FAULT LEVEL

CALCULATIONS
(As per IS 13234 : 1992 &
IEC 60909 : 1995)

WHAT IS FAULT LEVEL?

FAULT LEVEL AT ANY
GIVEN POINT OF THE
INSTALLATION
IS
THE
MAXIMUM CURRENT THAT
CAN FLOW IN CASE OF S/C
AT THAT POINT

PURPOSE OF FAULT LEVEL

CALCULATIONS
FOR
SELECTING
S.C.P.Ds
OF
ADEQUATE S/C BREAKING CAPACITY
FOR SELECTING BUSBARS, BUSBAR
SUPPORTS,
CABLES
&
SWITCHGEARS,
DESIGNED
TO
WITHSTAND
THERMAL
&
MECHANICAL STRESSES BECAUSE
OF S/C
TO
DO
CURRENT
BASED
DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN CBs

FAULT LEVEL CALCULATIONS

TYPES OF FAULTS

SYMMETRICAL
THREE PHASE FAULT

ASYMMETRICAL
LINE TO LINE
DOUBLE LINE TO
EARTH
LINE TO EARTH

SOURCES OF SHORT CIRCUIT

CURRENTS
ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEMS
D.G SETS
CONDENSERS
MOTORS

NATURE OF SHORT CIRCUIT

CURRENT
SOURCE : UTILITY SYSTEM
THE SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT WILL
CONSIST OF FOLLOWING COMPONENTS
THE AC COMPONENT WITH CONSTANT
AMPLITUDE
THE DECA YI NG DC COMPON ENT

NATURE OF SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT

WAVEFORM
CURRENT
TOP ENVELOPE

IP

DECAYING DC COMPONENT

TIME

BOTTOM ENVELOPE

CALCULATION ASSUMPTIONS
WHAT ?
TYPE OF SHORT CIRCUIT : THREE PHASE
BOLTED SHORT CIRCUIT
IMPEDANCES OF BUSBAR/SWITCHGEAR/C.T.
/JOINTS ARE NEGLECTED
TRANSFORMERS ARE CONNECTED TO
INFINITE BUS ON H.T. SIDE
TRANSFORMER TAP IS IN THE MAX.
POSITION
S/C CURRENT WAVEFORM IS A PURE SINE
WAVE
DISCHARGE CURRENT OF CAPACITORS ARE
NEGLECTED

CALCULATION OF SHORT CIRCUIT

CURRENT

1 . 05 * LINE VOLTAGE
I S/C =

3 * ( ZTR + Z

CABLE )

% Z * 10 * KV2
Z TR =
(in ohms)

KVA

CASE STUDY

STEP 1 : SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM

TRANSFORMER
1600kVA

PCC

13

) F
1

12

11
21

STANDBY GENERATOR
1250kVA

350A

)
)

300A

300A

MCC
31

M1

50HP

M2

M3

M4

100HP

30HP

150HP

F2

STEP 2 : SYSTEM DATA

TRANSFORMER :

11/0.433 KV
1600 KVA
%R = 0.94
%X = 5.46
%Z = 5.54

STEP 2 : SYSTEM DATA

R = 0.062 /KM
X = 0.079 /KM
LENGTH OF CABLE, 21 TO 31
31=
= 100
100m
m
CABLE :

INDUCTION MOTORS : M1, IrM = 200A

M2, IrM = 135A
M3, IrM = 135A
M4, IrM = 200A

STEP 3 : CALCULATION OF RT &

XT
RT =

10 (%R)(SECONDARY KV)2
KVA

10 (0.94)(0.433)2
=
= 0.001102 OHMS
1600
2
10
(%X)(SECONDARY
KV)
XT =
KVA
10 (5.46)(0.433)2
=
= 0.006398 OHMS
1600

STEP 4 : CALCULATION OF RL &

XL
RL = 0.062 0.1 = 0.0062 OHMS
XL = 0.079 0.1 = 0.0079 OHMS

STEP 5 : CALCULATION OF Z
UP TO THE POINT OF FAULT

TOTAL Z UP TO FAULT LOCATION F1

= (RT)2 + (XT)2 = (0.001102)2 + (0.006398)2

= 0.00649

STEP 5 : CALCULATION OF Z
UP TO THE POINT OF FAULT

TOTAL Z UP TO FAULT LOCATION F2

= (RT + RL)2 + (XT + XL)2

= (0.007302)2 + (0.01430)2
= 0.01606

STEP 6 : CALCULATION OF RMS

VALUE OF S/C CURRENT AT THE
POINT OF FAULT
IK AT FAULT LOCATION F1 =

c Un
3 Z
= 1.05 415
3 0.00649

= 38765 A OR 38.77 kA

STEP 6 : CALCULATION OF RMS

VALUE OF S/C CURRENT AT THE
POINT OF FAULT

c Un
3 Z
= 1.05 415
3 0.01606

IK AT FAULT LOCATION F2 =

= 15665 A OR 15.67 kA

STEP 7 : CALCULATION OF
MAKING CAPACITY AS PER
STANDARD IEC 60947-2
Short-circuit
breaking
capacity (kA)
4.5<= I<=6

Power factor

Multiplying
factor

0.7

1.5

6< I<=10

0.5

1.7

10< I<=20

0.3

2.0

20< I<=50

0.25

2.1

50< I

0.2

2.2

STEP 8 : CALCULATION OF PEAK

VALUE OF S/C CURRENT AT THE
POINT OF FAULT
iP AT FAULT LOCATION F1 = 2.1 38.77
= 81.41 kA (PEAK)

iP AT FAULT LOCATION F2 = 2 15.67

= 31.34 kA (PEAK)

CALCULATION OF X AND R FOR

GENERATOR
The value of xd will be given in percentage
terms.
Calculate xd in ohms.
Calculate R in ohms as per data in standard:
Rg =0.15 xd for generators less than 1000V
Rg =0.07 xd for generators up to 100MVA
Rg =0.05 xd for generators 100MVA and
above.
Apply correction factor and recalculate R and
X.
Find Z and use in the formulae.

THANK YOU