Journal of International Council on Electrical Engineering

ISSN: (Print) 2234-8972 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjee20

The Effect on the Voltage Sag of Safety Related Bus

and the Operating Characteristics of Motor due to
Electrical Transients in Nuclear Power Plants

Moon-Young Kim & Bok-Ryul Kim

To cite this article: Moon-Young Kim & Bok-Ryul Kim (2012) The Effect on the Voltage Sag of
Safety Related Bus and the Operating Characteristics of Motor due to Electrical Transients in
Nuclear Power Plants, Journal of International Council on Electrical Engineering, 2:1, 53-58, DOI:
10.5370/JICEE.2012.2.1.053

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.5370/JICEE.2012.2.1.053

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Published online: 10 Sep 2014.

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 Journal of International Council on Electrical Engineering Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 53~58, 2012 53

The Effect on the Voltage Sag of Safety Related Bus and the
Operating Characteristics of Motor due to Electrical Transients in
Nuclear Power Plants

Moon-Young Kim and Bok-Ryul Kim *

Abstract When electric faults take place in onsite power system of nuclear power plants, the voltage of
safety related bus can be affected, as a form of voltage sag, by electrical transients. The safety related
buses in nuclear power plants have a role of power supplying to essential loads for safety shutdown of
reactor. If voltage sag of the safety related bus would be occurred and impact on the operating
characteristics of motor would be existed, the risk of nuclear power plants will be increased. Therefore, it
is important to analyze the effect on voltage sag of safety related bus and operating characteristics of
motor due to electrical transients in nuclear power plants. This study performed that the phenomenon of
voltage sag and the effect on motor operation by various electrical transients are simulated and analyzed.

Keywords: Voltage sag, Electrical transients, Safety related bus

1. Introduction Also, it is necessary to evaluate the effect on the operating

In power systems, there are plenty of variations for
power sources and loads by the conditions of system
operating. Unexpected electrical faults and sudden large
induction motor loadings cause often the transients in
power systems. These electrical transients can give an
impact on the risk of nuclear power plants as well as the
reliability of power systems. Recently, the electrical
transients in nuclear power plants have an increasing trend
in power quality issues that can not supply a good quality or
a stable state for electric power. A voltage quality is one of
the most widespread power quality issues influencing
electric power systems. Especially, a voltage sag is a
principal concern in the cause of the industrial voltage
quality problems. The voltage sag can be severe on
sensitive loads and cause equipment to trip out.
In nuclear power plants, there are safety related buses
with having a role of supplying vital power to safety
features which perform safety functions. When the voltage
characteristics of safety related motor. Therefore, this study
provides an extensive work to analyze the effect on the
phenomenon of voltage sag and the operating characteris-
tics of motor on the safety related bus due to electrical
transients by results of the simulation for onsite power
system model in nuclear power plants.
2. Characteristics of voltage sag
Voltage sag is a decrease in rms voltage at the power
frequency for durations of 0.5 cycle to 1 minute with 0.1 to
0.9 pu. typical values as defined in accordance with IEEE
Std. 100-2000. The main cause of voltage sag can be
divided into two categories, electrical faults related events
and induction motor staring related events.
PCC PCC
E E
Load Load

sag on the safety related bus is occurred by electrical

Z0 Z0 M
transients, the possibility of safety related motor inoperable ZF ZM
and the risk of nuclear power plants will be increased. (a) (b)

Hence, it is important to analyze the impact on the voltage

sag of safety related bus due to various electrical transients. Fig. 1. The voltage divider model for voltage sag.

The voltage sag due to electrical faults can be severe and

Corresponding Author: Dept. of Electricity and Control, Korea
therefore electrical faults are of major concern as they
Institute of Nuclear Safety, Korea (mykim@kins.re.kr)
propagate in the power system. The magnitude of fault
* Dept. of Electricity and Control, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety,
Korea (k060kbr@kins.re.kr)
induced voltage sag at a certain point in the system depends
Received: December 26, 2011; Accepted: December 28, 2011
mainly on the type of the fault, the distance to the fault, and
54 The Effect on the Voltage Sag of Safety Related Bus and the Operating Characteristics of Motor due to Electrical Transients in ~
the system configuration. Fig. 1 (a) shows the voltage divi-
der model, where E is the source voltage, ZO is the source
impedance, ZF is the impedance between the PCC(point of
common coupling) and the fault. The magnitude of voltage
sag at the load position equals to the voltage at the PCC as
follow equation.
ZF
Vsag = E (1)
ZO + Z F
For faults closer to the PCC, the voltage sag becomes
deeper because of smaller ZF. The voltage sag becomes also
deeper for weaker supplies because of larger ZO. The
duration of the voltage sag depends upon the protection
time required to detect and interrupt the electrical faults.
The duration is determined by the fault clearing time. In
addition, the voltage sag can often lead to phase angle
jumps. From the Fig. 1, ZO and ZF are complex quantities
and can be written using the corresponding resistive and
inductive components. Then the equation of phase angle
jump can be expressed as follow.
XF X + XF
= arctan( ) arctan( O ) (2)
RF RO + RF
Starting of large induction motor is one more cause of
voltage sag. During start up an induction motor takes
current five to six times larger than normal current. This
starting current remains high until the motor reaches its
nominal speed. The magnitude of the voltage sag depends
strongly on the system parameters. For the voltage divider
model in Fig. 1 (b), ZM the motor impedance during the
starting. The voltage at PCC can be found from the voltage
divider equation.
ZM
Vsag = E (3)
ZO + Z M
The duration of the voltage sag due to motor starting
depends on a number of motor parameters. The most
important of them is the motor inertia. The duration of the
voltage sag is prolonged if other motor are connected to the
same bus, as they will further keep the voltage down.
3. Effect on nuclear plants by sag
The typical power system of nuclear power plants can
be generally divided into offsite and onsite power system.
The offsite power system having switchyard facility is
connected with the power grid and the onsite power system
includes several buses to serve electric power to their loads.
It is unique to equip safety related buses in onsite power
system of nuclear power plants unlike other thermal power
plants. The safety related buses have a role of supplying
stable and vital power to the essential loads and safety
features, such as instrumentation equipment, control system,
motor driven pumps and valves, so as to perform their
safety functions during design basis accidents in nuclear
power plants. The vital safety functions of the essential
loads and safety features shall be maintained to assure the
nuclear safety in the event of postulated accidents.
However, when electrical transients take place in onsite
power system, the voltage quality of the safety related bus
is affected by the electrical transients. It will come to take
negative effect on the essential loads and safety features
which are directly connected to the safety related bus.
When a voltage sag on the safety related bus is occurred by
electrical transients, the possibility of safety related motor
inoperable as a safety feature has become larger. After all,
the risk of nuclear power plants will be increased. There
was, furthermore, an event case relevant to voltage sag on
safety related bus in domestic nuclear power plants. The
event resulted in reactor trip and actuating safety injection
system. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the effect on
voltage sag of safety related bus and operating
characteristics of safety related motor due to various
electrical transients. The analyzed result and the acquired
information should be used by nuclear system designer to
understand the location of vulnerability in power system of
nuclear plants and to assist the solution in order to mitigate
the degraded voltage quality.
4. System model
The selected nuclear power plant model for case study
is the OPR-1000 model that is the most numerous nuclear
power plant in Korea.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the system model to simulate
case study is simplified considering principal power bus in
onsite power system of nuclear power plant. Onsite power
system consists generally of two unit auxiliary transformers
(UAT), safety related/non-safety buses, and several motor
loads. The parameters for major electric facilities are used
based on Final Safety Analysis Report(FSAR) of Shinkori
nuclear units 1 and 2. This study is not concerned with
direct current related equipment such as batteries, chargers,
and inverters.
 Moon-Young Kim and Bok-Ryul Kim 55

5. Results of case study

SWYD
G
MTr

22kV

UAT 1 UAT 2 In the results of case study, the phenomenon and impact
13.8kV
on voltage sag of safety related bus and operating
4.16kV parameters of motor are analyzed due to electrical faults
M
Starting Fault
and motor starting.
480V

Train A Train B
5.1 Electrical fault
Monitor (voltage, motor)

Fig. 3 shows the voltage waveform and rms voltage

Fig. 2. The power system model for case study.
magnitude of the monitor bus when electrical faults occur at
the safety related bus of train B.
The onsite power system in nuclear power plant includes
As long as a sequential fault is sustained from single
the safety related buses of two trains, that is, Train A and
line ground fault to double line ground fault and three phase
Train B(marked dash lines in Fig. 2), which is to supply
fault, the voltage waveform of the safety related monitor
power to safety features performing the same safety
bus is varied with corresponding to fault types. When a
functions as a nuclear design concept for redundancy and
single line to ground fault occurs on phase A at 1 second,
independence. The simulation of this study is focus on
the fault causes the voltage sag on phase A and leads to the
480V safety related bus and motor supplied power from the
phase angle jump of phase A waveform. After the single
bus. The voltage and motor parameters for 480V safety
line to ground fault, at 1.1 second, it is assumed to be
related bus of train A will be monitored. To simulate the
occurred a double line to ground fault on phase A and B due
effect on voltage sag of safety related bus and operating
to gradual propagation of fault. The double line to ground
characteristics of motor connected to the bus due to
fault causes the voltage sag on phase A and B, but phase C
electrical faults, we assumed that the electrical faults would
remains healthy. And then, three phase fault taking place at
occur on the safety related bus of train B. The fault types
1.2 second leads to balanced voltage sag on all phases.
are composed of a single line ground fault, a double line
Finally, the voltage waveform recovers fast shortly after
ground fault, and a balanced three phase fault. In this study,
fault clearing at 1.3 second.
a multi-component fault type has been considered in order
The rms magnitude of voltage sag due to the fault has
to simulate the gradual progress of various fault types on
the characteristics of rectangular shape because of fast
the faulted bus. When it comes to motor starting, we
voltage drop and recovery during the fault duration. There
assumed that a large motor starting would occur at non-
is a slight overvoltage on phase B in spite of the voltage sag
safety bus of train A. The large induction motor used in the
on phase A with a small decreasing voltage on phase C
motor starting simulation has rated voltage 4.16kV and
during the fault initiation. This means that a sustained
rated power 600hp at a power factor of 0.906. The
voltage swell appears on the healthy phase which is
simulation of system model is developed and implemented
affected by the faulty phase. The voltage magnitude has
using ElectroMagnetic Transients Program(EMTP).
presented three different stages of magnitude as it starts a

Fig. 3. The voltage waveform and rms voltage magnitude of monitor bus due to electrical faults.
56 The Effect on the Voltage Sag of Safety Related Bus and the Operating Characteristics of Motor due to Electrical Transients in ~

Fig. 4. The variation of monitoring motor operating parameters due to electrical faults.

single line ground fault, becomes a double line ground fault
and finally a three phase fault.
From the Fig. 3 of the voltage waveform and rms
voltage magnitude, we can find that the multi-stage voltage
sag on the safety related bus is distinctly induced by various
fault types of another train bus in nuclear power plants.
Fig. 4 illustrates the variation of the monitoring motor
operating parameters such as torque, speed, slip, and stator
current when electrical faults occur at the safety related bus
of train B.
The torque of motor connecting with the safety related
monitor bus and performing safety function significantly
fluctuates in the middle of the fault duration while the
torque is constant during without fault. Since the fault type
of a single line ground fault and a double line ground fault
is an unbalanced electrical fault from 1.0 to 1.2 second, the
motor torque has experienced a severe instable state. Since
the fault type of a three phase fault is a balanced fault after
1.2 second, the range of torque variation is somewhat
decreased and motor torque is likely to reach the steady
state. When fault clearing at 1.3 second, a circuit breaker
switching to remove the fault causes the unexpected
transient of the motor torque. As for mechanical the speed
and slip of motor, there are no great variations entirely due
to their inertia. Although slip of motor is slightly increased
after transient state, it can not afford to affect the operating
parameters of the motor.
The stator currents as an input power source of motor

Fig. 5. The voltage waveform and rms voltage magnitude of monitor bus due to motor.
 Moon-Young Kim and Bok-Ryul Kim
Fig. 6. The variation of monitoring motor operating parameters due to motor starting.
widely oscillate during the fault duration, which is similar
to the feature of torque variation. From the fault initiation to
1.2 second, the phase imbalance of stator currents
remarkably appears because of the unbalanced fault such as
a single line ground fault and a double line ground fault.
Shortly after 1.2 second, the stator currents of motor are
willing to approach the balanced stable condition because
of the balanced three phase fault. The stator currents of
motor momently go through transient condition due to the
switching of circuit breaker when fault clearing at 1.3
second.
From the Fig. 4 for main operating parameters of the
safety related motor, we can find that the torque and stator
currents of the motor can be greatly affected by the
electrical fault of various types on another train bus in
nuclear power plants.
5.2 Motor starting
The voltage waveform and rms voltage magnitude of
monitor bus are shown in Fig. 5 when a large induction
motor starting occurs at non-safety bus of train A.
The voltage waveform of the safety related monitor bus
in case of the motor starting is quite different from that in
case of taking place electrical faults. In the initiation of the
motor starting, at 1 second, the voltage waveform of the
monitor bus is momently dropped and then, gradually
recovered. This practically means that the starting of large
induction motor is to cause a voltage sag. The rms voltage
57
profile due to the motor starting has the characteristics of
non-rectangular shape because of fast voltage drop and
gradual voltage recovery during the motor starting duration.
This voltage sag is also symmetrical. The all three phases of
bus voltage drop at the same time and then, recover
gradually in a similar way because the starting current of
motor is the same for all three phases.
From the Fig. 5 of the voltage waveform and rms
voltage magnitude, we can find that the large motor staring
on non-safety bus can lead to the voltage sag on the safety
related bus in nuclear power plants. The voltage sag due to
the induction motor starting is symmetrical as well as non-
rectangular.
The variations of operating parameters for the motor
connecting with the safety related monitor bus are depicted
in Fig. 6 when a large motor starting occurs at non-safety
bus of train A.
The torque of motor has a constant torque value as a
normal operating condition before motor starting. When the
starting of the large induction motor happens at 1 second,
the motor torque has shortly experienced a transient state,
which is approximately 2 cycles. The torque maintains a
steady state condition as soon as the motor starting causes
the prompt transient of motor torque. As compared with
electrical faults case, there is not any significant fluctuation
of motor torque. Viewing from the trend of torque variation,
this result is similar to the simulation result of balanced
three phase fault rather than that of unbalanced faults
because the motor starting presents the same behavior for
58 The Effect on the Voltage Sag of Safety Related Bus and the Operating Characteristics of Motor due to Electrical Transients in ~
all three phases.
With regard to the speed and slip of motor on the
monitor bus, they are constant without any variations
during the motor starting. This is also visible for previous
simulation result of electrical faults case.
The stator currents of motor on the monitor bus have a
stable waveform before the motor starting on the non-safety
bus. But the stator currents momently go through a transient
state at 1 second, which is very similar to the torque of
motor. Shortly after the transient state, all three phases of
the stator currents recover a steady state.
On the other hand, we speculate that the reason for the
small oscillation of torque and stator currents at 2.1 second
appeared in Fig. 6 is to happen an unintentional situation in
the process of simulation. From the Fig. 6 for main opera-
ting parameters of the safety related motor, we can find that
the torque and stator currents of the motor can be plainly
affected by the large induction motor starting at non-safety
bus in nuclear power plants.
5. Conclusion
This paper has conducted the analysis for the effect on
voltage sag of the safety related monitor bus and operating
characteristics of the motor connecting with the monitor
bus due to electrical faults and motor starting in nuclear
power plants.
This study could verify that the multi-stage voltage sag
on the safety related bus is caused by various fault types of
another train bus in onsite power system and the profile of
the rms voltage has the characteristics of rectangular shape.
During the fault duration, the torque and stator currents of
the motor have experienced significant transient conditions
as the unbalanced or likely balanced form according to the
fault types despite without any variations in the speed and
slip of the motor. In terms of motor starting, the large
induction motor starting on non-safety bus could lead to the
voltage sag on the safety related monitor bus. The profile of
voltage sag due to the motor starting was symmetrical as
well as non-rectangular. In addition, the torque and stator
currents of the safety related motor could be definitely
affected by the motor starting. These analyzed results can
be used by nuclear system designer to understand the
vulnerability of onsite power system due to electrical
transients in nuclear power plants.
References
[1] IEEE Standard 1159-1995(R2001), IEEE Recom-
mended Practice for Monitoring Electric Power
Quality, Aug. 2001.
[2] IEEE Standard 141-1993, IEEE Recommended
Practice for Electric Power Distribution for Industrial
Plants, Dec. 1993.
[3] IEEE Standard 100-2000, The Authoritative Dictionary
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[4] M. Y. Kim, The Analysis for the Effect on Voltage
Quality of Safety Related Bus in Multi-Nuclear Power
Plants, IEEE Transmission and Distribution
International Conference, 2009.
[5] M. Y. Kim, The Analysis on the Effect for Bus Voltage
of Onsite Power System by Electrical Transients in
Korean Nuclear Power Plants, The International
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[8] Math H. J. Bollen, The Influence of Motor
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Moon-Young Kim received his Ph.D.
degrees in Electrical Engineering from
Kyungpook National University of
Korea. His research interests are power
quality, power system operation and
control, especially related to power
systems in nuclear power plants.
Bok-Ryul Kim received his B.S.
degrees in Electrical Engineering from
Inha University of Korea. His research
interests are power quality, power
system operation and control, especially
related to power systems in nuclear
power plants.