UNBALANCED FAULT ANALYSIS

Example

Single Line-to-Ground (SLG) Faults

Unbalanced faults unbalance the network, but only

at the fault location. This causes a coupling of the
sequence networks. How the sequence networks are
coupled depends upon the fault type. Well derive
these relationships for several common faults.
With a SLG fault only one phase has non-zero fault
current -- well assume it is phase A.

SLG Faults, contd

SLG Faults, contd

SLG Faults, contd

With the
sequence
networks in
series we can
solve for the
fault currents
(assume Zf=0)

Line-to-Line (LL) Faults

The second most common fault is line-to-line, which

occurs when two of the conductors come in contact
with each other. With out loss of generality we'll
assume phases b and c.

LL Faults, cont'd

LL Faults, con'td

LL Faults, cont'd

LL Faults, cont'd

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LL Faults, cont'd

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Double Line-to-Ground Faults

With a double line-to-ground (DLG) fault two line

conductors come in contact both with each other and
ground. We'll assume these are phases b and c.

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DLG Faults, cont'd

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DLG Faults, cont'd

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DLG Faults, cont'd

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DLG Faults, cont'd

The three sequence networks are joined as

follows

Assuming Zf=0, then

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DLG Faults, cont'd

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Unbalanced Fault Summary

SLG: Sequence networks are connected in series,

parallel to three times the fault impedance
LL: Positive and negative sequence networks are
connected in parallel; zero sequence network is not
included since there is no path to ground
DLG: Positive, negative and zero sequence
networks are connected in parallel, with the zero
sequence network including three times the fault
impedance
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Generalized System Solution

1.
2.

3.

Assume we know the pre-fault voltages

The general procedure is then
Calculate Zbus for each sequence
For a fault at bus i, the Zii values are the thevenin
equivalent impedances; the pre-fault voltage is
the positive sequence thevenin voltage
Connect and solve the thevenin equivalent
sequence networks to determine the fault current

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Generalized System Solution, contd

Sequence voltages throughout the system are
given by

4.

This is solved
for each
sequence
network!

5.

Phase values are determined from the sequence values

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Unbalanced System Example

For the generators assume Z+ = Z = j0.2; Z0 = j0.05

For the transformers assume Z+ = Z =Z0 = j0.05
For the lines assume Z+ = Z = j0.1; Z0 = j0.3
Assume unloaded pre-fault, with voltages =1.0 p.u.
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Positive/Negative Sequence Network

Negative sequence is identical to positive sequence

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Zero Sequence Network

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For a SLG Fault at Bus 3

The sequence networks are created using the pre-fault
voltage for the positive sequence thevenin voltage,
and the Zbus diagonals for the thevenin impedances
Positive Seq.

Negative Seq.

Zero Seq.

The fault type then determines how the networks are

interconnected
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Bus 3 SLG Fault, contd

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Bus 3 SLG Fault, contd

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Faults on Lines

The previous analysis has assumed that the fault is

at a bus. Most faults occur on transmission lines, not
at the buses
For analysis these faults are treated by including a
dummy bus at the fault location. How the
impedance of the transmission line is then split
depends upon the fault location

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Line Fault Example

Assume a SLG fault occurs on the previous system
on the line from bus 1 to bus 3, one third of the way
from bus 1 to bus 3. To solve the system we add a
dummy bus, bus 4, at the fault location

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Line Fault Example, contd

The Ybus
now has
4 buses

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Generalized System Solution



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Super imposing changes on pre fault voltages result in

total positive sequence voltage of phase a at each
bus during fault

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Equations of negative or zero sequence voltage

changes due to fault at bus k of N bus system.

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Sequence voltage at any bus J of the system from

the row j

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Example 12.6:
A group of identical synchronous motors is connected through a transformer to
a 4.l6-kV bus at a location remote from the generating plants of a power
system. The motors are rated 600 V and operate at 89.5% efficiency when
carrying a full load at unity power factor and rated voltage. The sum of their
output ratings is 4476 kW (6000 hp ) . The reactances in per unit of each
motor based on its own input kilo volt ampere rating are Xd = X1 = 0.20,
X2 = 0.20, X0 = 0.04 and each is grounded through a reactance of 0.02 per
unit. The motors are connected to the 4.l6-kV bus through a transformer bank
composed of three single-phase units, each of which is rated 2400/600 V,
2500 kVA . The 600-V windings are connected in to the motors and the
2400-V windings are connected in Y. The leakage reactance of each
transformer is 10%.
The power system which supplies the 4.16-kV bu s is represented by a
Thevenin equivalent generator rated 7500 kVA, 4.16 kV with reactances of
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Xd=X2 = 0.10 per unit , X0= 0.05 per unit, and Xn from neutral
to ground equal to 0.05 per unit
Each of the identical motors is supplying an equal share of a
total load of 3730 kW (5000 hp) and is operating at rated
voltage, 85% power-factor lag, and 88% efficiency when , single
line-to-ground fault occurs on the low-voltage side of the
transformer bank. Treat the group of motors as a single
equivalent motor.
Draw the sequence networks showing values of the impedances.
Determine the subtransient line currents in all parts of the system
with prefault current neglected.
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Power System Protection

Main idea is to remove faults as quickly as possible

while leaving as much of the system intact as possible
Fault sequence of events
1.

2.

3.

4.

Fault occurs somewhere on the system, changing the

system currents and voltages
Current transformers (CTs) and potential transformers (PTs)
sensors detect the change in currents/voltages
Relays use sensor input to determine whether a fault has
occurred
If fault occurs relays open circuit breakers to isolate fault

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Power System Protection

1.

2.

Protection systems must be designed with both

primary protection and backup protection in case
primary protection devices fail
In designing power system protection systems there
are two main types of systems that need to be
considered:
Radial: there is a single source of power, so power
always flows in a single direction; this is the easiest
from a protection point of view
Network: power can flow in either direction: protection
is much more involved
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Radial Power System Protection

Radial systems are primarily used in the lower

voltage distribution systems. Protection actions
usually result in loss of customer load, but the
outages are usually quite local.
The figure shows
potential protection
schemes for a
radial system. The
bottom scheme is
preferred since it
results in less lost load
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Radial Power System Protection

In radial power systems the amount of fault current is

limited by the fault distance from the power source:
faults further done the feeder have less fault current
since the current is limited by feeder impedance
Radial power system protection systems usually use
inverse-time overcurrent relays.
Coordination of relay current settings is needed to
open the correct breakers

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Inverse Time Overcurrent Relays

Inverse time overcurrent relays respond instan-taneously to a

current above their maximum setting
They respond slower to currents below this value but above the
pickup current value

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