Fault current

FIG. 29-8 Typical high-voltage ac motor starter illiistrating several protective schemes fuses, overload relays, ground-fault relays, and differential relays with the associated current transformer that act as fault-current sensors. In practice, the differential protection current transformers are located at the motor, hut the relays are part of the starter. 

I In the event of a fault in the d.c. link it will add to the circuit impedance and limit the rate of rise of fault current, since under a transient condition... 

The terminal box must be capable of withstanding the system fault current for at least 0.25 second. 

Rated momentary peak value of the fault current (making current for an interrupting device)... 

A power circuit is basically an R-L circuit. In the event of a fault, the system voltage (V , sin ft))) may occur somewhere between V = 0 and V = on its voltage wave. This will cause a shift in the zero axis of the fault current, 7sc> and give rise to a d.c. component. The fault current will generally assume an asymmetrical waveform as illustrated in Figure 13.27. 

The magnitudes of symmetrical and non-symmetrical fault currents, under different conditions of fault and configurations of faulty circuits, can be determined from Table 13.5, where Z] = Positive phase sequence impedance, measured under symmetrical load conditions. The following values may be considered ... 

Table 13.5 RMS values of fault currents under different conditions of fault in a power system...

Therefore, the level of phase-to-phase asymmetrical faults will he generally of the same order as the three-phase symmetrical faults. The ground faults, however, will he higher than the symmetrical faults. Special care therefore needs he taken while grounding a generator, when they are solidly grounded, particularly to limit the ground fault currents See also Section 20.10.1. 

The philosophy to assume the impedance of the source of supply (generator or a transformer) as the impedance of the faulty circuit may be far from reality and may give a very high fault current. In actual operation, the fault intensity may be far less, as every device and component connected in the circuit will tend to add to the effective impedance of the faulty circuit and limit the magnitude of the fault current. Figure 13.15 also subscribes to this theory. But it is customary to design the systems for the worst fault conditions which, in all likelihood, may not arise, and decide the protective scheme and the current settings of the protective relays for the minimum possible fault current. 

This is a simple calculation to determine the maximum symmetrical fault level of a system, to select the type of equipment, devices and bus system etc. But to decide on a realistic protective scheme, the asymmetrical value of the fault current must be estimated by including all the likely impedances of the circuit. 

Through the tap-offs of the bus, the unit auxiliary transformers (UATs) are connected to feed the station auxiliary services. For more clarity we have taken out the portion of the tap-offs from Figure 13.21 and redrawn it in Figure 13.18 to illustrate the above system and its interconnections. The tap-offs are now subject to the cumulative inOuence of the two supply sources. In the event of a fault on this section, both the sources would feed the same and the fault current through the tap-offs would add up. The tap-offs should thus be designed for the cumulative effect of both fault levels. For the sake of an easy reference, Table 13.8 suggests a few typical values of fault currents, worked out on the basis of data considered for the G and GT. One such example is also worked out in Example 13.3. 

The magnitudes of fault currents under different conditions of fault are analysed in Table 13.9. Figure 14.5 has been redrawn in Figure 13.20 for a generator circuit illustrating the sub-transient, transient and steady-state currents on an actual fault. The curve depicts the most severe fault condition which occurs when the circuit voltage is the minimum, i.e. at Vq, causing the maximum asymmetry atid the associated d.c. component. 

Switchgear and controlgear assemblies 13/355 Table 13.9 Fault currents (r.m.s.) in a generator circuit under different fault conditions... 

Since the ground fault currents in generators can be higher (Section 20.10.1) than the sub-transient state current, special care need be taken while grounding a generator to limit the ground fault current. Section 20.10.1 covers this aspect also. 

In certain cases, where a long delay may be necessary for the protective scheme to operate, it may be desirable to use the maximum steady-state short-circuit current V2 /j, for a more appropriate setting, rather than the maximum transient current i2 /, as by then the fault current will also fall to a near steady-state value, /sKr.m s.i-... 

Fault current with highest asymmetry at I/q, when /do is the maximum. 

A fault current on a power system is normally asymmetrical as discussed next, and is composed of a symmetrical a.c. component /sar.m.s.) nd an asymmetrical sub-transient d.c. component (Figure 14.5). The forces arising out of /jc aie referred to as electromagnetic and... 

The peak value of a fault current will depend upon the content of the d.c. component. The d.c. component will depend upon the p.f. of the faulty circuit and the instant at which the short-circuit commences on the current wave. (Refer to Figure 13.27, illustrating the variation in asymmetry with the p.f. of the faulty circuit. For ease of application, it is represented as a certain multiple of the r.m.s. value of the symmetrical fault current /sc )... 

The rated momentary peak value of the fault current, /y, will relate to the dynamic rating of an equipment. It is also known as the making current of a switching device and defines its capability to make on fault. 

When de.signiiig a current-carrying system it is the r.m..s. value of the fault current, l c- relevant to determine the thermal stresses ( c ) during a fault, to ehoose the eorreet material... 

A breaker, usually an MCCB or an MCB on an LT system, can be provided with backup HRC fuses to enhance their short-time rating. This may be done when the available MCCBs or MCBs possess a lower short-time rating than the fault level of the circuit they are required to protect, and make them suitable for the fault level of the circuit. But this is not a preferred practice and is seldom used. As a rule of thumb, the device that is protecting must be suitable to withstand electrically and endure mechanically the system fault current for a duration of one or three seconds, according to the system design. 

This time allows the fault current to reach its peak and therefore all the equipment, devices and components protected by sucb a device must be suitable for the full fault level of the system. While the tripping lime is usually in milliseconds the duration of fault, /sc- S considered as one or three seconds. The longer duration than necessary is to account for the various time lapses that may occur... 

This test is conducted to verify the suitability of the equipment to withstand a prospective short-circuit current that may develop on a fault. It may also be termed the steady slate symmetrical fault current or the short-time (withstand current) rating of the equipment. When the equipment is an interrupting device, it is referred to as its symmetrical breaking current. 

This is also known as the asymmetrical breaking current and tends to become the symmetrical r.m.s. value of the fault current / c after almost four cycles from the instant of fault initiation, as discussed in Section 13.4.1(8). 

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