Now, the instantaneous current through an ac R-L circuit under steady state is

given by
v 2V sin  t   
is  t    where, Z  R  jX  Z 
Z Z

2V
 is  t   sin  t       I max sin  t      …(2)
Z
2V
where, I max 
Z
Similarly, the instantaneous current through an ac R-L circuit under transient state
is given by,

it  t   Itmax e Rt L …(3)

Therefore equation (1) can be written as,

i f  t   I max sin  t       I tmax e  Rt L …(4)

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 i f  t   I max sin  t       I tmax e  Rt L

At t  0 , there was no fault.

i f  0  0

Substituting t  0 in equation (1) we get, it  0   is  0 

Or, I tmax   I max sin       I tmax  I max sin     

Substituting It
max in equation (4) we get

i f  t   I max sin  t       I max sin      e  Rt L …(5)

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It is clear that the transient component of current or dc offset current make the fault
current asymmetrical during transient process. Note that maximum value of transient
component of fault current depends on  and 

Let us assume, v is the reference voltage and R  X

 . Then, It  I max
Therefore, for   0 and   max
2
Then from equation (5), the expression for instantaneous fault current becomes
 
i f  t   I max sin  t    I max e Rt L …(6)
 2

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    R10103 L
i ft   I max sin      I max e  I max  I max  2 I max
 2

Magnitude of fault current

At t  0, i f  t   0

   R0 L
I ,
Therefore, max sin  0  
 max
I e 0
 2
But after first half cycle i.e., t  
   R10103 L
i ft   I max sin      I max e  I max  I max  2 I max
 2

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  
i f  t   I max sin  t    I max e Rt L
 2

   R10103 L
i ft   I max sin      I max e  I max  I max  2 I max
 2

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  
i f  t   I max sin  t    I max e Rt L
 2

Fault analysis is divided in to three periods of time:

Sub-transient period: first few cycles or so after the fault – fault current is very large
and falls rapidly.
Transient period: After the sub transient period is over and before the establishment
of the steady state, fault current falls at a slower rate.
Steady-state period: fault current reaches its steady value.
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    R10103 L
i ft   I max sin      I max e  I max  I max  2 I max
 2

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Equivalent circuit of an alternator during fault:

Note that, the air gap flux, ag   f  a

where, a  armature reaction flux,  f  field flux

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 ag   f  a

Sub-transient period:

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Transient period:

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 Steady-state period:

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 Obviously, xs > xs/ > xs/ /

Similarly for salient pole machines, xd > xd > xd

/ //
and xq > xq/ > xq/ /

Above equivalent circuit are applicable to synchronous motor also with suitable
modification in currents and induced emfs.

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Equivalent circuit of a transformer during fault:

The shunt branch is neglected in fault analysis.

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Note that the p.u. series impedance of transformer is same either base quantities
are assumed from primary side or secondary side

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Fault current: Fault current means current flowing in the faulted path.

Fault MVA or Short circuit MVA:

Fault MVA = Fault current  Pre-fault bus voltage  3I fLVLL  3I fPhVPh

Steps to calculate of fault current:

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Example 1: There is a solid three phase fault at HT terminal of the motor
transformer in the power system shown in Fig.E.1. Draw the reactance diagram of
the network under faulted condition and calculate the fault current. Also calculate
fault MVA.

Solution. Let Base MVA=50,

Vb_old 2 Sb_new
We know, Zpu_new  Z pu_old  2
×
Vb_new Sb_old

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For generator: base voltage = 11kV, Voltage generated, E g  1p.u.
50
X g  0.25   0.2083 p.u.
60
For motor M: base voltage is 11kV, voltage developed, Em  1p.u.
X m  0.15p.u.

For transformers: XT1  XT2  0.1

For transmission line, Base voltage on transmission line side, is 132 kV,
  MVA b3 
 0.287 p.u.  Zp.u.  Z 
50
 X line  100 
1322   kV  2 
 b 

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 VTh  1p.u.

j 0.5953  j 0.25
Z Th   j 0.1761 p.u.
j 0.5953  j 0.25

VTh 1
If     j5.6786 p.u
ZTh j0.1761

50 103
Base current at fault point = Ib   218.6933 A
3 132

I f  5.6786  218.6933 A= 1.2419 kA Ans.

Again, Fault MVA  1 5.6786 p.u.= 5.6786 p.u.

= 5.6786  50 MVA = 283.9300 MVA

Fault MVA  3 I fPhVPh  with actual phase quantities 

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