Fault Analysis

Unbalanced Three Phase Fault Analysis

Introduction

When considering unbalanced or unsymmetrical fault conditions like those shown in

Fig. 1, it is no longer possible to use a simple per-phase equivalent circuit representation,
since the same conditions do not apply to all three-phases of the power system. Instead, a
special method for dealing with unbalanced networks is used known as the method of
symmetrical components.

RE

(a) Line-to-earth (b) Line-to-earth

including earth fault resistance

(c) Line-to-Line (d) Two lines-to-earth

Fig. 1 Unsymmetrical fault conditions

In this section, the method of symmetrical components will be introduced and then applied
to the analysis of circuit conditions during three different unbalanced fault conditions,
namely a line-to-earth fault, a line-to-line fault and a double line-to-earth fault.

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Learning Outcomes
On completion of this section you will be able to

ƒ Describe the use of the method of symmetrical components for the analysis of
unbalanced circuit conditions.

ƒ Apply the method of symmetrical components for calculating the magnitude of fault
current during a line-to-earth fault, including the effects of earth loop impedance.

ƒ Apply the method of symmetrical components for calculating the magnitude of fault
current during a line-to-line fault.

ƒ Apply the method of symmetrical components for calculating the magnitude of fault
current during a double line-to-earth fault, including the effect of the earth loop
impedance.

ƒ Describe the contributions that principle plant items such as transformers and
generators make to the three sequence impedances of the circuit (the positive sequence
impedance, the negative sequence impedance and the zero sequence impedance).

Time

You will need about 4 or 5 hours for this section.

Resources

Calculator, pen and scrap paper

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1 Method of Symmetrical Components

This method postulates the presence of three separate phasor systems which when
combined give the conditions for the unbalanced fault conditions in the system. It must be
stresses however that these phasor systems do not actually exist within the power network
but are purely a mathematical aid to calculation.

The method of symmetrical components postulates that an unbalanced three-phase system,

of voltages or currents, may be represented by the following three separate phasor systems:

i. A positive sequence system made up of a balanced three-phase system in the normal

a-b-c phase sequence.

ii. A negative sequence system made up of a balanced three-phase system in the reverse
a-c-b phase sequence.

iii. A zero sequence system made up of three phasors of the same magnitude and in-
phase with each other, rotating in the same direction as the positive sequence phasors.

Fig. 2 shows an unbalanced three-phase system with its corresponding system of

symmetrical components.
three unbalanced currents:

Ic Ia

Ib

symmetrical components:
positive sequence negative sequence zero sequence
Ic1
Ib2
Ia1
Ia0

Ib0
Ia2 Ic0
Ic2

Ib1

unbalanced currents as the sum of sequence components

Fig. 2 Symmetrical components

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 Fault Analysis

In terms of the various positive, negative and zero sequence currents, our real unbalanced
currents Ia, Ib and Ic are given by:

Ia = Ia0 + Ia1 + Ia2

Ib = Ib0 + Ib1 + Ib2 (1)

Ic = Ic0 + Ic1 + Ic2

To simplify the phasor calculations we will make use of the complex operator h, also
referred to as a or sometimes λ or α, which denotes a phase shift of 120° in the complex
plane and a multiplication of unit magnitude, i.e.

h = 1 ∠ 120° = 1(cos120° + j sin120°) = − 0.5 + j 0.866 = e j2π/3 (2)

h2 = 1 ∠ 240° = 1 ∠ −120° = 1(cos240° + j sin240°) = − 0.5 − j 0.866 = e−j2π/3

h3 = 1 ∠ 360° = 1

For the positive sequence current phasors, taking the a phase current as our reference
phasor,

Ia1 = Ia1 ∠ 0°

Ib1 = Ia1 ∠ 240° = h2 Ia1

Ic1 = Ia1 ∠ 120° = h Ia1

For the negative sequence components,

Ia2 = Ia2 ∠ 0°

Ib2 = Ia2 ∠ 120° = h Ia2

Ic2 = Ia2 ∠ 240° = h2 Ia2

Equation 1 may now be written as:

Ia = Ia1 + Ia2 + Ia0

Ib = Ib1 + Ib2 + Ib0 = h2 Ia1 + h Ia2 + Ia0

Ic = Ic1 + Ic2 + Ic0 = h Ia1 + h2 Ia2 + Ia0

In matrix form, this may be expressed as:

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 Fault Analysis

⎛Ia ⎞ ⎛ 1 1 1⎞ ⎛ I a1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎜ Ib ⎟ = ⎜h h 1⎟ ⎜ I a 2 ⎟ (3)
⎜I ⎟ ⎜ h 2
1⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ I a 0 ⎟⎠
⎝ c⎠ ⎝ h

Inverting the above matrix, we obtain

⎛ I a1 ⎞ ⎛1 h h2 ⎞ ⎛Ia ⎞
⎜ ⎟ 1⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎜ I a 2 ⎟ = ⎜1 h h ⎟ ⎜ Ib ⎟
2
(4)
⎜I ⎟ 3 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ a0 ⎠ ⎝1 1 1 ⎠ ⎜⎝ I c ⎟⎠

The above analysis holds for a system of unbalanced three-phase voltages, i.e.

⎛ Va ⎞ ⎛ 1 1 1⎞ ⎛ Va1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎜ Vb ⎟ = ⎜ h h 1⎟ ⎜ Va 2 ⎟ (5)
⎜V ⎟ ⎜ h 2
1⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ Va 0 ⎟⎠
⎝ c⎠ ⎝ h

And,

⎛ Va1 ⎞ ⎛1 h h 2 ⎞ ⎛ Va ⎞
⎜ ⎟ 1⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎜ Va 2 ⎟ = ⎜1 h h ⎟ ⎜ Vb ⎟
2
(6)
⎜ V ⎟ 3 ⎜1 1 1 ⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ Vc ⎟⎠
⎝ a0 ⎠ ⎝

Exercise 1

Calculate the positive, negative and zero sequence components of the unbalanced three
phase currents: Ia = 6000∠0ο A ; Ib = -6000∠0ο A ; Ic = 0 A.

Turn to the end of the book for suggested answers to the exercise.

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2 Relationship between sequence voltages and currents

In this section, we will prove that the sequence voltages and currents are decoupled, i.e.
positive sequence current depends only on positive sequence voltage etc. (see section 2
below). Therefore we can analyze an unbalanced system by analyzing each set of sequence
components separately on a per phase basis, then using superposition to find the total
(phase) voltages and currents.

Consider a general set of (unbalanced) voltages and currents in a physically-balanced

system:

⎡Va ⎤ ⎡ Z s Zm Zm ⎤ ⎡I a ⎤
⎢ V ⎥ = ⎢Z Zs Z m ⎥⎥ ⎢I ⎥ (7)
⎢ b⎥ ⎢ m ⎢ b⎥
⎢⎣ Vc ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣Z m Zm Z s ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ I c ⎥⎦

where Zs is the effective self impedance and Zm the effective mutual impedance of the
line, respectively.

We can now apply the symmetrical component transformation and its inverse, to find the
relationship between the sequence components of these voltages and currents. From (6):

⎛ Va1 ⎞ ⎛1 h h 2 ⎞ ⎛ Va ⎞ ⎛1 h h2 ⎞ ⎡Zs Zm Zm ⎤ ⎡I a ⎤
⎜ ⎟ 1⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟ 1⎜ ⎟ ⎢Z
⎜ Va 2 ⎟ = ⎜1 h
2
h ⎟ ⎜ Vb ⎟ = ⎜1 h 2 h⎟ ⎢ m Zs Z m ⎥⎥ ⎢I ⎥
⎢ b⎥
⎜V ⎟ 3 ⎜1 1 1 ⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ Vc ⎟⎠
3⎜
1 ⎟⎠ ⎢⎣Z m Z s ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ I c ⎥⎦
⎝ a0 ⎠ ⎝ ⎝1 1 Zm

Substituting for Ia, Ib and Ic, we obtain:

⎛ Va1 ⎞ ⎛1 h h2 ⎞ ⎡Zs Zm Zm ⎤ ⎛ 1 1 1⎞ ⎛ I a1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ 1⎜ ⎟ ⎢Z ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎜ Va 2 ⎟ = ⎜1 h
2
h⎟ ⎢ m Zs Z m ⎥⎥ ⎜ h 2 h 1⎟ ⎜ I a 2 ⎟
⎜ V ⎟ 3 ⎜1 1 1 ⎟⎠ ⎢⎣Z m Z s ⎥⎦ ⎜⎝ h h2 1⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ I a 0 ⎟⎠
⎝ a0 ⎠ ⎝ Zm

This may be simplified to:

⎛ Va1 ⎞ ⎡Z s − Z m 0 0 ⎤ ⎛ I a1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎢ ⎥ ⎜I ⎟
⎜ Va 2 ⎟ = ⎢ 0 Zs − Zm 0 ⎥ ⎜ a2 ⎟ (8)
⎜V ⎟ ⎢ 0
⎝ a0 ⎠ ⎣ 0 Z s + 2Z m ⎥⎦ ⎜⎝ I a 0 ⎟⎠

In other words,

Va1 = Z1 Ia1

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Va2 = Z2 Ia2 (9)

Va0 = Z0 Ia0

where Z1 is the positive sequence impedance of the network, Z2 is the negative sequence
impedance of the network and Z0 is the zero sequence impedance of the network.

Thus, if we consider a simple system consisting of a balanced three-phase generator

connected to an open-circuit line (Fig. 3):

generator line
Ia
Va
Zg1 Zg2 Zg0 Zl1 Zl2 Zl0
Ean
Ib
Vb
Zg1 Zg2 Zg0 Zl1 Zl2 Zl0
Ebn
Ic
Vc
n Zg1 Zg2 Zg0 Zl1 Zl2 Zl0
Ecn

Fig. 3 Simple power system

The system may be experessed as three separate sequence networks as follows:

(i) A balanced three phase positive sequence network, as shown in Fig. 4:

positive sequence
three-phase single line
I a1 I a1
Va1
Zg1 Zl1 Z1
Ean Ean Va1
I b1
Vb1
Zg1 Zl1
Ebn
I c1
Vc1
Zg1 Zl1 Va1 = Ean -- Z1I a1
Ecn

Fig. 4 Positive sequence network

where Zg1 is the positive sequence impedance of the generator and Zl1 is the positive
sequence impedance of the line.

(ii) A balanced three phase negative sequence network, as shown in Fig. 5:

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negative sequence
three-phase single line
I a2 I a2
Va2
Zg2 Zl2 Z2 Va2
I b2
Vb2
Zg2 Zl2
I c2
Vc2
Zg2 Zl2 Va2 = -- Z2I a2

Fig. 5 Negative sequence network

(iii) A zero sequence network, as shown in Fig. 6:

zero sequence
three-phase single line
I a0 I a0
Va0
Zg0 Zl0 Z0 Va0
I b0
Vb0
Zg0 Zl0
I c0
Vc0
Va0 = -- Z0I a0
Zg0 Zl0

Fig. 6 Zero sequence network

Normally, only positive-sequence voltage sources appear in the network, as the generators
only generate positive-sequence voltages.

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3 Types of Unsymmetrical Faults

When performing manual fault calculations, the power network, as seen from the point of
the fault, is represented by a single voltage source in series with an impedance, obtained by
successive reductions of the network.

3.1 Line-to-earth fault

Fig. 7 shows a three-phase circuit diagram of a single-phase to earth fault. Z1, Z2, Z0 are
the positive, negative and zero sequence impedances, respectively, as seen from the point
of the fault.

Z1, Z2, Z0
a
Ia If

hE h2E

Z1, Z2, Z0
If b
Ib Z1, Z2, Z0
c
Ic

Fig. 7 Line-to-earth fault.

Let Ia1, Ia2 and Ia0 be the positive, negative and zero sequence components of Ia. For this
fault condition, If = Ia and Ib = Ic = 0 (ignoring any load current).

From (4),

Ia1 = (Ia + h Ib + h2 Ic) / 3

Ia2 = (Ia + h2 Ib + h Ic) /3

Ia0 = (Ia + Ib + Ic) / 3

But, Ib = Ic = 0, hence,

Ia0 = (Ia / 3) = Ia1 = Ia2 (10)

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 Fault Analysis

Also, by applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the earth fault loop, we can write

E – Ia1 Z1 – Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0 = 0

Substituting for Ia2 and Ia0,

E – Ia1(Z1 + Z2 + Z0) = 0

and,

E
I a1 = (11)
Z1 + Z 2 + Z 0

Equation (11) may be represented by the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 8.

Ia1 Z1 Z2 Z0

Fig. 8 Equivalent circuit for line-to-earth fault

The fault current If is given by:

If = Ia = 3 Ia1 (12)

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3.2 Line-to-line fault

Fig. 9 shows a three-phase circuit diagram of a line-to-line fault. Z1, Z2, Z0 are the
positive, negative and zero sequence impedances as seen from the point of the fault. In this
case, Ia = 0 and Ib = − Ic.

Z1, Z2, Z0
a
Ia

hE h2E
Z1, Z2, Z0
b
Ib Z1, Z2, Z0 If
c
Ic

Fig. 9 Line-to-line fault

From (4),

Ia1 = (Ia + h Ib + h2 Ic) / 3

Ia2 = (Ia + h2 Ib + h Ic) /3

Ia0 = (Ia + Ib + Ic) / 3

But Ia = 0, Ib = − Ic, hence,

Ia0 = 0 (no zero sequence currents can flow)

Ia1 = Ib(h − h2)/3

Ia2 = Ib(h2 − h)/3 = − Ia1

Also, by applying Kirchhoff’s law around the fault loop, we obtain:

h2 E – Ib1 Z1 – Ib2 Z2 – Ib0 Z0 = h E – Ic1 Z1 – Ic2 Z2 – Ic0 Z0

Replacing all Ib, Ic components with Ia1, Ia2 and Ia0

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 Fault Analysis

h2 E – h2 Ia1 Z1 – h Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0 = h E – h Ia1 Z1 – h2 Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0

h2 E – h2 Ia1 Z1 – h Ia2 Z2 = h E – h Ia1 Z1 – h2 Ia2 Z2

Re-arranging the above equation and substituting for Ia2,

E(h2 – h) = Ia1 [Z1(h2 – h) + Z2(h2 – h)]

Divide by (h2 – h),

E = Ia1 (Z1 + Z2)

or,

E
I a1 = (13)
Z1 + Z 2

The above equation can be represented by the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 10.

Ia1 Z1 Z2

Fig. 10 Equivalent circuit for line-to-line fault

If the faulty connection between the two lines has fault impedance Zf, this can be included
in series with Z1 and Z2 in the above equivalent circuit, giving the equation,

E
I a1 = (14)
Z1 + Z 2 + Z f
The fault current If in this case is given by Ib,

If = Ib = Ia0 + h2 Ia1 + h Ia2 = Ia1(h2 – h) = – j √3 Ia1 (15)

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3.3 Double line-to-earth fault

Fig. 11 shows a three-phase circuit diagram of a double line-to-earth fault.

Z1, Z2, Z0
a
Ia

hE h2E

Z1, Z2, Z0
If b
Ib Z1, Z2, Z0
c
Ic If

Fig. 11 Double line-to-earth fault

Here,

Ia = 0,

h2 E – Ib1 Z1 – Ib2 Z2 – Ib0 Z0 = 0 (KVL)

and,

h E – Ic1 Z1 – Ic2 Z2 – Ic0 Z0 = 0 (KVL)

Hence,

Ia1 + Ia2 + Ia0 = 0,

h2 E – h2 Ia1 Z1 – h Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0 = 0,

and

h E – h Ia1 Z1 – h2 Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0 = 0

Giving the three equations,

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 Fault Analysis

E
I a1 =
⎛ Z Z ⎞
Z1 + ⎜⎜ 2 0 ⎟⎟
⎝ Z2 + Z0 ⎠

Z0
I a 2 = − I a1 (16)
Z2 + Z0

Z2
I a 0 = − I a1
Z2 + Z0

The above three equations may be represented by the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 12.

Ia1 Z1

E Z2 Z0

Ia2 Ia0

Fig. 12 Equivalent circuit for double line-to-earth fault

The fault current If in this case is given by,

If = Ib + Ic = In = 3 Ia0 (17)

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3.4 Effects of Earth Loop Impedance

For a single line-to-earth fault, the equivalent circuit of Fig. 8 can be modified to include in
the earth loop impedance ZE of the system, which includes the impedance of the neutral
connection at the generator or substation ZN, the impedance of the earth fault current return
path ZER and the impedance of the fault itself, usually in the form of its arc resistance Rarc,
as shown in Fig. 13.

Z1, Z2, Z0
a
Ia If

E
ZE = ZN+ZER+Rarc Rarc

hE h2E
ZER
ZN
Z1, Z2, Z0
b
If
Ib Z1, Z2, Z0
c
Ic

Fig. 13 Earth loop impedance ZE

If we now apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the earth fault loop, we obtain:

E – Ia1 Z1 – Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0 – Ia ZE = 0

But, Ia = 3 Ia0 (equation 10),

E – Ia1 Z1 – Ia2 Z2 – Ia0 Z0 – 3 Ia0 ZE = 0

Giving us the modified equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 14.

Ia1 Z1 Z2 Z0

E 3ZE

Fig. 14 Equivalent circuit for single line-to-earth fault including earth loop impedance

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In this case,

3E
I f = 3 I a1 = (19)
Z1 + Z 2 + (Z 0 + 3 Z E )

Similarly, for a double line-to-earth fault, the equivalent circuit of Fig. 12 may be modified
to include the effects of the earth loop impedance, giving the equivalent circuit shown
below.

Ia1 Z1

Z0
E
Z2
3ZE

Ia2 Ia0

Fig. 15 Equivalent circuit for double line-to-earth fault including earth loop impedance

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4 Sequence Impedances of Principal Plant Items

4.1 Cables and overhead lines

The positive and negative sequence impedances for underground cables and overhead lines
are the normal balanced values. Due to mutual coupling effects, the value of the zero
sequence impedance of an overhead line depends on the presence, or otherwise, of a
neutral conductor. The zero-sequence impedance of a cable varies with the spacing
between the conductors and between each conductor and any metallic sheath or screen.

Zero sequence currents sum to 3Ia0 and this return current must flow in the neutral wire or
via the ground.

4.2 Synchronous generators

Positive sequence currents produce a forward rotating field, so the effective positive-
sequence impedance of a synchronous generator is the normal synchronous reactance of
the machine, approximately 1pu.

Negative sequence currents produce a backward rotating field at speed 2ωs relative to the
rotor body. Eddy currents in the solid rotor body oppose the negative sequence mmf, so the
flux is small. The effective negative sequence reactance is thus small, typically 25% lower
than the positive-sequence value.

Zero sequence currents do not flow unless the star point is earthed. Net airgap field
produced by zero sequence current is zero. So the effective zero sequence reactance
depends on the leakage reactance of the machine, typically 0.05 – 0.3 pu.

4.3 Transformers

Transformer positive and negative sequence impedances are the normal balanced values.
The zero-sequence impedance of a transformer, on the other hand, depends on the
connection of transformer windings. The three zero-sequence currents are in-phase with
each other and cannot flow in a star connected three-phase winding without a connection to
earth. They can circulate around a three-phase delta winding, but not in the lines outside
the delta connection. Table 1 shows a number of transformer winding arrangements and
their zero-sequence representations.

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Table 1 Zero-sequence representation for various transformer winding

arrangements.

Transformer Connections Comments

Zero-sequence currents are free to flow in both

primary and secondary circuits

Zero-sequence currents cannot flow because there

is no path in the primary circuits.

Zero-sequence currents are free to flow in the

secondary circuit and can circulate in the primary
delta winding but not outside it.

No flow of zero-sequence currents is possible.

No flow of zero-sequence currents is possible.

No flow of zero-sequence currents is possible.

Zero-sequence currents are free to flow in the

primary circuit and can circulate in the secondary
delta winding but not outside it.

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Worked Example 1

Find the magnitude of the fault current for an earth fault at point F, through a resistance of
0.05pu in the following system:
T1 T2
L1

G1 G2

T4 T3
F L2

Fig. 16 Network for worked example 1

The generator open-circuit voltages are both 1∠0opu and the pu sequence reactances of the
system elements are:
X1 X2 X0
G1 0.2 0.1 0.05
G2 0.3 0.2 0.06
T1 0.2 0.2 0.2
T2 0.25 0.25 0.25
T3 0.23 0.23 --
T4 0.25 0.25 0.25
L1 0.15 0.15 0.3
L2 0.3 0.3 0.6

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Solution
First, we derive sequence networks as seen at the fault point.
j0.6
positive sequence j0.2 j0.15 j0.25

j0.2 j0.3
j0.53
j0.25 j0.3 j0.23

Ia1

1∠0opu F 1∠0opu
Va1

j0.32 j0.53
j0.2 j0.12 j0.23 j0.3

j0.10 = j0.25 * j0.53

j(0.25 + 0.53 + 0.6)
Ia1

1∠0opu F 1∠0opu
Va1

j0.32

j0.53 j0.10 Ia1

j0.29 Ia1
F F

1∠0opu 1∠0opu
Va1 Va1

N N

So,
Z1 = j 0.29 pu

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 Fault Analysis

j0.6
negative sequence j0.2 j0.15 j0.25

j0.1 j0.2
j0.53
j0.25 j0.3 j0.23

Ia2

F
Va2

j0.22 j0.43
j0.1 j0.12 j0.23 j0.2

j0.10

Ia2

F
Va2

j0.22

j0.43 j0.10 Ia2

j0.24 Ia2
F F

Va2 Va2

N N

Z2 = j 0.24 pu

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 Fault Analysis

zero sequence

Ia0
F
j0.25

Va0

Z0 = j 0.25 pu

Then, from (19):

3E 3×1 3
I f = 3 I a1 = = =
Z 1 + Z 2 + (Z 0 + 3 Z e ) j 0.29 + j 0.24 + j 0.25 + (3×0.05) 0.15 + j 0.78

Hence, the magnitude of earth fault current is given by 3/0.794 = 3.777 pu.

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 Fault Analysis

Exercise 2

Fig. 17 shows one section of a loop power network used to transmit power from two
generators, via two substations and two transmission lines. The various items of equipment
have the per unit impedances shown in Table 2. The generator open-circuit voltage is 1pu.
All transformers have a delta connected primary winding and a star connected secondary
winding, with the star point solidly earthed.

Table 2 Per unit impedances of loop network for exercise 1

Positive Negative Zero Neutral
Sequence Sequence Sequence impedance
Generators A & B j1 j0.6 j0.2 1
Transformer C j0.2 j0.2 j0.2 0
Transformers D & E j0.3 j0.3 j0.3 0
Line 1 j0.25 j0.25 j0.25 NA
Line 2 j0.3 j0.3 j0.3 NA

A B

C D E

S/S A S/S B

Line 1 Line 2

N/O Point

Fig. 17 Loop network for exercise 1

Calculate the rms fault current resulting from:

i. A line-to-earth fault at the secondary terminals of transformer C, with the normally

open point closed.

ii. A line-to-line fault two thirds the way down Line 2 as measured from substation B,
with the normally open point closed.

Turn to the end of the book for suggested answers to the exercise.

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 Fault Analysis

5 Calculation of Network Voltages

Network voltages during abnormal unbalanced fault conditions can also be calculated
using the method of symmetrical components.

We have already seen that the phase voltages Va, Vb and Vc at any point in the network are
given by (Equation 5):

⎛ Va ⎞ ⎛ 1 1 1⎞ ⎛ Va1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎜ Vb ⎟ = ⎜ h h 1⎟ ⎜ Va 2 ⎟
⎜V ⎟ ⎜ h
⎝ c⎠ ⎝ h2 1⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ Va 0 ⎟⎠

While the corresponding sequence voltages Va1, Va2 and Va0 may be calculated from the
three sequence currents Ia1, Ia2 and Ia0 flowing in the network and the three sequence
impedances Z1, Z2 and Z0 of the relevant part of the network, i.e. the network up to the
point where we want to calculate the voltage (see section 2):

Va1 = Ea − Z1 Ia1

Va2 = − Z2 Ia2

Va0 = − Z0 Ia0

For example, if we wish to calculate the network voltages at the point of fault following a
line-to-earth fault, we first need to calculate Va1, Va2 and Va0 from the above equations
noting that for a line-to-earth fault Ia1 = Ia2 = Ia0.

Using Equation 5 we can write:

Va = Va1 + Va2 + Va0

= Ea − Z1 Ia1 − Z2 Ia2 − Z0 Ia0 = Ea − Z1 Ia1 − Z2 Ia1 − Z0 Ia1

E
which clearly equals zero since I a1 = for this fault condition.
Z1 + Z 2 + Z 0

Similarly, Vb and Vc may be determined from the above equations:

Vb = h2 Va1 + h Va2 + Va0

= h2 (Ea − Z1 Ia1) − h Z2 Ia2 − Z0 Ia0 = h2 (Ea − Z1 Ia1) − h Z2 Ia1 − Z0 Ia1

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 Fault Analysis

And,

Vc = h Va1 + h2 Va2 + Va0

= h (Ea − Z1 Ia1) − h2 Z2 Ia2 − Z0 Ia0 = h (Ea − Z1 Ia1) − h2 Z2 Ia1 − Z0 Ia1

Summary

In this section we saw how the method of symmetrical components may be used to analyse
circuit conditions during abnormal unbalanced fault conditions. Namely, we were able to
calculate the rms values of fault current during a line-to-earth fault, a line-to-line fault and
a double line-to-earth fault by considering the three sequence impedances of the circuit
(the positive, negative and zero sequence impedances) separately and then using the
principle of superposition to obtain the overall voltage drop across the circuit.

25 EEE8017