Chapter Two Symmetrical Faults 2.1 Introduction A fault in a cireuit is any failure which interferes with the normal flow of current. In most faults, @ short cizcuit path forms between two or more phases, or between one or more phases and the ground, Since the impedance of a new path is usually low, an excessive current may flow 2.2 Causes of Faults 1. Tree branches near the transmission lines. . Lightning, 3. Winds. 4. Birds shorting lines. 5. Vehicles colliding with towers. 6. Small animals entering switchgear. 2.3 Types of Faults ‘There are two main types of faults: 1. Symmetrical Faults (Three Phase Faults): These faults are rare, but they are easier to analyze. When a symmetrical fault takes place, the system remains balanced. This occurs when all three phases of a transmission line are shorted together. 2, Unsymmetrical Faults: Such faults are more common, but they are more difficult to analyze, When an unsymmetrical fault takes place, the system is no longer balanced. The unsymmetrical faults contains all the transmission lines faults except the three phase types. These faults are:a. Single Line to Ground (SLG): A short circuit path forms between one phase and the ground. b. Line to Line (LL): Two phases of a line may touch, or flashover may occur between two phases. ¢. Double Line to Ground: Two lines touch each other and also touch the ground. 2.4 Transient in RL Series Circuits Consider an AC voltage is applied to a circuit containing constant values of resistance and inductance as shown in Fig. 1 below: e pdt 5 Vnax Sin(oot + a) = REALS (> The solution of this equation is: @ — 6) et sina— i=" [sin(wr+a—6)—e-*/"sin(a—8)] aco iL where |Z| = R? + (Lp and @ = tan~? R Fig. 2 shows the variation of current with time according to the above equation Fig 2: Current as a function of time in RL circuit for’ (a) a-8 : (b) a8 = -n/22.5 Short Circuit Current and Reactance of Synchronous Machine Fig. 3: Current as a function of time for a synchronous generator short-circuited while running at no load, From Fig. 3: 11) = 24 = HE — seoady seat ft = = 52 = Steady state current Vi Xe " Ob _ Esl | = =H = Transient current | Va OX Oc E, uy = 26 el El — sub — transient current v2 Xe where: Xj is the direct axis synchronous reactance, Xj is the direct transient reactance, Xj is the direct subtransient reactance and E, is the 1m. voltage fiom one terminal of the generator to the neutral.Example 1: Two generators are connected in parallel to the low voltage side of 3-ph A-Y transformer as shown in Fig. 4. Generator 1 is rated 50000 kVA , 13.8 kV. Generator 2 is rated 25000 kVA, 13.8 kV. Each generator has a subtransient reactance of 25% on its own base. The transformer is rated 75000 kVA, 13.8 4 / 69 ¥ kY, with a reactance of 10%. Before the fault occurs, the voltage on the HTS of the transformer is 66 KY. The transformer is unloaded and there is no circulating current between the generators. Find the subtransient current in each generator when a 3-ph short circuit occurs on the HTS of the transformer. (Select 69 kV, 75000 kVA as base in the HTS). ® r @2) aY Fig. 4: SLD for Example 1 ‘Solution: Generator 1: X= 0.25% eae 0.375 pu 50000 Eq = G5 = 0.957 pu Generator 2: : 75000 Xag = 0.25 X Fe559 = 0.75 pu Fyn = 8° = 0.957 pu #69 Transformer: X, =0.1 pu The equivalent subtransient reactance is:j0.375 x j0.75 50.375 + j0.75 = j0.25 pu The voltage on the A side of the transformer is: Ve = (—J2.735)(J0.1) = 0.2735 pu . 87 — 0.274 75000 Ba = pape = 1.823 pu = —f1.823 x = 720A fat 90.375 dSee PAD V3x 138 . _ 0957 ~0.274 75000 Ij, = poe = —j0.912 pu = -j0.912 x = 2860 A ca J0.75 eee est V3x 138 os