Fault Analysis
Introduction
A fault in a power system or circuit is a failure which interferes
with the normal flow of current
The faults are associated with abnormal change in current,
voltage and frequency of the power system
In general faults occur in power system networks due to
insulation failure of equipments, flashover of lines initiated by a
lightning stroke, or due to accidental faulty operation
Need for fault calculation
When the fault occur in a part of power system, heavy current flows in
that part of circuit which may cause permanent damage to the
equipments
The selection of the circuit breaker depends on the current flowing
immediately after the fault occurs
The estimation of these currents for various types of faults at various
locations in the system is called fault calculation
The data obtained from fault calculations are also used to determine the
settings of the relay which control the circuit breakers
Types of Faults
The faults can be broadly classified into
a ) S h u n t faults (short circuit)
b) Series faults (open conductors)
The shunt type of faults involves short circuit between conductor
and ground or short circuit between two or more conductors. The
shunt faults are characterized b y increase in current and fall in
voltage and frequency
The series faults may occur with one or two broken conductors
which creates open circuits. The series faults are characterized b y
increase in voltage and frequency and fall in current in the faulty
phase
Types of Faults (contd...)
Types of Faults (contd...)
Occurrence of faults in the power systems in the order of increasing is
as follows:
3-Phase fault - 5%
Double line to ground fault - 10%
Line to line fault - 15%
Single line to ground fault - 70%
Types of Faults (contd...)
The various faults in the order of increasing severity are as follows:
Open conductor fault
L-G fault
L-L fault
L-L-G fault
3-Ø fault
Symmetrical Faul t Analysis
That fault on the power system which gives rise to symmetrical
current (i.e. equal fault currents in the lines with 120 0 displacement) is
called a symmetrical fault.
The symmetrical fault occurs when all the three conductors of a
3-Ø line are brought together simultaneously into a short circuit
condition as shown in the Fig.
Symmetrical Faul t Anal ysis (contd...)
3-phase Fault :
The boundary conditions are
V a Vb Vc
Ia Ib Ic 0
The Symmetrical fault conditions are
analyzed on per phase basis using
Thevenin’s Theorem or Bu s Impedance
Matrix
Sequence Components
An unbalanced system of ‘n’ related vectors can be resolved into ‘n’
system of balanced vectors called Symmetrical components of original
vectors
In a Three phase system, the three unbalanced vectors either Va, V b , Vc
or Ia, I b , Ic can be resolved into three balanced system of vectors. The
vectors of the balanced system are called Symmetrical components of the
original system
The symmetrical components of Three Phase system are as follows:
Positive Sequence Components
Negative Sequence Components
Zero Sequence Components
Sequence Components (contd…)
1. Positive sequence components:
Equal in magnitude
120 degrees phase angle exists with same phase sequence of original vectors
occurs before and after fault
Importance: Relay and circuit breaker operates on positive sequence
components
2. Negative sequence components:
Equal in magnitude
120 degrees phase angle exists with opposite phase sequence of original
vectors
Occurs only during fault
Importance: Synchronous Generator is protected from
unbalanced condition by using negative sequence relay
Sequence Components (contd…)
3. Zero sequence components:
Equal in magnitude, No phase difference
Occurs only when neutral is grounded and fault occurred with
grounded
Importance:
zero sequence components are used in the calculation of leakage Flux.
Sequence Components (contd…)
Sequence Components (contd…)
The symmetrical components for voltages are derived as follows :
Va 1 1 1 Va0
V 1 a 2
b = a .V a1
Vc 1 a a Va2
2
Va0 1 1 1 Va
V 1 1 a a 2 Vb
a1 3
Va2 1 a
2
a Vc
Sequence Components (contd…)
The symmetrical components for currents can be expressed as follows:
Ia 1 1 1 I a0
I = 1 a 2
b a . I a1
Ic 1 a a I a 2
2
I a0 1 1 1 I a
I 1 1 a a 2 I b
a1 3
I a 2 1 a 2 a I c
Sequence Networks
Va0 0 Z0 0 0 Ia0
V E 0 Z1 0 I a1
a1 a
Va2 0 0 0 Z 2 Ia2
Zero Sequence Networks of Transformer
Series and Sh un t switch connections for Delta and Star windings of
Transformers are represented as follows:
consider a Transformer connected with star grounded as shown
in the following Fig.
Since, the primary is delta connected, the shun t switch of primary
side is closed and the series switch is left open
Secondary is star grounded, therefore the series switch is closed and
the shunt switch is left open.
Zero Sequence Networks of Transformer ( contd…)
S.No Winding symbol Zero sequence equivalent circuit
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Unsymmetrical Fault Analysis
The faults on the power system which give rise to unsymmetrical
fault currents (i.e. unequal fault currents in the lines with unequal
phase displacement) are known as unsymmetrical faults.
O n the occurrence of a n unsymmetrical fault, the currents in the
three lines become unequal and so there is a phase displacement
among them.
There are three ways in which unsymmetrical faults may occur in a
power system
Single line-to-ground fault (L-G)
Line-to-line fault (L-L)
Double line-to-ground fault (L-L-G)
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd.)
Line to Ground Fault(L-G) :
Ca se (a): Without fault impedance
Let u s assume a n L-G fault occurs on phase-a as shown below
The boundary conditions are
V a =0; I b =0; I c =0
The fault current is
If=Ia
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
The fault current is given by
3Ea
If = Ia = 3I a1 =
Z0 Z1 Z2
The sequence network
equations are given by,
Va0 Ia0 Z0
Va1 Ea Ia1Z1
Va2 Ia 2 Z2
Fig: The equivalent circuit of
generator during L-G fault
Unsymmetrical Fault Analysis ( contd…)
Case (b): With fault impedance (Zf) :
Let u s assume an L-G fault occurs on phase-a as shown below
The boundary conditions are
V a = IaZf ; I b =0; I c =0
The fault current is
If = I a
Unsymmetrical Faul t Analysis ( contd...)
The fault current is
If = I a = I a0 +I a1 +I a2 =3I a1
3Ea
If = I a = 3I a1 = Z Z Z 3Z
0 1 2 f
The sequence network equations are
given by
Va0 I a0 Z0
Va1 Ea Ia1Z1
Va2 I a 2 Z2
Fig: Equivalent circuit of generator
during L-G fault with fault
impedance
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
Line to line Fault (L-L) :
Case (a): Without fault impedance
Let u s assume a n L-L fault occurs on phase-b and phase-c as shown
below
The boundary conditions are
Vb Vc , Ia 0
Ib Ic 0 Ib Ic
Unsymmetrical Fault Analy sis (contd…)
The fault current is given by
j 3Ea
I f Ib j 3Ia1
Z1 Z2
The sequence network equations
are given by
Va1=Va2
Ea Ia1Z1 Ia2Z2
Ea Ia1Z1 Ia2Z2 Ia1 Z1 Z2
Fig: The equivalent circuit of
generator during L-L fault
without fault impedance
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
Case (b): With fault impedance :
Let u s assume a n L – L fault occurs on phase-b and phase-c as shown
below
The boundary conditions are
V b V c Ib Z f , I a 0
Ib I c 0 Ib I c
Unsymmetrical Fault Anal ysis (contd.)
The fault current is given by
j 3Ea
I f Ib j 3I a1
Z1 Z 2
The sequence network equations are given by
Va1 Va 2 Ia1Z f
Ea Ia1Z1 Ia 2 Z 2 Ia1Z f Fr om sequence network quations
Fig: The equivalent circuit of
generator during L-L fault with
fault impedance
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
Double line to ground fault (L-L-G fault ) :
Case (a): Without fault impedance
The boundary conditions are given by
Vc 0,Vb 0, Ia 0
The fault current is
I f Ib Ic
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
The fault current is given by
I f Ib Ic
Fig: The equivalent circuit of generator during L-L-G
fault without fault impedance
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
Case(b): With fault impedance (Zf)
The boundary conditions are
Ia 0
Vb Vc Ib Ic Z f 3Ia 0 Z f
Unsymmetrical Fault Ana lysis (contd…)
The fault current is given by
I f Ib Ic 3Ia0
Fig: The equivalent circuit of generator
during L-L-G fault with fault impedance
Previous years G A T E questions
Q.No.1:
A Three-phase,50 Hz. 4-Pole Induction motor is supplied through an
unbalanced source, the frequency of circulating currents that are
induced in rotor due to negative sequence components flux is 98 Hz.
Calculate the speed of Induction Motor
Sol:
Frequency of circulating current = Rotor frequency-(-Stator frequency)
98 = Rotor frequency + 50
Rotor frequency = 98-50
= 48 hz
Speed of Induction Motor = 120*48/4
= 144 RPM
Previous years G A T E questions (contd…)
Q.No.2:
Four Generators are connected in parallel having rating of each
generator is 100 MVA,11KV, Z 1 =0.12 pu. A symmetrical fault takes
place at common busbar. The short circuit MVA of fault is
Sol:
Short circuit MVA = MVA base/Z 1 eq.
Z 1 eq. = (0.12/4) =0.03
Hence Short circuit MVA = 100/0.03 = 3333.33
Previous years G A T E questions (contd…)
Q.No. 3:
The sequence impedance of generator in pu are Z 1 =Z 2 =0.15, Z 0 =0.05. The neutral of
generator is grounded by impedance. The fault current of L G fault is same as that of LLL
fault. The per unit impedance of neutral grounding i s … . .
Previous years G A T E questions (contd…)
Q.No. 4:
The positive negative and zero sequence impedance of 125 MVA, Three phase, 15.5KV Star
grounded, 50 Hz generator are j0.1 pu, j0.05pu, j0.01pu respectively on machine rating base.
The machine is unloaded and working at rated terminal voltage. If grounding impedance of
generator is j0.01pu, then calculate magnitude of fault current in KA, for a B-phase to
ground.
Previous years G A T E questions (contd…)
Q.No. 5:
The sub-transient current of an Alternator for a balanced fault is 20 pu. A Series
Reactor is connected to the Alternator to reduce the sub-transient current is 5.0
pu. The Reactance of the Reactor in pu i s…
