Curtin University

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering

Power System Protection (ELEN3003)

Tutorial 1
Fault Level Calculation:
Consider a 11 kV generator with the impedance of 1.61 Ω/p the fault current will be:
11,000
𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝ℎ = = 6351 𝐴𝐴
√3
6351
𝐼𝐼𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = = 3944 𝐴𝐴 Fault Level
1.61
Why Fault Calculation?
• Power System Study
• Sizing Equipment like Cables, Bus bars,…
• Specifying the short Circuit withstanding level of all power system elements (Breaking
Capacity) e.g.: 50 kA 2sec., 50kA 1 sec., 25 kA 1sec., …
• Setting Protection Relays.

Typical Short Circuit Capacities

RATED WITHSTAND
VOLTAGE CURRENT
63-66 KV 20 KA (R.M.S.)
33 KV 25 KA (R.M.S.)
20 KV 25 KA (R.M.S.)
11 KV 25 KA (R.M.S.)
6 KV 25 KA (R.M.S.)
3.3 KV 25 KA (R.M.S.)
0.4 KV 50, 65 KA (R.M.S.)

Alternate Way to show fault level is showing by short Circuit MVA (MVASc. )
For Above example,
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 = √3 × 11,000 × 3944 = 75 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀

If the rated power of generator is 15 MW in P.F.= 0.8

Sgen.=15/0.8=18.75 MVA
18.75
= 25% Z%=0.25 Impedance Percentage
75

Generally:
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
𝑍𝑍% = × 100% 𝑍𝑍% = × 𝑍𝑍 × 100%
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑉𝑉 2
Per unit:
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
𝑍𝑍𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 𝑍𝑍𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = × 𝑍𝑍
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑉𝑉 2
In a large power system, all the impedance will be converted to a common base:
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
𝑍𝑍𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = × 𝑍𝑍
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
For previous example consider base MVA as 10 MVA:
10
𝑍𝑍𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 (𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝) = × 0.25 = 0.133 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
18.75
Power System Protection Tutorial 1
ELEN3003
2
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Question 1: Consider a step-up transformer, 8 MVA, 6/20 kV, Z%=8%, connected to a

Generator 6kV, 16 MW at PF=0.8, Z%=25%.
a) Calculate the fault current on both side of transformer.
b) If another transformer, 4 MVA, Z%=6%, connected to the generator in parallel with
the first transformer, what will be the modified short circuit level?
c) What is the contribution of each transformer in the fault level?
Note: Common Base: 10 MVA.

Question 2: Consider below configuration:

- Generator, 16 MW (20 MVA) @ P.F 0.8, Z%=
25%, 11kV,
- Interconnector Z= 0.05 Ω/p, 11 kV,
- Transformer, 11/3.3 kV, 4MVA, Z%=6%,
- Feeder Z=0.008 Ω/p, 3.3 kV,
- Reactor 43.7 V, 800A.
Calculate the Short Circuit Level in a, b, c, d and e.
Note: Common Base: 10 MVA.

Semester 2 2016
Power System Protection Tutorial 1
ELEN3003
3
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Question 3: Consider below Distribution System:
- Incoming Supply, 11KV,
- 11 kV cable, 2*(3*300mm2 ), L=600 m, R=80 mΩ/kM,
1
- Transformers,11/0.415 kV, 2* 1.25 MVA, Z%=6,
- LV Cable, 2*(3*1*1000mm2 ), L=25 m, R=100 mΩ/kM

Calculate the Short Circuit at MV and LV switchgears in below

cases:
a) Bus Couplers 1, 2 and 3 are closed.
b) Bus Couplers 1, 2 and 3 are open.
c) Bus coupler 1 is open, 2,3 are closed and right hand
side 11kV incoming feeder is open.
2

End of Tutorial

Semester 2 2016