Example of Fault Calculation
Below is a single line diagram for an equivalent system taken from [1]. This example makes a
few typical assumptions such ignoring resistance, load, etc. The flow of current is assumed
towards the fault. Most of the calculations are from [1] except for some added steps for clarity.
The network sequences are different from the ones in [1].
Point ‘F’ is the fault location which will be used later.
Input data from left to right:
Generator:
• Generator connected as a wye grounded through a resistor (R)
• 80MVA
• 13.8kV line-to-line
• 𝑋’’𝑑 = 𝑋2𝐺 = 16% on 80MVA, 13.8kV base
100
• 𝑋’’𝑑 = 𝑋2𝐺 = 16% ∗ = 20% on 100MVA, 13.8kV base
80
Generator Step Up (GSU) transformer (T1):
• 80MVA
• 13.8kV delta/115kV grounded wye
• 𝑍1 = 𝑍2 = 𝑍0 = 11% on transformer rating as a base
100
• 𝑍1 = 𝑍2 = 𝑍0 = 11% ∗ = 13.75% on 100MVA base
80
Transmission Line (G-H):
• Length: 30 miles
• 115kV
• X1 = X2 = 24Ω
• X0 = 82Ω
kV2 1152
• Zbase = 𝑀𝑉𝐴LL = = 132.25 Ω
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 100
24
• X1 = X2 = 100% ∗ 132.25 = 18.147% on 100MVA, 115kV base
82
• X0 = 100% ∗ 132.25 = 62.0% on 100MVA, 115kV base
Transformer (T2):
• 150MVA
• 230kV grounded wye/115kV grounded wye/13.2kV delta
• H: 230kV
• L: 13.2kV
• M: 115kV
• XHM = 5.5% on transformer rating base
• XHL = 36% on transformer rating base
• XML = 28% on transformer rating base
100
• XHM = 5.5% ∗ 150 = 3.667% on 100MVA base
100
• XHL = 36% ∗ 150 = 24% on 100MVA base
100
• XML = 28% ∗ 150 = 18.667% on 100MVA base
1 1
• 𝑋𝐻 = 2 ∗ (𝑋𝐻𝑀 + 𝑋𝐻𝐿 − 𝑋𝑀𝐿 ) = 2 ∗ (3.667 + 24 − 18.667) = 4.50%
1 1
• 𝑋𝑀 = 2 ∗ (𝑋𝐻𝑀 + 𝑋𝑀𝐿 − 𝑋𝐻𝐿 ) = 2 ∗ (3.667 + 18.667 − 24) = −0.833%
1 1
• 𝑋𝐿 = 2 ∗ (𝑋𝐻𝐿 + 𝑋𝑀𝐿 − 𝑋𝐻𝑀 ) = 2 ∗ (24 + 18.667 − 3.667) = 19.50%
Equivalent System:
• 230kV
• X1 = X2 = 3% on 100MVA, 230kV base
• X0 = 4% on 100MVA, 230kV base
Network sequences for a fault near Bus G:
‘F1’, ‘F2’, and ‘F0’ mean fault location of fault in positive, negative, and zero sequence network,
respectively.
Positive (+) Sequence Network:
Negative (-) Sequence Network:
Zero (0) Sequence Network:
Line-to-ground fault at point F near bus G, connecting the sequence networks:
The delta of T1 (GSU) acts as an open circuit in the zero-sequence network.
This circuit can be simplified by summing up (combining) series elements as shown below:
Equivalent positive sequence impedance at bus G:
(𝑗𝑋’’𝑑 + 𝑗𝑋𝑇1 ) 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ (𝑗𝑋1𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝐻𝑀 + 𝑗𝑋1𝑆 ), so equivalent positive sequence
impedance:
(𝑗𝑋’’ +𝑗𝑋 )∗(𝑗𝑋 +𝑗𝑋 +𝑗𝑋 ) 𝑗0.3375∗𝑗0.2481
𝑍1 = (𝑗𝑋’’ 𝑑+𝑗𝑋 𝑇1)+(𝑗𝑋1𝐺𝐻 +𝑗𝑋𝐻𝑀 +𝑗𝑋1𝑆 ) = 𝑗0.3375+𝑗0.2481
𝑑 𝑇1 1𝐺𝐻 𝐻𝑀 1𝑆
With ( j𝑋’’𝑑 + 𝑗𝑋𝑇1 ) = 𝑗20 + 𝑗13.75 = 𝑗33.75% = 𝑗0.3375 𝑝𝑢
( 𝑗𝑋1𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝐻𝑀 + 𝑗𝑋1𝑆 ) = 𝑗18.147 + 𝑗3.667 + 𝑗3 = 𝑗24.81% = 𝑗0.2481 𝑝𝑢
𝑍1 = 𝑗0.1430 𝑝𝑢
Equivalent negative sequence impedance at bus G:
𝑍2 = 𝑗0.1430 𝑝𝑢 (same as positive sequence except no voltage source)
Zero sequence impedance at bus G:
𝑗𝑋𝑇1 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ {(𝑗𝑋0𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝑀 ) + [(𝑗𝑋𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋0𝑆 ) 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑗𝑋𝐿 ]}
(𝑗𝑋 +𝑗𝑋 )∗𝑗𝑋
{(𝑗𝑋0𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝑀 ) + [(𝑗𝑋𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋0𝑆 ) 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑗𝑋𝐿 ]}=(𝑗𝑋0𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝑀 ) + (𝑗𝑋 𝐻+𝑗𝑋 0𝑆)+𝑗𝑋𝐿
𝐻 0𝑆 𝐿
(𝑗𝑋𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋0𝑆 ) ∗ 𝑗𝑋𝐿
𝑗𝑋𝑇1 ∗ [(𝑗𝑋0𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝑀 ) + ]
(𝑗𝑋𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋0𝑆 ) + 𝑗𝑋𝐿
𝑍0 =
(𝑗𝑋𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋0𝑆 ) ∗ 𝑗𝑋𝐿
𝑗𝑋𝑇1 + [(𝑗𝑋0𝐺𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋𝑀 ) + ]
(𝑗𝑋𝐻 + 𝑗𝑋0𝑆 ) + 𝑗𝑋𝐿
(𝑗4.5 + 𝑗4) ∗ 𝑗19.5
{𝑗13.75 ∗ [(𝑗62 − 𝑗0.833) + ]}
(𝑗4.5 + 𝑗4) + 𝑗19.5
𝑍0 =
(𝑗4.5 + 𝑗4) ∗ 𝑗19.5
𝑗13.75 + [(𝑗62 − 𝑗0.833) + ]
(𝑗4.5 + 𝑗4) + 𝑗19.5
𝑗13.75 ∗ 𝑗67.09 𝑗13.75 ∗ 𝑗67.09
𝑍0 = = = 𝑗11.41%
𝑗13.75 + 𝑗67.09 𝑗80.84
𝑍0 = 𝑗0.1141 𝑝𝑢
Redrawing with the equivalent sequence networks:
𝐼0 , 𝐼1 , 𝐼2 : zero, positive, and negative sequence currents
𝑉𝐺 1.0
𝐼0 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = = = 2.5 𝑝𝑢
𝑍0 + 𝑍1 + 𝑍 + 2 0.1141 + 0.1430 + 0.1430
𝐼0 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 2.5 𝑝𝑢
𝐼𝑎𝐹 = 3 ∗ 2.5 = 7.5 𝑝𝑢 (A-phase to ground fault current)
100𝑀𝑉𝐴
At Bus G: 𝐼𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 1.732∗115𝑘𝑉 = 502.06𝐴
𝐼𝑎𝐹 = 7.5 𝑝𝑢 ∗ 502.06 = 3765.45 𝐴
Current distributions:
For clarity, meshes (K), (s), (m), (n), (p), and (q) are depicted on the circuit above, which are used to
calculate various currents.
Positive Sequence network:
0.2481 0.2481
= 0.5856 = 0.4237 𝑝𝑢 of 𝐼0 will flow through mesh (k)
0.3375+0.2481
Mesh (k) current: 𝐼𝑘 = 0.4237 ∗ 2.5 = 1.05929 𝑝𝑢 ( 𝐼0 = 2.5 𝑝𝑢)
0.3375 0.3375
= 0.5856 = 0.5763 𝑝𝑢 of 𝐼0 will flow through mesh (s)
0.3375+0.2481
Mesh (s) current): 𝐼𝑠 = 0.5763 ∗ 2.5 = 1.44075 𝑝𝑢
Negative Sequence network:
0.2481 0.2481
= 0.5856 = 0.4237 𝑝𝑢 of 𝐼0 will flow through mesh (m)
0.3375+0.2481
Mesh (m) current: 𝐼𝑚 = 0.4237 ∗ 2.5 = 1.05929 𝑝𝑢
0.3375 0.3375
= 0.5856 = 0.5763 𝑝𝑢 will flow through mesh (n)
0.3375+0.2481
Mesh (n) current: 𝐼𝑛 = 0.5763 ∗ 2.5 = 1.44075 𝑝𝑢
Zero Sequence network:
0.6709 0.6709
= 0.8084 = 0.8299 𝑝𝑢 of 𝐼0 will flow through mesh (p)
0.1375+0.6709
Mesh (p) current: 𝐼𝑝 = 0.8299 ∗ 2.5 = 2.07475 𝑝𝑢
0.1375 0.1375
= 0.8084 = 0.1701𝑝𝑢 flow through mesh (q)
0.1375+0.6709
Mesh (q) current: 𝐼𝑞 = 0.1701 ∗ 2.5 = 0.42525 𝑝𝑢
A-phase-to-ground fault current: 𝐼𝑎𝐹 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼0
For each A-phase current in the system, the corresponding positive, negative, and zero
sequence currents would be added together.
A-phase current that would flow from the neutral of T1 to Bus G:
𝐼𝐾 + 𝐼𝑚 + 𝐼𝑝 = 1.05929 + 1.05929 + 2.07475
𝑰𝑲 + 𝑰𝒎 + 𝑰𝒑 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟗𝟑 𝒑𝒖
A-phase current that would flow from neutral of T2 (115kV) to bus G:
𝐼𝑠 + 𝐼𝑛 + 𝐼𝑞 = 1.44075 + 1.44075 + 0.42525
𝑰𝒔 + 𝑰𝒏 + 𝑰𝒒 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟎𝟕 𝒑𝒖
B-phase current:
𝐼𝑏 = 𝑎2 𝐼1 + 𝑎𝐼2 + 𝐼0 = 𝑎2 𝐼1 + 𝑎𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = (𝑎2 + 𝑎)𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = −𝐼1 + 𝐼0
C-phase current:
𝐼𝑐 = 𝑎𝐼1 + 𝑎2 𝐼2 + 𝐼0 = 𝑎𝐼1 + 𝑎2 𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = (𝑎2 + 𝑎)𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = −𝐼1 + 𝐼0
From T1 neutral to bus G:
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑐 = −𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = 𝐼𝐾 + 𝐼𝑃 = −1.05929 + 2.07475
𝑰𝒃 = 𝑰𝒄 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟓 𝒑𝒖
From T2 neutral (115kV) to bus G:
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑐 = −𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = −𝐼𝑠 + 𝐼𝑞 = −1.44075 + 0.42525
𝑰𝒃 = 𝑰𝒄 = −𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟓 𝒑𝒖
Current flow into T1 neutral: 𝐼𝑛,𝑇1 = 3 ∗ 2.07475 = 6.224 𝑝𝑢
Current flow into T2 (115kV) neutral: 𝐼𝑛,𝑇2 = 3 ∗ 0.42525 = 1.276 𝑝𝑢
𝑋 ∗(𝑋 +𝑋 ) 0.195∗(0.04+0.045)
{𝑋𝐿 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ (𝑋0𝑆 + 𝑋𝐻 )} = 𝑋 𝐿+(𝑋0𝑆 +𝑋𝐻 ) = 0.195+(0.04+0.045)
𝐿 0𝑆 𝐻
0.195 ∗ 0.085
= = 0.0592 𝑝𝑢
0.28
0.195
𝐼𝐻 = *0.42525=0.2961 pu will flow through the system neutral and H
0.28
0.085
𝑰𝑳 = *0.42525=0.1291 pu will flow through transformer (T2) tertiary (13.2kV winding). This
0.28
is the portion of the zero-sequence current that the delta winding should carry. Note that
system impedances are important in sizing these delta windings (stabilizing). While ignoring
system impedances could lead to over-sizing the primary and secondary winding (main
windings), this could lead to under-sizing the stabilizing delta winding. One can experiment with
this exercise by changing the system impedances and recalculating the various currents
(through high side winding, low side winding, and delta). The system impedances play a big
factor in the current distribution.
The current flow through the neutral of T2 (230kV): 3 ∗ 𝐼𝐻 = 3 ∗ 0.2961 = 0.888 𝑝𝑢
From System neutral (230kV) to T2 neutral (230kV):
𝐼𝑏 = 𝐼𝑐 = −𝐼1 + 𝐼0 = −𝐼𝑠 + 𝐼𝐻 = −1.44075 + 0.2961
𝑰𝒃 = 𝑰𝒄 = −𝟏. 𝟏𝟒𝟓 𝒑𝒖
Three-phase fault at Bus G:
𝑉 1
𝐼𝑎𝐹 = = = 6.993 𝑝𝑢
𝑍1 0.143
100𝑀𝑉𝐴
At Bus G: 𝐼𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 1.732∗115𝑘𝑉 = 502.06𝐴
𝐼𝑎𝐹 = 6.993 ∗ 502.06 = 3510.8𝐴
A-phase current flow through mesh (K): 𝐼𝑎𝐺 = 0.4237 ∗ 6.993=2.963 pu
A-phase current flow through mesh (s): 𝐼𝑎𝐻 = 0.5763 ∗ 6.993=4.03 pu
[1] Protective Relaying, Principles and Applications 4th Edition, 4.11, p.91.
