Power System Analysis

Module 2
Symmetrical Three-phase Faults

Course Instructor

Dr. Jayasankar V N
Assistant Professor
Department of E&E
The National Institute of Engineering Mysuru

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 Introduction
• When a fault occurs in a power system, the current
flowing is determined by three factors:
 The internal emfs of the machines
 The impedances of the machines
 The impedance between the machines and the fault
location
• The magnitude of fault current is slowly varying in nature.
 Fault current is maximum immediately after the
occurrence of fault
 Lesser after a few cycles later
 Even lesser and attains steady state value later
• The armature current of the synchronous machines affects
the flux of the machine.
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 Transients in RL Series Circuits
• Consider an RL series circuit excited by an AC voltage |Vm|sin(ωt)
• Let the voltage be applied at time t = t1 = α/ω
di
• The differential equation can be written as Vm sint     Ri  L
dt
• The solution consists of a steady state value and a transient value

I (s)
H (s) 
V (s)
1
H (s) 
R  sL
1
H ( j ) 
R  jL
1 1
H ( j )   and H ( j)     tan 1 L / R 
Z R 2  L 2

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 Transients in RL Series Circuits
Vm
iss (t)  
sin t    tan 1 L / R  
R 2  L2
R R t
• The particular solution: R  LD  0  D    ic  Ae L
L

Vm R t
i(t)  sint      Ae L
Z
Vm
0 sin    A
Z
Vm
A sin   
Z
Vm Vm R t
i(t)  sint      sin   e L
Z Z

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 Transients in RL Series Circuits
Vm Vm R t
i(t)  sint     sin  e L
Z Z

• The first term varies sinusoidally with time – steady state value
• The second term is exponentially decaying with a time constant –
(L/R) – transient value
• If the switch is closed at a point αθ = 0, the transient term is absent

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 Transients in RL Series Circuits
Vm Vm R t
i(t)  sint      sin   e L
Z Z
• If the switch is closed at a point αθ =  π/2, the transient term has
its maximum initial value = Vm / Z

• The magnitude of initial value of current depends on

– Instantaneous value of the voltage applied
– The power factor of the circuit

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 Transients in RL Series Circuits
Vm Vm R t
i(t)  sint      sin   e L
Z Z
• If R<< L,   π/2
• Also, the time constant (L/R) tends to infinity – the exponential term
never decays.
• If voltage is applied in zero voltage crossing, then, after half a cycle

Vm Vm Vm
i(t)  sin   / 2  sin / 2   2
Z Z Z
• The resultant current is double the peak value of maximum current,
and it continues to be flowing.
• This is known as doubling effect – damages the system and need to
be prevented.

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 Transients in RL Series Circuits

• An alternator consists of a rotating magnetic field which generates

AC voltage in an armature winding having internal resistance and
reactance.
• When a short circuit happens at the alternator terminal, it is similar
to a voltage applied to an RL circuit.
• The armature reaction of alternator changes the main flux and the
current in the armature winding changes.
• In synchronous machine, the flux across the air gap is much larger at
the instant of short circuit than it is a few cycles later.
• As the air-gap flux diminishes, the armature current decreases,
because the voltage generated by the air-gap determines the current.

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
• According to constant flux linkage theorem,
It is impossible to change the flux linkages in a closed electrical
loop which is purely inductive instantaneously.
• A synchronous machine armature and field windings can be
assumed as purely inductive.
• When armature winding is short circuited, the flux linkages cannot
be changed instantaneously.
• In order to keep the flux changes constant, huge change in current
takes place in both the windings.

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Reactance of Synchronous Machine on no-load
• Consider an unloaded alternator with a
three-phase short circuit at its terminal.
• Unlike an RL series circuit, the
reactance value of a synchronous
machine is not constant, but varies
with time after the occurrence of fault.
• During the initial time soon after the
short circuit, the armature current
increases to a very high value, and the
armature reaction tries to demagnetize
the main flux.

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Reactance of Synchronous Machine on no-load
• To counterbalance armature reaction, current starts flowing
through field winding and damper winding by transformer
action – this aids the main flux.
• Field winding reactance (Xf), damper winding (Xdw) appear in
parallel with armature reactance (Xa).

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Reactance of Synchronous Machine on no-load (cont.)
• The effective reactance at the initial period of short circuit –
subtransient reactance (Xd’’)

X X  1
d l 1
Xa
 X1f  X1dw

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals

Reactance of Synchronous Machine on no-load (cont.)

• The current in the damper winding dies out after 3-4 cycles due to
its higher R/X value compared to other windings.
• The effective reactance after the damper winding currents have died
out – transient reactance (Xd’)


X X  1
d l 1
Xa  1
Xf

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Reactance of Synchronous Machine on no-load (cont.)
• The current in the field winding also dies out after a few cycles
• The effective reactance then become – synchronous reactance (Xd)

Xd  Xl  Xa

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Short circuit currents of Synchronous Machine on no-load
• The fault currents for all three phases are shown (R phase
voltage is maximum at the instant)
• Minimum two phase currents will have asymmetry.
• The extend of asymmetry depends on the value of phase
voltage during short circuit.
• If phase voltage is near maximum value during short circuit
will have least asymmetry.
• Initial short circuit current is limited by Xd’’ for a few cycles,
later controlled by Xd’, and finally settles down to steady state
value limited by Xd.

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Short circuit currents of Synchronous Machine on no-load

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Short circuit currents of Synchronous Machine on no-load
• The total period can be divided into sub transient, transient and steady
state periods.

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 Three-phase short circuit at Alternator Terminals
Short circuit currents of Synchronous Machine on no-load

• Maximum sub transient current (excluding dc component)

E g max
  oc 
I max
jX d
• Maximum transient current (excluding dc component)
E g max
I m ax  ob 
jX d
• Maximum steady state current
E g max
I m ax  oa 
jX d

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 Problem - 1
Two generators are connected in parallel to the low-voltage side of a
three-phase Δ-Y transformer. Generator 1 is rated 50 MVA, 13.8 kV.
Generator 2 is rated 25 MVA,13.8 kV. Each generator has a sub
transient reactance of 25%. The transformer is rated 75 MVA,13.8Δ-
69Y kV, with a reactance of 10%. Before the fault occurs, the voltage
on the high-tension side of transformer is 66 kV. The transformer is
unloaded, and there is no circulating current between the generators.
Find the sub transient current in each generator when a three-phase
short-circuit occurs on the high-tension side of the transformer.

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 Solution
• Select base MVA = 75, base kV = 13.8 kV
• Generator1: X d  j0.25 75  j0.375pu
50
75
• Generator2: X d  j0.25  j0.750pu
25

• The equivalent parallel reactance of generators:

j0.375 j0.75
X d   j0.25pu
j0.375 j0.75
• Pre-fault voltage at HV side of transformer:
66
E g ( prefault voltage)   0.957pu
69
• Transformer: X T  j0.10pu

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 Solution
0.957
I     j2.735pu
j0.25  j0.10

• Generator 1:
j0.75
I    j2.735   j1.823pu
j0.375 j0.75
751000
I    j1.823pu   5720A
3 13.8
• Generator 2:
j0.375
I    j2.735
j0.375 j0.75
  j0.912pu
751000
I    j0.912pu   2860A
3 13.8
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 Problem - 2
For the radial network shown in Fig. a three-phase fault occurs at F.
Determine the fault current and the line voltage at 11 kV bus under
fault conditions.

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 Solution
• Select a system base of 100 MVA, 11 kV in generators, 33 kV for
overhead line and 6.6 kV for cable.
100
X G1  j0.15  j1.5 pu
10
100
X G2  j0.125  j1.25 pu
10
100
X T1  j0.1  j1.0 pu
10
100
XT2  j0.08  j1.6 pu
5
Z () 30 0.27  j0.36
Z line    0.744 j0.99pu
kVb  / MVAb
2
33 /100
2

Z () 3 0.135 j0.08

Z cable    0.93 j0.55pu
kVb  / MVAb
2
6.6 /100
2

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 Solution

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 Solution

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 Solution

ZTotal   j1.5 || j1.25 j1.0  (0.744 j0.99)  j1.6  (0.93 j0.55)

 5.170.8 pu

10
I SC   0.196  70.8 pu
5.170.8

100103
ISC  0.196  70.8  pu  ( )  1715A
3  6.6

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 Solution


Z Total between F and 11kV bus 
 j1.0  (0.744 j0.99)  j1.6  (0.93 j0.55)
 4.4367.8 pu

Voltage at 11 kV bus  4.4367.8 0.196  70.8 pu  0.88  3

 0.8811  9.68kV

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 Problem - 3
A 25 MVA, 11 kV generator with X d11=20% is connected through a
transformer, line and a transformer to a bus that supplies three
identical motors as shown in Fig. Each motor has Xd11=25% and
Xd1=30% on a base of 5 MVA, 6.6 kV. The three-phase rating of the
step-up transformer is 25MVA, 11/66 kV with a leakage reactance of
10% and that of the step-down transformer is 25 MVA, 66/6.6 kV
with a leakage reactance of 10%. The bus voltage at the motors is 6.6
kV when a three-phase fault occurs at the point F. For the specified
fault, calculate the subtransient current in the fault.
Given: Reactance of the transmission line = 15% on a base of 25
MVA, 66 kV. Assume that the system is operating on no load when the
fault occurs.

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 Solution

• Choose a system base of 25 MVA.

• For a generator voltage base of 11 kV, line voltage base is 66 kV and
motor voltage base is 6.6 kV.
X G  j0.2 pu
X T1  j0.1pu
X line  j0.15pu
X T 2  j0.1pu

X m   j0.25
25
 j1.25 pu
5

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 Solution


1 1
Z total   pu
3 1 j4.22

j1.25 j0.55
I SC  10  j4.22   j4.22 pu
251000
I SC   j4.22  9229A
3  6.6
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 Internal Voltages of Loaded Synchronous Machines
under Transient Conditions
The circuit model of a synchronous generator operating under steady
conditions supplying a load current IL to the bus at a terminal voltage
of Vt, Let Eg be the induced emf under loaded condition and Xd the
direct axis synchronous reactance of the machine.

E" g Vt  jI L X "d Similarly, E g  Vt  jI L X d

Circuit model for computing Circuit model for computing

sub transient current transient current

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 Internal Voltages of Loaded Synchronous Machines
under Transient Conditions
• Consider an alternator which is loaded when the fault occurs.
• Let the load be a balanced three-phase load.
• External impedance is the network impedance between machine and
fault location ‘p’.
• A three-phase symmetrical fault
is simulated by closing the switch ‘S’.
• Before the fault, the current flowing
is IL
• Let ZL be the per phase equivalent of
the three-phase balanced load.

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 Internal Voltages of Loaded Synchronous Machines
under Transient Conditions
• The Thevenin equivalent of the equivalent circuit at ‘P’ can be
represented.
• Vf represents the voltage at ‘P’ before the fault occurs (pre-fault
voltage)
• Zth is the impedance measured at ‘P’ looking back to the circuit with
all generated voltages short circuited.

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 Internal Voltages of Loaded Synchronous Machines
under Transient Conditions

Z th
Z ext  jX d Z L
Z ext  jX d Z L 
• The sub transient current in the fault is

V f V f Z ext  jX d Z L 
I  
Z th Z ext  jX d Z L
• The internal voltage which drives the sub
transient current when there is short circuit
is known as voltage behind sub transient
reactance, denoted as E E
I 
Z ext  jX d
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 Internal Voltages of Loaded Synchronous Machines
under Transient Conditions

V f Z ext  jX d Z L  I L Z ext  jX d Z L 
I  
Z ext  jX d Z L Z ext  jX d 

E I L Z ext  jX d Z L 

Z ext  jX d Z ext  jX d 

E   I L Z ext  jX d Z L 

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Short Circuit (SC) Current Computation through the Thevenin
Theorem
1. Obtain steady state solution of loaded system.

2. Replace reactances of synchronous machines by their

subtransient/transient values. Short circuit all emf sources.
The result is the passive Thevenin network.

3. Excite the passive network of step 2 at the fault point by

negative of prefault voltage in series with the fault
impedance. Compute voltages and currents at all points of
interest.

4. Postfault currents and voltages are obtained by adding

results of steps 1 and 3.

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Short Circuit (SC) Current Computation through the Thevenin
Theorem - Illustration
A synchronous generator and a synchronous motor each rated
25 MVA, 11 kV having 15% sub transient reactance are
connected through transformers and a line as shown in Fig.
The transformers are rated 25 MVA, 11/66 kV and 66/11 kV
with leakage reactance of 10% each. The line has a reactance
of 10% on a base of 25 MVA, 66 kV. The motor is drawing 15
MW at 0.8 power factor leading and a terminal voltage of 10.6
kV when a symmetrical three-phase fault occurs at the motor
terminals. Find the sub transient current in the generator, motor
and fault.

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Short Circuit (SC) Current Computation through the Thevenin
Theorem – Illustration (Cont.)

Before the fault During the fault

Circuit used for calculating additional current during the fault

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Short Circuit (SC) Current Computation through the Thevenin
Theorem – Illustration (Cont.)

Before the fault

Pre-fault voltage 10.6

V0   0.96360
11
P 0.6
Pre-fault current I  00
  0.778336.86
V  pf 0.9636 0.8

f V0 0.9636 j0.6
Total fault current I 
 j0.15 || j0.45  j0.15 j0.45   j8.565pu
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Short Circuit (SC) Current Computation through the Thevenin
Theorem – Illustration (Cont.)
Change in generator current due to fault,
j0.15
I g   j8.565   j2.141pu
j0.6
Change in motor current due to fault
j0.45
I m   j8.565   j6.424pu
j0.6
To these changes we add the pre-fault current to obtain the
sub-transient current in machines

I g  I 0  I g  0.778336.86  j2.141 1.786  69.60 pu

I G  1.786  69.60   25103
  2343.58  69.60A
 3 11 

I m  I 0  I m  0.778336.86  j6.424  6.918  95.16 pu
 
I m  6.918  95.16  25103
  9077.79  95.16A
 3 11 
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 Problem 5
An alternator and a synchronous motor are rated at 30,000
kVA, 13.2 kV and both have subtransient reactances of 20%.
The line connecting them has a reactance of 10% on the base
of the above rating. The motor is drawing 20,000 kW at 0.8 pf
loading and a terminal voltage of 12.8kV when a symmetrical
three-phase fault occurs at the motor terminals. Find the
subtransient current in the alternator, motor, and fault by using
the internal voltages of the machines.

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 Solution
Taking base values as 30,000 kVA
and 13.2 kV.

Prefault voltage
12.8
V0   0.970 pu
13.2
Prefault current
I0 
P

20,000/ 30,000  0.85936.86
V 0  pf 0.97 0.8

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 Solution
V0
If 
 j0.30 || j0.20
0.97 j0.5
   j8.08pu
j0.30 j0.20
Change in generator due to fault,
j0.20
I g   j8.08   j3.232pu
j0.5
Change in motor current due to fault
j0.3
I m   j8.08   j4.848pu
j0.5

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 Solution
To these changes we add the pre-
fault current to obtain the sub-
transient current in machines
 0
I g  I  I g
 0.85936.86  j3.232  2.802  75.80 pu
  30103 
I g  2.802  75.80  3676.67  75.8A
 3 13.2 

I m  I 0  I m  0.85936.86  j4.848  5.407  97.30 pu
  30103 
I m  5.47  97.30  7095.02  97.30A
 3 13.2 
  
I f  I g  I m  10,601.84  90

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 Short Circuit MVA
It is defined as the product of normal system voltage and short circuit
current at the point of fault expressed in MVA.

Fault MVA =

If pre-fault voltage is 1 p.u,

Fault MVA =

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 Selection of circuit breakers
• The subtransient current is the initial symmtrical rms
current which does not include the dc component.

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 Selection of circuit breakers (cont.)
• The approximate fault current taking dc component in
account are calculated by multiplying the symmetrical rms
fault current with a factor.
• The current which a breaker must carry immediately after a
fault occurs is called momentary duty of a breaker.
• The multiplication factor recommended by AIEE
(American Institute of Electrical Engineers) are:

Sl. No Rating of breaker Multiplication factor

1 >5 kV 1.60
2  5kV and >600 V 1.50
3  600 V 1.25

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 Selection of circuit breakers (cont.)
• The current which a breaker must be able to interrupt at the
time its contacts part is called interrupting rating.
• The multiplication factor to calculate interrupting rating
depends on the speed of the breaker.
• For interrupting current calculation, subtransient reactance are
used for generators, transient reactance for synchronous motors
and that of induction motors be neglected.

Sl. No Rating of breaker Multiplication factor

1 8-cycle or slower breakers 1.0
2 5-cycle breaker 1.1
3 3-cycle breaker 1.2
4 2-cycle breaker 1.4

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 Problem 6
A 25 MVA, 13.8 kV generator with Xd11=15% is connected
through a transformer to a bus that supplies four identical
motors as shown in Fig. Each motor has Xd11=20% and
Xd1=30% on a base of 5 MVA, 6.9 kV. The three-phase rating
of the transformer is 25MVA, 13.8/6.9 kV with a leakage
reactance of 10%.The bus voltage at the motors is 6.9 kV when
a three-phase fault occurs at the point P. For the specified fault,
1. Calculate the subtransient current in the fault.
2. Calculate the subtransient current in breaker A.
3. The momentary current in breaker A
4. The current to be interrupted by
breaker A in 5 cycles.

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 Solution

• Choose a system base of 25 MVA.

• For a generator voltage base of 13.8 kV and motor voltage base is
6.9 kV.

X m  j0.20
25
 j1.0 pu
5

X m  j0.30
25
 j1.5 pu
5

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• Calculation of fault current Solution
V 0  10 pu
1
Z total   j0.125pu
4 1

j1.0 j0.25
 10
If    j8.0 pu
j0.125

I f   8
251000
 16,720A
3  6.9
• Calculation of fault current through breaker A
1
Z   j0.1428pu
3 1

j1.0 j0.25
10
I    j7.0 pu  7  251000  14,630A
j0.1428 3  6.9

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 Solution
• The momentary current in circuit breaker

 1.6 14,630A  23,450A

• To calculate current to be interrupted, replace subtransient reactance

of synchronous motors with transient reactances

1
Z   j0.166pu
3 1

j1.5 j0.25
 10 251000
I    j6.0 pu  6  12,540A
j0.166 3  6.9
• The current to be interrupted
 1.112,540A  13,800A

The National Institute of Engineering Mysuru 52