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Choong-koo Chang*
Abstract
Because of partial losses of power known as open-phase faults, controlled reactor shutdown has
occurred in nuclear power plants around world. Depending on transformer wiring and loading, such
conditions can be difficult to detect, because phase voltage measurements can appear to be normal.
Many of the identified events went undetected for several weeks. These findings were sufficient for
staff to conclude that an open phase condition is a credible event having safety significance and must
be considered in the electric power system design for nuclear power plants. This paper elaborates the
processes and results of the open-phase fault studies on the standard nuclear power plants in Korea.
The ETAP unbalanced load flow module is used for the system analysis. The analysis described in
this paper has been performed to determine the response of unit auxiliary transformers and standby
auxiliary transformers during open-phase conditions to aid in the development of system protection
schemes designed to detect such conditions.
Key WordsOpen Phase Fault, Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Auxiliary Power System,
Unit Auxiliary Transformer (UAT), Standby Auxiliary Transformer (SAT)
42
Copyright 2017 KIIEE All right's reserved
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/3.0/)which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Choong-koo Chang
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ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
the operator opened the incoming circuit breaker of open fault occurs in the primary winding, the phase
the ESF bus to activate the EDG starting sequence. voltage is maintained as it was before the fault. The
This was a situation that would have been likely to reason is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 [6].
lead to a serious accident, but further incidents were
fortunately prevented from spreading through the
action of the operators [5].
The undervoltage relay installed on the fault relay installed on the neutral line can detect the
transformers belonging to Group I can detect the fault. But, if the open phase line is non grounded or
fault when an open phase fault has occurred. grounded with high impedance then the ground fault
The reverse phase overcurrent relay for the current is very small and the relay cannot detect it.
electric motors connected to the bus can also This latter issue is the focus of this study.
detect the open phase fault when a fault has In the presence of an open phase, the flow
occurred on the primary winding of the direction of back-fed current into system
transformer feeding the bus. On the other hand, capacitances (capacitively coupled voltage
the undervoltage relay of the transformers transformers, line capacitances, bushing
belonging to Group II cannot detect the capacitances, and so forth), or a high-impedance
single-phase open fault [7]. ground fault is opposite to the direction of normal
current. By using some form of directional sensing
2.2.2 Type and Size of Loads the open phase condition can be detected. But the
The characteristics of loads are also important to use of directional current sensing at low magnitudes
detect open phase faults accurately. Depending on would be difficult.
the loading capacity and load types, voltage Regarding the location of open phase fault, if the
characteristics are different in the same system. open phase condition has occurred at the primary or
According to the EPRI report [8], due to the secondary sides of a transformer when the
backfeed effect of the electric motors, the line to the transformer has no load, the open phase fault may
neutral voltage of the transformer varies with load be not detectable. On the other hand, the open phase
factor under the same single phase fault condition. at the branch feeders is detected by negative phase
In order to detect the single phase fault with current relay. If a branch feeder is not loaded, the
undervoltage relay, it is necessary to predict same issue as the transformer will occur. However,
accurately how the voltage varies with the change the failure of a single branch circuit does not
of the load factor when a single phase open fault has severely damage the safety system of a nuclear
occurred through an analysis of the electrical power plant.
system.
3. The Standard Electric Power
2.2.3 Other Items Affecting Open Phase System of NPP in Korea
Fault Detection Failure
Among the items listed in the Section II.B the last The main power system (MP) provides the
three items that affect the open phase fault detection generators electrical output to an AC power grid
failure as follows. But it is not more severe than the like a transmission system and the station auxiliary
effect of the former two items. loads. The main power system transforms 22kV
System grounding methods affect the ground fault (generator rated voltage) into the rated voltage of
current. The primary winding of UATs and SATs the power grid, such as 765kV, 345kV or 154kV, to
are solidly grounded. Therefore, if the open phase supply electrical power via a switchyard system and
line is grounded with sufficiently low impedance provide power to the unit auxiliary power system
then the ground fault current is high and the ground for distribution to station electrical loads.
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ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
The auxiliary power system (AP) provides a 3.2 Major Components and Their
reliable source to all electrical AC loads in the power Design
station. The AP system provides a reliable AC
power supply of adequate capacity to the various The normal power source for the non-class 1E
auxiliaries of the plant during the plant normal and the class 1E auxiliary power subsystems is via
operation, abnormal conditions, and accident the UATs fed from either the main generator when
conditions. the unit is operating or the switchyard when the
plant is shutdown or is in start-up. An alternate
3.1 System Configuration power source through the SATs fed from the
switchyard is also provided to non-class 1E and
The main power system consists of four major class 1E auxiliary power subsystems when the
components: main generator, isolated phase bus, normal power supply via UATs is not available.
generator circuit breaker, and main transformer. Two redundant on-site emergency diesel generators
The AP system includes all station AC power are provided to supply power to the class 1E
systems except for the main power system. It auxiliary power subsystem if the power supply from
consists of the UATs, SATs, 13.8kV and 4.16kV the UATs and SATs fail (Fig. 5).
medium voltage power systems and 480V low
voltage power systems, diesel generators, and 3.2.1 Main Generator
alternate AC source. The rated voltage of the generator is 22kV, the
Several voltage levels are used to match the neutral is high-resistance grounding through a
requirements of various station loads. Large motors grounding transformer which is loaded by a resistor
(1,500 HP and larger) such as reactor coolant pump and includes ground protection relay. The generator
motors, condensate pump motors, feed water booster line-side terminals are connected to the isolated
pump motors, circulating water pump motors, phase bus using a flexible copper blade that
start-up feed water pump motors, and 13.8kV load prevents the transfer of the vibration from the
center transformers are supplied at a nominal generator to the isolated phase bus (IPB).
voltage of 13.8kV. The remaining large motors (250
to 1,250 HP) and 4.16kV load center transformers 3.2.2 Main Transformer
are normally supplied at a nominal voltage of During normal operation, the main transformer is
4.16kV. used as a step-up transformer installed between the
Motors rated from 0.5 to 225 HP (0.5 to 60 HP main generator and the switchyard. When the plant
at motor control centers and the others at load is shutdown, electrical power from the grid is
centers), the control rod drive motor generator sets, supplied for plant loads, with the main transformer
valve operator motors, and the lighting operating as a step-down transformer. The main
transformers are supplied at a nominal voltage of transformer bank consists of three single-phase
480V. Motors rated less than 0.5HP are generally transformers connected delta on the low voltage side
supplied from 120V single phase distribution and solidly neutral grounded wye on the high
panels. These panels receive power from the 480V voltage side.
motor control centers. The typical low voltage rating is 95-100% of the
46 Journal of KIIEE, Vol.31, No.2, February 2017
Choong-koo Chang
generator voltage rating while the typical high coolant pump motors, condensate pump motors,
voltage rating is 100 to 105% of the nominal voltage feedwater booster pump motors, circulating water
of the switchyard. pump motors, seawater bypass pump motors, and
associated 480V load centers. The protective
3.2.3 Unit Auxiliary Transformer and relaying for the 13.8kV switchgear feeders and
Standby Auxiliary Transformers buses can be classified as follows:
There are two UATs and SATs per each unit, and Protection of large motors and transformers
each transformer provides 13.8kV and 4.16kV power. Protection of buses and feeders
During normal plant operation, each UAT provides The basic protective schemes consist of ground
power to two non-class 1E 13.8kV switchgears, one fault protection, instantaneous over current and
class 1E 4.16kV switchgear, and two non-class 1E timed over current protection.
4.16kV switchgears. If power from the UAT is
unavailable, even though offsite power is not lost, 3.2.5 4.16kV Auxiliary Power System
the power supply is automatically transferred to the The 4.16kV auxiliary power system consists of
SAT. For the protection of UATs and SATs, four non class 1E switchgears, two class 1E
differential current protection, ground fault switchgears and a non-class 1E AAC source.
protection, over current protection, and mechanical The first non-class 1E switchgear group designed
protection are provided. M consists of two switchgears. One of the two
furnishes power to large non-class 1E loads such as
3.2.4 13.8kV Auxiliary Power System the turbine chilled water pump and 480V load
The 13.8kV auxiliary power system consists of centers. The other switchgear, which is fed from the
four (4) non-class 1E switchgears per unit and class 1E 4.16kV bus, supplies power to the central
furnishes power to large motors such as reactor chiller and the loads required as TMI action plan
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ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
requirements in NUREG-0737. The second condition and hot standby mode is the minimum
non-class 1E switchgear group N furnishes power loading condition. Based on the simulation
to the similar non-safety loads. result, the possibility of fault detection by
The 4.16kV class 1E loads are divided into two protective relays when an open phase fault
redundant and independent load group divisions I occurs was reviewed.
and II. Each division of a unit is capable of
providing the power required to safely achieve cold 4.2 Simulation Method and System
shutdown. Each load division is capable of being Model
supplied from the following sources, listed in
decreasing order of priority: 4.2.1 Simulation Method
Main generator The ETAP 14.0 software was used to simulate
Main transformer and UATs (offsite preferred open phase faults on the auxiliary power systems of
power-I) a hypothetical OPR 1000 nuclear power plant. In
SATs (offsite preferred power-II) ETAP, the unbalanced load flow (ULF) module was
EDGs (emergency diesel generators) enhanced to accurately simulate steady state open
AAC (alternative AC source) phase conditions of power systems. This
enhancement is in response to the requirements for
4. Simulation of Open Phase the nuclear generation plants to conduct single and
Faults on the Primary Side of double open-phase fault studies for their off-site
UAT and SAT power supplies. In order to study these extremely
unbalanced operating conditions, induction motor
Case studies were performed to analyze open models have been enhanced in the ULF
phase faults and their effect on the electric power calculations. Features of the ULF module are as
system in the NPP. The cases of study were follows [9]:
developed based on the following design and Open-phase A, B, or C phase
operation conditions. Modeling of 2-winding and 3-winding
transformer excitation branch
4.1 Study Cases and Conditions Include buried delta winding for 2-winding and
3-winding transformers
The 13.8kV and 4.16kV switchgear bus Report sequence values of voltages and current
voltages were monitored mainly during normal flows
and fault conditions because all of the loads and
distribution systems are under the influence of 4.2.2 Simulation Model
a medium voltage bus. The open phase fault A simplified system model was used for all
condition was assumed for each operation mode. simulations. Fig. 5 and 6 depict the system model
The load condition of the transformers was also that was used for the open phase circuit simulation
considered to view the voltage level after a of an OPR 1000 nuclear power plant. The technical
fault. Normal operation with a loss of coolant data of the major equipment for simulated system
accident (LOCA) is the maximum loading are as below.
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Choong-koo Chang
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ANALYSIS OF OPEN-PHASE CONDITIONS IN KOREAN STANDARD NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND FAULT DETECTION SCHEME
Table 3. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase Table 6. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase
voltages (%) voltages (%)
Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A
Primary of UAT 100.0 98.7 99.0 Primary of UAT 99.9 98.4 98.7
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 89.4 91.7 115.0 Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 88.4 90.3 113.7
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 90.8 93.2 116.2 Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 89.2 90.8 113.1
4.3.3 Hot Standby Operation Table 7. SAT Primary and MV Bus phase to
A simulation was conducted on hot standby mode. phase voltages (%)
Electrical loads for maintaining the nuclear power Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A
plant in hot standby conditions are powered from Primary of SAT 100.1 99.9 99.9
UATs or SATs. Table 4 and 5 provide the resulting Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 94.5 102.7 102.5
voltages at the primary and secondary terminals of Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 93.9 102.3 102.0
the UAT and SAT each.
4.4 Analysis of Simulation Results
Table 4. UAT primary and MV bus phase to phase
voltages (%) 4.4.1 Undervoltage Protection Scheme
Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A The undervoltage relay gives an alarm or trips
Primary of UAT 100.0 98.9 99.1 voltage-sensitive loads, such as induction motors,
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 91.5 93.6 115.3 whenever the line voltage drops below the calibrated
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 93.0 95.3 116.9 setting. A time-delay relay is normally used to
enable it to ride through momentary sags and thus
Table 5. SAT primary and MV bus phase to phase prevent nuisance operation. The voltage transformer
voltages (%)
(VT) for undervoltage relays is the V connection
Description Phase A-B Phase B-C Phase C-A and the voltage provided for undervoltage relays is
Primary of SAT 103.9 103.0 103.1 the phase to phase voltage.
Non-1E 13.8kV Bus 94.9 102.0 101.6 The degraded voltage relay and the loss of voltage
Class 1E 4.16kV Bus 94.9 102.3 101.8 relay are provided for the class 1E 4.16kV buses in
the NPP. The degraded voltage relay is set at the
4.3.4 Unit Trip and LOCA Operation voltage corresponding to 90% of the motor control
(Normal Loads) center (MCC) voltage. It is about 95% of the MV
A simulation was conducted on LOCA conditions bus nominal voltage. The delay time of the degraded
immediately after the unit trip. The loading capacity voltage relay is 4 minutes.
is the maximum in this operation mode. Load The loss of voltage relay for a class 1E bus is set
shedding is not performed at the 4.16kV switchgear at 70% of the motor rated voltage and is about 67%
buses intentionally unless the undervoltage relay of the bus nominal voltage. The delay time of the
picks up voltage degradation. Tables 6 and 7 provide loss of voltage relay is 1.0 second. In case of class
the resulting voltages at the primary and secondary 1E bus voltage loss, the emergency diesel generator
terminals of the UAT and SAT each. (EDG) is started by the undervoltage on the bus; all
breakers for 4.16kV motor feeders are tripped and will be much deeper than the results above.
reset load sequencer. Upon detection of the EDG
rated speed and rated voltage, the EDG circuit Table 8. The possibility of open phase fault
breakers on class 1E 4.16kV bus can be closed, and detection by the undervoltage relays for
class 1E 4.16kV bus
the load sequence logic starts automatically
sequencing the ESF loads on the EDG. Operation Mode Degraded volt. Losses of voltage
The following undervoltage relays are provided relay (95%) relay (67%)
Normal operation Possible Impossible
for the 13.8kV switchgears; Startup Possible Impossible
27LU&27LS, undervoltage relays for incoming Hot standby (UAT) Possible Impossible
breaker closing permission: set at 80% of Hot standby (SAT) Uncertain* Impossible
motor rated voltage (76.5% of bus nominal Unit trip with LOCA
voltage), instantaneous trip (UAT) Possible Impossible
27B, undervoltage relay for bus voltage status: Unit trip with LOCA
set at 52% of bus nominal voltage, (SAT) Uncertain* Impossible
instantaneous trip [Note] * Accuracy level of the numerical
type undervoltage relay is 0.5%.
27M, undervoltage relay for motor shedding:
70% of motor rated voltage (67% of bus Table 9. The possibility of open phase fault
nominal voltage), approximately 2 sec delay at detection by the undervoltage relays for
0.5pu non-class 1E 13.8kV bus
27R, undervoltage relay for residual voltage 27LU/LS 27B 27M
transfer: set at 30% of bus nominal voltage, 0.2 Operation Mode (67.5%) (52%) (67%)
sec time delay Normal operation Impossible Impossible Impossible
Startup Impossible Impossible Impossible
4.4.2 Detectability of Open Phase Hot standby (UAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
Faults by Undervoltage Relays Hot standby (SAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
The loading capacity of the non-class 1E 13.8kV Unit trip & LOCA (UAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
bus and the class 1E 4.16kV bus is maximum in unit Unit trip & LOCA (SAT) Impossible Impossible Impossible
trip with LOCA mode. And, phase to phase voltage
is the minimum when a single phase open fault is On the other hand, the phase current imbalance
occurred during the maximum loading condition. relay (device 46) provided for medium voltage
Based on the simulation results and undervoltage motors can detect the single phase open fault and
protection scheme of the NPP, the detectability of trip the motor. The 46 relay compares the phase
the open phase faults at each operation mode can be current magnitudes and operates when one phase
summarized in Tables 8 and 9. current is significantly different in magnitude from
The simulation and analysis results described in either of the other two-phase currents. Another type
the above Section 4.3 and 4.4 are all based on the (46) responds to the negative-sequence current and
assumption that all motor loads are in running unbalance is defined as the ratio of negative to
condition. However, if a large motor is started in the positive sequence currents. If the unbalance exceeds
single phase open fault condition, the voltage drop 1020% then the relay will conclude that a fault is
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