Fault Level Calculation Using the

MVA Method
Vladimir Kristof
 

Table of Contents
 [hide]
 Introduction
 Numerical-Graphical Methods
 Numerical Methods
 The MVA method
 Calculation of MVA level of each element of the electrical
network
 Comparison to IEC 60909
 Conclusion
 References

Abstract: There are a lot of methods that can be used for short-circuit current
calculation. One method was previously discussed here and is based on the
guidelines presented in IEC 60909. This article deals with an alternative method for
the short-circuit current calculation so-called the MVA method. This method is
simple, quick, and easy to remember. It is also sufficiently accurate for engineers
in practice for basic estimation of fault levels at any point in an electrical network.
Keywords: short-circuit current, the MVA method, calculation methods

Introduction
The determination of the level of short-circuit current at any point of an electrical
network can be of interest because of several reasons, e.g.:

 design of electrical equipment (from the point of view of thermal and

dynamic effects of short-circuit currents),
 control of circuit breakers switching capability,
 design of grounding systems and the associated determination of
allowable touch-voltage, step-voltage and transferred voltage (for
example in the low-voltage grid during earth-fault in the high-voltage
grid),
 design and operation of protection devices,
 power system stability verification,
 control of voltage ratios during short-circuits and during the start-up
of large asynchronous motors,
 calculation of induced voltage in telecommunication lines caused by
high-voltage or extra-high-voltage networks,
 control of propagation and impact of upper harmonics in power
system,
 assessment of overvoltage occurrence during line-to-ground faults.

In most practical applications, it is not necessary to know the exact time course of
short-circuit currents. A simplified calculation is often sufficient. There are several
methods for the calculation of short-circuit currents. These can be divided into
numerical and numeric-graphical methods. Some of them are listed below:

Numerical-Graphical Methods

Short-Circuit Curves Method

This method can be used when the task is limited only to finding the short-circuit
current at the short-circuit location. This method is popular because of its
simplicity and relative accuracy. The method consists of the application of special
curves that give the value of the a.c. component of the short-circuit current in any
moment of the short-circuit fault,

Nomogram Method
This is a simple graphical method that consists of subtracting the necessary
parameters of the electrical system elements (impedances) from the graphs that
were pre-printed on the sheets, separately for each voltage level. The
disadvantage of nomograms is their limited use only for radial networks and the
fact that the method accuracy is directly dependent on the accuracy of reading
from the graphs drawn.

Numerical Methods

Ohmic Method
Also known as the Impedance Method. The disadvantage of this method is it is
cumbersome if the system under investigation contains several voltage levels,

Per-unit Method
This method is no better in terms of manual calculations than the previous method
since it involves a number of relationships and bonds associated with reference
values, which can often cause errors in the calculation procedure,

Superposition Method
This method is used very often but requires knowledge of steady-state conditions
before the short-circuit occurrence, which reduces its applicability for general and
fast calculations.
The MVA method
The MVA method is an alternative to the earlier mentioned methods. It is based on
a mathematical modification of the ohmic method. The first step of calculation
procedure is to convert classic single-line diagram of the power network to an
equivalent MVA diagram. The next steps are based on the simplification of an
equivalent MVA diagram to one final value of MVA at the fault point (this
represents short-circuit MVA at the fault point).

This method has the following simplifications:

 magnetizing currents and losses in the transformer core are

neglected,
 power lines capacitance is neglected,
 all transformers have set nominal tap (0),
 internal voltage of all sources is equal to 1 (in per unit).

Advantages of this method are the following:

 no need to convert impedance from one voltage level to another,

 no need to select common MVA base,
 no need to consider transformer ratios,
 contains simple formulas for calculation (in comparison with other
methods),
 information about pre-fault steady-state is not required,
 fast and easy to remember,
 sufficiently accurate,
 easy to determine the contribution from each branch to fault point,
 can be used for calculation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults,
voltage drop during motor start-up, or steady-state.

Let’s consider following a simple 22kV electrical network according to Figure 1

(taken from [3] and modified). Let us assume that the industrial power network is
connected through the power line V1 and supplied from the 22 kV external
distribution network. For sake of simplicity, we consider only one synchronous
generator, TG, and one synchronous motor, SM1 in the industrial power network.
The task is to find out the value of initial symmetrical three-phase short-circuit
current at 6.6 kV busbar. 

Figure 1. Single Line Diagram of the Industrial Electrical Network

As mentioned earlier, the first step is the calculation of the MVA level of each
component and converting the single line diagram to its equivalent MVA diagram.

Calculation of MVA level of each element of the

electrical network

22kV External distribution network

22kV Power Line (V1)
For overhead power lines, the short-circuit MVA can be calculated directly from the
impedance in form Zv=R+jX, therefore we can write

22/6.6kV Transformer (T1)

An advantage of this method is that the short-circuit voltage of the transformer
(percentage value of reactance) is given directly in relationship with the nominal
apparent power of the transformer. The same is valid for motors and generators
as well.

6.6kV Generator (TG)

6.6kV Motor (SM1)

The equivalent MVA diagram is shown in figure 2.

Figure 2. Equivalent MVA Diagram of the Industrial Electrical Network

Now we can reduce the equivalent MVA diagram. For elements connected in series
the equivalent value of initial symmetrical short-circuit power is equal to the sum
of inverted MVA values of elements.

For example, the equivalent MVA at branch A (consisting of network feeder,

transformer T1 and power line V1) is
For elements connected in parallel, the final value of initial symmetrical short-
circuit power is equal to the sum of MVA values of elements.

The electrical network equivalent MVA can be obtained from the sum of three
parallel branches A, B, and C.

The graphical representation of industrial power network reduction is shown in

figure 3.

Figure 3. MVA Network Reduction

Finally, the initial symmetrical short-circuit current at the fault point can be
calculated from the equivalent network MVA.
Comparison to IEC 60909
In order to validate the accuracy of the MVA Method, we will calculate the initial
symmetrical short-circuit current at the fault point using the calculation method
based on IEC 60909. For simplicity, resistance will be neglected.

22kV External Distribution Network

22kV Power Line (V1)

22/6.6kV Transformer (T1)

6.6kV Generator (TG)

6.6kV Motor (SM1)

The equivalent short-circuit impedance at the fault point is calculated to be

Calculating the short-circuit MVA,

Finally, the initial symmetrical short-circuit current at the fault point can be
calculated from the equivalent network MVA.
Bonus
If the value of initial symmetrical short-circuit current is known, the peak short-circuit
current can be determined using

A comparison of the results between the two methods is shown in the following
table. The results based on IEC 60909 calculation method will be used as a
reference.

Table 1. Comparison of Short-circuit Values

It can be seen that the MVA method gives results with sufficient accuracy.

Conclusion
The methods calculation short-circuits currents vary in complexity and the amount
of effort put into. The MVA method is known to be simple, quick, and easy, and is
sufficiently accurate for engineers in practice for basic estimation of fault levels at
any point in an electrical network.

References
[1] Jaffari, H.: Fault Current Calculation. Power System Review: Module 6. Northeast
Public Power Association, 2013.

[2] Lee Wai, M., Pang, J.M.: Electrical Fault Level Calculations Using the MVA
Method. Dostupné na internete: < http://www.jmpangseah.com>

[3] Kakilli, A.: System Analysis with the MVA Method for Symmetrical Three-Phase
Faults. TEM Journal, vol2 no1, 2013.

[4] Máslo, K., Novák, J., Doležal, J.: Analysis of short-circuit currents. In Symposium
Elektroenergetika. Stará Lesná, Slovakia, 2001.

[5] Pauza, J.: Short-circuits in electrical networks. SNTL Prague, Czech Republic,
1970.

[6] Máslo, K. et al.: Control and stability of power system. ČEPS and Energy
managers’ association. Prague, Czech Republic, 2013. ISBN 978-80-260-4461-1

[7] STN IEC 60909 – 0: Short-circuit currents in three-phase a.c. systems. Part 0:
Calculation of currents. Valid from 1.10.2016.