2012 International Conference on Future Electrical Power and Energy Systems

Lecture Notes in Information Technology, Vol.9

Transients Analysis of Unbalanced Faults in the Power Distribution

System with Two Feeders
Hyo-Sang Choia, Geum-Bae Chob and Seung-Hak Baekc
Department of Electrical Engineering, Chosun University, 375 Seosuk-Dong, Gwangju, Korea
a

hyosang@chosun.ac.kr, bgbcho@chosun.ac.kr, czkzkdh17@nate.com

Keywords: Transient state, Two feeders, Power distribution system, Symmetrical components
calculus

Abstract. With the increase in the number of diversified consumers, the electric-distribution system
structures are becoming complex, and the magnitude of the fault current is increasing. In this study,
the characteristics of the distribution system with a double circuit were analyzed using symmetrical
component calculus for asymmetrical faults, including single or double line-to-ground and
line-to-line faults. I1 in the feeder that had a single line-to-ground fault uniformly increased,
indicating that the motor torque was maintained as it was. I0, which flows in the case of single or
double line-to-ground faults, causes electromagnetic induction to the communication lines. It hardly
flows in the case of double line-to-line faults, but its impact on the sound feeder can also cause
electromagnetic inductive disturbance. The lower load impedance of the feeder that had a fault led to
a higher I1 and to an increase in the phase angle (). Therefore, pull-out of the motor could occur.
1. Introduction
The current distribution systems employ radial systems and network-type protective relays to stably
provide electricity to many diverse loads. The radial system must minimize the impact of the
disturbance of a specific feeder on other feeders, and must promptly separate it from the sound
feeders. The disturbances in the feeder include symmetrical or asymmetrical faults therein, internal
faults in the transformers and circuit breakers, and external faults due to lightning discharge. To
address the disturbance problems, studies are being conducted in many sectors, including high-speed
circuit breakers and circuit-reclosing methods, to promptly separate the feeder that has a fault [1-7].
In this paper, transient analysis of a distribution system with a double circuit was conducted using
symmetrical-component calculus, assuming an asymmetrical fault, such as a single or double
line-to-ground fault or a double line-to-line fault. As the load impedances of the complex
radial-distribution systems differ, the load impedance of the feeder was varied in the experiment.
2. Symmetrical Components Calculus
Asymmetrical faults such as single or double line-to-ground and line-to-line faults frequently occur in
the distribution system, and symmetrical-component calculus is often used to analyze such
three-phase asymmetrical faults. The fault current in each phase (IR, IS, and IT) is decomposed into
symmetrical-sequence components, as shown in eq. 1, using vector operator a [7].
1
1
I1 = 1
3
I2
1
I0

978-1-61275-005-7/10/$25.00 2012 IERI

1
a
a2

1 IR
a2 IS
a IT

320

(1)

ICFEPES2012

where ,

1
3
a = 1120 = + j
2
2

1
3
a = 1240 = j
2
2

and 1 + a + a 2 = 0 .

The zero-sequence current (I0) is the single-phase current that has an equal magnitude and phase
angle, and that causes electromagnetic inductive disturbance. The positive-sequence current (I1) has
the same phase sequence as the symmetrical three-phase AC power and generates the torque when it
flows in the motor. Meanwhile, the negative-sequence current (I2) has a reverse sequence to the
symmetrical three-phase AC power and generates breaking power in the motor, reducing the motor
power.
3. Experimental Setting
Fig. 1 shows a double circuit that was configured to simulate the asymmetrical faults in the feeder in
the complex radial-distribution system. A CB supplies the power to the feeder in the figure. LOAD_1
and LOAD_2 are the impedances of the load and are represented in the form of R+jL. To simulate the
line-to-ground and line-to-line faults in Feeder_1, LOAD_1 was shorted for five cycles at point A.
The impedance in the feeder when an asymmetrical fault occurred at point A is LINE in the form of
R3+jL3. The asymmetrical faults at point A were single or double line-to-ground faults and double
line-to-line faults. LINE represents the impedance in the feeder after the occurrence of the fault.
BUS

LINE
R3

Feeder_1

I1

I2

LOAD_1

L3

R1

CB_1

CB

V
3 380V

LOAD_2

Feeder_2

Tr
380/240

I3

L1

CB_2

R2

L2

Fig. 1. Configuration of a power distribution line with two feeders.

Table 1 shows the load and line impedance values. The load impedances of the complex radialdistribution systems differ. Therefore, the load impedance of the sound phase and the load and line
impedances of the phase that had a fault were determined to have the following conditions.
1. In case of the normal condition
[Case_1] LOAD _ 1 + LINE > LOAD _ 2
[Case_2] LOAD _ 1 + LINE = LOAD _ 2
[Case_3] LOAD _ 1 + LINE < LOAD _ 2
2. In case of the fault condition
LOAD _ 2 = R 2 + jL 2
LINE = R 3 + jL 3

Table 1. An example of a table.

Parameters
R1+jL1 (LOAD_1)
R2+jL2 (LOAD_2)
R3+jL3 (LINE)

Resistance []
10.27
15.27
20.27
25.24
5.24
321

Impedance [mH]
2.19
2.11
1.1

4. Experimental Results and Discussions

A distribution line that had a double circuit was established to simulate asymmetrical faults, such as
single or double line-to-ground faults or line-to-line faults. Fig. 2 shows the current flowing in
Feeder_1 and Feeder_2 according to the fault type. For a single line-to-ground fault on phase R in Fig.
2(a), only the phase R current in Feeder_1 that had a fault increased from 13 to 41 A. The magnitude
of the current was determined by the line and ground resistance to the fault point. The sound phases
(S and T) were not affected by the single line-to-ground fault. The current flowing through the
grounding wire due to the line-to-ground fault, IN, is the sum of the currents in the phases.
Accordingly, it is zero before the occurrence of the fault if the three phases are balanced. When an
asymmetrical fault such as a line-to-ground fault occurs, however, a current flows in the grounding
wire due to the fault current (28 A). For the double line-to-ground fault in Fig. 2(b), the currents in the
two phases of Feeder_1 that had a fault increased to 41 and -36.6 A. As in the single line-to-ground
fault, the sound phase was not affected. The current in the grounding wire increased to 25.9 A. For the
double line-to-ground fault between phases R and S in Fig. 2(c), the currents in the two phases of
Feeder_1 that had a fault increased to 37 and -35.8 A. In addition, the current in the sound phase
increased from 13 to 15.7 A. In the case of the line-to-line fault, no current flowed in the grounding
wire. The line-to-line fault caused no fault current in the grounding wire and affected the sound
phase.
Fig. 3 shows the difference in the current in the sound phase (T) before and after the occurrence of
a double line-to-ground fault (R and S), according to the feeder impedance difference. The lower the
impedance of Feeder_1 was before the occurrence of the line-to-line fault, the higher the fault current
in the phase that had a fault. The current in the sound phase also increased. In the case of the line-to50

IN
IR2
IR3

50

IS2
IS3

Current [A]

IT2 : Currents in the feeder_1

IT3 : Currents in the feeder_2

-25

-50

25

50 20

30

40

50

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

60

70

80

90

100

-25
-50
20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Current [A]

Current [A]

25

25
0
-25

Time [msec]
-50
20

Time [msec]

Fig. 2. Current curves flowing into the Feeder_1 and Feeder_2. (a) Single line-to-ground fault, (b) Double line-to-ground
fault, (c) Double line-to-line fault.
18

[Case 1]
[Case 1]

[Case 2]
[Case 2]

[Case 3] : Feeder_1
[Case 3] : Feeder_2

Different of Voltages [V]

16

14

12

10

Before the fault

After the fault

Fig. 3. Difference in the voltages of the sound phases according to the CASEs in the case of double line-to-line faults.
322

40

40

I0

I1

I2 : Feeder_1

0
-20
-40
40 20

30

40

50

60

70

I0

80

I1

90

100

I2 : Feeder_2

20
0

Symmetrical Components [A]

Symmetrical Components [A]

I0

I1

60

70

I2 : Feeder_1

20

20

-20

0
-20
-40
40 20

30

40

50

I0

80

I1

90

100

I2 : Feeder_2

20
0
-20

-40

-40
20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Time [msec]

Time [msec]
40

I0

I1

60

70

I2 : Feeder_1

Symmetrical Components [A]

20
0
-20
-40
40 20

30

40

50

I0

80

I1

90

100

I2 : Feeder_2

20
0
-20
-40
20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Time [msec]

Fig. 4. Symmetrical components of each feeder according to the fault types. (a) single line-to-ground fault (phase R), (b)
double line-to-ground fault (phases R and S), (c) double line-to-line fault (phases R and S).

line fault, the fault current did not flow in the grounding wire, unlike in the case of the grounding
faults, and the phase that had a fault affected the sound phase, increasing the current.
The asymmetric faults in the three-phase power system were analyzed using
symmetrical-component calculus. Fig. 4 show the results of the analysis of the currents in the feeder
when an asymmetrical fault occurred, classified into three symmetrical components. In the
equilibrium state before the occurrence of the fault, zero- and negative-sequence components did not
exist, and only the positive-sequence component existed. In the case of the asymmetrical fault,
however, the impedance of each phase occurred asymmetrically, leading to differences in the
symmetrical components. In the case of the single line-to-ground fault in Fig. 4 (a), the same phase
symmetrical component flows. The zero-sequence current I0 (9.5 A) in Feeder_1 is a single-phase
current that has the same magnitude and phase for each phase, which causes electromagnetic
induction to the communication lines. The positive-sequence current (I1), which has the same rotation
sequence direction as the power voltage and which generates the motor torque, and the
negative-sequence current (I2), which enables the braking of the motor, are 22.3 and 9.7 A,
respectively. In the case of the single line-to-ground fault, it was found, by comparing the currents
before and after the occurrence of the fault, that the load torque was maintained as it was. Current I1 in
the sound Feeder_2 was 9.9 A, indicating that the torque was also maintained on it.
When a double line-to-ground fault occurred as in Fig. 4 (b), however, I1 and I2 became 31 and 9.2
A, respectively, and I1 was higher than in the case with a single line-to-ground fault. Thus, the torque
increased in Feeder_1, which had a fault. This increased the phase angle of the motor rotor (), and
the motor might have deviated from the synchronous speed, and pull-out might have occurred, if the
angle had exceeded 90 degrees.
In the case of the double line-to-line fault in Fig. 4 (c), I1 and I2 were 27.7 and 7.6 A, respectively.
In this case, I1 was larger than that in the single line-to-ground fault, and the motor torque increased.
323

Positive Phase Current [A]

33

30

Single line-to-ground fault

Double line-to-ground fault
Double line-to-line fault

27

24

21

18

Case_1
R1=20[]

Case_2
R1=15[]

Case_3
R1=10[]

Fault Condition

Fig. 5. Change in I1 according to the load resistance of Feeder_1 by fault type.

Therefore, the pull-out of the motor was greater than that in the single line-to-ground fault when
the phase angle () exceeded 90 degrees.
It is shown in Fig. 4 that I0 of Feeder_1 is smallest in the case of the double line-to-line fault. In the
single or double line-to-ground faults, I0 (9 A) may cause electromagnetic disturbance to the nearby
communication lines. I0 in the double line-to-line fault was small at 2 A, however, and it might cause
less electromagnetic disturbance. I0 of 2 A appeared in the sound Feeder_2, indicating that even a
sound feeder was affected, unlike in the cases of other asymmetrical faults.
Fig. 5 shows the curve that represents the change in I1 for three cycles by fault type, according to
the load resistance of Feeder_1, which had a fault. The curve indicates that I1 is largest in the case of
double line-to-ground faults. In addition, it was found that I1 in Case_3 was larger when the total
impedance of the feeder that had a fault was smaller than that of the sound feeder. This was because
of the line current in the sound phase. That is, according to the changes in the load impedance, a
IS-2 and a2 IT-2 changed in the case of single line-to-ground faults, and a2 IT-2 changed in the
case of double line-to-ground or line-to-line faults. Therefore, when a fault occurs in a feeder that has
a small load and line impedance, the motor phase angle () may increase with the increase in I1, and
the motor may lead to a pull-out. As a fault can occur in any feeder, it seems that the distribution
system must be designed in such a way that the total feeder impedance will be uniform.
5. Conclusion
The distribution lines are designed in complex radial structures. Assuming an asymmetrical fault in
the feeder, the changes in the symmetrical current according to the changes in the load impedance of
each feeder were analyzed. In the case of single or double line-to-ground faults, the phase that had a
fault did not affect the sound phase, but it did in the case of double line-to-line faults. The impact was
stronger when the total impedance of the feeder that had a fault was smaller. The components of the
asymmetrical fault were analyzed using symmetrical-component calculus. I1 in the feeder that had a
single line-to-ground fault uniformly increased before and after the occurrence of the fault, indicating
that the motor torque was maintained as it was. In the case of double line-to-ground or line-to-line
faults, however, I1 increased more than 2.5 times. This increased the phase angle of the motor rotor
(), and if the angle had exceeded 90 degrees, the motor might have deviated from the synchronous
speed, and pull-out might have occurred. I0, which flows in the case of single or double
line-to-ground faults, causes electromagnetic induction to the communication lines. It hardly flows in
the case of double line-to-line faults, but its impact on the sound feeder can also cause
electromagnetic inductive disturbance. A lower load impedance of a feeder that has a fault leads to a
324

higher I1 and to an increase in the phase angle (); therefore, pull-out of the motor can occur. As a
fault can occur in any feeder, it seems that the load and line impedances of the feeders in the
distribution system must be designed in such a way that they will be uniform.
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science Technology (MEST)
and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the Human Resource Training Project for
Regional Innovation.
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[2] Dr. Jawad Talaq, Complex and Multiple Unsymmetrical Fault Analysis, Power Engineering
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With the symmetrical components theory to Control Unbalanced and Non-Sinusoidal Three
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