SHORT CIRCUIT

STUDY
M ARIFIN
Moh.arifin85@gmail.com
SHORT CIRCUIT
Objectives
Short circuit study can be determine:
1. Determine short circuit current level on very panel
2. Determine size busbar kA rating and CB kA rating
SHORT CIRCUIT
Parameter of short Circuit current calculation (IEC60909)
1. Initial Symmetrical Short-Circuit Current (I"k)
This is the rms value of the AC symmetrical component of an available short-
circuit current applicable at the instant of short-circuit if the impedance remains
at zero time value.

Where
Un = Voltage at the short circuit location
Zk = the equivalent impedance at the fault location

2. Peak Short-Circuit Current (ip)

This is the maximum possible instantaneous value of the available short-circuit
current
SHORT CIRCUIT

Where
k = a function of the system R/X ratio at the fault location, according IEC 60909-
0 Paragraph 4.3.1.1 or paragraph 4.3.1.2

3. Symmetrical Short-Circuit Breaking Current (Ib)

This is the rms value of an integral cycle of the symmetrical AC component of the
available short-circuit current at the instant of contact separation of the first pole
of a switching device.

Far from Generator fault
SHORT CIRCUIT

Near to Generator Fault

Where µ and q are factors that account for AC decay

µ = factor µ, depend on the minimum time delay t min and the ratio l”kG /IrG. For
detail refer to IEC 60909-0 Page 109
q = factor q, depend on the minimum time delay t min and the ratio PrM /P. For
detail refer to IEC 60909-0 Page 113
I”kG = Initial symmetrical short circuit of Generator
IrG = Rated current Generator
PrM = Rated Active Power in MW
P = number pole of motor
SHORT CIRCUIT
4. Steady-State Short-Circuit Current (Ik)
This is the rms value of the short-circuit current, which remains after the
decay of the transient phenomena.

where,
λ = factor λ , depend on the Xdsat and the ratio l”kG /IrG. For
detail refer to IEC 60909-0 Page 117

5. DC component (Idc) Short Circuit

mean value between the top and bottom envelope of a short-circuit current
decaying from an initial value to zero of short circuit current
SHORT CIRCUIT
Where,
I”k = initial symmetrical short-circuit current;
f = is the nominal frequency;
t = is the time;
R/X = R/X ratio at the fault location, according IEC 60909-
0 Paragraph 4.3.1.1 or paragraph 4.3.1.2

6. The thermal withstand short-circuit current capability(Ith)

The joule integral ‫ ݅ ׬‬ଶ ݀‫ ݐ‬is a measure of the energy generated in the
resistive element of the system by the short-circuit current.

where,
I”k = initial symmetrical short-circuit current;
m = the factor for the heat effect of the d.c. component
n = the factor for the heat effect of the a.c. component
SHORT CIRCUIT
SHORT CIRCUIT
SHORT CIRCUIT
SHORT CIRCUIT
SHORT CIRCUIT
Characteristic short circuit current:
1. Far from Generator Short Circuit
short circuit during which the magnitude of the symmetrical a.c. component of the
prospective (available) short-circuit current remains essentially constant (see figure
1)

2. Near to Generator Short Circuit

short circuit to which at least one synchronous machine contributes a
prospective initial symmetrical short-circuit current which is more than twice the
machine's rated current, or a short circuit to which asynchronous motors contribute
more than 5 % of the initial symmetricaf short- circuit current I”k without motors (see
figure 2)
SHORT CIRCUIT
SHORT CIRCUIT
SHORT CIRCUIT
Type of Short Circuit Fault:
1. 3-Phase Fault
2. LLG Fault
3. LL Fault
4. LG Fault
SHORT CIRCUIT
Type of Short Circuit Fault
SHORT CIRCUIT
IEC Short Circuit terminology:
1. Peak Current/electrodynamics withstand/making capacity (Icm) : peak value of
the short circuit. can be easily see from the wave. Panel, ACB and VCB usually
has this rating value. MCB, MCCB rarely has this rating plate.
2. Breaking Current (Icu/Ics) is to represent rms value of the SC when the one of
the CB pole open. Only CB has this value and their value is determined by the
breaking time. All breaker MCB, MCCB, ACB, VCB has this rating value. Icu is
for ultimate breaking current meanwhile Ics is for symmetrical. Icu must be
same/higher than Ics.
3. Thermal withstand current/Short time withstand current (Ith) is value to represent
thermal damage caused by high SC current for some period of time. usually 1s
for LV-Switchboard/CB and 3s for HV Switchboard/CB. Panel, ACB and VCB
usually has this rating value. MCB, MCCB rarely has this rating plate.
4. DC current/Idc is to represents dc current level. near generator dc current will be
high therefore usually CB near generator required dc short circuit evaluation.
SHORT CIRCUIT
Device capability Vs short circuit calculation

Equipment Component Device capability Short Circuit

Calculation
SWITCHYARD Busbar Short circuit withstand Ith
current (Ithr)3 sec
(Tkr)
HVCB Rated breaking current Ibsym

Rated making current Ip

GCB Busbar Short circuit withstand Ith

current (Ithr)3 sec
(Tkr)
GCB Rated breaking current Ibsym

%Idc Idc

Closing & latching Ip

capability
SHORT CIRCUIT
Device capability of short circuit calculation
Equipment Component Device capability Short Circuit Current
(Etap)
MV / LV Busduct Busbar Short circuit withstand Ith
current (Ithr)3 sec (Tkr)
Rated Peak Withstand Ip
Current
MV Switchgear Busbar Short circuit withstand Ith
current (Ithr)3 sec (Tkr)

VCB Rated Making Current Ip

Ultimate breaking current Ibsym

(Icu) or Service breaking
current (Ics)

Icu must be same/higher

than Ics
Fuse Rated breaking current Ibsym
SHORT CIRCUIT
Device capability of short circuit calculation
Equipment Component Device capability Short Circuit Current
(Etap)
LV Switchgear Busbar Short circuit withstand Ith
current (Ithr)1 sec (Tkr)
ACB Rated short circuit Ibsym
ultimate breaking
capacity (Icu) or Service
breaking capacity (Ics)

Icu must be same/higher

than Ics
Short circuit withstand Ith
current (Icw)
Short Circuit Making Ip
Capacity (Icm)
MCCB Service breaking capacity Ibsym
(Ics) or ultimate breaking
capacity (Icu)
MCB Service breaking capacity Ibsym
(Ics) or ultimate breaking
capacity (Icu)
SHORT CIRCUIT
Equipment Contribute the Short Circuit Current:
1. Power Grid
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
MVAsc ↑MVAsc↑SC ↓MVAsc↓SC I”k
X/R ↑X/R↑SC ↓X/R↓SC Ip, Idc Typically 14 (value x/r for testing HVCB)
SHORT CIRCUIT
2. Generator
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
MW ↑MW↑SC ↓MW↓SC I”k
kV ↑kV↓SC ↓kV↑SC I”k
PF ↑pf↓MVA↓SC ↓pf↑MVA↑SC I”k Typically X”d generator is 10-20%

X”d ↑X”d↓SC ↓X”d↑SC I”k

X/R ↑X/R↑SC ↓X/R↓SC Ip, Idc Typically X/R for generator >40

X”d ↑X”d ↓X”d I”k Typically X”d tolerance are 5% or 10% or 15%
Tolerance Tolerance↑SC Tolerance↓SC (for safety factor only, if not have report test
actual X”d generator )
X’d ↑X’d↓SC ↓X’d↑SC Ik

X0 ↑X0↓SC ↓X0↑SC Unsymmetrical

SC (Ground
Fault)
X2 ↑X2↓SC ↓X2↑SC Unsymmetrical
SC (Ground
Fault)
NGR ↑R↓SC ↓R↑SC Unsymmetrical Solid Grounded, HRG, LRG
SC (Ground
Fault)
SHORT CIRCUIT
2. Generator
SHORT CIRCUIT
2. Generator
SHORT CIRCUIT
3. Motor
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
kW ↑kW↑SC ↓kW↓SC I”k
kV ↑kV↓SC ↓kV↑SC I”k

PF ↑pf↓MVA↓SC ↓pf↑MVA↑SC I”k

LRC ↑%LRC↑SC ↓%LRC↓SC I”k Typically 500% - 800%

Number of
pole
X/R ↑X/R↑SC ↓X/R↓SC Ip, Idc Typically 3.8 ( for Pf starting 25%)
SHORT CIRCUIT
3. Motor
SHORT CIRCUIT
3. Motor
SHORT CIRCUIT
4. Lump Load
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
Load Type ↑load ↓load I”k
motor↑SC motor↓SC
MVA ↑MVA↑SC ↓MVA↓SC
kV ↑kV↓SC ↓kV↑SC

%LRC ↑%LRC↑SC ↓%LRC↓SC I”k Typically 500% - 800%

X/R ↑X/R↑SC ↓X/R↓SC Ip, Idc Typically 3.8 (Pf starting 25%)
SHORT CIRCUIT
4. Lump Load
SHORT CIRCUIT
4. Lump Load
SHORT CIRCUIT
Equipment Can Reduce the Short Circuit Current:
1. Transformer
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
kV ↑kV↓SC, ↓kV↑SC
MVA ↑MVA↑SC ↓MVA↓SC
Z ↑Z↓SC, ↓Z↑SC

Z Tolerance ↑Z ↓Z Based on standard IEC 76 = ±10%.

Tolerance↑SC Tolerance↓SC

X/R ↑X/R↑SC ↓X/R↓SC Ip, Idc

SHORT CIRCUIT
1. Transformer
SHORT CIRCUIT
1. Transformer
SHORT CIRCUIT
2. Cable
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
Z (R, X and ↑Z↓SC, ↓Z↑SC
Length)
SHORT CIRCUIT
3. NGR
Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks
Z ↑Z↓SC, ↓Z↑SC Ground fault reducing ground fault effectifically
SHORT CIRCUIT
4. Current Limiter
This device not reduce short circuit current, but this device can detect and cut
short circuit very fast the SC before their peak value.

5. VSD
Some VSD have capability to block current the contribution motor to upstream
system. It will depends on thyristor principle work. Capabilities thyristor to black
current called k factor.

Parameter Correlation Impact SC Remarks

HP ↑HP↑SC, ↓HP↓SC
kV ↑kV↓SC, ↓kV↑SC
PF ↑pf↓MVA↓SC ↓pf↑MVA↑SC
K factor ↑k↑SC, ↓k↓SC
SHORT CIRCUIT
4. VSD
SHORT CIRCUIT
Device Capability Evaluation
1. HVCB
SHORT CIRCUIT
Device Capability Evaluation
2. LVCB
SHORT CIRCUIT
Device Capability Evaluation
3. Switchgear
SHORT CIRCUIT
Tools Short Circuit of ETAP
1. Info

3
1

2
SHORT CIRCUIT
Tools Short Circuit of ETAP
1. Info
1. SC at terminal motor will be calculated and indicated
2. Can be adjust to get more accurate result
3. Pre start voltage have small effect the calculation. Bigger pre
start voltage will have impact on bigger short circuit
SHORT CIRCUIT
Tools Short Circuit of ETAP
1. Standard

1 2

3
5
SHORT CIRCUIT
Tools Short Circuit of ETAP
1. Standard
1. Select standard based on Standard Equipment (IEC or ANSI)
2. C factor, it have effect the initial symmetrical current (for detail
see IEC 60909 table 1, page 40).
3. IEC give us option to calculate SC based on max through fault
current or total fault current. Total fault current will get a more
conservative value. Application the Max through fault current
is optimal cost within select GCB, select bigger the contribution
SC between of generator and system side.
4. IEC give 3 option to calculate X/R. it will effect within calculate Ip
SC. Method B will increase 1.15 than method A. Method C is
recommended in meshed networks (see IEC 60909-1)
SHORT CIRCUIT
Tools Short Circuit of ETAP