Unit II: VOLTAGE SAGS AND INTERRUPTIONS

causes and effects, estimation of voltage sag performance, principle of protection and
solutions

Part A
1. List the sources of sag and interruptions.
 Rural location remote from power source
 Long distance from a distribution transformer with interposed loads
 Unreliable grid system
 Power distributors tolerances not suitable for voltage sensitive equipment
 Switching of heavy loads
 Unbalanced load on a three phase system
 Equipment not suitable for local supply
2. Mention the methods to improve voltage sags in utility system.
a. Reduce faults: Tree trimming, tree wire, animal guards, arresters, circuit patrols
b. Trip faster : Smaller fuses, instantaneous trip, faster transmission relays
c. Support voltage during faults: Raising the nominal voltage, current limiting fuses,
larger station transformers, line reactors
3. Define the depth of the voltage dip.
The depth of the voltage dip is defined as the difference between the reference voltage
and the residual voltage during voltage dip often expressed as a value in volts or as a
percentage or per unit value of the reference voltage.
4. Define the duration of the voltage dip.
The duration of a voltage dip is the time between the instant at which the voltage at a
particular point on a supply system falls below the voltage dip start threshold and the instant
at which it rises to the voltage dip end threshold.
5. What is the use of estimation of voltage sag?
The estimation of voltage sag performance is used to determine the need for power
conditioning components at sensitive loads in the plant.
6. List the devices used to reduce the voltage sag.
a. Ferroresonance Transformer
b. Magnetic Synthesizers
c. On-line UPS
d. Stand by UPS
e. Hybrid UPS
f. Motor-Generator Set
g. Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage Device.
h. End user equipment with suitable specifications.
7. Mention the types of compensations.
a. Surge impedance compensation
b. Line length compensation
c. Compensation by sectioning
i. Active compensation
 ii. Passive Compensation
PART B
1. Discuss about the sources of sags and interruption.(16)
 Voltage sags and interruptions are generally caused by faults (short circuits) on the utility
system.

Fig.2.1: Fault locations on the utility power system.

Fig.2.2: Voltage sag due to a short-circuit fault on a parallel utility feeder.

Fig.2.3: Utility short-circuit fault event with two fast trip operations of utility line recloser
 Consider a customer that is supplied from the feeder supplied by circuit breaker 1 on the
diagram shown in Fig.2.1. If there is a fault on the same feeder, the customer will
experience a voltage-sag during the fault followed by an interruption when the breaker
opens to clear the fault. If the fault is temporary in nature, a reclosing operation on the
breaker should be successful and the interruption will only be temporary. It will usually
require about 5 or 6 cycles for the breaker to operate, during which time a voltage sag
occurs. The breaker will remain open for typically a minimum of 12 cycles up to 5 s
depending on utility reclosing practices. Sensitive equipment will almost surely trip
during this interruption.
 A much more common event would be a fault on one of the other feeders from the
substation, i.e., a fault on a parallel feeder, or a fault somewhere on the transmission
system (see the fault locations shown in Fig.2.1). In either of these cases, the customer
 will experience a voltage-sag during the period that the fault is actually on the system. As
soon as breakers open to clear the fault, normal voltage will be restored at the customer.
 Note that to clear the fault shown on the transmission system, both breakers A and B must
operate. Transmission breakers will typically clear a fault in 5 or 6 cycles. In this case
there are two lines supplying the distribution substation and only one has a fault.
Therefore, customers supplied from the substation should expect to see only a sag and not
an interruption. The distribution fault on feeder 4 may be cleared either by the lateral fuse
or the breaker, depending on the utility’s fuse saving practice.
 Any of these fault locations can cause equipment to misoperate in customer facilities. The
relative importance of faults on the transmission system and the distribution system will
depend on the specific characteristics of the systems (underground versus overhead
distribution, lightning flash densities, overhead exposure, etc.) and the sensitivity of the
equipment to voltage sags.
 Figure 2.2 shows the characteristic measured at a customer location on an unfaulted part
of the feeder. Figure 2.3 shows the momentary interruption (actually two separate
interruptions) observed downline from the fault. The interrupting device in this case was a
line recloser that was able to interrupt the fault very quickly in about 2.5 cycles.
2. Explain how the voltage sag performance is estimated? (6)
It is important to understand the expected voltage sag performance of the supply system
so that facilities can be designed and equipment specifications developed to assure the
optimum operation of production facilities. The following is a general procedure for working
with industrial customers to assure compatibility between the supply system characteristics
and the facility operation:
i. Determine the number and characteristics of voltage sags that result from
transmission system faults.
ii. Determine the number and characteristics of voltage sags that result from distribution
system faults (for facilities that are supplied from distribution systems).
iii. Determine the equipment sensitivity to voltage sags. This will determine the actual
performance of the production process based on voltage sag performance calculated
in steps 1 and 2.
iv. Evaluate the economics of different solutions that could improve the performance,
either on the supply system (fewer voltage sags) or within the customer facility (better
immunity).
3. Describe the mitigation of voltage sag. (16)
There are many solutions to prevent damage due to voltage dips. Typically, these
solutions can be categorized into three classes:
 Solutions in the manufacturing process itself;
 Solutions between the process and the public electric grid;
 Solutions in the grid.
a. Reduction of the Number of Faults
Short circuits cannot be entirely eliminated. The actions taken are: replacing overhead
lines with cables; the use of insulated conductors on overhead lines; regular tree cutting in the
area of the transmission line; fencing against animals; shielding overhead conductors with
additional shield wires; increased insulation levels; increased frequency of overhaul and
periodic maintenance, cleaning insulators, etc.
b. Reduction of the Fault Clearance Time
The duration of a voltage dip is largely determined by the speed at which short circuits
are cleared. A necessary feature of short-circuit protection is the graduation of the operating
times of switches, fuses, etc., in order to ensure that a short circuit is cleared at the most
appropriate point in the supply system. This means that the clearance time and, consequently,
the duration of voltage dips and short interruptions depend on the location where the short
circuit has occurred. A reduction in fault-clearance time does not mean a decrease in the
number of faults but only a mitigation of their effects. It also does not influence the number
or the duration of supply interruptions, for the duration depends solely on the speed of
voltage recovery. Fast fault clearing does not influence the number of voltage dips, but can
significantly reduce their duration.
The basic method for reducing fault duration consists of the use of current-limiting fuses.
These are capable of clearing a fault in a very short time. Decreasing the short-circuit current
and shortening its duration significantly limit the duration of a voltage dip to rarely exceeding
one cycle.
c. Modification of the Supply System Configuration
These operations allow for a reduction in the severity of the phenomenon, but at a high
cost, particularly in HV systems. The basic method of preventing voltage dips is to install
elements of redundancy, as follows:
 Installing generators close to sensitive loads. They support the voltage during distant dips.
The voltage reduction equals the percentage share of the generator current in the short-
circuit current.
 Increasing the number of substations and busbars in order to limit the number of
customers, who potentially may be affected by the disturbance.
 Installing current-limiting reactors at strategic points of the system in order to increase
electrical distance to the fault. It should, however, be remembered that this action may
make a voltage dip deeper for other customers.
 Supplying sensitive customer’s busbars from several substations. The effects of a voltage
dip on one substation will be reduced by the influence of the others. The more
independent these substations are, the more effective the measure is. The best reduction
effect can be achieved by providing a power supply from two different supplying
systems. The second supply increases the number of dips but reduces their duration and
depth.
d. Voltage Stabilizers
A more sophisticated way to eliminate the negative effects of dips is called custom power
technology. This technology is mainly based on power electronics and also, on some
occasions, electrical energy storage.
The most common method for mitigating the effects of the considered disturbances is the
use of additional equipment, namely voltage stabilizers. They can be installed on both the
supplier’s or the customer’s side but, as experience shows, the customer is the one who much
more frequently does it, since the improvement in supply conditions and increasing the
equipment’s immunity are beyond the customer’s control.
These systems can be generally termed as systems of improved power parameters.
Two kinds of technical solution can be distinguished:
i. Energy storage systems. The stored energy is utilized to supply a critical load during
the disturbance. These systems can be used in the case of voltage dips with arbitrary
residual voltage, as well as during short supply interruptions. The immunity level of
equipment depends on the amount of energy stored and on the energy requirements of
the protected process. In many cases the reaction time of the compensation equipment
 should be considered critical. Since the energy storage process is, as a rule, very
costly, it is applied only to particularly sensitive equipment. Examples of energy
storage systems are: uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), superconducting
magnetic energy storage (SMES), rotating machines with flywheels, motor–generator
systems, etc.
ii. Systems having no energy-storing capability. These can only be used to reduce the
effects of voltage dips (typically up to a maximum of 50 %) but not of supply
interruptions. They differ in depth of the voltage dip, which they are able to
compensate. The duration of a dip is not a critical parameter in these systems. Their
cost, as a rule, is smaller than that of the energy-storing systems.
Example of such solutions are:
o Constant voltage transformer (CVT);
o Static fast transfer switching (SFTS);
o Static generators of the fundamental harmonic currents and voltages.
e. Improvement in Equipment Immunity
One of the most advantageous solutions, in both technical and economical terms, is the use of
equipment of a sufficient immunity level that is adequate for the intended operational
environment. This is an effective method which eliminates unwanted disconnections due to
voltage dips (short interruptions to a lesser extent). More and more frequently the immunity
to a voltage dip of a specified depth and duration becomes the basis of a manufacturer’s offer,
determining its commercial success.
The level of compatibility of a sensitive load with the supply network is assessed prior to
connection. The possible procedure includes three stages:
i. Acquiring information on system operation. That is, the prospective number of
voltage dips. There are a number of ways to get such data: contacting the electric
power supplier, monitoring the power supply over an extended period of time,
analysis of faults, etc. Obtaining credible information requires the measurements to be
performed for a long time. An alternative is the use of statistical methods of
prediction.
ii. Acquiring information on equipment sensitivity. This information can be obtained
from the manufacturer, by conducting tests or assuming typical sensitivity
characteristics. In practice, it frequently happens that the user learns about the limited
immunity of the equipment only after installing it.
iii. Determination of the potential effect. If the foregoing information is available,
thereis the possibility to assess the potential threat of equipment failure (failure rate)
and evaluate the economic effect of its occurrence (Section 4.6.1). On that basis a
method of proceeding can be chosen: improvement of supply conditions, better (i.e.
less sensitive) equipment and application of a stabilizer or acceptance of the existing
situation.
4. Write notes on ferroresonant transformer. (8)
 Ferroresonant transformers, also called constant-voltage transformers (CVTs), can handle
most voltage sag conditions.
 Fig.2.6. Ferroresonant Transformer
 CVTs are especially attractive for constant, low-power loads. Variable loads, especially
with high inrush currents, present more of a problem for CVTs because of the tuned
circuit on the output.
 Ferroresonant transformers are basically 1:1 transformers which are providing an output
voltage which is not significantly affected by input voltage variations
 Figure 2.7 shows the voltage sag ride-through improvement of a process controller fed
from a 120-VA ferroresonant transformer. With the CVT, the process controller can ride
through a voltage sag down to 30 percent of nominal, as opposed to 82 percent without
one.

Fig.2.7. Voltage Sag improvement using ferroresonant transformer

 From the above figure, it is clear that the ride-through capability is held constant at a
certain level. The reason for this is the small power requirement of the process controller,
only 15 VA. Ferroresonant transformers should be sized significantly larger than the load.

Fig.2.8. Voltage sag versus ferroresonant transformer loading

 Figure 2.8 shows the allowable voltage sag as a percentage of nominal voltage (that will
result in at least 90 percent voltage on the CVT output) versus ferroresonant transformer
loading, as specified by one manufacturer. At 25 percent of loading, the allowable voltage
sag is 30 percent of nominal, which means that the CVT will output over 90 percent
normal voltage as long as the input voltage is above 30 percent.
 This is important since the plant voltage rarely falls below 30 percent of nominal during
voltage sag conditions. As the loading is increased, the corresponding ride-through
capability is reduced, and when the ferroresonant transformer is overloaded (e.g., 150
percent loading), the voltage will collapse to zero.
5. Write notes on Magnetic synthesizer. (8)
 Magnetic synthesizers can handle three phase and provide improved voltage sag support
and regulation for three-phase loads.
 They use resonant circuits made of nonlinear inductors and capacitors to store energy,
pulsating saturation transformers to modify the voltage waveform, and filters to filter out
harmonic distortion.
 They are applicable over a size range from about 15 to 200 kVA and are typically applied
for process loads.
 They supply power through a zigzag transformer. The zigzag name comes from the way
the transformer changes the phase angle between voltage and current. The zigzag
transformer traps triplen harmonic currents and prevents them from reaching the power
source.
 Applications of magnetic synthesizers include protection of large computer installations,
computerized medical imaging equipment, and industrial processes, like plastic extruders,
especially from voltage sags. They protect sensitive loads not only from voltage sags but
also from transients, overvoltage, undervoltage, and voltage surges. However, they can be
bulky and noisy. The block diagram in Figure 2.9 illustrates the main components of a
magnetic synthesizer.

Fig.2.9. Block diagram of Magnetic Synthesizer

6. Explain about power quality improvement using motor generators sets. (8)
 Motor-Generator sets are available in various sizes and configurations. This is one of the
established technologies for preventing sensitive loads from sags and interruptions.

Fig.2.10. Typical M-G set with flywheel.

 Fig.2.10 shows the arrangement of M-G set in which the motor is powered by a driver
circuit from line. The motor drive a generator that energize the load. Flywheels on the
same shaft provide greater inertia to increase ride-through time.
 When the line suffers a disturbance, the inertia of the machines and the flywheels
maintains the power supply for several seconds. This arrangement may also be used to
separate sensitive loads from other classes of disturbances such as harmonic distortion
and switching transients.
 Disadvantages:
o Losses
o Noise and maintenance
o Frequency and voltage drops with the speed. This may not desirable for some
loads.
 Written-pole synchronous machine are also used. In this machine, the number of poles
getting varied according the speed of the machine to maintain the frequency as well the
voltage constant.
 Solid state inverters are also preferred for some cases. But the loss and cost associated
with this arrangement is high.

7. Discuss about motor starting sags. (12)

The motors are drawing more current during starting. This large current will, by flowing
through system impedances, causes a voltage sag.
Effects:
 Dim lights
 Contactor drop-outs
 Disturbance to sensitive equipments.
The time required for the motor to accelerate to rated speed increases with the magnitude of
the sag, and excessive sag may prevent the motor from starting successfully. Motor starting
sags can persist for many seconds, as illustrated in Fig. 2.11.

Fig.2.11. Typical motor starting voltage sag

Motor Starting methods:
Starting Method
Autotransformer starting
Resistance and reactance starting
Part-winding starting
Reduction on L-L Voltage Reduction in starting current
Taps provide a motor voltage of Vary with the square of the voltage
80, 65, or 50 percent of system applied
voltage during start-up.
Varies with the resistance/
Varies with the resistance/ reactance
reactance value. Reactors are
value.
typically provided with 50, 45,
and 37.5 percent taps.
Energies one part of winding 50%

Star-Delta starting 57% 33%

Estimation of the sag severity during full-voltage starting:
V(pu). kVA SC
Voltage sag in pu, Vmin (pu) 
kVA LR  kVA SC

where,
V(pu) – Actual system voltage, in per unit of normal
kVALR - Motor locked rotor kVA
kVASC – System short circuit kVA at motor

 Computation for sag to 90 percent of nominal voltage, using typical system impedances
and motor characteristics.
 If the sag is above the minimum allowable steady state value of the affected equipment,
then the full voltage starting is acceptable.
 Otherwise, voltage sag – duration characteristics to be compared with the voltage
tolerance envelope of the affected equipment.
 Such complicated analysis may be left to computer analysis.

Fig.2.12. Typical motor versus transformer size for full-voltage starting sags of 90%.
 Computer simulation requires the following data:
o Parameter values for the standard induction motor equivalent circuit: R1, X1, R2, X2
and XM.
o Number of motor poles and rated rpm (or slip).
o WK2 (inertia constant) values for the motor and the motor load.
o Torque versus speed characteristic for the motor load.
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