FAULT LEVEL ANALYSIS

G.K.Thayanithy
 Fault level analysis
What is fault level ?

The apparent power in MVA or KVA, supplied by one or more power

generating or supplying sources to a system under fault conditions

What is fault current ?

The current flowing through a faulted branch of an Electrical

system

Generally expressed in Kilo Ampere(kA)

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 Fault level analysis
Need for fault level analysis
Fault level analysis is needed to determine,

The interruption duty that the CB has to perform and interruption

rating required for the breaker

The current making capacity required for the CB when closed on

existing fault-( Also known as momentary duty or first cycle duty
or make & latch duty)

The S.C. withstand capability required for cables, busbars, CTs,

etc. till the fault is cleared by the protection relay
Suitable relays and relay setting co ordination
Transient behavior of the system under fault conditions, and
hence suitable system design and stability co ordination

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 Fault level analysis
Classification of faults
Electrical faults are classified as

1. Three phase faults A short circuit between all the three

phases
2. Single line to earth fault -- One phase getting connected to earth
3. Line to line fault -- Short between two phases
4. Double line to earth fault Two phases shorted and connected to
earth
5. Simultaneous fault -- All three phases shorted and also
connected to earth

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 Fault level analysis
Types of faults

Symmetrical -- Arcless bolted type of faults( no voltage drop & zero

fault impedance ) are considered for FL study

-- Can be solved easily using single phase concept

-- LL voltage is considered as LN voltage

Unsymmetrical Can be converted to symmetrical components

-- generally not considered

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 Fault level analysis
Sources of fault current
Grid --- No of generators interconnected into a common power
grid, to which no. of consumers are also connected

Generators at site --- One or more of generators installed at site

--- Generally used as internal power source

--- Some times used to export power to grid

for sale to grid or to wheel power to other
consumer through grid

Induction motors --- Sq.cage type: Contributes constant fault

current

--- Slip ring type: Fault level reduces with

resistance included in the rotor

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 Fault level analysis
Assumptions made in fault level analysis
Resistance if any, small compared with reactance , is neglected

Capacitance if any, and of the system, are neglected since the

time constant (RC) is too small

Machine reactances are assumed be constant- Saturation effects

are neglected

Generator voltages are assumed to be constant

Generators are replaced by EMF sources in series with their

reactances

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 Fault level analysis
Procedure for fault level calculation
1. Draw the single line diagram for the system assuming as single
phase

2. Draw the reactance or positive sequence diagram

3. Select a suitable base KV & base KVA

4. Calculate the base quantities for current & impedances

5. Calculate the Thevenin`s equivalent impedances at the point of

fault

6. Calculate the current through the faulted branch- this will be the
fault current
7. Calculate the fault MVA using the relation
Fault MVA = 3 X Voltage X Fault current

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 Fault level analysis
Representation of Power System
Single line diagram

GENERATOR
GENERATOR
TRANSFORMER 1 TRANSFORMER 2

1 3

LOAD
LOAD

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 Fault level analysis
Impedance diagram

Transformer Transmission Transformer Load

Load
line

Generators Neutral bus Generator

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Reactance diagram or Positive Sequence diagram

Reference bus

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Selection of base values

As a rule only two bases should be selected first & the remaining
bases are calculated from these two
- Generally the base KV and base KVA are selected and other
quantities are calculated

Base current = Base KVA/ Base voltage

Base impedance = Base voltage/ Base current

For circuits connected by transformer,

- same KVA base is selected for both circuits
- Base KVs are chosen such that the ratio of the base KVs is
the ratio of the transformer
( This will give the same p.u reactance of transformer referred to
both the circuits)

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Calculation of base current & impedence
1. If base voltage assumed is L-N voltage,

Base KVA = 3phase KVA/3

Base current = Base KVA/Base voltage

Base Impedance = (Base KV) X 1000/ Base KVA

2. If base voltage assumed is L-L voltage,

Base current = Base KVA/3 X Base KV(L-L)

Base Impedance = ( Base KV/ 3 ) X 1000/ (Base KVA/3)

= (Base KV) X 1000/ Base KVA

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Thevenin`s Theorem

Used to determine the current in a branch of a network having

one or more sources.

The current in a branch Ib is given by,

Voc
Ib = Zth + Zb
Where,
Voc = the voltage across the terminals, with branch disconnected

Zth = Thevenin`s equivalent impedance

( The impedance of the network between the terminals of the
branch with the branch disconnected & voltage sources
replaced by short circuits)

Zb = Impedance of the branch whose current is to be measured

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 Fault level analysis
Per Unit (p.u) method

To simplify calculations, p.u method is used

Electrical quantities such as voltage(V), current(I), KVA &

Impedences (Z) are expressed as a Percentage or Per Unit of
their selected base

Example Assume 200 Volt as selected base,then,

100
100 Volt = ------ = 0.5 p.u
200
400
400 Volt= ------ = 2.0 p.u
200
In general
Actual value
Per unit value = ----------------------
Base value
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Important relations in fault level calculation
Select Base KV & Base KVA

Base KV
Actual KV given in kV
p.u. kV
Base current, I Amps
Base Impedance, Z Ohms
Base power kW
= 1 p.u
= Actual kV/Base kV
= Base KVA/Base voltage
= Base kV X 1000/ Base current I
= Base kV X Base kV X 1000/Base KVA
= (Base kV) X 1000/Base KVA
= Base KVA

p.u. Impedance Z = Actual Z/Base Z

= Actual Z XBase KVA/(Base KV)X 1000

Change of base
If the base is changed, the p.u.Z referred to new base

= p.u Z (old base)X ( Base kV old/Base kV new)

X ( Base KVA new/ Base KVA old)
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More information on percentage impedance
The base impedance of the system is that impedance in Ohms
which would cause 100% drop of the adopted base voltage when
base MVA or base current flows in the circuit
The percentage impedance of an element in a circuit is it`s actual
ohmic impedance in Ohms expressed as a percentage of the base
impedance
Actual ohms
Percentage impedance = X 100
Base ohms
The p.u. impedance of an element in a circuit is it`s actual
ohmic impedance in Ohms expressed as a decimal fraction or as
a multiple of base impedance corresponding to the base MVA
selected
Actual ohms
P.u impedance =
Base ohms

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Passive and Dynamic reactance
In many electrical circuits, elements such as cables, transformer,
O/H lines, etc.., the variables are voltage & current

In such circuit elements, the values of resistance & reactance

remain the same in all conditions

Reactance of such elements are referred to as Static Reactance

Or Passive reactance( Resistance is normally ignored in FLS)

In motors & generators, the internal reactance vary during the fault
duration, due to armature reaction and dynamic nature of magnetic
circuit

Reactance of such elements which contribute for varying current at

different instances of fault duration are termed as
Dynamic Reactance

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Behavior of Fault current in alternator
Sub-transient period
When a three phase short occurs at the terminals of an alternator,
a very high current flows for a few cycles, this current is known as
Sub transient component of current

The internal impedance at this point is

Voltage
Impedance =
sub transient current
Since the resistance is neglected being very small compared to the
inductance, this impedance is assumed to be equal to the
reactance

This reactance is known as Sub transient reactance- denoted by

the symbol Xd, and the value will be 0.1 to 0.27 p.u.
The duration of existence of sub transient current is known as
Sub transient time and will be in the order of 0.08 to 0.10 Sec.
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Behavior of Fault current in alternator
Transient period

The internal reactance of the m/c increases due to armature reaction

of the sub transient current and dynamic nature of magnetic circuit

The increased reactance is termed as Transient reactance and is

denoted by X`d, and the value will be 0.15 to 0.35 p.u.

The fault current now decays from the sub transient value to a lesser
value, known as Transient component of current

The duration of existence of transient current is known as

Transient time and will be in the order of 0.6 to 0.7 Sec.

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Behavior of Fault current in alternator
Sustained condition
The internal reactance of the m/c further increases to the value known
as Synchronous reactance, denoted by Xd, & the value will be
0.5 -1.5 p.u.
The fault current further reduces to a steady state value known as
Sustained SC current
This current will have to be sustained by the machine until the
protective relay senses the fault and isolates the alternator from fault

The fault currents produce, large electro-mechanical forces between

the coils, in addition to high temperature rise of the winding
Note:
The fault current also contains some amount of DC components & Negative
sequence components generated by Zero sequence reactance (X0),
& negative sequence reactance (X2)

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Role of Fault current in selection of switch gear
Besides the voltage, nominal current, & frequency rating, the SWG
has three current ratings,namely

The circuit making current capacity- also known as making capacity or

momentary rating: The current capacity of the SWG or CB to close on
fault and latch on to the fault, against the forces of the total first cycle
fault current

The interruption duty current capacity or the interruption rating;

The fault current in kA at the time of contact parting of the SWG
- about 200ms. Or 10 cycles after inception of the fault when the
machine reactance have increased from sub transient value , reducing
the first cycle value to interruption cycle value.
The short time rating ( 1 or 3 sec rating ;
The fault current in kA.the SWG can withstand for a short period
incase the SWG or CB fails to clear the fault, till an upstream SWG
clears the fault.

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Examples on FL calculation
1. Two 11KV, 3 Ph 3000 KVA generators having sub transient reactance
15% operate in parallel. The grs. Supply power to a transmission line
through a 6000 KVA transformer of ratio 11/22 KVA and having a
leakage reactance of 5%, Calculate fault current and fault MVA for a
three fault on a)HT side, b) LT side of the transformer

2. Two generators rated 11KV, 3000 KVA having 20% reactance are
interconnected by a 100 km long transmission line. The reactance of
line is 0.10 Ohms/km.The transformers near the generators are rated
6000 KVA 11KV/66 and have leakage reactance of 5%,
A three phase fault occurs at a distance of 20km from one end of the
line, when the system is on no load but at rated voltage
Calculate fault MVA & Fault current

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 Fault level analysis
Behavior of Fault current in alternator

Symmetrical current wave of a three phase synchronous generator

subjected to three phase short circuit
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