DuBois Regional Medical Center

West Wing Addition

Fault Current Study

Introduction:

A fault current analysis is probably one of the most crucial calculations of the electrical
design process. This analysis allows designers to find the maximum available fault current at
different points in the electrical system. The fault current found is then used to design and
specify electrical components that can withstand the tremendous forces of faults without harming
occupants and without damaging equipment. These faults are short circuit conditions in which
the normal level of current flow is suddenly increased by a factor of hundreds or even thousands,
which is a deadly magnitude. For the purpose of this study, a critical path was selected in the
new addition that started at the utility pole and ended up at a distribution panel that serves branch
circuits. The crucial path that was selected ended up at the distribution panel WWNEC3L which
is used to provide power to one of the C-section delivery rooms.

Procedure:

In order to perform a fault current analysis, you first have to obtain some information
from the utility, manufacturers, and the designer. The information needed to perform this
process is as follows:
KVA Rating of Utility
%Z & X/R Ratings of the Transformers
Critical Path Wire Information (Length, Type, # Sets)
The basic process of a fault current analysis is summing each component (transformers and
conductors) together to get a total impedance at a particular point along the path. In order to sum
these impedances, the individual resistances and reactances of all the components must first be
summed.
To start the calculations, the effective impedance of the utility on the secondary side of
the main transformer must initially be determined. Next, the impedance of the transformer must
be added to the utility impedance to find the short circuit current rating of the transformer. After
finding the short circuit rating for the transformer you can move on down the line to the
substation panelboard. To find the short circuit rating at this point, just add in the impendence of
the feeder running from the transformer to the panel and calculate accordingly. The rest of the
critical branch can be calculated this way (by adding impedances of the components to the
previous total impedance).

Benjamin Ardary - 91 –
2005 Lighting/Electrical Thesis
 DuBois Regional Medical Center
West Wing Addition

NEC Code Requirements:

Section 110.9. Interrupting Rating. Fuses, Breakers and Disconnect Switches intended to
interrupt fault current shall have an interrupting rating greater than the maximum available fault
current available at the line side of the device. The fault current shall be determined at nominal
system voltage.

Section 110.10. Circuit Impedance and Other Characteristics. The over-current protective
devices, the total impedance, the component short-circuit current ratings, and circuit
characteristics shall permit circuit clearing without extensive damage to the electrical
components of the circuit.

Equations Used:

Utility Impedance:
KV 2 ×106 ⎛ X⎞
ZUTIL = = mΩ X UTIL = Z UTIL × sin ⎜ tan −1 ⎟ = mΩ
KVAUTIL ⎝ R⎠

⎛ X⎞
RUTIL = Z UTIL × cos⎜ tan −1 ⎟ = mΩ
⎝ R⎠

Transformer Impedances:
⎛ X⎞
KV 2 × % Z × 10 4 × cos⎜ tan −1 ⎟
⎝ R⎠
R xfrmr = = mΩ
KVA xfrmr
⎛ X⎞
KV 2 × % Z × 10 4 × sin ⎜ tan −1 ⎟
⎝ R⎠
X xfrmr = = mΩ
KVA xfrmr

Conductor Impedances:
L 1
L 1 Rconductor = ×X× = mΩ
Rconductor = × R× = mΩ 100 # sets
100 # sets

Fault Current Rating:

Vline − neutral × 1000
I SC = = Amps
Z total

Benjamin Ardary - 92 –
2005 Lighting/Electrical Thesis
 DuBois Regional Medical Center
West Wing Addition

Results:

Conductor Impedances
# Length R X Rcond. Xcond.
Segment Sets Size (ft) (mΩ/100ft) (mΩ/100ft) (mΩ) (mΩ)
500
1 1 KCMIL 15 2.44 3.17 0.366 0.4755
500
2 1 KCMIL 15 2.44 3.17 0.366 0.4755
500
3 11 KCMIL 20 2.44 3.17 0.044 0.058
500
4 9 KCMIL 200 2.44 3.17 0.542 0.705
500
5 3 KCMIL 25 2.44 3.17 0.203 0.264
500
6 3 KCMIL 10 2.44 3.17 0.081 0.106
250
7 3 KCMIL 5 4.57 3.38 0.114 0.085
350
8 4 KCMIL 5 3.33 3.25 0.042 0.041
9 1 4/o 120 5.34 3.31 6.408 3.972

Transformer Impedances
Primary Seconday Rxfrmr Xxfrmr
xfrmr V V KVA %Z X/R (mΩ) (mΩ)
A 34400 4100 3750 5 6.73 39.53 266.04
B 4100 480 2500 5.75 5.91 0.884 5.06
C 480 208 300 3.6 1.81 2.51 4.54

Summary of Results of Fault Analysis

Point Location Available Fault Std. Bkr. Rating
FA xfrmr A Secondary 9580 14000
FB Substation 9547 14000
FC xfrmr B Secondary 36924 50000
FD MDS-EPWW 36525 50000
FE MDP-WWGH 32965 35000
FF ATS-WW1G 34803 35000
FG DP-WWNECGH 35817 50000
FH xfrmr C Secondary 13675 14000
FI DP-WWNECGL 10520 14000
FJ WWNEC3LB 6475 10000

Benjamin Ardary - 93 –
2005 Lighting/Electrical Thesis