Alexandria Engineering Journal , Vol. 43 (2004), No.

3, 323-330 323
faculty of Engineering Alexandria University, Egypt.
Effect of six phase transmission line on the arcing fault
behaviour


Hesham Elrefaie
Electrical Eng. Dept., Faculty of Eng., Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt


This paper describes in detail the technique that has been developed by Johns et al. [2] to
model arcing faults. This technique is used to simulate arcing faults of six phase
transmission lines. The primary arc is modeled using a time dependent dynamic resistance.
The secondary arc is modeled using a controlled switch and a time dependent dynamic
resistance. The switch is used to simulate the reignition and extinction voltage characteristic
of the secondary arc. The arc model is then employed for the simulation of fault transients
of short-distance uncompensated line and a long-distance compensated line. The
compensation schemes are necessary for reducing the secondary arc current and recovery
voltage to levels commensurate with rapid extinction in long-distance lines. This study is
needed to design single phase adaptive autoreclosure schemes and new protection
techniques.
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-.,.= -,'== .',.. ,.>.= ,>=.= .. _\'= g='.= ,,==.

Keywords: Primary arc, Secondary arc, Short uncompensated lines, Long compensated
lines, EMTP


1. Introduction

The increase of demand on the electrical
energy, cost, and restrictions on Rights-Of-
Way (ROW) are some of the most common
problems that are facing the electric utilities.
One of the most common solution of such
problems is the construction of High Phase
Order (HPO) transmission system, i.e. the use
of more than three-phase, is an important
option available today. It can be used for
uprating the existing three-phase double cir-
cuit to six-phase or for completely new de-
signs for six-and twelve-phases. The principal
advantages of HPO transmission as indicated
by Venkata et al. [1] are:
1. HPO can provide the same power transfer
capability as three-phase, on a smaller ROW,
for the same electric field and audible noise
criteria, with smaller structure and reduced
overall cost.
2. Conversely, HPO can provide higher power
transfer on a given ROW than three-phase,
for the same electric field and audible noise
criteria.
3. HPO lines are compatible with existing sys-
tems, since they can be tapped with three-
phase connections.
However, six-phase systems appear to be
the most promising HPO transmission sys-
tems because of the existence of double cir-
cuit three-phase systems which can be suc-
cessfully converted to a single circuit six-
phase system. One of the important aspects
for applying a six phase transmission system
is the design of its adequate single phase
autoreclosure scheme, which is the main
concern of our research.

2. Modeling arcing faults

Two major types of faults occur on trans-
mission lines; lighting-induced arcing *faults
H. Elrefaie / Arcing fault behaviour
324 Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004
and permanent faults. For the latter, a linear
resistance is usually an adequate representa-
tion. For the former, a non-linear arc model
should be employed. From a modeling point of
view, the fault arc is classified as the primary
arc during the fault and low-current secon-
dary arc after the faulted phase is isolated
which is sustained by mutual coupling be-
tween healthy and faulted phases.

2.1. Modeling primary arc

The work of Johns et al. [2] is used in this
study for modeling primary arc. This arc can
be simulated by the following equation:

) g G (
T
1
dt
dg
p p
p
p
= , (1)

where gp is the time varying arc conductance
and Gp is the stationary primary arc conduc-
tance and can be evaluated from:

p p
p
l V
i
G = . (2)

Vp is the stationary arc voltage drop per unit
length. It is constant and taken as 15 V/cm
if the range of the peak of primary current is
from 1.4 kA to 24 kA as indicated by Johns et
al. [2]. iis the absolute value of arc current
and lp is the arc length. Tp is the primary arc
time constant and can be evaluated from the
following equation:

p
p
P
l
I
T

= , (3)

where Ip is the peak current. The coefficient
is a constant and it is taken 2.85 10
-5
as
indicated by Johns et al. [2].

2.2. Modeling secondary arc

It is shown by Johns et al. [2] that the
secondary arc can be simulated by the fol-
lowing equation:

) g G (
T
1
dt
dg
s s
S
s
= , (4)
where Gs is is obtained from,

) t ( l V
i
G
r
s s
s = , (5)

where tr is the time from the initiation of the
secondary and ls is the secondary arc length.
Vs is function of the peak of the secondary
current (Is) if the range of Is is from 1 A to 55
A. Vs can be approximated by:

Vs = 75
0.4
s
I

V/ cm. (6)

Ts can be obtained from:

Ts =
) t ( l
I
r S
1.4
S

, (7)

where the coefficient is a about 2.51 *10
-3
.

2.3. Arc reignition voltage

It is shown by Johns et al. [2] that the arc
reignition voltage can be approximated by the
following empirical expression:

Vr (tr) = [ 5 + 1620/(2.51+Is)]
(tr - Te) h(tr - Te) *10
3
V/cm , (8)

where Te is the time from the initiation of the
secondary arc to a current zero and h(tr - Te)
is a step function with,

tr-Te>0, h(tr - Te) = 1; otherwise h(tr - Te) = 0.

The arc current is held at zero for as long
as the arc voltage magnitude remains below
the value obtained from eq. (8).
The secondary arc length variation with
time can be approximated by the following
equation if the wind velocity from 0 m/s to 1
m/s

ls (tr)/lso = 10 tr for tr > 0.1 S
= 1 for tr 0.1 S,

where lso is the initial arc secondary length.


H. Elrefaie/ Arcing fault behaviour
Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004 325

3. Simulating arcing faults of six phase
transmission lines

The Electromagnetic Transients Program
(EMTP) is used in this study to simulate the
arcing faults of six phase transmission lines
[3]. The dynamic interaction between Tran-
sients Analysis of Control Systems (TACS)
and the electric part of the EMTP is used to
simulate the primary arc model given by eq.
(1) and secondary arc model given by eq. (4).
The primary arc is modeled by using a TACS
controlled time varying resistance. The sec-
ondary arc is modeled by using a TACS con-
trolled time varying resistance and TACS
controlled switch. The controlled switch is
used to simulate the reignition and extinction
voltage characteristic of the secondary arc.
The switch opens if the arc voltage magnitude
remains below the value obtained from eq. (8)
(extinction) and it closes if the arc voltage
magnitude is above that value (reignition).
The detailed simulation is shown in Appendix
A.

3.1. Simulating arcing faults of short
uncompensated six phase line

The schematic diagram of the 400 kV
power system on which the tests are based is
shown in fig. 1. Here D is the line length, Ra is
a TACS controlled resistance, SWa is a TACS
controlled switch, and va is the arcing voltage
at the fault point. The line parameters per
phase are D = 180 km, r = 0.034 /km, L =
0.68 mH/km, C = .0166 F/km, r0 = 0.58
/km and L0 = 3.4 mH/km, C0 = 0.0091
F/km. The line model is transposed distrib-
uted parameters. Data for network A are:
RA=7 , LA= 0.38 H. Data for network B are:
RB = 5 , LB = 0.3 H. The equivalent electro-
motive force of networks A and B is 400 kV.
The system frequency is 50 Hz and the sam-
pling frequency is 4000 Hz. The phase angle
between the voltages at A & B is 10
0
. The ini-
tial arc length is assumed to be 4 m.
Fig. 2 and fig. 3 show the arcing voltage
and secondary arcing current at the fault
point for an earth fault occurring at the mid
point of the line. The arcing voltage and cur-
rent are estimated using eq. (1) for the pri-
mary arc and using eq. (4) for the secondary
arc. The primary arc is simulated from the
instant of fault inception (0.0285 Sec.) to the
time of arc transition (0.085Sec.). Arc transi-
tion is occurred at the time the current in the
fault arc path first reaches zero, after the last
faulted phase breaker interrupts current.
Actual current interruption is arranged to oc-
cur at the first current zero following contact
separation of breaker pole inquestion. It is
noted from fig. 2 that the nonlinear variation
of the primary arc manifests itself into pro-
ducing high frequency components which in
turn distort the waveform into a near square
wave.
The secondary arc is simulated from the time
of arc transition (0.085 Sec.) to the instant of
final arc extinction (0.38 Sec.). After the arc
transition, the arc current remains at zero
until the recovery voltage across the arc
column reaches the total arc reignition volt-
age Vr (t) l(t). Arc restriking then occurs and
secondary arc current consequently recom-
mences to flow. Such processes of temporary
extinction / reignition are repeated at inter-
vals of approximately one-half period until
final and permanent arc extinction occurs. It
is noted from fig. 2 and fig. 3 that the nonlin-
earities in the fault arc path current manifest
themselves into significantly distorting the
voltage waveforms in the time period from arc
transition (0.085 Sec.) to final extinction (0.38
Sec.).
After final extinction, it is of interest to
note that the recovery voltage across the fault
path is almost fully offset. This phenomenon,
which has been experimentally observed by
several authors, such that Johns and Al-Rawi
[4], occurs because the faulted phase is effec-
tively floating after final extinction. All the











Fig. 1. Short uncompensated line.

network A
network B
D
fault point
R
a

v
a

SW
a

H. Elrefaie / Arcing fault behaviour
326 Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004














Fig. 2. Arcing voltage at fault point for single line to ground fault occurring at the mid point of the short line.

















Fig. 3. Secondary arcing current at fault point for single line to ground fault occurring at the mid point of the short line.

energy within the faulted phase is thus
manifested in the form of a steady unidirec-
tional trapped charge voltage, the power fre-
quency voltage coupled from the energized
sound phases is being superimposed thereon.
It is also noted that the value of secondary
arcing current is zero after the final arc ex-
tinction.
In comparison to the 3 phase-single cir-
cuit study given by Johns et al. [2], both the
recovery voltage and the secondary arc cur-
rent are larger. A direct consequence of our
study is that the arc extinction time is in-
creased. This can be attributed to the fact
that, apart from the mutual coupling between
the faulted phase and other two sound
phases in case of 3 phase-single circuit, there
also exists additional coupling between the
faulted phase and the other three sound
phases in case of six phase circuit.

3.1. Simulating arcing faults of long
compensated line

The 750 kV power system shown in fig. 4
is considered in this study. The line length is
540 km. The line model is transposed distrib-
uted parameters. The line parameters are the
same to those of short uncompensated line.
The parameters of the networks are also the
same. The equivalent electromotive force of
networks A and B is 750 kV and the phase
angle between them is 10
0
. The system fre-
quency, sampling frequency, and the initial
arc length are the same to short line. The line
is shunt compensated at both ends as shown
in fig. 4. The shunt compensators can reduce
the secondary current and recovery voltage to
levels commensurate with rapid extinction of
the secondary arc. Each compensator con-
sists of six phase reactors and a neutral re-
actor (seven reactor-bank) as shown in fig. 5.
- 60000
- 40000
- 20000
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
0
0.1
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Volt
Sec
Primary arc
Secondary arc
Final arc extinction
- 200
- 150
- 100
- 50
0
50
100
150
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Sec
Amper
Secondary arc
Final arc extinction
H. Elrefaie/ Arcing fault behaviour
Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004 327

We followed a similar technique to the one
suggested by Elnour et al. [5] for estimating
the parameters of the reactor bank. The pa-
rameters of the reactor bank when arranged
to compensate one half of line length (l/2) in
terms of Positive Phase Sequence (p.p.s) and
zero phase sequence (ZPS) values of the line
shunt capacitance are as given in eq. (9)

h1 = BL1 / BC1 = 2 / (
0
2
L1 C1 l),
h0 = BL0 / BC0 = 2 / (
0
2
L0 C0 l), (9)

where h1 and h0 are the degrees of shunt
compensation, BL1 and BL0 are the p.p.s and
z.p.s inductive susptance of shunt reactor at
nominal frequency, and BC1 and BC0 are the
p.p.s and z.p.s capacitive susptance per unit
line length at nominal frequency. The p.p.s
inductance of the reactor bank L1 is equal to
the inductance per phase and that the z.p.s
inductance L0 = LP + 6 Ln . It follows from eq.
(9) that the phase and neutral parameters of
the reactor bank are as given in eq. (10).

LP = L1 = 2 / (
0
2
h1 C1 l),
Ln = 2 (h1 C1 - h0 C0) / (6
0
2
h0 h1 C0 C1 l). (10)

The resistance RP and Rn are relatively
very low, a typical Q factor of each limb at
power frequency is 250. The phase and neu-
tral resistances of the bank are given in eq.
(11):

RP =
0
LP / 250,
Rn =
0
Ln / 250. (11)












Fig. 4. Long compensated line.


















Fig. 5. Seven reactor bank.

Fig. 6 shows the arcing voltage at the fault
point for a single line to ground fault occur-
ring at the mid point of the long line. The
arcing voltage is simulated using eqs. (1) and
(4). The primary arc is simulated from the in-
stant of fault inception (0.0285 Sec.) to the
time of arc transition (0.085 Sec.). It is noted
from fig. 6 that the shape of primary arc is
nearly a square wave which is similar to that
of short line. The secondary arc is simulated
from arc transition (0.085 Sec.) to the instant
of final arc extinction (0.2 Sec.). It is noted
from fig. 6 the gradual increase of the secon-
dary arc-path voltage (after breaker opening)
until arc extinction occurs due to an increase
in the arc length. The characteristic low-fre-
quency beating process is also clearly
observed after final extinction. This beating
phenomenon is due to the fact, in compen-
sated lines, the recovery voltage contains a
sinusoidal power frequency voltage which is
somewhat modulated by a damped sinusoidal
voltage component of the natural frequency of
line / reactor combination.
Our study is compared to the work of
Song et al. [6] for simulating arcing faults of 3
phase-single circuit long compensated line.
The additional 3 phases of six phase line in-
crease the mutual coupling between faulted
phase and healthy phases. This additional
mutual coupling increases the secondary arc
current, recovery voltage, and extinction time
as shown in Appendix B.
Z
p

Z
n

network A
network B
D
fault point
R
a

v
a

SW
a

H. Elrefaie / Arcing fault behaviour
328 Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004















Fig. 6. Arcing voltage at the fault point for a single line to ground fault occurring at the mid point of the long compen-
sated line.














Fig. 7. Arcing voltage at the fault point for a single line to ground fault occurring at the mid point of the long
uncompensated line.


The arcing fault is simulated without us-
ing shunt compensators as shown in fig. 7. It
is noted from this figure that the final arc ex-
tinction occurs at 1.38 Sec. The autoreclosure
is not suitable in this case since the final arc
extinction should occur in less than one sec-
ond from the instant of fault. The using of
shunt compensators reduces the final extinc-
tion time as shown in fig. 6.

4. Conclusions

The EMTP is used in this study to simu-
late arcing faults of six phase line. The pri-
mary arc is modeled by using a TACS con-
trolled time varying resistance and the secon-
dary arc is modeled using this resistance and
TACS controlled switch. The controlled switch
is used to simulate the reignition and extinc-
tion voltage characteristic of the secondary
arc. Our study is compared to the works of
Johns et al. [2] and Song et al. [6] of 3 phase-
single circuit. The additional 3 phases of six
phase line increase the mutual coupling be-
tween faulted phase and healthy phases. This
additional mutual coupling increases the sec-
ondary arc current, recovery voltage and ex-
tinction time.

Appendix A

The electric network and control system
are solved separately in the EMTP and TACS
program at each time step. The switching arc
can be modeled using a TACS controlled time
varying resistance. The principle of TACS con-
trolled time varying resistance modeling of the
arc is given in fig. A-1.
The solution process at each time step of
the fault arc simulation shown in fig. A-2 is
as follows:
The arc current i is determined in TACS
using node voltages (v1 and v2) of a small
measuring resistance Rm = 1 m as input.
Stationary arc conductances (GP and Gs)
and time constants (Tp and Ts) are calculated
- 80000
- 60000
- 40000
- 20000
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Primary Arc
Secondary arc
Final extinction
Volt
Sec
- 150000
- 100000
- 50000
0
50000
100000
150000
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Volt
Sec
Primary arc
Secondary arc Final arc extinction
H. Elrefaie/ Arcing fault behaviour
Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004 329

autoreclosure operation
(open / close)
R
m

r
v
1

v
2
arc current
l/t
l
o

variation of
arc length
l
p/s

i
stationary arc
conductance
time constant
solution of arc
equations
G
p/s

T
p/s

1/g
r
electric network
control system














Fig. A-1. Dynamic interaction between electric network
and the control system to simulate an electric arc.








































Fig. A-2. Block diagram representation of an arc for
EMTP simulation.

taking into account the length variation of
the secondary arc.
The arc equations are solved for the arc
conductance.
The value of the instantaneous arc resis-
tance is passed to the time varying element.
The node equations of the electric network
are solved.

Appendix B

Our study is compared to the work of Song et
al. [6] for simulating arcing faults of 3 phase-
single circuit long compensated line. The
comparison is under the same system pa-
rameters and operating conditions. The addi-
tional 3 phases of six phase line increasethe
mutual coupling between faulted phase and
healthy phases. This additional mutual
coupling increase the secondary arc current,
recovery voltage, and final extinction time.
The final extinction time occurs at 0.2 Sec. for
6 phase line as shown in fig. 6 but it occurs
at 0.145 Sec. for 3 phase line as shown in fig.
B-1. The first peak of the recovery voltage af-
ter final extinction is 59.635 kV for 6 phase
line and 33.879 kV for 3 phase line.

References

[1] S. Venkata, W. Guyker and J.
andragunta, 138 kV, six phase
transmission systems: fault analysis,
IEEE Transaction on Power Apparatus
and Systems, Vol. PAS-101 (5), pp. 1203-
1218 (1982).
[2] A. Johns, R. Aggarawal, and Y. Song,
Improved Techniques for Modeling Fault
Arcs on Faulted EHV Transmission
Systems, IEE Proc., Vol. 141, Pt. C (2),
pp. 148-154 (1994).
[3] Microtran Power Systems Analysis
Cooperation, EMTP program manual,
Vancouver, Canada (1982).
[4] A. Johns and A. Al-Rawi, Digital
Simulation of EHV Systems Under
Secondary Arcing Conditions Associated
With Single-Pole Autoreclosure, IEE
Proc., Vol. 129, Pt. C (2), pp. 49-58 (1982).



electric network control system
i
dynamic
arc model
r
r =1/g
H. Elrefaie / Arcing fault behaviour
330 Alexandria Engineering Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3, May 2004












Fig. B-1. Arcing voltage at the fault point for a single line to ground fault occurring at the mid point of long compensated
3 phase line.



[5] A. Johns, M. El-Nour and R. Aggarawal,
Performance of Distance Protection of
EHV Feeders Utilising Shunt-Reactor
Arrangements For Arc Suppression and
Voltage Control, IEE Proc., Vol. 127, Pt.
C (5), pp. 304-316 (1980).
[6] Y. Song, R. Aggarawal and A. Johns,
Digital Simulation of Fault Arcs on Long-
Distance Compensated Transmission
Systems With Particular Reference to
Adaptive Autoreclosure, ETEP, Vol. 5 (5),
pp. 315-324 (1995).

Received January 4, 2004
Accepted March 22, 2004


- 60000
- 40000
- 20000
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Primary arc
Secondary arc
Final extinction
Volt
Sec