FAULT ANALYSIS (SHORT-CIRCUIT ANALYSIS)

Definition of Fault
The IEEE Std 100-1992 states that the fault is a physical condition that causes a device, a component, or
an element to fail to perform in a required manner, for example a short-circuit, a broken wire or an
intermittent connection.


Causes of Fault
A faulty condition can be considered as any abnormal conditions arising from the weakening in insulation
level between the phase conductor and the earth or other phases causing a flow of current between the two
points.

We could classify the various faults in two broad categories.
Faults under normal operating voltage as a result of insulation failure that deteriorates with aging or
time or unforeseen hazards or circumstances; e.g. birds, kites, monkeys, bats, lightning etc

Faults under abnormal voltages such as circulating voltage or currents, human error due to switching,
lightings etc.


Effect of Fault
The most serious of a fault condition is the fire and heat generated as a result.

All components in power systems are generally interconnected between one and another.

The followings are some of the effects that can result from the above-mentioned fault conditions:
A large voltage drop in the system leading to simultaneous fault conditions in other parts of the
system when the loads try to consume more current to maintain the power requirements. This in
particular exists when the loads are in the form of electric motors under load condition.
Effects on other components or lines as a result of high current passing through.
Disturbance to stability of system leading to total shutdown.
Substantial voltage dip in pressure coil of protection relays leading to possible malfunctions of the
protection system and other associated effects.



Types of Fault



BASIC TERMINOLOGY

Short-circuit Current
A number of associated terminologies exists with the study of fault analysis; i.e. fault level, fault current,
fault MVA, shot-circuit ratio or short-circuit impedance.

All above terminologies can be summarized by using the following relationship in per unit and are as
follows:


I
sc
=
E
s
X
s


Where X
s
is the equivalent thevenin impedance of the system seen from the point of fault as shown in
Figure 1.



Figure 1. Terminal Fault

In other words it is represented by an equivalent thevenin circuit with one AC source of 1.0 pu with a
thevenin impedance X
s


We always assume
E
s
= 1.u pu

Actual Fault MVA
Actuol Foult HIA, HIA
P uct
= (I
ut pont ]uuIt n pu
)(I
sc
) X HIA
busc


Actual Short-circuit Current

I
sc uctuuI
=
HIA
P uct
S x I
busc ut pont ]uuIt



Example 1
A 300MVA generator supplies two synchronous motors rated at 200MVA and 100MVA respectively
over 100km transmission line having transformers at both ends. Draw a per unit reactance diagram for the
system shown in Figure 2, taking 300MVA as the MVA and the voltage reference as indicated in Zone A.
Subsequently calculate;
i. The per unit symmetrical fault current
ii. Actual fault MVA and fault current.

(Answer will be discussed in class)


Figure 2: Example 1








Example 2
Figure 3 represent a typical power system with three 11kV generators A, B and C feeding load at point M
at 132kV. The per-unit values are expressed in terms of 500MVA with voltage at transformer T
A
as
reference. Determine the three-phase fault current and fault MVA for a fault occurring at point M,
assuming that the terminal voltage of the generator is 1 pu. Convert all parameter values to per-unit before
performing calculations and finally find the per-unit symmetrical fault current, actual fault MVA and
actual fault current.

(Answer will be discussed in class)



Figure 3: Example 2