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Fault Level Calculation Using The MVA Method - PAC Basics
Fault Level Calculation Using The MVA Method - PAC Basics
Home Short-Circuit Studies Fault Level Calculation Using The MVA Method
Numerical Methods
Conclusion
References
Abstract: There are a lot of methods that can be used for short-circuit current calculation. One method
was previously discussed here and is based on the guidelines presented in IEC 60909. This article deals
with an alternative method for the short-circuit current calculation so-called the MVA method. This
method is simple, quick, and easy to remember. It is also sufficiently accurate for engineers in practice for
basic estimation of fault levels at any point in an electrical network.
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Introduction
The determination of the level of short-circuit current at any point of an electrical network can be of
interest because of several reasons, e.g.:
design of electrical equipment (from the point of view of thermal and dynamic effects of short-
circuit currents),
control of voltage ratios during short-circuit and during the start-up of large asynchronous motors,
In most practical applications, it is not necessary to know the exact time course of short-circuit currents. A
simplified calculation is often sufficient. There are several methods for the calculation of short-circuit
currents. These can be divided into numerical and numeric-graphical methods. Some of them are listed
below:
Numerical-Graphical Methods
This method can be used when the task is limited only to finding the short-circuit current at the short-
circuit location. This method is popular because of its simplicity and relative accuracy. The method
consists of the application of special curves that give the value of the a.c. component of the short-circuit
current in any moment of the short-circuit fault,
Nomogram Method
This is a simple graphical method that consists of subtracting the necessary parameters of the electrical
system elements (impedances) from the graphs that were pre-printed on the sheets, separately for each
voltage level. The disadvantage of nomograms is their limited use only for radial networks and the fact
that the method accuracy is directly dependent on the accuracy of reading from the graphs drawn.
Numerical Methods
Ohmic Method
Also known as the Impedance Method. The disadvantage of this method is it is cumbersome if the
system under investigation contains several voltage levels,
Per-unit Method
This method is no better in terms of manual calculations than the previous method since it involves a
number of relationships and bonds associated with reference values, which can often cause errors in the
calculation procedure,
Superposition Method
This method is used very often but requires knowledge of steady-state conditions before the short-circuit
occurrence, which reduces its applicability for general and fast calculations.
contains simple formulas for calculation (in comparison with other methods),
sufficiently accurate,
can be used for calculation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults, voltage drop during motor
start-up, or steady-state.
Let’s consider following a simple 22kV electrical network according to Figure 1 (taken from [3] and
modified). Let us assume that the industrial power network is connected through the power line V1 and
supplied from the 22 kV external distribution network. For sake of simplicity, we consider only one
synchronous generator, TG, and one synchronous motor, SM1 in the industrial power network. The task is
to find out the value of initial symmetrical three-phase short-circuit current at 6.6 kV busbar.
Figure 1. Single Line Diagram of the Industrial Electrical Network
As mentioned earlier, the first step is the calculation of the MVA level of each component and converting
the single line diagram to its equivalent MVA diagram.
For overhead power lines, the short-circuit MVA can be calculated directly from the impedance in form
Zv=R+jX, therefore we can write
Now we can reduce the equivalent MVA diagram. For elements connected in series the equivalent value of
initial symmetrical short-circuit power is equal to the sum of inverted MVA values of elements.
For example, the equivalent MVA at branch A (consisting of network feeder, transformer T1 and power line
V1) is
For elements connected in parallel, the final value of initial symmetrical short-circuit power is equal to the
sum of MVA values of elements.
The electrical network equivalent MVA can be obtained from the sum of three parallel branches A, B, and
C.
Finally, the initial symmetrical short-circuit current at the fault point can be calculated from the equivalent
network MVA.
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Finally, the initial symmetrical short-circuit current at the fault point can be calculated from the equivalent
network MVA.
Bonus
If the value of initial symmetrical short-circuit current is known, the peak short-circuit current can be
determined using
A comparison of the results between the two methods is shown in the following table. The results based
on IEC 60909 calculation method will be used as a reference.
It can be seen that the MVA method gives results with sufficient accuracy.
Conclusion
The methods calculation short-circuit currents vary in complexity and the amount of effort put into. The
MVA method is known to be simple, quick, and easy, and is sufficiently accurate for engineers in practice
for basic estimation of fault levels at any point in an electrical network.
References
[1] Jaffari, H.: Fault Current Calculation. Power System Review: Module 6. Northeast Public Power
Association, 2013.
[2] Lee Wai, M., Pang, J.M.: Electrical Fault Level Calculations Using the MVA Method. Dostupné na
internete: < http://www.jmpangseah.com>
[3] Kakilli, A.: System Analysis with the MVA Method for Symmetrical Three-Phase Faults. TEM Journal, vol2
no1, 2013.
[4] Máslo, K., Novák, J., Doležal, J.: Analysis of short-circuit currents. In Symposium Elektroenergetika. Stará
Lesná, Slovakia, 2001.
[5] Pauza, J.: Short-circuits in electrical networks. SNTL Prague, Czech Republic, 1970.
[6] Máslo, K. et al.: Control and stability of power system. ČEPS and Energy managers’ association. Prague,
Czech Republic, 2013. ISBN 978-80-260-4461-1
[7] STN IEC 60909 – 0: Short-circuit currents in three-phase a.c. systems. Part 0: Calculation of currents.
Valid from 1.10.2016.
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15 thoughts on “Fault Level Calculation Using The MVA Method”
Thank you.
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In getting the Zs of 22kV External Distribution Network by the IEC 60909 Method, I might have
missed where we get the constant C and the value assigned to it as 1.1. Please advise.
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Hi Louie,
I hope this is not too late but to answer your question, the constant C is taken from the
voltage factors recommended in the IEC 60909. This is in order to account for the system
prefault conditions. You can refer to the table of voltage factors from this link.
Kind Regards,
PAC Basics Team
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An excellent and very helpful article.Missing are only the calculations to detemine the value of
the total impedance Zfault=0,353 Ω,which I think would be very useful.Kindly advise
Many thanks
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Hi Athan,
Thank you for your interest in the topic. Actually, the total impedance, Zfault, is the equivalent
impedance i.e. series/parallel combination of the impedances upstream. So in this case, it is
the series combination of the source, line, transformer impedances, this, in parallel with the
generator and motor impedances.
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Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your reply
Regards
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Thank you
Nice article
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You’re welcome!
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Elvin says:
April 19, 2020 at 12:13 AM
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Juls says:
April 13, 2020 at 9:53 PM
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April 13, 2020 at 8:58 PM
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April 4, 2020 at 8:16 PM
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Xabin says:
April 4, 2020 at 3:36 PM
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سالمl محمودsays:
January 3, 2021 at 6:56 PM
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You’re welcome!
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