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Contents
1 Introduction
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2 Calculation Methodology
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2.1 Step 1: Construct the System Model and Collect Equipment Parameters 2.2 Step 2: Calculate Equipment Short Circuit Impedances
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2.2.1 Network Feeders 2.2.2 Synchronous Generators and Motors 2.2.3 Transformers 2.2.4 Cables 2.2.5 Asynchronous Motors 2.2.6 Fault Limiting Reactors 2.2.7 Static Converters 2.2.8 Other Equipment
2.3 Step 3: Referring Impedances 2.4 Step 4: Determine Thvenin Equivalent Circuit at the Fault Location 2.5 Step 5: Calculate Balanced Three-Phase Short Circuit Currents
2.5.1 Initial Short Circuit Current 2.5.2 Peak Short Circuit Current 2.5.3 Symmetrical Breaking Current 2.5.4 DC Short Circuit Component
3 Worked Example
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3.1 Step 1: Construct the System Model and Collect Equipment Parameters 3.2 Step 2: Calculate Equipment Short Circuit Impedances 3.3 Step 3: Referring Impedances 3.4 Step 4: Determine Thvenin Equivalent Circuit at the Fault Location 3.5 Step 5: Calculate Balanced Three-Phase Short Circuit Currents
Introduction
This article looks at the calculation of short circuit currents for bolted three-phase and single-phase to earth faults in a power system. A short circuit in a power system can cause very high currents to flow to the fault location. The magnitude of the short circuit current depends on the impedance of system under short circuit conditions. In this calculation, the short circuit current is estimated using the guidelines presented in IEC 60909.
To specify fault ratings for electrical equipment (e.g. short circuit withstand ratings) To help identify potential problems and weaknesses in the system and assist in system planning
Key single line diagrams Major electrical equipment sized (e.g. generators, transformers, etc) Electrical load schedule Cable sizing (not absolutely necessary, but would be useful)
Calculation Methodology
This calculation is based on IEC 60909-0 (2001, c2002), "Short-circuit currents in threephase a.c. systems - Part 0: Calculation of currents" and uses the impedance method (as opposed to the per-unit method). In this method, it is assumed that all short circuits are of negligible impedance (i.e. no arc impedance is allowed for). There are six general steps in the calculation:
Step 1: Construct the system model and collect the relevant equipment parameters Step 2: Calculate the short circuit impedances for all of the relevant equipment Step 3: Refer all impedances to the reference voltage Step 4: Determine the Thvenin equivalent circuit at the fault location Step 5: Calculate balanced three-phase short circuit currents Step 6: Calculate single-phase to earth short circuit currents
Network feeders: fault capacity of the network (VA), X/R ratio of the network Synchronous generators and motors: per-unit sub-transient reactance, rated generator capacity (VA), rated power factor (pu)
Transformers: transformer impedance voltage (%), rated transformer capacity (VA), rated current (A), total copper loss (W)
Asynchronous motors: full load current (A), locked rotor current (A), rated power (W), full load power factor (pu), starting power factor (pu)
Fault limiting reactors: reactor impedance voltage (%), rated current (A)
Network Feeders
Given the approximate fault level of the network feeder at the connection point (or point of common coupling), the impedance, resistance and reactance of the network feeder is calculated as follows:
Where
is resistance of the network feeder () is reactance of the network feeder () is the nominal voltage at the connection point (Vac)
is the fault level of the network feeder (VA) is a voltage factor which accounts for the maximum system voltage (1.05 for voltages <1kV, 1.1 for voltages >1kV)
Where
is the sub-transient reactance of the generator () is the resistance of the generator () is a voltage correction factor - see IEC 60909-0 Clause 3.6.1 for more details (pu) is the per-unit sub-transient reactance of the generator (pu) is the nominal generator voltage (Vac) is the nominal system voltage (Vac) is the rated generator capacity (VA)
is the X/R ratio, typically 20 for for all generators with nominal voltage
is a voltage factor which accounts for the maximum system voltage (1.05 for voltages <1kV, 1.1 for voltages >1kV) is the power factor of the generator (pu) For the negative sequence impedance, the quadrature axis sub-transient reactance applied in the above equation in place of the direct axis sub-transient reactance . can be
The zero-sequence impedances need to be derived from manufacturer data; though the voltage correction factor 3.6.1). also applies for solid neutral earthing systems (refer to IEC 60909-0 Clause
Transformers
The positive sequence impedance, resistance and reactance of two-winding distribution transformers can be calculated as follows:
Where
is the resistance of the transformer () is the reactance of the transformer () is the impedance voltage of the transformer (pu) is the rated capacity of the transformer (VA) is the nominal voltage of the transformer at the high or low voltage side (Vac) is the rated current of the transformer at the high or low voltage side (I) is the total copper loss in the transformer windings (W) For the calculation of impedances for three-winding transformers, refer to IEC 60909-0 Clause 3.3.2. For network transformers (those that connect two separate networks at different voltages), an impedance correction factor must be applied (see IEC 60909-0 Clause 3.3.3). The negative sequence impedance is equal to positive sequence impedance calculated above. The zero sequence impedance needs to be derived from manufacturer data, but also depends on the winding connections and fault path available for zero-sequence current flow (e.g. different neutral earthing systems will affect zero-sequence impedance).
Cables
Cable impedances are usually quoted by manufacturers in terms of Ohms per km. These need to be converted to Ohms based on the length of the cables:
Where
is the reactance of the cable {) is the quoted resistance of the cable { / km) is the quoted reactance of the cable { / km) is the length of the cable {m)
The negative sequence impedance is equal to positive sequence impedance calculated above. The zero sequence impedance needs to be derived from manufacturer data. In the absence of manufacturer data, zero sequence impedances can be derived from positive sequence impedances via a multiplication factor (as suggested by SKM Systems Analysis Inc) for magnetic cables:
Asynchronous Motors
An asynchronous motor's impedance, resistance and reactance is calculated as follows:
Where
is impedance of the motor () is resistance of the motor () is reactance of the motor () is ratio of the locked rotor to full load current is the motor locked rotor current (A) is the motor nominal voltage (Vac) is the motor rated power (W) is the motor full load power factor (pu) is the motor starting power factor (pu)
The negative sequence impedance is equal to positive sequence impedance calculated above. The zero sequence impedance needs to be derived from manufacturer data.
Where
is impedance of the reactor () is reactance of the reactor() is the impedance voltage of the reactor (pu) is the nominal voltage of the reactor (Vac) is the rated current of the reactor (A)
Positive, negative and zero sequence impedances are all equal (assuming geometric symmetry).
Static Converters
Static converters and converter-fed drivers (i.e. feeding rotating loads) should be considered for balanced three-phase short circuits. Per IEC 60909-0 Clause 3.9, static converters contribute to the initial and peak short circuit currents only, and contribute 3 times the rated current of the converter. An R/X ratio of 0.1 should be used for the short circuit impedance.
Other Equipment
Line capacitances, parallel admittances and non-rotating loads are generally neglected as per IEC 60909-0 Clause 3.10. Effects from series capacitors can also be neglected if voltage-limiting devices are connected in parallel.
Where
is the transformer winding ratio is the transformer nominal secondary voltage at the principal tap (Vac) is the transformer nominal primary voltage (Vac)
is the specified tap setting (%) Using the winding ratio, impedances (as well as resistances and reactances) can be referred to the primary (HV) side of the transformer by the following relation:
Where
is the impedance at the secondary (LV) side () is the transformer winding ratio (pu) Conversely, by re-arranging the equation above, impedances can be referred to the LV side:
This can be done using the standard formulae for series and parallel impedances, keeping in mind that the rules of complex arithmetic must be used throughout. If unbalanced short circuits (e.g. single phase to earth fault) will be analyzed, then a separate Thvenin equivalent circuit should be constructed for each of the positive, negative and zero sequence networks (i.e. finding ( , and ).
Where
is the initial symmetrical short circuit current (A) is the voltage factor that accounts for the maximum system voltage (1.05 for voltages <1kV, 1.1 for voltages >1kV) is the nominal system voltage at the fault location (V) is the equivalent positive sequence short circuit impedance ()
Where
is the peak short circuit current (A) is the initial symmetrical short circuit current (A) is a constant factor,
Where
is the symmetrical breaking current (A) is the initial symmetrical short circuit current (A)
For close to generator faults, the symmetrical breaking current will be higher. More detailed calculations can be made for increased accuracy in IEC 60909, but this is left to the reader to explore.
Where
is the dc component of the short circuit current (A) is the initial symmetrical short circuit current (A) is the nominal system frequency (Hz) is the time (s) is the X/R ratio - see more below
Where and are the reactance and resistance, respectively, of the equivalent source impedance at the fault location ()
is a factor to account for the equivalent frequency of the fault. Per IEC 60909-0 Section 4.4, the following factors should be used based on the product of frequency and time ( ):
Where
is the voltage factor that accounts for the maximum system voltage (1.05 for voltages <1kV, 1.1 for voltages >1kV) is the nominal voltage at the fault location (Vac) is the equivalent positive sequence short circuit impedance () is the equivalent negative sequence short circuit impedance () is the equivalent zero sequence short circuit impedance ()
Worked Example
In this example, short circuit currents will be calculated for a balanced three-phase fault at the main 11kV bus of a simple radial system. Note that the single phase to earth fault currents will not be calculated in this example.
Generator G1
= 24,150 kVA
Generator Cable C1
Motor M1
= 0.85 pu = 0.30 pu
Motor Cable C2
Transformer TX1
Transformer Cable C3
Motor M2
= 90 kW = 415 V = 1,217.3 A = 7 pu
Motor M3
= 0.85 pu = 0.30 pu
Equipment Generator G1 Generator Cable C1 11kV Motor M1 Motor Cable C2 Transformer TX1 (Primary Side) Transformer Cable C3 415V Motor M2 415V Motor M3
The 415V motor impedances referred to the 11kV side is therefore: Equipment 415V Motor M2 415V Motor M3 Resistance () 46.0952 31.6462 Reactance () 146.5735 100.6284
kA
kA