MODULE 5

FAULT CALCULATIONS
Symmetrical Components and
Unsymmetrical Faults
 solve the symmetrical
At the end of components of voltage
this lesson you and current.

will be able to:

solve unsymmetrical fault
problems.
• Unsymmetrical faults such as line-to-line and line-to-ground
faults (which occur more frequently than three-phase short
circuits) can be analyzed on a per-phase basis. For such faults
the methods of symmetrical components is used.
• According the Fortescue’s theorem, the three unbalanced
vectos Va, Vb, and Vc can be replaced by a set of three
balanced systems of vectors. A balanced system of three
vectors is one in which the vectors are equal in magnitude and
are equi-spaced.
This method is based on the fact that a set of three-phase
unbalanced phasors can be solved into three sets of symmetrical
components, which are termed the positive-sequence, negative-
sequence, and zero-sequence components.
The three symmetrical component vectors replacing Va, Vb, and Vc
are:
1. Positive sequence component which has three vectors of equal
magnitude but displaced in phase from each other by 120o and
has the same phase sequence as the original vectors.
2. Negative sequence component which has three vectors of equal
magnitude but displaced in phase from each other by 120o and
has the phase sequence opposite as the original vectors.
3. Zero sequence component which has three vectors of equal
magnitude and also are in-phase with each other.
The phasors of the set of positive-sequence components have a
counterclockwise phase rotation (or phase sequence) abc; the negative-
sequence components have the reverse phase sequence acb; and the zero-
sequence components are all in phase with each other.
The positive-sequence components are designated with the
subscript 1, and the subscripts 2 and 0 are used for negative-
and zero-sequence components, respectively.
The unbalanced system of can
be resolved into symmetrical
components as shown. In
particular, we have
We now introduce an operator a that causes a
counterclockwise rotation of 120⁰ (just as the j operator
produces a 90⁰ rotation), such as
We may write the components of a given sequence in terms of any chosen
component.
We can also write in terms of components of phase a
Solving for the sequence components:

Equations above hold for currents as well. A quantity (current,

voltage, impedance, power) that is given in terms of symmetrical
components is sometimes called the sequence quantity, as in
"sequence current."
To obtain the power in a three-phase system in terms of
symmetrical components, we rewrite

in matrix notation as follows:

Similarly, for the currents we have
The average complex power is

Thus, the sequence power is one-third the power in terms of

phase quantities.
The line-to-ground voltages on the high voltage side of a
step-up transformer are 100 kV, 33 kV, and 38 kV on phases
a, b, and c , respectively. The voltage of phase a leads that
of phase b by 100o and lags that of phase c by 176.5o.
Determine the symmetrical components of voltage.
The line-to-ground voltages on the high voltage side of a step-up transformer
are 100 kV, 33 kV, and 38 kV on phases a, b, and c , respectively. The
voltage of phase a leads that of phase b by 100o and lags that of phase c by
176.5o. Determine the symmetrical components of voltage.

Solution:
Solution:

For the positive-sequence component:

Solution:

For the negative-sequence component:

Solution:

For the zero-sequence component:

The line currents in amperes in phases a, b, and c are
500+j150 A, 100-j600 A and -300+j600 A, respectively
referred to the same reference vector. Find the symmetrical
component of currents.
The line currents in amperes in phases a, b, and c are 500+j150 A, 100-j600
A and -300+j600 A, respectively referred to the same reference vector. Find
the symmetrical component of currents.

Solution:

For the positive sequence components:

The line currents in amperes in phases a, b, and c are 500+j150 A, 100-j600
A and -300+j600 A, respectively referred to the same reference vector. Find
the symmetrical component of currents.

Solution:

For the negative sequence components:

The line currents in amperes in phases a, b, and c are 500+j150 A, 100-j600
A and -300+j600 A, respectively referred to the same reference vector. Find
the symmetrical component of currents.

Solution:

For the zero sequence components:

• Corresponding to sequence currents, we may define
sequence impedances. An impedances through which only
positive-sequence currents flow is called the positive-
sequence impedance.
• Similarly, when only negative-sequence currents flow, the
impedance is known as the negative-sequence
impedance; and
• when zero-sequence currents alone are present, the
impedance is called the zero-sequence impedance.
The sequence networks unsymmetrical faults of a particular
sequence current in a given power system is the path for the flow
of that sequence current in the system. It is composed of
impedances offered to that sequence current in the system. Since
there are three sequence currents (positive sequence current,
negative sequence current and zero sequence current), there will
be three sequence networks for a given power system, namely ;
1. Positive sequence network
2. Negative sequence network
3. Zero sequence network
The positive sequence network for a given power system
shows all the paths for the flow of positive sequence currents
in the system. It is represented by one-line diagram and is
composed of impedances offered to the positive sequence
currents.
While drawing the positive sequence network of a given power system, the
following points may be kept in view:
1. Each generator in the system is represented by the generated voltage in
series with appropriate reactance and resistance.
2. Current limiting impedances between the generator’s neutral and ground
pass no positive sequence current and hence are not included in the
positive sequence network.
3. All resistances and magnetising currents for each transformer are
neglected as a matter of
4. For transmission lines, the shunt capacitances and resistances are
generally neglected.
5. Motor loads are included in the network as generated e.m.f. in series with
appropriate
The negative sequence network for a given power system shows
all the paths for the flow of negative sequence currents in the
system. It is also represented by one line diagram and is
composed of impedances offered to the negative sequence
currents.
The negative sequence network can be readily obtained from
positive sequence network with the following modifications :
1. Omit the e.m.fs. of 3-phase generators and motors in the
positive sequence network. It is because these devices have
only positive sequence-generated voltages.
2. Change, if necessary, the impedances that represent rotating
machinery in the positive sequence network. It is because negative
sequence impedance of rotating machinety is generally different from
that of positive sequence impedance.
3. Current limiting impedances between generator’s neutral and
ground pass no negative sequence current and hence are not included
in the negative Sequence Networks Unsymmetrical Faults.
4. For static devices such as transmission lines and transformers, the
negative sequence impedances have the same value as the
corresponding positive sequence impedances.
The zero sequence network for a given power system shows
all the paths for the flow of zero sequence currents. The zero
sequence network of a system depends upon the nature of
connections of the 3-phase windings of the components in
the system.
The following points may be noted about zero Sequence
Networks Unsymmetrical Faults:
1. The zero sequence currents will flow only if there is a return
path i.e. path from neutral to ground or to another neutral point
in the circuit.
2. In the case of a system with no return path for zero sequence
currents, these currents cannot exist.
A line-to-ground fault occurs on phase a of the generator, which was
operating without a load. The sequence-network representation of this
condition:
The sequence-network representation of this condition:

𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼! = 3𝐼!"

A line-to-line fault occurs on phases b and c of the generator, which was
operating without a load. Note: There is no zero-sequence current.
The sequence-network representation of this condition:

𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼# = 𝑎$𝐼!" + 𝑎𝐼!$

A double line-to-ground fault occurs on phases b, c and ground of the
generator, which was operating without a load.
The sequence-network representation of this condition:

𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼# + 𝐼% = 3𝐼!&

The positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence reactances of a
20 Mva, 13.2 kV synchronous generator are 0.3 pu, 0.2 pu,
and 0.1 pu, respectively. The generator is solidly grounded
and is not loaded. Neglecting all the resistances, determine
the fault current. Determine the fault current for:
(a) line-to-ground fault at phase a
(b) line-to-line fault at at phase b and c
(c) double line-to-ground at phase b and c and ground
The positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence reactances of a 20 Mva, 13.2
kV synchronous generator are 0.3 pu, 0.2 pu, and 0.1 pu, respectively. The
generator is solidly grounded and is not loaded. A line-to-ground fault occurs
on phase a. Neglecting all the resistances, determine the fault current.

(a) Solution: Let

For line-to-ground fault, the total reactance = j0.3+j0.2+j0.1 = j0.6 Ω
For line-to-ground fault at phase a, 𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼! = 3𝐼!"

Choosing 20 MVA as base MVA and 13,2 kV base voltage, solve

for the base current:
The positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence reactances of a 20 Mva, 13.2
kV synchronous generator are 0.3 pu, 0.2 pu, and 0.1 pu, respectively. The
generator is solidly grounded and is not loaded. A line-to-line fault occurs on
phase b and phase c. Neglecting all the resistances, determine the fault
current.

(b) Solution: Let

For line-to-line fault, the zero-sequence current is zero.
For line-to-line fault, 𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼! = 𝑎" 𝐼#$ + 𝑎𝐼#"

Solving for the fault current:

The positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence reactances of a 20 MVA, 13.2
kV synchronous generator are 0.3 pu, 0.2 pu, and 0.1 pu, respectively. The
generator is solidly grounded and is not loaded. A line-to-line fault occurs on
phase b and phase c and ground. Neglecting all the resistances, determine
the fault current.
(c) Solution: Let
For double line-to-ground fault, the positive-sequence current:
Since the sequence networks are parallel:

The negative- and zero-sequence currents:

For double line-to-ground fault, 𝐹𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼# + 𝐼$ = 3𝐼!%
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unsymmetrical-faults/