POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS

Lecture 6

FAULTS IN POWER SYSTEM

Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi

Outline:
6a. Faults in Power System: Overview.
6b. Types of Faults in Power System.

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS

Lecture 6a

FAULTS IN POWER SYSTEM:

OVERVIEW

Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi

Load flow:

Evaluating bus voltages and line currents:

at normal operating conditions

Fault analysis:

Evaluating bus voltages and line currents:

during the fault

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

What is “fault” ?

Insulation failure

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What is “fault” ?

• Abnormal condition in the electrical power system that

causes failure of the electrical equipment in the circuit
such as: generators, transformers, busbars, cables and all
other equipment in the system that operate at a given
voltage level.

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

• In an electric network, a short circuit occurs when two or
more points, which are at a different voltage under normal
operation conditions, accidentally come into contact with
each other through a small or zero impedance.
• This generally happens when the insulation fails due to any
accident.

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

 Causes of faults:
• Weather conditions: lightning strikes, heavy rains, heavy
winds, snow, ...etc.

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 Causes of faults:

• Animals: birds, snakes, …etc.

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 Causes of faults:

• Trees contact with the lines.

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 Causes of faults:
• Human errors: connection mistakes,vandalism, cars accidents,
…etc.

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 Causes of faults:

• Equipment failures: overloading, aging, …etc

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Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Consequences of faults:

The damaging effects of the faults are numerous and are mainly
related to the high currents which can appear in the system.
Usually, these current values can be several times the value of
the normal operational current leading to:
• Danger to people.
• Damage of equipment.
• Disturbs in interconnected active circuits.
• Electrical fires or explosions.
• Effect on system stability: blackout.

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

Why do we need to do fault analysis?

Called also “short circuit studies”. It evaluates bus voltages and

line currents during various types of faults for:
• Switchgear design.
• Circuit breaker braking capacity and fuse selection.
• Relays setting.
• Conductors and equipment ratings design.

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS

Lecture 6

FAULTS IN POWER SYSTEM

Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi

Outline:
6a. Faults in Power System: Overview.
6b. Types of Faults in Power System.

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC

 POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS

Lecture 6b

TYPES OF FAULTS IN POWER SYSTEM

Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi

Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
- Assumptions in fault studies:

1. During faults, loads currents are very low compared to fault

current, and thus they are usually ignored when performing
short circuit studies. This means that the system is assumed to
be operating at no load and consequently, all pre-fault bus
voltages are 1.0 pu. To get more accurate solution, the pre-fault
bus voltages can be obtained using the load flow solution.
2. Prior to the fault, all the generators are assumed to operate at
rated voltage with their emf’s in phase.
3. All the transformer taps are at nominal position.
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC
4. Also, for short circuit analysis, load impedances are ignored
because they are very much larger than generators and
transmission lines impedances.
5. Transmission lines are represented by their equivalent series
reactances and neglect series resistances and shunt admittances.
6. Transformers are represented by their leakage reactances.
Shunt elements in the transformer model are neglected.
7. Synchronous machines (generators and motors) are
represented by constant voltage sources behind subtransient
reactances. Armature resistance, saliency and saturation are
neglected.
Prepared by: Dr. Ahmad Al-Subhi - YIC