D R I V E S

&
S W I T C H G E A R

Motor contribution can be used to calculate maximum short circuit

current and the short circuit rating of electrical equipment.

Understanding short-circuit
motor contribution
It can be demonstrated that motor
contribution is present during faults
regardless of the size or voltage rating of
the motor.
System voltage decays under short circuit
conditions where stable voltage supply no
longer exists. The rotating magnetic field
in the rotor will attempt to support the
reduced voltage condition by becoming
a power source.
The motor now provides additional
current into the faulted electrical
system. This phenomenon is called
"motor contribution". The amount of
current generated in this way depends
on the motor's impedance. At first, an
asymmetrical current containing both AC
and DC components is present, but lack
of a stable voltage supply causes the AC
component to decay when the rotor flux
begins to drop.
The transient DC component also decays
without a stable voltage supply.
The current supplied by the motor initially
differs in frequency from the system
frequency because of motor slip. The
motor and load inertia determine the
rate of decay. It is understood that the
difference does not have an effect on the
short circuit calculation.
The motor impedance Zm determines the
AC components' value. Motor impedance
has a resistive Rm component and a reactive
component Xm. The resistive component
is always much smaller than the reactive
component and the inductive component
Xm will therefore provide a conservative
value for calculating motor contribution.
The electrical system's X/R ratio determines
the rate of decay of the DC component.
When X = 0, there is only symmetrical
current with no DC component. When

by Darrell Broussard, GE Industrial Solutions

R = 0, the DC component would never

decay. It can be assumed that there will
always be both resistance and reactive
components in the system.
Induction motor contribution typically lasts
from one to four cycles from T = 0 during
a short circuit condition. Synchronous
motors' short circuit contribution can,
however, last between six and eight cycles.
The main difference is that the induction
motor does not have the excitation ability
of a synchronous motor and can therefore
not maintain voltage for the same amount
of time. In either case, the contribution is
present during the first cycle.
ANSI standard C37.010 offers guidance
when calculating motor contribution for
a group of LV motors if detailed motor
data is not available. Assuming a motor
contribution of four times rated full load
current is acceptable. The standard arrived
at this value by assuming that the motor
contribution of 3,6 times rated current
came 75% from induction motors and 4,8
times rated current from 25% synchronous
motors.
It has become accepted practice to use
four times rated full load current in the
absence of detailed data on synchronous
and induction motors of unknown size on
the system. Multipliers of 3, 6, 4 and 4,8
times are less than the motor lock rotor
current. This could account for a reduction
of motor contribution at the start of the
short circuit. This assumption seems to
explain the reduction.
Approximations are a useful tool when
detailed motor data is not available. For
large motors or groups of large motors,
June 2013 - Vector - Page 45

lock rotor current, typically five to seven

times full load current, is used in stead of
the motor. Actual impedance will provide
a very conservative value.
For small motors or groups of small
motors, it is recommended that a value
of 0,2 to 0,28 per unit be used in place
of actual motor impedance data.
Detailed motor data or even complete
motor lists are not available in the very
early project stages and it is acceptible to
use approximations or "rules of thumb".
At this point, the engineer must determine
the orders of magnitude of short circuit
current.
The engineer knows that the assumptions
provide a conservative value. The
important points are that the engineer
has motor contribution factored into has
calculations and bearing in mind that his
assumptions have provided a conservative
value.
When all the equipment data is gathered,
the engineer may conduct a detailed short
circuit study before purchasing equipment.
References
[1] "Application guide for AC high-voltage
breaker on symmetrical current bases",
ANSI C37.010 1999.
[2] "Calculating ahort circuit current with
contribution from induction motors", II
Transactions on industry application, Vol.
1A-18, No. 2, March/April 1982
[3] "Short circuit calculations for industrial
and commercial power systems", General
Electrical Company, GET-3550F, 0489.

Contact Richard Wood, GE,

Tel 011 236-7000,
Richard.wood@ge.com