POWER SYSTEMS LECTURE SERIES

PART V. SYMMETRICAL FAULTS

Prepared by:
Michael C. Pacis Ph.D.
BSEE (Mapua University)
MEng’g-EE (Mapua University)
PhD-EEE (University of the Philippines-Diliman)

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 SYMMETRICAL FAULTS IN 3 PHASE
POWER SYSTEMS
Fault – is any failure that interferes with the normal flow of current
to the loads.

Flashover - a condition which the voltage difference between the

phase and the ground is large enough to ionize the air around the
insulators, creating a current path from the phase to the structure
of the tower, which is grounded.

Symmetrical Fault- these are faults on the power system which

gives rise to symmetrical currents.

- symmetrical fault occurs when all the three conductors of a three

phase line are brought together simultaneously in to a short circuit
condition.

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 SYMMETRICAL FAULTS IN 3 PHASE
POWER SYSTEMS
Symmetrical Currents- these are equal fault currents in the line
with 120° displacement.

- fault currents are also called symmetrical currents

Consider:
Va

Vb
b

Vc
c
Balanced wye
three phase
Ifa R R R
source
Ifb Ifc

Short circuited

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 LIMITATION OF THE FAULT CURRENT
- short circuit currents are limited by the impedance of the system up to
the point of the fault.
- reactance is greatly considered, since the error will not exceed by 5%

pt.F
G
LOAD

T1

- here, the short circuit current from the generating station will have a
value limited by the impedance of the generator and transformer and
the impedance of the line between the generator and the point of the
fault.

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 PERCENTAGE REACTANCES
- the reactance's of generators, transformers and reactors etc.
is usually expressed in percentage reactance to permit short
circuit calculations.
- it is the percentage of the total phase voltage dropped in the
circuit when full load current is flowing.

%X = IFL X / V x 100%

in terms of KVA and KV

%X = (KVA) X / 10 (KV)2
where:
IFL – full load current (base current)
V – phase voltage
X – reactance in ohms per phase
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 SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT
- if X is the only reactance in the circuit, then short circuit
current can be solved by:

Isc = V / X if X = (%X) V / 100 IFL

thus

Isc = IFL ( 100 / %X)

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 CHANGE OF BASE
- same with the change of base in per unit analysis but:

% Xnew = % Xgiven x ( Snew / Sgiven)

where: Zbase = Rbase = Xbase

here: ( Vgiven / V new)2 = 1

where:
X base = X new = reactance value in it’s new base
Snew = Sbase = base value of the apparent power
X old = X given = given reactance value
Sold = Sgiven = given apparent power

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 SHORT CIRCUIT KVA (KVAsc)
- This is the product of the normal system voltage and short
circuit current @ the point of the fault expressed in KVA.
Let: Vb = nominal phase voltage in volts
IFL = full load current in amperes @ base KVA
%X = % reactance of the system on base KVA up
to the fault point.

KVASC = 3 Vbase Isc / 1000 but Isc = IFL ( 100 / %X)

thus

KVASC = KVA base (100 / %X )

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REACTOR CONTROL ON SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENTS

REACTOR- is a coil of number of turns designed to have a

large inductance as compared to it’s ohmic resistance.
- they are connected in series with the system at suitable points
to help the circuit breakers to limit the Isc.

ADVANTAGES
a. reactors limits the flow of short circuit current and thus
protect the equipment from overheating as well as from failure
due to the destructive mechanical forces.
b. troubles are localized or isolated at the pt. where they
originate w/out communicating their disturbing effects to the
other parts of the power system.
c. they permit the installation of circuit breakers of lower rating.
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 LOCATION OF REACTORS
1. in series with each generator
2. in series with each feeder
3. in busbars

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 TYPES OF REACTORS
1. Generator Reactors – when the reactors are connected in series with
each generator, they are known as generator reactors.
- the reactor may be considered as a part of leakage reactance of the
generator.
- its effect is to protect the generator in the case of any short circuit beyond
the reactors.

Generators

Reactors

Feeder 1 Feeder 2

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 TYPES OF REACTORS
DISADVANTAGES of Generator Reactors
1. there is always a constant voltage drop and power loss in
the reactors during normal operation.
2. If a busbar or feeder fault occurs close to the busbar, the
voltages at the busbar will be reduced to a low value, thereby
causing the generators to fall out of step.
3. If a fault occurs on any feeder, the continuity of supply to
other is likely to be affected.

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 TYPES OF REACTORS
2. Feeder Reactor- the reactors are connected in series with
each feeder.

Generators

Reactors

Feeder 1 Feeder 2

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 TYPES OF REACTORS
ADVANTAGES of Feeder Reactors
1. If a fault occurs on any feeder, the voltage drop in it’s
reactors will not affect the busbar voltage, thus there is a little
tendency for the generator to lose synchronism.
2. The fault on the other feeder will not affect the other
feeders and consequently the effects of faults are localized.

DISADVANTAGES of Feeder Reactors

1. there is a constant power loss and voltage drop in the
reactors even during normal operations.
2. If a short circuit occurs at the busbars, no protection is
provided on the generators.
3. If the number of generators were increased, the sizes of
the feeder reactors will have to be increased to keep the short
ckt. Currents w/in the ratings of the feeder circuit breakers.
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 TYPES OF REACTORS
3. Busbar Reactors- the reactors are located in the busbars.
A. Ring System
Generators

Reactors

Feeder 1 Feeder 2 Feeder 3

ADVANTAGES
1. Under normal operating conditions, each generator will supply it’s own section of
the load and very little power will be fed by other generators.
2. Low power loss and voltage drop in the reactors.
3. If a fault occurs on any feeder, only one generator mainly feeds the fault while the
current fed from other generators is small due to the presence of the feeders.

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 TYPES OF REACTORS
B. Tie Bar System
Generators

Busbars

Reactors

Tie Bar

Transformers

ADVANTAGES
a. there are effectively two reactors in series between sections so that the
reactors must have approximately half the reactance of those used in a
comparable ring system.
b. additional generators may be connected to the system w/out requiring
changes in the existing reactors.
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 STEPS IN SOLVING SHORT CIRCUIT
PROBLEMS
1. Draw a single line diagram of the complete network indicating the rating,
voltage and the % reactance of each element of the network.
2. Choose a numerically convenient value of base KVA and convert all
percentage reactance’s in this base values.
3. Corresponding to the single line diagram of the network, draw the
reactance diagram, showing one phase of the system and the neutral.
Indicate the % reactance on the base KVA in the reactance diagram. The
transformer in the system should be represented by a reactance in series.
4. Find the total % reactance of the network up to the point of the fault.
5. Find the full load current corresponding to the selected base KVA and the
normal system voltage at the fault. Let it be IFL.
6. Then various short circuit calculations are:

KVASC = KVAFL * (100 / %X)

ISC = IFL * ( 100 / X% )

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 Subtransient, Transient and Steady State
Reactances

Subtransient reactance(xd”)- use to determine the max. fault current

Transient reactance (xd’)- use to compute for the critical angle or time
Steady state reactance (xd)- use to compute for steady state parameters after all
the transients have died down completely.
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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Prob 1. Based from the single line diagram of a three phase system. The
percentage reactance of each alternator is based on it’s own capacity. Find
the short circuit current that will flow into a complete three phase short
circuit at F.
Gen B
Gen A
20MVA
15MVA
50% X
30% X

Busbar voltage = 12 KV
Pt. F

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MICHAEL C. PACIS, PH.D. UNIVERSITY
 SOLUTION
Using 6PA

1. SLD is already GIVEN

2. Choose 35,000 KVA as Sbase

3. Using the change of base formula to convert %X to per unit values

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MICHAEL C. PACIS, PH.D. UNIVERSITY
 SOLUTION

4. Draw the REACTANCE DIAGRAM and NEUTRALIZE ALL SOURCES

NEUTRAL

XA = 0.7 XB = 0.875

Pt. F

Now, compute for XTH (Thevenin’s Reactance up to the fault point),

clearly the reactances are connected in parallel, 0.7 in parallel with 0.875
will give us 0.3889 per unit.

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MICHAEL C. PACIS, PH.D. UNIVERSITY
 SOLUTION
5. Solve for the Ibase

Ipu = 1 / XTHpu = 2.5813

6. Solve for the Short Circuit Calculations

Isc = Ibase * Ipu = 1684 * 2.5813 = 4330 A

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MICHAEL C. PACIS, PH.D. UNIVERSITY
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Alternative Method: Using Short Circuit Component Method

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

2. A 3 phase, wye connected synchronous generator and a 3 phase, wye

connected synchronous motor each rated 30 MVA, 13.2 KV with Xd’’=0.2 pu are
connected by a line having a reactance of 0.1 pu based on the generator
ratings. The motor is drawing 20 MW at 0.8 pf leading and terminal voltage of
12.8 KV when a three phase fault occurs on the motor terminals. Find the
subtransient per unit fault current in the generator.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Solution:

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Solution:

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Solution:

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 Feeder Loads and Motor Loads

FEEDER LOADS are considered balanced and did not have any
contribution to fault current, thus, these elements is NOT included in the
REACTANCE DIAGRAM. However, in the case of MOTOR LOADS,
since it produces back emf, it can contribute to the fault current and
therefore, these loads MUST BE included in the REACTANCE
DIAGRAM.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

3. A 3 phase transmission line operating @ 10 KV and having a resistance of 1

ohm and reactance of 4 ohms is connected to the generating station bus bars
through 5 MVA step-up transformer having a reactance of 5%. The bus bars are
supplied by a 10 MVA alternator having a 10% reactance. Calculate the short
circuit KVA fed to the symmetrical fault between phases if it occurs on
a. @ the load end of the transmission line.
b. @ the high voltage terminals of the transformer.

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 SOLUTION

Using 6PA

1. SLD of the problem is:

2. Use Sbase = 10000 KVA

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 SOLUTION
3. Conversion to per unit of system impedances, Use change of base
formula or SOD’s.

SINCE the LINE Impedance is given in OHMS, Here, use SOD 2.

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 SOLUTION
Hence,

4. Draw the REACTANCE DIAGRAM

The reactance diagram of the network on the selected
base kVA is shown. For a fault at the end of a
transmission line (point F2),

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 SOLUTION
For a fault at the high voltage terminals of the transformer (point F1),
Total % reactance from generator neutral upto fault point F1

5. Solve for Ibase and Ipu.

Ibase(NOT APPLICABLE)

Ipu2 = 1/0.6083 = 1.6439 Ipu2 = 1/0.2 = 5

6. Solve for the Short Circuit Calculations

KVAsc@F2 = KVAb * Ipu2 = 10000 * 1.6439 = 16439

KVAsc@F1 = KVAb * Ipu1 = 10000 * 5 = 50000

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

4. The section of bus bar A and B are limited by a bus bar reactor rated @ 5000
KVA with 10 % reactance. On bus bar A, there are two generators each of
10000 KVA with 10% reactance and on B two generators each of 8000 KVA
with 12% reactance. A feeder load of 5 KW with a lagging power factor of 0.7
is placed at section B. If the busbar voltage is 10KV and the fault occurs at
this load, find the steady MVA fed into a dead short circuit be and its
corresponding short circuit current.

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 SOLUTION
G1 and G2 G3 and G4
10 MVA 8MVA

Using 6PA 10% X 12% X

1 2 3 4

1. SLD of the problem is:

10KV
Reactor
5MVA Pt. F
10% X

Feeder Load
5KW, pf=0.7 lagging

2. Use Sbase = 69MVA

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 SOLUTION
3. Conversion to per unit of system impedances, Use change of base
formula or SOD’s.

Xg1 = Xg2 = 0.1 x (69 / 10) = 0.69

Xg3 = Xg4 = 0.12 x (69/8) = 1.035

XR = 0.1 x (69 /5) = 1.38

Feeder Load, not included in the computation since Loads does not
contribute to the fault current.

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 SOLUTION
4. Draw the REACTANCE DIAGRAM

NEUTRAL

j0.69 j0.69
j1.035 j1.035

j1.38 Pt. F

XTH@F = (j0.69 // j0.69 + 1.38) // (j1.035 // j1.035)

XTH@F = j0.3981

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 SOLUTION
5. Solve for Ibase and Ipu.

Ibase = 69M / 1.732 x 10K = 3983.8337A

Ipu = 1/0.3981 = 2.512

6. Solve for the Short Circuit Calculations

MVAsc@F = MVAb * Ipu = 69 * 2.512 = 173.3333

Iscsc@F = Ibase * Ipu = 3983.8337 * 2.512 = 10007.3903 A

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
5. Based from the figure below, by choosing 20 MVA and 6.24 KV as bases calculate:
a. fault current @ the primary and secondary if a 3 phase fault occurs at F.
b. short circuit MVA at pt. F.
c. series reactor in ohms to limit the MVA short circuit at the secondary breaker to 100 MVA.

MVASC = 950

34.5 KV (infinite bus)

20 MVA
34.5 / 6.24KV
8% X

pt. F

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
6. A generating station is laid out as shown in the figure. The ratings and percentage reactance of different
elements are indicated. If a 3 phase short circuit occurs on any of the feeder near the transformer. Find the
short ckt. Current and rupturing capacity in MVA on both primary and the secondary sides. (PS2, Prob 2)

Gen A Gen B Gen C

10MVA 10MVA 10MVA
30% X 30% X 30% X

10MVA
10% X

10MVA 10MVA
10% X 10% X

F1
5MVA
5MVA 5MVA
5% X
5% X 5% X
4.16/ 13.8 KV
4.16/ 13.8 KV 4.16/ 13.8 KV
F2

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SELECTION OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Interrupting Capacity – The current in which the circuit breaker must be
able to interrupt at the time contacts apart.

KAIC = Factor x Isc

For Circuit Breaker above 600 V

Factors: 1.0---------------8 cycle duty
1.1---------------5 cycle duty
1.3---------------3 cycle duty
1.2---------------2 cycle duty
1.4---------------15 cycle duty

For CB below 600 V

Interrupting capacity = 1.0 Isc

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 SELECTION OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Momentary Current Rating – the current which a breaker carry
immediately after the fault occurs.

MCR = factor x Isc

For Circuit Breaker above 600 V

Factors: 1.6----------for HV above 5 kV
1.5----------directly feed from generator
(remote from the station)(600 to 5001 V)

For CB below 600 V

MCR = 1.25 Isc

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SELECTION OF LOW/HIGH VOLTAGE FUSES

Three Phase KVA Interrupting Duty ( KVAID )

KVAID = KVAsc (For Current Limiting Fuses above 600 V)

Kilo Ampere Interrupting Capacity or Duty (KAIC)

KAIC = Factor x Isc

For Current Limiting Fuses above 600V

Factor: 1.6 ------------------ anywhere in the system

For Low voltage Fuses below 600V

Factor: 1.25 ---------------- anywhere in the system

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM
7. A simple power system is shown in the figure with a three fault occurred at point F.
Calculate the following ratings of the required protective devices to limit the fault.
Assuming an MVA base is 75 and KV base of 69 for transformer 1. (PS 2, Prob 3)
a. KAIC and MCR ratings of the circuit breakers, assuming a 5 cycle duty.
b. the required fuse ratings

F XL = 10 ohms

T1
transformer T2
60 MVA ratings T1 and T2
%X= 20 75 MVA
13.8 KV 13.8 KV / 69 KV Infinite Bus
%X = 8 MVAsc = 950

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 Problem Set 2 (1st Qtr AY 2016-17)
1. A generating station is laid out as shown in the figure. The ratings and percentage reactance of different
elements are indicated. If a 3 phase short circuit occurs on any of the feeder near the transformer. Find the
short ckt. current on both primary and the secondary sides.

Gen A Gen B Gen C

10MVA 10MVA 10MVA
30% X 30% X 30% X

10MVA
10% X

10MVA 10MVA
10% X 10% X

F1
5MVA
5MVA 5MVA
5% X
5% X 5% X
4.16/ 13.8 KV
4.16/ 13.8 KV 4.16/ 13.8 KV
F2

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 Problem Set 2 (1st Qtr AY 2016-17)

2. Three equal impedances ( 8+j6 ) ohms are connected in wye across a 3θ, 3wire
supply. The symmetrical components of the phase A line voltages are:
Va0 = 0 V
Va1 = 220 + j 28.9 V
Va2 = -40 – j 28.9 V
Determine:
a.) If there is no connection between the load neutral and the supply neutral,
Calculate the symmetrical currents of line a, b and c.
b.) Solve for the symmetrical components of these line currents.
c.) Solve for the total apparent power using unbalanced polyphase theory. Verify
your answer using the theory of symmetrical components.

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