Short Circuit Calculations

The short-circuit current must be calculated at

each level in the installation in view of
determining the characteristics of the equipment
required to withstand or break the fault current.
-Two values of the short-circuit current must be
evaluated

1-The maximum short-circuit current, used to
determine:

A-The breaking capacity of the circuit breakers
B-The making capacity of the circuit breakers

2-The minimum short-circuit current, essential when
selecting the time-current curve for circuit breakers
and fuses, in particular when:

A-Cables are long and/or the source impedance is
relatively hig
B-Protection of life depends on circuit breaker or
fuse operation
Short-circuit Type Faults
3- Short-circuit Type Faults with Fault Impedance

Types of Faults

A-Symmetrical Faults

B- Unsymmetrical Faults

short-circuit (Isc) calculation procedure when designing an electrical installation.
Basic methods on short circuit calculations.
- The Direct method
- The per unit method
- The software method
- The point-to-point
method
- MVA method
Procedure

Step 1
X utility = (kV) 2 / MVASC
Step 2
X transformer = X P.U * (KV) 2 / MVArating
R transformer = R P.U* (KV) 2 / MVArating
Step 3
The impedance (in ohms) given for current transformers,
large switches and large circuit breakers is essentially all X,
but these impedances are negligible in the substation
A-Direct method
4 Step
Determine X T.L and RT.L

5 Step
X motor = X P.U * (KV) 2 / MVArating
R motor = R P.U* (KV) 2 / MVArating

6 Step
Determine impedance (in ohms) of the
system by:
ZT = (RT2 + XT2)
Step 7
Calculate short-circuit symmetrical RMS amperes at the point of fault.
IS.C. sym RMS = V line-line
3(ZT)
Step8
Calculate (X/R) ratio
Step 9
Calculate
- Instantaneous Peak Current = Ip =Is x Mp
- Asymmetrical RMS Short Circuit Current = Ia = Is x Mm
Step 10
Calculate ;
MVA breaking (sym.) =3 * V line-line * IS.C. sym RMS
MVA breaking (asym.) =3 * V line-line * Ia
MVA making = 3 * V line-line * Ip
Results of calculations
Summary of Short Circuit Calculations (Direct method)
20 kV
Bus Bar
66 kV
Bus Bar
220 kV
Bus Bar
Faulted
Bus
Item
21.29 10.042 9.514
I sym (kA)
31.349 15.465 14.889
I
asym
(kA)
53.2995 26.025 24.97
I
peak
(kA)
737.5 1147.89 3623.530
MVA
breaking sym
1085.96 2040.07 5778.26
MVA
breaking(asy)
1846.34 3448.32 9739.668
MVA
Making

B-Software method (using Easypower program)
1) three phase faults (L-L-L):

2) single line to ground faults (SLG):

3) line to line faults (L-L):

4) line to line to ground faults (L-L-G):