WHAT IS MEANT BY SHORT circuit torque (SCT) of an induction motor?

Should it
concern the motor installer or user?
The simple answer is that SCT is produced within a running motor when a faultoccurs on
the motor circuit. The energy stored within the motor's magnetic fieldcauses it to act
briefly as an induction generator, feeding high current to the fault,accompanied by a high
transient torque. If that torque is great enough, it canoverstress the attachment of the
motor to its foundation or damage shafts andcouplings in the drive train.Determining the
SCT magnitude, however, is far from simple. First, the type of fault, its location, and its
duration (how rapidly protective devices open thecircuit) all influence that magnitude.
The most damaging occurrence is the so-called three-phase bolted fault, in which all three
phase conductors become solidly joined to one another through zero impedance.Although
the resulting short-circuit current is the maximum possible, thelikelihood of such an event
is extremely small. Much more apt to occur is thesingle-phase line-to-ground fault, with a
consequently lower value of fault current(and associated torque).The farther the fault is
from the motor, the less will be the resultant SCT. Theworst case, although least likely, is
right at the motor terminals.Second, despite the name "short-circuit torque," occasional
torque peaks can alsoresult from various switching operations on the circuit. Of particular
concern israpid reclosing of a suddenly opened circuit, as occurs during bus
transfer.Relative phase angles of motor internal voltage and external circuit voltage
willhave an effect.Third, the theoretical SCT depends upon other circuit components
besides themotor. Capacitors can be a major influence.
Fourth, SCT is a transient phenomenon. Consider it analogous to the flow of faultcurrent
through a current-limiting fuse. Although the "available" or possible peakvalue may be
dangerously high, externally detectable torque begins to die awaybefore that theoretical
peak is reached.Finally, and most important, what's produced within the motor is an "air
gap" or"electrical" torque. What appears at the shaft or mounting will be
significantlylower because of electrical and mechanical energy absorption.Estimating
torque magnitudeGiven all those variables, what torque magnitude can be expected?
Technicalpapers over the past half century have offered a bewildering variety of
answers.Rigorous calculation procedures are hard to come by and impossible for
anyonebut the motor designer to apply.For estimating purposes, peak SCT values have
been quoted throughout the rangefrom 3 to 15 times the rated full-load torque of the
motor. A few authors havesuggested even higher ratios. Again, this is an internally
developed electricaltorque. As one engineer puts it, "The peak shaft torque cannot be
directly relatedto the peak electrical torque:' Any quoted value of SCT is probably going
to bequite conservative. No test method exists to verify the value; a short-circuit can'tbe
simulated on the test floor.Based on what's been published, a reasonable value of
maximum SCT at the shaftor motor base is six times rated torque. That should not
endanger the motor shaftitself, which is typically designed with a significant factor of
safety applied to thestress expected at maximum torque (the breakdown or pullout value,
which isusually from 200% to 250% of rated torque). Evidence suggests that shaftfailures
from excessive torque are not common. More likely causes are torsionaloscillation,
fatigue in reversing stress applications such as belt loading, andcorrosion.

Short circuit or electrical fault analyses are performed with the motor speed adjusted so
that the appliedelectrical frequency is coincident with the torsional resonant frequency to
produce the maximum dynamictorque (conservative assumption). For the short circuit
analysis, the motor air gap torque as a function of time is usually obtained from the motor
manufacturer.A line-to-line short circuit is a short between two of the phase circuits while
the motor is running. Itproduces a braking torque which has fundamental and second
order frequency components. On the otherhand, a three phase short circuit produces a
braking torque at the fundamental with no second order.A non-synchronous short circuit
is a short that occurs when the generator is synchronized when a phasedifference between
the generator and network voltages exists. It produces a braking torque which has
afundamental electrical frequency component. Proper controls can prevent the occurrence
of a non-synchronizing short circu