Short Circuit Calculations

Short Circuit Calculation
Sector Energy
D SE PTI NC
Steffen Schmidt
Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights reserved.

Standards and Terms
Page 2 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Purpose of Short-Circuit Calculations
Dimensioning of switching devices

Dynamic dimensioning of switchgear
Thermal rating of electrical devices (e.g. cables)
Protection coordination
Fault diagnostic
Input data for
Earthing studies
Interference calculations
EMC planning
..

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short-Circuit Calculation
Standards
IEC 60909:
Short-Circuit Current Calculation in Three-Phase A.C. Systems
European Standard EN 60909

German National Standard DIN VDE 0102
further National Standards
Engineering Recommendation G74 (UK)

Procedure to Meet the Requirements of IEC 60909 for the
Calculation of Short-Circuit Currents in Three-Phase AC Power
Systems
ANSI IIEEE Std. C37.5 (US)

IEEE Guide for Calculation of Fault Currents for Application of a.c. High
Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on a Total Current Basis.

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short-Circuit Calculations
Standard IEC 60909
IEC 60909 : Short-circuit currents in three-

phase a.c. systems
Part 0: Calculation of currents

Part 1: Factors for the calculation of
short-circuit currents
Part 2: Electrical equipment; data for
short-circuit current calculations
Part 3: Currents during two separate
simultaneous line-to-earth short
circuits and partial short-circuit
currents flowing through earth
Part 4: Examples for the calculation of
short-circuit currents

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Scope of IEC 60909
three-phase a.c. systems

low voltage and high voltage systems up to 500 kV
nominal frequency of 50 Hz and 60 Hz
balanced and unbalanced short circuits
three phase short circuits
two phase short circuits (with and without earth connection)
single phase line-to-earth short circuits in systems with solidly
earthed or impedance earthed neutral
two separate simultaneous single-phase line-to-earth short circuits
in a systems with isolated neutral or a resonance earthed neutral
(IEC 60909-3)
maximum short circuit currents
minimum short circuit currents

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Types of Short Circuits
3-phase
2-phase
1-phase
Page 7 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright

Copyright Siemens AG 2008.
2007. All rights
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Far-from-generator short circuit
Ik Initial symmetrical short-circuit current

ip Peak short-circuit current
Ik Steady-state short-circuit current
A Initial value of the d.c component

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Definitions according IEC 60909 (I)
initial symmetrical short-circuit current Ik

r.m.s. value of the a.c. symmetrical component of a prospective
(available) short-circuit current, applicable at the instant of short circuit if
the impedance remains at zero-time value
initial symmetrical short-circuit power Sk

fictitious value determined as a product of the initial symmetrical short-
circuit current Ik, the nominal system voltage Un and the factor 3:
Sk" 3 Un Ik"
NOTE: Sk is often used to calculate the internal impedance of a network feeder at the
connection point. In this case the definition given should be used in the following form:
c Un2
Z
Sk"
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Definitions according IEC 60909 (II)
decaying (aperiodic) component id.c. of short-circuit current

mean value between the top and bottom envelope of a short-circuit
current decaying from an initial value to zero
peak short-circuit current ip

maximum possible instantaneous value of the prospective (available)
short-circuit current
NOTE: The magnitude of the peak short-circuit current varies in accordance with the
moment at which the short circuit occurs.

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Near-to-generator short circuit
Ik Initial symmetrical short-circuit current

ip Peak short-circuit current
Ik Steady-state short-circuit current
A Initial value of the d.c component
IB Symmetrical short-circuit breaking current
2 2 IB
tB

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Definitions according IEC 60909 (III)
steady-state short-circuit current Ik

r.m.s. value of the short-circuit current which remains after the decay of
the transient phenomena
symmetrical short-circuit breaking current Ib

r.m.s. value of an integral cycle of the symmetrical a.c. component of the
prospective short-circuit current at the instant of contact separation of
the first pole to open of a switching device

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Purpose of Short-Circuit Values
Design Criterion Physical Effect Relevant short-circuit current
Breaking capacity of circuit Thermal stress to arcing Symmetrical short-circuit

breakers chamber; arc extinction breaking current Ib
Mechanical stress to Forces to electrical devices Peak short-circuit current ip
equipment (e.g. bus bars, cables)
Thermal stress to equipment Temperature rise of electrical Initial symmetrical short-
devices (e.g. cables) circuit current Ik
Fault duration
Protection setting Selective detection of partial Minimum symmetrical short-
short-circuit currents circuit current Ik
Earthing, Interference, EMC Potential rise; Maximum initial symmetrical
Magnetic fields short-circuit current Ik

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Standard IEC 60909
Simplifications and Assumption
Assumptions
quasi-static state instead of dynamic calculation
no change in the type of short circuit during fault duration
no change in the network during fault duration
arc resistances are not taken into account
impedance of transformers is referred to tap changer in main position
neglecting of all shunt impedances except for C0
-> safe assumptions

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Equivalent Voltage Source

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short-circuit
Equivalent voltage source at the short-circuit location
real network
Q A F
equivalent circuit
ZN Q ZT A ZL
~
c.U n
I"K
3
Operational data and the passive load of consumers are neglected

Tap-changer position of transformers is dispensable
Excitation of generators is dispensable
Load flow (local and time) is dispensable
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short circuit in meshed grid
Equivalent voltage source at the short-circuit location
real network equivalent circuit

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Voltage Factor c
c is a safety factor to consider the following effects:

voltage variations depending on time and place,
changing of transformer taps,
neglecting loads and capacitances by calculations,
the subtransient behaviour of generators and motors.
Voltage factor c for calculation of

Nominal voltage maximum short circuit currents minimum short circuit currents
Low voltage 100 V 1000 V

-systems with a tolerance of 6% 1.05 0.95
-systems with a tolerance of 10% 1.10 0.95
Medium voltage >1 kV 35 kV 1.10 1.00
High voltage >35 kV 1.10 1.00

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Maximum and minimum Short-Circuit Currents
maximum minimum
short circuit currents short circuit currents
Voltage factor Cmax Cmin
Power plants Maximum contribution Minimum contribution
Network feeders Minimum impedance Maximum impedance
Motors shall be considered shall be neglected
Resistance of lines and cables at 20C at maximum temperature

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short Circuit Impedances and Correction Factors

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short Circuit Impedances
For network feeders, transformer, overhead lines, cable etc.
impedance of positive sequence system = impedance of negative sequence system
impedance of zero sequence system usually different
topology can be different for zero sequence system
Correction factors for

generators,
generator blocks,
network transformer
factors are valid in zero, positive, negative sequence system

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Network feeders
At a feeder connection point usually one of the following values is given:

the initial symmetrical short circuit current Ik
the initial short-circuit power Sk
c Un c Un2
ZQ
3 Ik
"
Sk"
ZQ
XQ
1 (R / X)2
If R/X of the network feeder is unknown, one of the following values can
be used:
R/X = 0.1
R/X = 0.0 for high voltage systems >35 kV fed by overhead lines

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Network transformer
Correction of Impedance
ZTK = ZT KT
general
c max
K T 0,95
1 0,6 x T
at known conditions of operation

Un c max
KT
Ub 1 x T (IbT IrT ) sin bT
no correction for impedances between star point and ground

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Network transformer
Impact of Correction Factor
The Correction factor is KT<1.0 for transformers with xT >7.5 %.
Reduction of transformer impedance

Increase of short-circuit currents

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Generator with direct Connection to Network
ZGK = ZG KG
general
Un c max
KG
UrG 1 xd sin rG
for continuous operation above rated voltage:

UrG (1+pG) instead of UrG
turbine generator: X(2) = X(1)

salient pole generator: X(2) = 1/2 (Xd" + Xq")

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Generator Block (Power Station)
Q
ZS(O) = (tr2 ZG +ZTHV) KS(O)
G
power station with on-load tap changer:

2 2
UnQ UrTLV c max
KS 2 2
UrG UrTHV 1 xd x T sin rG
power station without on-load tap changers:

UnQ U c max
K SO rTLV 1 p t
UrG (1 pG ) UrTHV 1 xd sin rG

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Asynchronous Motors
Motors contribute to the short circuit currents and have to be considered

for calculation of maximum short circuit currents
2
1 UrM
ZM
ILR / IrM SrM
ZM
XM
1 (RM / XM )2
If R/X is unknown, the following values can be used:

R/X = 0.1 medium voltage motors power per pole pair > 1 MW
R/X = 0.15 medium voltage motors power per pole pair 1 MW
R/X = 0.42 low voltage motors (including connection cables)

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Special Regulations for low Voltage Motors
low voltage motors can be neglected if IrM Ik

groups of motors can be combined to a equivalent motor
ILR/IrM = 5 can be used

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Calculation of initial short circuit current

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Procedure
Set up equivalent circuit in symmetrical components
Consider fault conditions

in 3-phase system
transformation into symmetrical components
Calculation of fault currents

in symmetrical components
transformation into 3-phase system

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Equivalent circuit in symmetrical components
(1) (1) (1)
(1) (1) (1) (1)

(1)
positive sequence system
(2) (2) (2)

(2)
(2) (2) (2) (2)
negative sequence system
(0)
(0) (0)
(0)
(0) (0)
(0) (0)
zero sequence system

Copyright Siemens AG 2008.
2007. All rights
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
3-phase short circuit
L1-L2-L3-system Z(1)l
012-system Z(1)r
L1 ~ ~
L2 ~ c Un (1)
3
L3
Z(2)l Z(2)r
~ ~ ~ -Uf ~ ~
c Ur

I sc3 (2)
3 Z (1)
Z(0)l Z(0)r
~ ~
(0)
network left of fault location network right of

UL1 = Uf fault location fault location
U(1) = Uf
UL2 = a2 ( Uf)
U(2) = 0
UL3 = a ( Uf)
U(0) = 0
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Calculation of 2-phase initial short circuit current
L1-L2-L3-system Z(1)l
012-system Z(1)r
L1 ~ ~
L2 ~ c Un (1)
L3 3
~
Z(2)l Z(2)r
-Uf c U r ~ ~

I sc2 (2)
Z 1 Z 2
Z(0)l Z(0)r
~ ~
c U r
I sc2 3

I sc2 (0)
2 Z 1
I sc3 2
network left of network right of
IL1 = 0 U fault location
U (1) U ( 2 ) c n fault location fault location
3
IL2 = IL3 I(0) = 0
UL3 UL2 = Uf I(1) = I(2)

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
with ground connection
L1-L2-L3-system 012-system
Z(1)l Z(1)r
~ ~
L1
~ c Un (1)
L2
3
L3
Z(2)l Z(2)r
~ ~
~ 3 c U r
-Uf
I scE2E (2)
Z 1 2 Z 0
Z(0)l Z(0)r
~ ~
(0)
I L1 0
fault location
2 Un fault location fault location
U L2 a c
3 Un
U (1) U ( 2) c U (1) U ( 0)
Un 3
U L3 a c
3 I(0) = I(1) = I(2)

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
L1-L2-L3-System Z(1)l 012-System Z(1)r

~ ~
(1)
L1
L2
Z(2)l Z(2)r
L3
~ ~
3 c U r c Un
"
I sc1 ~
(2)
~ -Uf Z (1) Z ( 2 ) Z ( 0 ) 3
Z(0)l Z(0)r
~ ~
(0)

fault location
Un fault location fault location
U L1 c
3 Un
U ( 0) U (1) U ( 2) c
IL2 = 0 3
I(0) = I(1) = I(2)
IL3 = 0
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Largest initial short circuit current
Because of Z1 Z2 the
largest short circuit current can
be observed
for Z1 / Z0 < 1
3-phase short circuit
for Z1 / Z0 > 1
2-phase short circuit with
earth connection
(current in earth connection)

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short Circuit Calculation Results
Faults at all Buses

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short Circuit Calculation Results
Contribution for one Fault Location

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Example

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Data of sample calculation
Network feeder: Transformer: Overhead line:
110 kV 110 / 20 kV 20 kV
3 GVA 40 MVA 10 km
R/X = 0.1 uk = 15 % R1 = 0.3 / km
PkrT = 100 kVA X1 = 0.4 / km

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Impedance of Network feeder
c Un2
ZI
Sk"
1.1 20 kV
2
ZI
3 GVA
ZI 0.1467 RI 0.0146 XI 0.1460

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Impedance of Transformer
Un2 Un2
Z T uk R T PkrT 2
Sn Sn
20 kV 2 20 kV 2
Z T 0.15 R T 100 kVA
40 MVA 40 MVA 2
Z T 1.5000 R T 0.0250 X T 1.4998

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Impedance of Transformer
Correction Factor
c max
K T 0.95
1 0 .6 x T
1 .1
K T 0.95
1 0.6 0.14998
K T 0.95873
Z TK 1.4381 R TK 0.0240 X TK 1.4379

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Impedance of Overhead Line
RL R' XL X'
RL 0.3 / km 10 km XL 0.4 / km 10 km
RL 3.0000 XI 4.0000

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Initial Short-Circuit Current Fault location 1
R RI R TK X XI X TK
R 0.0146 0.0240 X 0.1460 1.4379
R 0.0386 X 1.5839
c Un
Ik"
3 R1 j X1
1.1 20 kV
Ik"
3 0.0386 2 1.5839 2
Ik" 8.0 kA

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Initial Short-Circuit Current Fault location 2
R RI R TK RL X XI X TK XL
R 0.0146 0.0240 3.0000 X 0.1460 1.4379 4.0000
R 3.0386 X 5.5839
c Un
Ik"
3 R1 j X1
1.1 20 kV
Ik"
3 3.0386 2 5.5839 2
Ik" 2.0 kA

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Calculation of Peak Current

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Peak Short-Circuit Current
Calculation acc. IEC 60909
maximum possible instantaneous value of expected short circuit current
equation for calculation: ip 2 Ik"

1.02 0.98 e 3R / X

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Calculation in non-meshed Networks
The peak short-circuit current ip at a short-circuit location, fed from

sources which are not meshed with one another is the sum of the partial
short-circuit currents:

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Calculation in meshed Networks
Method A: uniform ratio R/X

smallest value of all network branches
quite inexact
Method B: ratio R/X at the fault location

factor b from relation R/X at the fault location (equation or diagram)
=1,15 b
Method C: procedure with substitute frequency

factor from relation Rc/Xc with substitute frequency fc = 20 Hz
R R c fc

X Xc f
best results for meshed networks

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Fictitious Resistance of Generator
RGf = 0,05 Xd" for generators with UrG > 1 kV and SrG 100 MVA
RGf = 0,07 Xd" for generators with UrG > 1 kV and SrG < 100 MVA
RGf = 0,15 Xd" for generators with UrG 1000 V
NOTE: Only for calculation of peak short circuit current

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Peak Short-Circuit Current Fault location 1
Ik" 8.0 kA
R 0.0386 X 1.5839
R / X 0.0244
1.02 0.98 e 3R / X
1.93
ip 2 Ik"
ip 21.8 kA

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Peak Short-Circuit Current Fault location 2
Ik" 2.0 kA
R 3.0386 X 5.5839
R / X 0.5442
1.02 0.98 e 3R / X
1.21
ip 2 Ik"
ip 3.4 kA

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Calculation of Breaking Current

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Breaking Current
Differentiation
Differentiation between short circuits near or far from generator
Definition short circuit near to generator
for at least one synchronous machine is: Ik > 2 Ir,Generator

or
Ikwith motor > 1.05 Ikwithout motor
Breaking current Ib for short circuit far from generator
Ib = Ik

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Breaking Current
Calculation in non-meshed Networks
The breaking current IB at a short-circuit location, fed from sources which

are not meshed is the sum of the partial short-circuit currents:

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Breaking current
Decay of Current fed from Generators
IB = Ik
Factor to consider the decay of short circuit current fed from

generators.

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Breaking current
Decay of Current fed from Asynchronous Motors
IB = q Ik
Factor q to consider the decay of short circuit current fed from

asynchronous motors.

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Breaking Current
Calculation in meshed Networks
Simplified calculation:
Ib = Ik
For increased accuracy can be used:

U"Gi U"Mj
Ib I (1 i ) IkGi
" " "
k (1 jq j ) IkMj
i c Un / 3 j c Un / 3
" "
" "
UGi jX "diK IkGi UMj jXMj
"
IkMj
XdiK subtransient reactance of the synchronous machine (i)

XMj reactance of the asynchronous motors (j)
IkGi , IkMj contribution to initial symmetrical short-circuit current from the synchronous machines (i)
and the asynchronous motors (j) as measured at the machine terminals

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Continuous short circuit current
Continuous short circuit current Ik
r.m.s. value of short circuit current after decay of all transient

effects
depending on type and excitation of generators
statement in standard only for single fed short circuit
calculation by factors (similar to breaking current)
Continuous short circuit current is normally not calculated by

network calculation programs.
For short circuits far from generator and as worst case estimation
Ik = Ik

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Short-circuit with preload

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Principle
A Load flow calculation that considers all network parameters,

such as loads, tap positions, etc.
B Place voltage source with the voltage that was determined by

the load flow calculation at the fault location.
C Superposition of A and B

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Example
A Load flow calculation
B Short circuit calculation

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Results
Load flow Superposition: Load flow + feed back

50. A 40. A 40A 10A
153.95A 157.37A 208A 182A
2 50A 40A 3 40A 2 10A 2 203.95A 197.37A 168A 192A
1000V 720V
10A 50A
1000V -0V -0V
720V 1000V 720V
900V 780V 700V 900. V 700V
90 14 ~
-307.89V -364V
~ ~ 592.11V 336V ~
365.37A
Short-circuit: feed back Short-circuit with preload

153.95A 365.3A 182A 203.95A 197.37A 168A 192.0A
157.37A 208.0A 26A

0V 3.42A 1000V 6.58A 24A
0V
720V
592.11V 336V
307.89V 780V 364V ~ ~
365.37A

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Break time!

Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Contact
Steffen Schmidt
Senior Consultant
Siemens AG, Energy Sector
E D SE PTI NC
Freyeslebenstr. 1
91058 Erlangen
Phone: +49 9131 - 7 32764

Fax: +49 9131 - 7 32525
E-mail: steffen.schmidt@siemens.com

E D SEreserved.
PTI NC
Thank you for your attention!

Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights
E D SEreserved.
PTI NC

Short Circuit Calculations

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Short Circuit Calculations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Short Circuit Calculation

Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights reserved.

Page 2 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Dimensioning of switching devices

Page 3 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

European Standard EN 60909

Engineering Recommendation G74 (UK)

ANSI IIEEE Std. C37.5 (US)

Page 4 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

IEC 60909 : Short-circuit currents in three-

Part 0: Calculation of currents

Page 5 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

three-phase a.c. systems

Page 6 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Page 7 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright

Ik Initial symmetrical short-circuit current

Page 9 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

initial symmetrical short-circuit current Ik

initial symmetrical short-circuit power Sk

decaying (aperiodic) component id.c. of short-circuit current

peak short-circuit current ip

Page 11 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Ik Initial symmetrical short-circuit current

Page 12 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

steady-state short-circuit current Ik

symmetrical short-circuit breaking current Ib

Page 13 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Design Criterion Physical Effect Relevant short-circuit current

Breaking capacity of circuit Thermal stress to arcing Symmetrical short-circuit

Page 14 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

-> safe assumptions

Page 15 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Page 16 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Operational data and the passive load of consumers are neglected

real network equivalent circuit

Page 18 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

c is a safety factor to consider the following effects:

Voltage factor c for calculation of

Low voltage 100 V 1000 V

Page 19 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Voltage factor Cmax Cmin

Power plants Maximum contribution Minimum contribution

Network feeders Minimum impedance Maximum impedance

Motors shall be considered shall be neglected

Resistance of lines and cables at 20C at maximum temperature

Page 20 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Page 21 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

Correction factors for

Page 22 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

At a feeder connection point usually one of the following values is given:

Page 23 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

at known conditions of operation

no correction for impedances between star point and ground

Page 24 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

The Correction factor is KT<1.0 for transformers with xT >7.5 %.

Reduction of transformer impedance

Page 25 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

for continuous operation above rated voltage:

turbine generator: X(2) = X(1)

Page 26 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights

power station with on-load tap changer:

power station without on-load tap changers:

Page 27 28.06.2008 Steffen Schmidt Copyright Siemens AG 2008. All rights