IEC 60909_FAULT Study

IEC_FAULT 1-3

1.2 Engineering Methodology

IEC Standard 909 describes a detailed method for calculating three-phase and unbalanced
short circuit duties to compare to electrical apparatus ratings. The Standard contains 14
chapters and an appendix. Individual paragraphs are referred to as articles or clauses, and
sub-paragraphs are referred to as sub-clauses. The Standard is divided into two major
sections: far-from-generator short circuits and near-to-generator short circuits.

1.2.1 IEC Standard 909

Section One of the Standard, Systems with Short Circuit Currents Having No A.C.
Component Decay (Far-From-Generator Short Circuits), defines the short circuit currents
that are expected at a fault location, assuming that active sources (machines and network
feeders) have no ac decrement. The Standard calls these machines far-from-the-faultlocation. The Standard defines no ac decrement as a symmetrical short circuit current that
has no time-varying change from peak to peak during the fault. The terms near and far are
defined in Section 1.3.4, Assumptions of the IEC_FAULT Study.
Section Two of the Standard, Systems With Short Circuit Currents Having Decaying
A.C. Components (Near-To-Generator Short Circuits), examines machines that are
considered near the fault; they exhibit an ac decrement throughout the duration of the fault
condition. Different source types (network feeders, synchronous motors and generators,
and asynchronous motors) are defined differently based on how their ac decrement is
modeled.
Both Sections One and Two discuss the implications of how the short circuit current
arrives at the fault location, and the impact of the dc decay on the short circuit current.
The Standard defines a contribution as coming from a meshed topology if a contribution
current flow splits into two or more currents between the source of supply and the fault
location. The concept of a meshed network is more complex than merely defining the
system as having loops or parallel connections; special procedures are required when
modeling meshed contributions. In addition, careful attention must be paid when
calculating their dc decay currents, regardless of whether the source of the short circuit
contribution is near or far from the fault location.
IEC Standard 909 is a derivative of the German VDE Short Circuit Standard. As such,
both standards were developed to assist engineers with hand calculations. Some of the
simplifying assumptions necessary for practical hand calculations are not necessarily wellsuited for computerized methods. The computer allows for removal of many of the
limiting assumptions in the hand calculation methods. Whenever PTW identifies a
simplifying assumption in the IEC Standard 909, or if the Standard uses the term may be
considered, the IEC_FAULT Study evaluates the assumption and takes the most
conservative implementation approachthat is, the Study calculates a larger short circuit
current.

1.2.2 Comparing the ANSI and IEC Short Circuit Standards

There are three significant differences between the IEC methodology and ANSI
methodology.
The first major difference involves calculating the dc decay component. ANSI requires
calculation of a Thevenin equivalent fault point X/R ratio, based on separately derived R

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