6 Calculation of short-circuit current

6.3 Determination of the short-circuit

current: “short-circuit power method”

The short-circuit current can be determined by using the “short-circuit power

method”. This method allows the determination of the approximate short-circuit
current at a point in an installation in a simple way; the resultant value is generally
acceptable. However, this method is not conservative and gives more accurate
values, the more similar the power factors of the considered components are
(network, generators, transformers, motors and large section cables etc.).
The “short-circuit power method” calculates the short-circuit current Ik based
on the formula:

Three-phase short-circuit

Two-phase short-circuit

where:
• Sk is the short-circuit apparent power seen at the point of the fault;
• Ur is the rated voltage.

To determine the short-circuit apparent power Sk, all the elements of the network
shall be taken into account, which may be:
• elements which contribute to the short-circuit current:
network, generators, motors;
• elements which limit the value of the short-circuit current:
conductors and transformers.

The procedure for the calculation of the short-circuit current involves the
following steps:
1. calculation of the short-circuit power for the different elements of the
installation;
2. calculation of the short-circuit power at the fault point;
3. calculation of the short-circuit current.

6.3.1 Calculation of the short-circuit power for the different elements of the
installation

The short-circuit apparent power Sk shall be determined for all the components
which are part of the installation:

Network
An electrical network is considered to include everything upstream of the point
of energy supply.

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

Generally, the energy distribution authority supplies the short-circuit apparent

power (Sknet) value at the point of energy supply. However, if the value of the
short-circuit current Iknet is known, the value of the power can be obtained by
using, for three-phase systems, the following formula:

where Ur is the rated voltage at the point of energy supply.

If the aforementioned data are not available, the values for Sknet given in the
following table can be taken as reference values:

Net voltage Ur [kV] Short-circuit power Sknet [MVA]

Up to 20 500
Up to 32 750
Up to 63 1000

Generator
The short-circuit power is obtained from:
⋅

where X*d% is the percentage value of the subtransient reactance (Xd”) or of the
transient reactance (Xd’) or of the synchronous reactance (Xd), according to the
instant in which the value of the short-circuit power is to be evaluated.
In general, the reactances are expressed in percentages of the rated impedance
of the generator (Zd) given by:

where Ur and Sr are the rated voltage and power of the generator.
Typical values can be:
- Xd” from 10 % to 20 %;
- Xd’ from 15 % to 40 %;
- Xd from 80 % to 300 %.
Normally, the worst case is considered, that being the subtransient reactance.
The following table gives the approximate values of the short-circuit power of
generators (Xd” = 12.5 %):

Sr [kVA] 50 63 125 160 200 250 320 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3200 4000
Skgen [MVA] 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.3 1.6 2.0 2.6 3.2 4.0 5.0 6.4 8.0 10.0 12.8 16.0 20.0 25.6 32.0

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

Asynchronous three-phase motors

Under short-circuit conditions, electric motors contribute to the fault for a brief
period (5-6 periods).
The power can be calculated according to the short-circuit current of the motor
(Ik), by using the following expression:

Typical values are:

Skmot= 5÷7 Srmot
(Ik is about 5÷7 Irmot: 5 for motors of small size, and 7 for larger motors).

Transformers
The short-circuit power of a transformer (Sktrafo) can be calculated by using the
following formula:

The following table gives the approximate values of the short-circuit power of
transformers:

Sr [kVA] 50 63 125 160 200 250 320 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3200 4000
uk% 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6
Sktrafo [MVA] 1.3 1.6 3.1 4 5 6.3 8 10 12.5 15.8 16 20 25 26.7 33.3

Cables
A good approximation of the short-circuit power of cables is:

where the impedance of the cable (Zc) is:

The following table gives the approximate values of the short-circuit power of
cables, at 50 and 60 Hz, according to the supply voltage (cable length = 10 m):

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

230 [V] 400 [V] 440 [V] 500 [V] 690 [V] 230 [V] 400 [V] 440 [V] 500 [V] 690 [V]
S [mm ] Skcable [MVA] @50 Hz Skcable [MVA] @60 Hz
2

1.5 0.44 1.32 1.60 2.07 3.94 0.44 1.32 1.60 2.07 3.94
2.5 0.73 2.20 2.66 3.44 6.55 0.73 2.20 2.66 3.44 6.55
4 1.16 3.52 4.26 5.50 10.47 1.16 3.52 4.26 5.50 10.47
6 1.75 5.29 6.40 8.26 15.74 1.75 5.29 6.40 8.26 15.73
10 2.9 8.8 10.6 13.8 26.2 2.9 8.8 10.6 13.7 26.2
16 4.6 14.0 16.9 21.8 41.5 4.6 13.9 16.9 21.8 41.5
25 7.2 21.9 26.5 34.2 65.2 7.2 21.9 26.4 34.1 65.0
35 10.0 30.2 36.6 47.3 90.0 10.0 30.1 36.4 47.0 89.6
50 13.4 40.6 49.1 63.4 120.8 13.3 40.2 48.7 62.9 119.8
70 19.1 57.6 69.8 90.1 171.5 18.8 56.7 68.7 88.7 168.8
95 25.5 77.2 93.4 120.6 229.7 24.8 75.0 90.7 117.2 223.1
120 31.2 94.2 114.0 147.3 280.4 29.9 90.5 109.5 141.5 269.4
150 36.2 109.6 132.6 171.2 326.0 34.3 103.8 125.6 162.2 308.8
185 42.5 128.5 155.5 200.8 382.3 39.5 119.5 144.6 186.7 355.6
240 49.1 148.4 179.5 231.8 441.5 44.5 134.7 163.0 210.4 400.7
300 54.2 164.0 198.4 256.2 488.0 48.3 146.1 176.8 228.3 434.7

With n cables in parallel, it is necessary to multiply the value given in the table
by n. If the length of the cable (Lact) is other than 10 m, it is necessary to multiply
the value given in the table by the following coefficient:

6.3.2 Calculation of the short-circuit power at the fault point

The rule for the determination of the short-circuit power at a point in the
installation, according to the short-circuit power of the various elements of
the circuit, is analogue to that relevant to the calculation of the equivalent
admittance. In particular:
• the power of elements in series is equal to the inverse of the sum of the
inverses of the single powers (as for the parallel of impedances);

• the short-circuit power of elements in parallel is equal to the sum of the single
short-circuit powers (as for the series of impedances).

The elements of the circuit are considered to be in series or parallel, seeing the
circuit from the fault point.
In the case of different branches in parallel, the distribution of the current between
the different branches shall be calculated once the short-circuit current at the
fault point has been calculated. This must be done to ensure the correct choice
of protection devices installed in the branches.

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

6.3.3 Calculation of the short-circuit current

To determine the short-circuit current in an installation, both the fault point as

well as the configuration of the system which maximize the short-circuit current
involving the device shall be considered. If appropriate, the contribution of the
motors shall be taken into account.
For example, in the case detailed below, for circuit-breaker CB1, the worst
condition occurs when the fault is right upstream of the circuit-breaker itself.
To determine the breaking capacity of the circuit-breaker, the contribution of
two transformers in parallel must be considered.

Fault right downstream of CB1

1SDC010050F0001
CB1 CB2 CB3
Fault

Fault right upstream of CB1

(worst condition for CB1)

Fault

1SDC010051F0001
CB1 CB2 CB3

Once the short-circuit power equivalent at the fault point has been determined,
the short-circuit current can be calculated by using the following formula:

Three-phase short-circuit

Two-phase short-circuit

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

As a first approximation, by using the following graph, it is possible to evaluate

the three-phase short-circuit current downstream of an object with short-circuit
power (SkEL) known; corresponding to this value, knowing the short-circuit
power upstream of the object (SkUP), the value of Ik can be read on the y-axis,
expressed in kA, at 400 V.

Figure 1: Chart for the calculation of the three-phase short-circuit

current at 400 V

Ik [kA]
150

140
SkUP = 1000 MVA
130
SkUP
SkUP = 750 MVA
120 SkUP = °
SkUP = 500 MVA
110
SkEL
100
SkUP = 250 MVA
90
Ik
80

70
SkUP = 100 MVA
60
SkUP = 50 MVA
50

40
SkUP = 40 MVA
30 SkUP = 30 MVA

20 SkUP = 20 MVA
1SDC010052F0001

10 SkUP = 10 MVA

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 SkEL [MVA]

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

6.3.4 Examples

The following examples demonstrate the calculation of the short-circuit current

in some different types of installation.

Example 1
U
Upstream network: Ur = 20000 V A
Sknet = 500 MVA

Transformer: Sr = 1600 kVA
uk% = 6%
U1r / U2r =20000/400 CB1

Motor: Pr = 220 kW B
Ikmot/Ir = 6.6 CB2 CB3

1SDC010053F0001
cosϕr = 0.9
η = 0.917

Generic load: IrL= 1443.4 A

cosϕr= 0.9 M L

Calculation of the short-circuit power of different elements

Network: Sknet= 500 MVA

Transformer:

Motor:

Skmot = 6.6.Srmot = 1.76 MVA for the first 5-6 periods (at 50 Hz about 100 ms)

Calculation of the short-circuit current for the selection of circuit-

breakers
Selection of CB1
For circuit-breaker CB1, the worst condition arises when the fault occurs right
downstream of the circuit-breaker itself. In the case of a fault right upstream,
the circuit-breaker would be involved only by the fault current flowing from the
motor, which is remarkably smaller than the network contribution.

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

The circuit, seen from the fault point, is represented by the series of the network
with the transformer. According to the previous rules, the short-circuit power is
determined by using the following formula:
⋅

the maximum fault current is:

The transformer LV side rated current is equal to 2309 A; therefore the circuit-
breaker to select is an Emax E3N 2500.
Using the chart shown in Figure 1, it is possible to find IkCB1 from the curve with
SkUP = Sknet = 500 MVA corresponding to SkEL = Sktrafo = 26.7 MVA:

Ik [kA]
150

140

130

120

110 SkUP = 500 MVA

100

90

80

70

60

50

40
Ik = 36.5 kA
30
1SDC010054F0001

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
SkUP = 26.7 MVA SkEL [MVA]

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

Selection of CB2
For circuit-breaker CB2, the worst condition arises when the fault occurs right
downstream of the circuit-breaker itself. The circuit, seen from the fault point, is
represented by the series of the network with the transformer. The short-circuit
current is the same used for CB1.

The rated current of the motor is equal to 385 A; the circuit-breaker to select
is a Tmax T5H 400.

Selection of CB3
For CB3 too, the worst condition arises when the fault occurs right downstream
of the circuit-breaker itself.
The circuit, seen from the fault point, is represented by two branches in parallel:
the motor and the series of the network and transformer. According to the
previous rules, the short-circuit power is determined by using the following
formula:
Motor // (Network + Transformer)

The rated current of the load L is equal to 1443 A; the circuit-breaker to select
is a Tmax T7S1600 or an Emax X1B1600.

Example 2
The circuit shown in the diagram is constituted by the supply, two transformers
in parallel and three loads.
U
A

Trafo 1 Trafo 2
Upstream network: Ur1=20000 V
Sknet = 500 MVA
CB1 CB2
Transformers 1 and 2: Sr = 1600 kVA
uk% = 6% B
U1r /U2r =20000/400 CB3 CB4 CB5
1SDC010055F0001

Load L1: Sr = 1500 kVA; cosϕ = 0.9;

Load L2: Sr = 1000 kVA; cosϕ = 0.9;
Load L3: Sr = 50 kVA; cosϕ = 0.9.
L1 L2 L3

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 6.3 Determination of the short-circuit current: “short-circuit power method”

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

Calculation of the short-circuit powers of different elements:

Network

Transformers 1 and 2

Selection of CB1 (CB2)
For circuit-breaker CB1 (CB2) the worst condition arises when the fault occurs
right downstream of the circuit-breaker itself. According to the previous rules,
the circuit seen from the fault point, is equivalent to the parallel of the two
transformers in series with the network: Network + (Trafo 1 // Trafo 2).
The short-circuit current obtained in this way corresponds to the short-circuit
current at the busbar. This current, given the symmetry of the circuit, is distributed
equally between the two branches (half each). The current which flows through
CB1 (CB2) is therefore equal to half of that at the busbar.

⋅ +

The circuit-breakers CB1(CB2) to select, with reference to the rated current of

the transformers, are Emax E3N 2500.

Selection of CB3-CB4-CB5
For these circuit-breakers the worst condition arises when the fault occurs right
downstream of the circuit-breakers themselves. Therefore, the short-circuit
current to be taken into account is that at the busbar:

IkCB3 = Ikbusbar = 69.56 kA

The circuit-breakers to select, with reference to the current of the loads, are:
CB3: Emax E3S 2500
CB4: Emax E2S 1600
CB5: Tmax T2H 160

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 6 Calculation of short-circuit current
6.4 Determination of the short-circuit
current Ik downstream of a cable as a
function of the upstream one
The table below allows the determination, in a conservative way, of the three-
phase short-circuit current at a point in a 400 V network downstream of a single
pole copper cable at a temperature of 20 °C. Known values:
- the three-phase short-circuit current upstream of the cable;
- the length and cross section of the cable.
Cable
section Length
[mm2] [m]
1.5 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.8 2.5 3.5 5.3 7 9.4 14
2.5 0.9 1 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.3 2.9 4.1 5.9 8.8 12 16 24
4 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.9 2.3 2.8 3.7 4.7 6.6 9.4 14 19 25 38
6 0.8 1.1 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.5 2.8 3.5 4.2 5.6 7 10 14 21 28 38 56
10 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.9 3.5 4.1 4.7 5.8 7 9.4 12 16 23 35 47 63 94
16 0.9 1.1 1.5 1.9 2.2 3 3.7 4.7 5.6 6.5 7.5 9.3 11 15 19 26 37 56 75 100 150
25 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.3 2.9 3.5 4.6 5.8 7.2 8.7 10 12 14 17 23 29 41 58 87 116 155 233
35 1.2 1.6 2 2.4 3.2 4 4.8 6.4 8 10 12 14 16 20 24 32 40 56 80 121 161 216 324
50 1.1 1.7 2.3 2.8 3.4 4.5 5.7 6.8 9 11 14 17 20 23 28 34 45 57 79 113 170 226 303 455
70 0.8 1.5 2.3 3.1 3.8 4.6 6.2 7.7 9.2 12 15 19 23 27 31 38 46 62 77 108 154 231 308 413
95 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 16 20 25 30 35 40 50 60 80 100 140 200 300 400
120 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.8 6 7.2 10 12 14 19 24 30 36 42 48 60 72 96 120 168 240 360 481
150 1.4 2.8 4.2 5.6 7 8.4 11 14 17 23 28 35 42 49 56 70 84 113 141 197 281 422
185 1.6 3.2 4.8 6.4 8 10 13 16 19 26 32 40 48 56 64 80 96 128 160 224 320 480
240 1.8 3.7 5.5 7.3 9.1 11 15 18 22 29 37 46 55 64 73 91 110 146 183 256 366 549
300 2 4 6 8 10 12 16 20 24 32 40 50 60 70 80 100 120 160 200 280 400
2x120 2.4 4.8 7.2 10 12 14 19 24 29 38 48 60 72 84 96 120 144 192 240 336 481
2x150 2.8 5.6 8.4 11 14 17 23 28 34 45 56 70 84 98 113 141 169 225 281 394 563
2x185 3.2 6.4 10 13 16 19 26 32 38 51 64 80 96 112 128 160 192 256 320 448
3x120 3.6 7.2 11 14 18 22 29 36 43 58 72 90 108 126 144 180 216 288 360 505
3x150 4.2 8.4 13 17 21 25 34 42 51 68 84 105 127 148 169 211 253 338 422
3x185 4.8 10 14 19 24 29 38 48 58 77 96 120 144 168 192 240 288 384 480

Ik upstream Ik downstream
[kA] [kA]
100 96 92 89 85 82 78 71 65 60 50 43 36 31 27 24 20 17 13 11 7.8 5.6 3.7 2.7 2.0 1.3
90 86 83 81 78 76 72 67 61 57 48 42 35 31 27 24 20 17 13 11 7.8 5.6 3.7 2.7 2.0 1.3
80 77 75 73 71 69 66 62 57 53 46 40 34 30 27 24 20 17 13 10 7.7 5.5 3.7 2.7 2.0 1.3
70 68 66 65 63 62 60 56 53 49 43 38 33 29 26 23 19 16 13 10 7.6 5.5 3.7 2.7 2.0 1.3
60 58 57 56 55 54 53 50 47 45 40 36 31 28 25 23 19 16 12 10 7.5 5.4 3.7 2.7 2.0 1.3
50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 41 39 35 32 29 26 23 21 18 15 12 10 7.3 5.3 3.6 2.6 2.0 1.3
40 39 39 38 38 37 37 35 34 33 31 28 26 24 22 20 17 15 12 10 7.1 5.2 3.6 2.6 2.0 1.3
35 34 34 34 33 33 32 32 31 30 28 26 24 22 20 19 16 14 11 10 7.1 5.1 3.5 2.6 2.0 1.3
30 30 29 29 29 28 28 28 27 26 25 23 22 20 19 18 16 14 11 9.3 7.0 5.0 3.5 2.6 1.9 1.3
25 25 24 24 24 24 24 23 23 22 21 21 19 18 17 16 14 13 11 9.0 6.8 5.0 3.4 2.6 1.9 1.3
20 20 20 20 19 19 19 19 18 18 18 17 16 15 15 14 13 12 10 8.4 6.5 4.8 3.3 2.5 1.9 1.3
15 15 15 15 15 15 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 12 12 12 11 10 8.7 7.6 6.1 4.6 3.2 2.5 1.9 1.3
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9.3 8.8 7.8 7.0 5.7 4.4 3.1 2.4 1.9 1.3
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9.5 9.4 9.2 9.0 8.8 8.5 8.3 8.1 7.7 7.3 6.5 5.9 5.0 3.9 2.9 2.3 1.8 1.2
8.0 8.0 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.8 7.8 7.7 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.2 7.1 6.9 6.8 6.5 6.2 5.7 5.2 4.5 3.7 2.8 2.2 1.7 1.2
6.0 6.0 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.1 4.9 4.8 4.4 4.1 3.6 3.1 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.1
3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.7 1.4 1.2 0.9

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 6.4 Determination of the short-circuit current Ik downstream of a cable as a function
of the upstream one

6 Calculation of short-circuit current

Note:
• In the case of the Ik upstream and the length of the cable not being included
in the table, it is necessary to consider:
- the value right above Ik upstream;
- the value right below for the cable length.

These approximations allow calculations which favour safety.

• In the case of cables in parallel not present in the table, the length must be
divided by the number of cables in parallel.

Example
Data
Rated voltage = 400 V
Cable section = 120 mm2
Conductor = copper
Length = 29 m

Upstream short-circuit current = 32 kA

400 V

Ik upstream = 32 kA

QF A

120 mm2
Cu/PVC

1SDC010056F0001
L = 29 m Ik downstream = ?

QF B QF C

Procedure
In the row corresponding to the cable cross section 120 mm2, it is possible to
find the column for a length equal to 29 m or right below (in this case 24). In
the column of upstream short-circuit current it is possible to identify the row
with a value of 32 kA or right above (in this case 35). From the intersection of
this last row with the previously identified column, the value of the downstream
short-circuit current can be read as being equal to 26 kA.

498 Electrical devices | ABB