EEE4103 Power System Analysis

M.S.Muhit

4. Symmetrical 3 phase faults

4.1 Timing and protective systems
Time is measured in cycles where 1 cycle=1/60 of a second 0.0167 second. (f=60 Hz for this case).
Another important term is protection. A single protective system will have at least one circuit breaker,
one relay, and instrument transformers to measure electrical quantities on the power system.
Transmission lines generally have a protective system one each end of the line.
Following initiation of a fault, a properly operating circuit breaker will open the circuit after 4-8 cycles.

4.2 Fault and its types

A fault refers to a short circuit in a power system. Faults can be divided into two broad classes:
temporary and permanent faults.
Temporary faults cause momentary disruption, but the fault is cleared without protection operation.
The most common type of temporary faults are those from lightning.
Permanent faults cause sustained disruption if not cleared by protection. The most common permanent
fault types are associated with one or more of the following
Wind
Ice loading
Thermal heating and sag
Various rare events such as:
Trees growing into line
Automobile striking tower
Earthquakes
Flooding
Airplanes
The four most common ways are
1. Three phase (5%)
2. Single line to ground (70%)
3. Double line to ground (10%)
4. Line to line (15%)
Fault type 1 is special as it is symmetric (balanced 3 phases)! Whereas the other faults are asymmetrical
fault.
Problems caused by faults
Currents
Generator acceleration
Loss of component

EEE4103 Power System Analysis

M.S.Muhit

4.3 Transients in R-L circuits

A power transmission network is comprised of elements that have primarily resistance and inductance
only (there is some capacitance but it tends to be small compared to the inductance). It is informative,
therefore, to study the characteristics of an RL circuit. Our main goal in doing so is to see the
relationship between the DC and steady-state components of the current after a fault.

Fig 4.1 Typical R-L circuit

The current flowing when a generator is short circuited is similar to that flowing when an ac. Voltage is
suddenly applied to a R-L series circuit.

The solution of the equation after performing Laplace transformation, solving for , and taking partial
derivatives into account,

Where,

Time constant,

Dc offset + symmetrical (ac) =asymmetrical total

2

EEE4103 Power System Analysis

M.S.Muhit

The ms AC fault current,

Magnitude of dc offset depends on

When,

For the largest fault current,

Now, rms values of ,

Where,

EEE4103 Power System Analysis

M.S.Muhit

4.4 Three phase short circuit unloaded synchronous machine

If

, then we have no dc component.

So, When the switch is closed, very high current will flow instantly and after a few cycle the current will
be reduced due to the effect of back e.m.f of the armature.

Fig 4.2 Actual response of RL circuit with no dc component

Oa is maxm for the sustained short circuit current at steady state condition.

Nearer to O, the decrement is rapid for Ob. The transient current expression is given by,

The subtransient current is as follows:

Here,

EEE4103 Power System Analysis

M.S.Muhit

Problem 4.1
A bolted short circuit occurs in the series R-L circuit.
V=20 KV, R=0.8 , X=8
The breaker opens 3 cycle after the fault.
Find: (i) RMS ac fault current
(ii)
momentary for
cycle which pass
through the circuit breaker (CB) before it opens.
(iii) The RMS fault current which the breaker
interrupt.

GS
V

Solution:
(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Similarly,

Problem 4.2
Two generators are connected in parallel to the low-voltage side of a three-phase transformer , as
shown in figure 1 .
G1

G2

Generator 1: 50 MVA, 13.8kV, X=25% .

Generator 2: 25 MVA, 13.8kV, X=25%
Transformer: 75 MVA, 13.8 /69 Y kV,X= 10% .
Beforethe fault occurs , the voltage on the high-voltage side of the transformer is 66 kV . The
transformer is unloaded and there is no circulating current between the generator .
Find the subtransient current in each generator when a three-phase short circuit occurs of the highvoltage side of the transformer.
5

EEE4103 Power System Analysis

M.S.Muhit

Solution:
Let us consider the transformer rating as the base.
For generator 1,

For generator 2,

As no circulating current flows, both

and

have the same magnitude.

For transformer,
Eg1

Eg2

For faulted condition, the switch S is closed.

Now,

Solving for eq. 1 and 2,

The actual subtransient fault current,