AS 3851—1991

Australian Standard

The calculation of short-circuit

currents in three-phase
a.c. systems
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 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee EL/7, Power Switchgear. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 7 August 1990 and
published on 13 May 1991.

The following interests are represented on Committee EL/7:

Australian British Chamber of Commerce
Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association
Confederation of Australian Industry
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Institution of Engineers, Australia
Railways of Australia Committee
Testing Authorities
Workcover Authority, New South Wales

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australi an Standards are subject
to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editi ons as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest editi on, and any
amendments thereto.
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Full detail s of all Australi an Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australi a
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australian
Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives detail s of new publi cati ons, new edit ions
and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
Suggesti ons for improvements to Australi an Standards, addressed to the head off ice of Standards Australi a,
are welcomed. Noti fi cati on of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 88077.

 AS 3851—1991

Australian Standard

The calculation of short-circuit

currents in three-phase
a.c. systems

First publi shed as AS 3851—1991.

Incorporating:
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Amdt 1—1992

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 6515 2
 AS 3851—1991 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Power Switchgear, in response
to requests from the industry for standard methods suitable for both manual and computer calculation
of prospective short-circuit currents.
It is based technically on the following IEC documents and acknowledgement is made of the
assistance received from these documents:
73(Central Office)5: Draft—Short-circuit calculation in three-phase a.c. systems
73(Central Office)17: Draft—Application guide for the calculation of short-circuit currents in low-
voltage radial systems neglecting the influence of motors
IEC 865: Calculation of the effects of short-circuit currents
The editorial presentation of this Standard does not follow these IEC documents but adopts a concise
and systematic approach which should be more readily understood by non-specialist electrical
engineers and students of electrical engineering.
The calculation procedure is divided into two basic steps—
(a) calculating the impedances of the circuit elements from their characteristics independent of the
fault; and
(b) the calculation of fault currents from the fault voltage and impedances.
This Standard is concerned with the calculation of the current in the fault. The distribution of resulting
currents in the network would need to be determined from detailed circuit analysis.
The major differences between this Standard and the above IEC documents are as follows:
(i) The IEC concept of a power station unit has been deleted, generators and transformers being
treated independently. This results in a different treatment of faults around power station units.
(ii) The concept of I 2 t (joule integral) of the short-circuit has been substituted for the thermal
equivalent short-circuit current in IEC 865, which permits a uniform presentation of results with
regard to both fuse and circuit-breaker characteristics.
(iii) The reader is provided with data to be assumed in the absence of known data. This is
particularly useful for calculations requiring zero-sequence data.
(iv) Values of the voltage factor (c) have been chosen to be representative of Australian practice.
(v) A more general equation has been provided for overhead line impedance.
(vi) Figure 8.2 for determination of the type of short-circuit producing the highest current when the
phase angles of the sequence impedances are equal, has been redrawn to cover a wider range,
allowing an improved appreciation of the relative significance of line-to-line-earth faults.
(vii) Appendix A has been included to cover standard calculations on a per unit basis.
(viii) Appendix C has been included showing equivalent circuits for the determination of zero-
sequence short-circuit currents in transformers.
(ix) The Appendices D and E provide different examples for the calculation of short-circuit currents
on ohmic and per unit bases respectively.
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 3 AS 3851—1991

CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.2 Referenced documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2 NOTATION
2.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2 Quantity symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

3 CHARACTERISTICS OF SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

4 OUTLINE OF METHOD OF CALCULATION

4.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ....... . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 8

4.2 Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. ..... . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 11
4.3 Method of calculation . . . . . . . . . .. . .... ... . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 11
4.4 Conversion of impedances, currents and voltages . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 11

5 MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS

5.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.2 Maximum short-circuit currents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.3 Minimum short-circuit currents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6 METHOD OF SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS

6.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6.2 Short-circuit impedances at the short-circuit location (F) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

7 IMPEDANCES, REACTANCES AND RESISTANCES OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

7.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
7.2 Source networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
7.3 Transformers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7.4 Cables and overhead lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7.5 Synchronous motors and compensators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
7.6 Asynchronous motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
7.7 Static converter fed drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
7.8 Synchronous generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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7.9 Series reactors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

7.10 Series capacitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
7.11 Shunt capacitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

8 CALCULATION OF SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS IN THE FAULT

8.1 Far-from-generator short-circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... 22
8.2 Near-to-generator short-circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... 22
8.3 Meshed and radial systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... 22
8.4 Initial symmetrical r.m.s value (I k″ ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . .. . 24
8.5 Peak short-circuit current (i p ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... 29
8.6 Breaking current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . .. . 30
8.7 Steady-state short-circuit current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... 33
8.8 Joule integral I 2 t of a short-circuit current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... 35
9 INFLUENCE OF MOTORS
9.1 Synchronous motors and synchronous compensators . . . . . . . . . .. ..... ..... 35
9.2 Asynchronous motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... ... 35
9.3 Static converter fed drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 39
 AS 3851—1991 4

Page

10 DISTRIBUTION OF SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS IN NETWORKS FEEDING THE

FAULT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

APPENDICES
A CALCULATIONS ON A PER UNIT BASIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 40
B DETERMINATION OF GEOMETRIC MEAN RADIUS GMR FOR USE IN
EQUATION 7.15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 44
C EQUIVALENT CIRCUITS FOR DETERMINATION OF ZERO SEQUENCE
SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS IN TRANSFORMERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 46
D WORKED EXAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 48
E WORKED EXAMPLE IN PER UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 79
F NOTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 86
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 5 AS 3851—1991

FOREWORD

The purpose of this Standard is to standardize a general, practicable and concise procedure for the
calculation of short-circuit currents in electrical installations leading to conservative results with
sufficient accuracy. For this purpose, the current is computed by considering an equivalent voltage
source applied to the installation at the short-circuit location, with all other sources set to zero (see
Clause 5). The procedure is suitable for computation by manual methods, analogue simulators (e.g.
network analysers) or digital computers.
Other methods employing more complex models or those based on tests conducted on an existing
installation are not excluded provided they give at least the same precision. For example, in existing,
low voltage systems it is possible to determine the short-circuit and hence the prospective short-circuit
current, on the basis of measurements at the prospective short-circuit location.
While the measurement methods are limited to existing installations, calculation methods based on the
rated characteristics of electrical equipment and the topological arrangement of the system have
application to both existing systems and to systems at the planning stage.
The standard procedure consists of a basic conservative method with variations to give higher
accuracy when necessary, such as when the fault level is close to equipment ratings. The procedure
is varied according to—
(a) whether or not the short-circuit current is significantly influenced by generators and motors; and
(b) the requirements for increased accuracy of short-circuit calculation.
Two different short-circuit currents are calculated which differ in their magnitude—
(i) the maximum short-circuit current which determines the necessary capacity or rating of electrical
equipment; and
(ii) the minimum short-circuit current which can be a basis for assessing the adequacy of protection
sensitivity and the application of fuses having minimum breaking current limitations.
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 AS 3851—1991 6

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
The calculation of short-circuit currents in three-phase a.c. systems

1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 Scope This Standard specifies a standardized procedure for the calculation of prospective short-
circuit currents in the fault for—
(a) low voltage a.c. systems; and
(b) high voltage three-phase a.c. systems, operating at a nominal frequency of 50 Hz.
The procedure is intended to be, as far as possible, in a form to facilitate its use by non-specialist
engineers.
NOTE: The procedure is applicable generally to other fr equencies close to 50 Hz; however, care should be exercised in the
use of fr equency-dependent factors.
Except in Appendix A, the basis of the calculation procedure in this Standard is ohmic. Appendix A
converts this procedure to per-unit calculation.
NOTE: Worked examples are provided in Appendices D and E on ohmic and per unit basis respectively.
The current, calculated in this Standard forms the basis for the determination of the currents in the
paths feeding the fault.
This Standard specifies a standardized method for the calculation of the joule integral (I 2 t) of a short-
circuit current.
This Standard does not cover—
(i) short-circuits deliberately created under controlled conditions as in short-circuit testing stations;
(ii) short-circuits in the electrical installations of ships and aircraft;
(iii) non-simultaneous short-circuits, which can lead to higher aperiodic components of short-circuit
current; or
(iv) methods for analysis of short-circuit currents in non-linear systems.
1.2 Referenced documents The following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1824 Insulation coordination (phase-to-earth and phase-to-phase, above 1 kV)
1824.1 Part 1: Basic Principles, standard insulation levels and test procedures
2374 Power transformers
2374.1 Part 1: General requirements
2926 Standard voltages—Alternating (50 Hz) and direct
3008 Electrical installations—Selection of cables
3008.1 Part 1: Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 0.6/1 kV
1.3 Definitions For the purpose of this Standard the definitions below apply:
1.3.1 Short-circuit —accidental or intentional connection, by a relatively low resistance or impedance,
of two or more points in a circuit which are normally at different voltages.
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1.3.2 Short-circuit current—current resulting from a short-circuit due to a fault or an incorrect

connection in an electric circuit.
NOTE: It is necessary to disti nguish between the short- circuit current in the fault and the curr ents in the network branches.
1.3.3 Prospective short-circuit current—current that would flow if the short-circuit were replaced by
an ideal connection of negligible impedance without any change of the supply.
NOTES:
1. The curr ent in a mult iphase short- circuit is assumed to be made simult aneously in all fault ed phases.
2. ‘W it hout any change of the supply’ implies no operation of switchgear or current li miti ng swit ching devices such as
curr ent- li miti ng fuses or cir cuit -breakers.
1.3.4 Symmetrical short-circuit current—r.m.s. value of the a.c. symmetrical component of a
prospective short-circuit current (see Clause 1.3.3), the aperiodic component of current, if any, being
neglected.
1.3.5 Initial symmetrical short-circuit current (I k″ )—r.m.s. value of the a.c. symmetrical component
of a prospective (available) short-circuit current (see Clause 1.3.3) applicable at the instant of short-
circuit if the impedance remains at zero-time value (see Figure 3.1).
1.3.6 D.C. (aperiodic) component (i DC ) of short-circuit current—mean value of the top and bottom
of the envelope of a short-circuit current. This value decays from an initial value to zero as shown
in Figure 3.1.

COPYRIGHT
 AS 3851-1991 The calculation of short-circuit currents in
three-phase a.c. systems
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