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Open Conductor Faults
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 [Z̄Bus ] matrices of sequence networks.
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 I¯a , I¯b and I¯c are shown in the figure. For the analysis of
such faults, the Thevenin’s impedance between two buses i and j is required and the relationship
between the elements of [Z̄Bus ] and Thevenin’s impedances at each bus of the network needs
to be established.
Let [V̄0 ] be the vector of open-circuit bus voltages corresponding to the initial (pre-fault) value
of bus current vector [Ī0 ] injected in a network with bus impedance matrix [Z̄Bus ]. We can
then write
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[V̄0 ] = [Z̄Bus ][Ī0 ] (4.134)
If the bus currents are changed to a new value, [Ī0 + ∆Ī], the new bus voltage [V̄] can be
expressed as:
where,[∆V̄] represents the change in the values of the original bus voltage [V̄0 ].
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 [V̄0 ] and [Ī0 ] are zero. Currents [∆I¯i ] and [∆I¯j ] 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 [∆V̄] due to current [∆I¯i ] and [∆I¯j ]
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The changes in bus voltage [∆V̄] can be calculated from equation (4.135) as
1 i j N
⎡ ∆V̄ ⎤ 1 ⎡ ⋯ Z̄1i ⋯ Z̄1N ⎤ ⎡ ∆I¯ ⎤
⎢ 1⎥ ⎢ Z̄11 Z̄1j ⎥⎢ 1⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢ ⋮ ⎥ ⎢ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⎥⎢ ⋮ ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ¯ ⎥
⎢ ∆V̄i ⎥ i ⎢ Z̄i1 ⋯ Z̄ii Z̄ij ⋯ Z̄iN ⎥ ⎢ ∆Ii ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢ ∆V̄ ⎥ = j ⎢ ⋯ Z̄ji ⋯ Z̄jN ⎥ ⎢ ∆I¯ ⎥
⎢ j⎥ ⎢ Z̄j1 Z̄jj ⎥⎢ j ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢ ⋮ ⎥ ⎢ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⎥⎢ ⋮ ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ¯ ⎥
⎢∆V̄N ⎥ N ⎢ Z̄N 1 ⋯ Z̄N i Z̄N j ⋯ Z̄N N ⎥ ⎢∆IN ⎥
⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦⎣ ⎦
V̄j = V̄j0 + ∆V
¯ j = V̄j0 + Z̄ji ∆I¯i + Z̄jj ∆I¯j (4.139)
Thus the equations (4.138) and (4.140) can be represented by an equivalent circuit shown in
Fig. 4.77, which is also the Thevenin’s Equivalent circuit of the network as seen from the ith
and jth buses.
From the figure it can be observed that the Thevenin’s open circuit voltage between ith and jth
buses is (V̄i0 − V̄j0 ).
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Figure 4.77: The Thevenin’s Equivalent of the original network
To calculate the open circuit impedance between ith and jth buses, the initial voltages V̄i0 and
V̄j0 are set equal to zero and an ideal current source I¯ is connected between the two busses.
Next, the resulting voltages V̄i and V̄j are calculated. Note that ∆I¯i = I¯ and ∆I¯j = −I¯.
Next, calculate the voltage difference ∆V̄ij between ith and jth buses as:
Hence,
∆V̄ij
∆Z̄T hevenin,ij = = (Z̄ii + Z̄jj − 2Z̄ij ) (4.145)
I¯
Once the Thevenin’s 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 z̄ij , z̄ij and z̄ij 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 −z̄ij(0) , −z̄ij(1) and
−z̄ij(2) to the corresponding Thevenin’s 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.
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The positive sequence impedance of the conductor segment between the ith bus and the point of
(1)
break k is xz̄ij , and the positive sequence impedance of the remaining conductor from point k to
j th bus is (1 − x)z̄ij(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’
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.
V̄kk(1)′ V̄kk(2)′ V̄kk(0)′
The equivalent currents (1)
, and are due to open conductor fault between k and
z̄ij z̄ij(2) z̄ij(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
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Figure 4.79: Thevenin’s Equivalent with transformed current source
Figure 4.80: Final positive sequence Thevenin’s Equivalent circuit repesenting the opening of line i
→ j between buses k and k’
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Figure 4.81: Final (a) negative sequence (b) zero sequence Thevenin’s Equivalent circuit repesenting
the opening of line i → j between k and k’
(0) (0)
(0)
(Z̄ni − Z̄nj )V̄kk(0)′
∆V̄ =
z̄ij(0)
n
(1) (1)
(1)
(Z̄ni − Z̄nj )V̄kk(1)′
∆V̄ = (4.146)
z̄ij(1)
n
(2) (2)
(2)
(Z̄ni − Z̄nj )V̄kk(2)′
∆V̄ =
z̄ij(2)
n
Next, the Thevenin’s equivalent impedances for each sequence network, as seen from the busesk
and k’, are calculated as follows:
(1)
From Fig.4.78, the positive sequence equivalent impdeance Z̄kk′ is found out as :
(1)
(1) (1) Z̄th,ij (−z̄ij(1) )
Z̄
kk′ = xz̄ ij + (1) (1)
+ (1 − x)z̄ij(1)
Z̄ th,ij + (−z̄ )
ij
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(1) −(z̄ij(1) )2
Z̄ = (1)
(4.147)
− z̄ij(1)
kk′
Z̄th,ij
Similarly from Fig. 4.81 (a) and (b), the negative sequence and zero sequence Thevenin’s equiv-
alent impedances can be expressed as:
(2) −(z̄ij(2) )2
Z̄ = (2)
− z̄ij(2)
kk′
Z̄th,ij
(4.148)
(0) −(z̄ij(0) )2
Z̄ = (0)
− z̄ij(0)
kk′
Z̄th,ij
(1) (−z̄ij(1) )2
V̄ th,kk′ = (1) (1)
(V̄i(1) − V̄j(1) ) (4.149)
Z̄ th,ij − z̄ ij
(1)
Z̄kk z̄ij(1)
=−
′
substituting from equation (4.147) in equation (4.149), the final value of
z̄ij(1) (1)
Z̄th,ij − z̄ij(1)
(1)
V̄th,kk ′ is obtained as:
(1)
(1) Z̄kk
′ = (V̄i(1) − V̄j(1) )
′
V̄th,kk (1)
(4.150)
z̄ ij
(1)
Also prior to the occurance of open-conductor fault on any conductor, the current I¯ij flowing
in phase a is the positive sequence component and is given by the relation:
(V̄i(1) − V̄j(1) )
I¯ij(1) = (4.151)
z̄ij(1)
The Thevenin’s 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.
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Figure 4.82: Thevenin’s Equivalent networks as seen from k and k’
Consider that phase a conductor is open as shown in Fig. 4.75(a), hence phase a current I¯a = 0.
As a result:
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The symmetrical components of voltage drops across the fault point can be calculated as :
Figure 4.83: Connection of Equivalent sequence networks to represent open phase a between k and
k’
(1)
The current I¯a is given as :
(1)
Z̄kk
I¯a(1) = I¯ij
′
(2) (0)
(1) Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′
Z̄kk′ + (2) (0)
Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′
simplifying
(2) (0)
(1) (1) Z̄kk′ Z̄kk′
V̄ kk′ = Ia
¯
(2) (0)
Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′
(1)
Substituting I¯a and simplifying we get:
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(1) (2) (0)
(1) (2) (0) Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′
V̄ kk′ = V̄ kk′ = V̄ kk′ = I¯ij (0) (1) (1) (2) (2) (0)
(4.158)
Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′
⎡I¯(0) ⎤ ⎡1 1 1 ⎤ ⎡I¯ ⎤
⎢ a ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ a⎥
⎢ (1) ⎥ 1 ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢I¯a ⎥ = ⎢1 a a2 ⎥ ⎢ 0 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ 3⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢ ¯(2) ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥
⎢Ia ⎥ ⎢1 a a ⎥ ⎢ 0 ⎥
2
⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦⎣ ⎦
Simplifying one gets the condition:
1
I¯a(0) = I¯a(1) = I¯a(2) = I¯a (4.161)
3
equation (4.161) indicates that the three equivalent sequence networks are in series and to ensure
V̄ + V̄a(1) + V̄a(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 :
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Figure 4.84: Connection of Equivalent sequence networks to represent open phases b and c between
k and k’
(1)
Z̄kk
I¯a(1) = I¯a(2) = I¯a(0) = I¯ij
′
(1) (2)
Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′
V̄kk(2)′ = −I¯a(2) Z̄kk
(2)
′ = −Iij
¯
(0) (1) (2)
(4.163)
Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′
(1) (0)
Z̄kk ′ Z̄kk ′
V̄kk(0)′ = −I¯a(0) Z̄kk
(0)
′ = −Iij
¯
(0) (1) (2)
Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′ + Z̄kk ′
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.
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