An American National Standard

IEEE Guide for Calculation of

Fault Currents for
Application of AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated
on a Total Current Basis

ings for the standard duty cycle (CO + 15 s + C O ) must

1. Scope
2

be reviewed on the basis of other standards applicable to

This standard is a guide for the calculation of fault total current-rated breakers. 3

currents for the application of ac high-voltage circuit

Fault current calculation examples, using the procedures
breakers rated on a total current basis.
outlined in this guide, are included in the appendix.

3.2 Procedure. In those instances where it is desired to use

2. Purpose
impedances instead of reactances for determining short-
circuit current magni tudes, E/Z may be substituted for E/X
This guide is intended for general use in the application
in the descriptions which follow.
of circuit breakers. Familiarity with other American
National Standards applying to circuit breakers is assumed,
3.2.1 Interrupting Current. The procedure involves
and provisions of these standards are indicated herein only
relatively simple steps of applying fac tors to an E/X
when necessary for clarity in describing application
calculation to determine total current at the time of breaker
requirements.
contact parting. The multiplying factors depend upon the
point on the system at which the short circuit occurs and
upon the system X/R ratio as seen from that point. This
3. Fault Current Calculations
total current is then compared with the breaker total
current interrupting capability for proper rating selection.
3.1 General. This guide gives a simplified method of
approximating the magnitude of fault currents: however,
other more rigorous methods should be used where
required. Step 1: Determine EIXi for three-phase faults
This guide uses basically the same calculating procedures or — for single line-to-ground faults. (2X, +X )
0

as ANSI/IEEE C37 . 010 - 1979, (Con solidated edition),

Application Guide for A C High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Step 2: Determine the system X/R ratio viewed from the
Rated on a Sym metrical Current Basis, to compute fault point from Xi/Ri for three-phase faults or (2-ΧΊ Xq) +

interrupt ing and momentary short-circuit currents for for single

direct comparison with short-circuit ratings of circuit (2R +R )
l 0

breakers rated on a total current basis.

1 line-to-ground faults.
For determination of the system X/R ratio, it should be
The adequacy of breaker characteristics other than noted that there is no completely
momentary and interrupting current rat-

7
accurate way of combining parallel circuits with different
values of X/R into a single cir cuit with one value of X/R since
the current from the several circuits will be the sum of
several exponentially decaying terms, usually with different
exponents, while that from a single circuit contains just one
such term. Investigation has shown that for practical pur
poses the procedure of reducing the reactance to a single
value with the resistance assumed to be zero, and reducing
the resistance to a single value with the reactance assumed
to be zero, gives, in general, better accuracy than any other
reasonably simple procedure (including the phasor
representation used at system frequency). In addition, the
error for practical cases is on the conservative side.
In cases where an E/Z calculation is made, it is acceptable
to substitute Z/R for X/R pro vided that the R is obtained
from a separate reduction of resistance with the reactance
assumed to be zero.
Step 3: The factors taken from the appro priate figure
(Fig 1, Fig 2, or Fig 3) should be applied to the E/X
calculation so that the dc and ac decrements are properly
included in the final result.
The following procedure is usually conserva tive:
(1) The factors of Figs 1 and 2 include the effects of both
ac and dc decay. The E/X cur rent should be multiplied by a
factor from Fig 1 for a three-phase fault and by a factor
from Fig 2 for a line-to-ground fault if the short-circuit
current is fed predominantly from generators through:
(a) Not more than one transformation, or
(b) A per-unit reactance external to the generator
which is less than 1.5 times generator per-unit
subtransient react ance on a common system M V
A base.
(2) The factors of Fig 3 include only the effects of dc
decay. The E/X current should be multiplied by a factor
from Fig 3 for a three-phase or a line-to-ground fault if the
short-circuit current is fed predominantly from generators
through:
(a) Two or more transformations, or
(b) A per-unit reactance external to the generator that
is equal to or exceeds 1.5 times the generator per-
unit subtransient reactance on a common system
M V A base.
The resulting product must not exceed the
8
interrupting capability of the total current-rated circuit
breaker being considered.
3.2.2 Momentary Current. For this calcula tion, the E/X
current should be calculated using the reactances given in
3.2.4.
The application will be proper if the E/X current times a
factor of 1.6 does not exceed the momentary (or making)
current of the circuit breaker.
3.2.3 Electrical Quantities Used
Ε Line-to-neutral voltage corresponding to the
highest typical operating voltage which occurs at
the circuit breaker location.
X Corresponding lowest value of system reactance
(determined with R assumed
0) as viewed from fault point with all rotating
machines represented by appro priate reactances
as specified in 3.2.4. It may be either X or 2X , +
x
X accord ing to whether three-phase or single
0
line-to-ground currents are being calcu lated.
X x Positive sequence reactance.
X 2 Negative sequence reactance.
X 0 Zero sequence reactance — may be ob tained from
design data, by calculation, or by test.
X¿ Subtransient — direct axis reactance of a
synchronous machine or locked rotor reactance of
an induction machine. This is always a positive
sequence reactance.
X¿ Transient — direct axis reactance of a
synchronous machine. This is always a positive
sequence reactance.
R Corresponding lowest value of system resistance as
viewed from the fault point (determined with X
assumed 0) with the resistances of the system
components determined as specified under 3 . 2 . 5
. Instead of calculating R, an estimate of the
system X/R ratio may be determined from Table 4.
R may be either R or 2R + R according to
x X 0
whether three-phase or single line-to-ground
currents are being calculated.
R, Positive sequence resistance.
R 2 Negative sequence resistance.
APPLICATION OF AC HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
3 PHASE

R 0 Zero sequence resistance — may be obtained from

design data, by calcula tion, or by test.

L Inductance (henries) = X/2nf (where f is system

frequency).
C Capacitance.
Ζ Impedance.
/ Current.
Isc Calculated symmetrical short-circuit current.

Tdc Direct-current time constant for the circuit

1.0 1.1 L2 1.3 1.4 LS 16
involved in the short circuit being calculated. MULTIPLYING FACTORS FOR
E / X AMPERES

3.2.4 Rotating Machine Reactances. Basically, initial short-

Fig l
circuit current of rotating machines is determined by the
Three-Phase Fault Multiplying
machine subtransient re actances. For the short-circuit and
Factors Which Include Effects
momentary current calculation, the reactances in Table 1
of AC and DC Decrement
are used.

Fig 2 Fig 3
Line-to-Ground Fault Multiplying Three-Phase and Line-to-Ground
Factors Which Include Effects Fault Multiplying Factors Which
of A C and DC Decrement Include Effects of DC Decrement Only

N O T E : Contact parting is defined as breaker opening time plus 0.5 cycle tripping delay. 2 cycle, 3 cycle, and 4 cycle contact parting times are typical mínimums
for 3 cycle, 5 cycle , and 8 cycl e breakers ( o n a 6 0 Hz basis), respectively. Exceptions: with minimum tripping delay, certain 8 and 5 cycle circuit breakers, such
as air magnetic (15 k V and b e l o w ) and oil (1 5 k V through 72 . 5 k V ) , often part contacts in less than the foregoing times and demonstrate corre sponding
higher total current interrupting ability. For specific cases, consult the manufacturer.

9
 Table 1
Rotating Machine Reactances for
Short-Circuit Current Calculation

Positive Sequence Reactances

for Calculating

Interrupting Momentary
Duty Duty
T y p e o f Rotating Machine (Per Unit) (Per Unit)

All turbogenerators, all hydrogenerators l.OXd l.OXd

with amortisseur windings, and all condensers
[see Not e ( 1 ) ]

Hydrogenerators without amortisseur windings O.TbXd 0.75X¿

[see Not e ( 2 ) ]

All synchronous motors [see Notes ( 1 ) , ( 4 ) , and ( 5 ) ] l.bX'a l.OXd

Induction motors [see Notes ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , and ( 5 ) ]
A b o v e 1 0 0 0 hp at 180 0 r/min or less
A b o v e 25 0 hp at 360 0 r/min 1.5X'd l.OX'd

Fro m 5 0 t o 100 0 hp at 180 0 r/min or less

Fro m 50 t o 250 hp at 360 0 r/min 3.0X'd 1.2X'd

Neglect all three-phase induction motors belo w

5 0 hp and all single-phase motors .

NOTES:
this result must not exceed the momentary capability
( 1 ) X'd o f synchronous rotating machines is the "rated
o f the circuit breaker being used.
voltage" (saturated) direct axis subtransient reactance.
( 5 ) When the contribution o f large individual induc-
( 2 ) X¿ o f synchronous rotating machines is the "rated
tion motors is an appreciable portion o f the short-
voltage (saturated) direct axis transient reactance.
circuit current, substitution for the tabulated multiply-
( 3 ) X'J o f induction motors equals 1.00 divided b y ing factors o f more accurate multipliers based o n man-
per-unit locked rotor current at rated voltage. ufacturer's time constant data is appropriate. Using
( 4 ) The current contributed t o a short circuit b y / = (E/X'd)i-tlT'\ as the expression for the exponential
induction motors and small synchronous motors may decay o f induction moto r symmetrical current to a
usually be ignored o n utility systems except station terminal short circuit, the reactance multiplying factor
service supply systems and at substations supplying is i tlT"t
+
where t is the proper time after initiation of
large industrial loads. A t these locations, as well as in the short circuit and T" is the moto r short-circuit time
industrial distribution systems or locations close to constant. (Both should be in the same time units.) For
large motors, or both the current at V4 cycle will be example, using manufacturer's moto r data for T" , the
increased b y the moto r contribution to a greater reactance multiplying factor for determining the inter-
degree, proportionately, than the total current will be rupting duty may be found using t equal t o the circuit
increased at minimum parting time. In these cases, an breaker minimum contact parting time. For a circuit
additional calculation o f the Vá cycle current should be breaker with a five-cycle rated interrupting time, t = 3
made using the appropriate reactance values given in cycles (0 . 05 s). For determining the momentary duty,
Table 1 under the heading "Momentary Duty . " A 1.6 use t = 0.5 cycles (0 . 0083 3 s) in the reactance multiply-
multiplying factor should be used for asymmetry, and ing factor calculations.

3 . 2 . 5 Resistance of System
Ratio. For the purpose of
equivalent X/R ratio, it is recommended that
the manufacturer's advice be obtained concern-
ing the resistance value to be used for important
electrical devices. In the absence of such recom-
mendations, the approximate resistance is sug-
gested in Table 2. In both cases, measured
values on rotating machines should be converted
to normal operating temperature.
In setting up the R network for the calculation
and Typical X/R of the equivalent X/R ratio of any system,
determining the rotating machine resistance values obtained
from the manufacturer or through use of the
following table should be adjusted by the ap-
plicable rotating machine reactance multipliers
from Table 1.
The ranges and typical values of the X/R
ratios of system components may be obtained
from Table 3. An estimate of the total system
equivalent X/R ratio to the point of fault may
be obtained from Table 4.

10