Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

PSA – Lab # 09
Demonstration of a SLG, L-L, 3-phase balanced,
Double line-to-ground faults using PowerWorld
Simulator.
Lab Objectives:

• Get to know various types of transmission line faults, their causes, effects & limiting devices.
• Implement fault scenario using PowerWorld simulator & observe line currents, voltages and
phase angle.

Electrical powers system Faults

Electrical powers system is growing and complexity in all sectors such as generation, transmission,
distribution and load systems. Types of faults like short circuit condition in power system network
results in severe economic losses and reduces the reliability of the electrical system.
Electrical fault is an abnormal condition, caused by equipment failures such as transformers and rotating
machines, human errors and environmental conditions. Theses faults cause interruption to electric flows,
equipment damages and even cause death of humans, birds and animals.

Types of Faults
Electrical fault is the deviation of voltages and currents from nominal values or states. Under normal
operating conditions, power system equipment or lines carry normal voltages and currents which results
in a safer operation of the system. But when fault occurs, it causes excessively high currents to flow
which causes the damage to equipment and devices. Fault detection and analysis is necessary to select or
design suitable switchgear equipment, electromechanical relays, circuit breakers and other protection
devices.
There are mainly two types of faults in the electrical power system.

1. Open Circuit Fault

2. Short Circuit Fault.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

1. Open Circuit Fault

The open circuit fault mainly occurs because of the failure of one or two conductors. The open circuit
fault takes place in series with the line, and because of this, it is also called the series fault. Such types of
faults affect the reliability of the system. The open circuit fault is categorized as,

• Open Conductor Fault

• Two conductors Open Fault
• Three conductors Open Fault.
The open circuit fault is shown in the figure below.

2. Short-Circuit Fault
In this type of fault, the conductors of the different phases meet each other with a power line, power
transformer or any other circuit element due to which the large current flow in one or two phases of the
system. The short-circuit fault is divided into the symmetrical and unsymmetrical fault.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

1. Symmetrical faults
These are very severe faults and occur infrequently in the power systems. These are also called
as balanced faults and are of two types namely line to line to line to ground (L-L-L-G) and line
to line to line (L-L-L).

a. Line – Line – Line Fault – Such types of faults are balanced, i.e., the system remains
symmetrical even after the fault. The L – L – L fault occurs rarely, but it is the most
severe type of fault which involves the largest current. This large current is used for
determining the rating of the Circuit Breaker.

b. L – L – L – G (Three-phase line to the ground fault) – The three-phase line to ground

fault includes all the three phases of the system. The L – L – L – G fault occurs between
the three phases and the ground of the system. The probability of occurrence of such type
of fault is nearly 2 to 3 percent.

Above figure shows two types of three phase symmetrical faults. Analysis of these fault is easy
and usually carried by per phase basis. Three phase fault analysis or information is required for
selecting set-phase relays, rupturing capacity of the circuit breakers and rating of the protective
switchgear.

Only 2-5 percent of system faults are symmetrical faults. If these faults occur, system remains
balanced but results in severe damage to the electrical power system equipment. The
symmetrical faults mainly occur at the terminal of the generators. The fault on the system may
arise because of the resistance of the arc between the conductors or due to the lower footing
resistance.

2. Unsymmetrical faults
The fault gives rise to unsymmetrical current, i.e., current differing in magnitude and phases in
the three phases of the power system are known as the unsymmetrical fault. It is also defined as

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

the fault which involves the one or two phases such as L- G, L – L, L – L – G fault. The
unsymmetrical makes the system unbalanced. It is mainly classified into three types. The
unsymmetrical fault is the most common types of fault occur in the power system and less severe
than symmetrical faults.

a. Single Line-to-ground (L – G) Fault

b. Line-to-Line Fault (L – L)
c. Double Line-to-ground (L – L – G) Fault

Line to ground fault (L-G) is most common fault and 65-70 percent of faults are of this type.

It causes the conductor to contact earth or ground. 15 to 20 percent of faults are double line to ground
and causes the two conductors to contact ground. Line to line faults occur when two conductors contact
each other mainly while swinging of lines due to winds and 5- 10 percent of the faults are of this type.

These are also called unbalanced faults since their occurrence causes unbalance in the system.
Unbalance of the system means that that impedance values are different in each phase causing unbalance
current to flow in the phases. These are more difficult to analyze and are carried by per phase basis like
three phase balanced faults.

Causes of Electrical Faults

a) Weather conditions: It includes lighting strikes, heavy rains, heavy winds, salt deposition on
overhead lines and conductors, snow and ice accumulation on transmission lines, etc. These
environmental conditions interrupt the power supply and damaged electrical installations.
b) Equipment failures: Various electrical equipment like generators, motors, transformers,
reactors, switching devices, etc causes short circuit faults due to malfunctioning, ageing,
insulation failure of cables and winding. These failures result in high current to flow through the
devices or equipment which further damages it.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

c) Human errors: Electrical faults are also caused due to human errors such as selecting improper
rating of equipment or devices, forgetting metallic or electrical conducting parts after servicing
or maintenance, switching the circuit while it is under servicing, etc.
d) Smoke of fires: Ionization of air, due to smoke particles, surrounding the overhead lines results
in spark between the lines or between conductors to insulator. This flashover causes insulators to
lose their insulting capacity due to high voltages.

Effects of electrical faults

a) Over current flow: When fault occurs, it creates a very low impedance path for the current
flow. This results in a very high current being drawn from the supply, causing tripping of relays,
damaging insulation and components of the equipment.
b) Danger to operating personnel: Fault occurrence can also cause shocks to individuals. Severity
of the shock depends on the current and voltage at fault location and even may lead to death.
c) Loss of equipment: Heavy current due to short circuit faults result in the components being
burnt completely which leads to improper working of equipment or device. Sometimes heavy
fire causes complete burnout of the equipment.
d) Disturbs interconnected active circuits: Faults not only affect the location at which they occur
but also disturbs the active interconnected circuits to the faulted line.
e) Electrical fires: Short circuit causes flashovers and sparks due to the ionization of air between
two conducting paths which further leads to fire as we often observe in news such as building
and shopping complex fires.

Fault limiting devices

It is possible to minimize causes like human errors, but not environmental changes. Fault clearing is a
crucial task in power system network. If we manage to disrupt or break the circuit when fault arises, it
reduces the considerable damage to the equipment and property.

a) Fuse: It is the primary protecting device. It is a thin wire enclosed in a casing or glass which
connects two metal parts. This wire melts when excessive current flows in circuit. Type of fuse
depends on the voltage at which it is to operate. Manual replacement of wire is necessary once its
blowout.

b) Circuit breaker: It makes the circuit at normal as well as breaks at abnormal conditions. It
causes automatic tripping of the circuit when fault occurs. It can be electromechanical circuit
breaker like vacuum / oil circuit breakers etc.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

c) Relay: It is condition based operating switch. It consists of magnetic coil and normally open and
closed contacts. Fault occurrence raises the current which energizes relay coil, resulting in the
contacts to operate so the circuit is interrupted from flowing of current. Protective relays are of
different types like impedance relays, mho relays, etc.

d) Lighting power protection devices: These include lighting arrestors and grounding devices to
protect the system against lighting and surge voltages.

Implementing Faults using PowerWorld Simulator

• Right click on transmission line and implement “Fault”.

• Adjust the location of fault, confirm “from” and “to” bus, check in line fault, select SLG fault.

• Click “Calculate”, go to lines and monitor currents of various phases.

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

Student’s Lab Tasks:

TASK 1: Implement SLG, L-L, 3-phase balanced, Double line-to-ground faults on given power system.
Fill given table.

BUS FAULT Phase A Phase B Phase C Angle A Angle B Angle C

TYPE

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus
Power System Analysis – Weekly Lab Report Lab # 09

TASK 2: Implement SLG, L-L, 3-phase balanced, Double line-to-ground faults on given power system.
Fill given table.

BUS FAULT Phase A Phase B Phase C Angle A Angle B Angle C

TYPE

Marks Awarded: ___________ / Out of 10.

Lab Supervisor Signature/Date: ___________________
Comments: _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Prepared by: Lab Engr. Nouman Shabbir

National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, FAST – NU, Peshawar Campus