need to convert all the values to common base.
2. There is no need convert the impedance from one voltage to another as
performed in the Ohmic method.
The brief information about the procedure for the calculation of Short Circuit
Current for 3ph fault and 1ph fault are discussed in the IEEE paper titled as
“Short Circuit ABC Learn It in an Hour, Use It Anywhere, Memorize No
Formula” by Moon H. Yuen