Bahir Dar University

Bahir Dar Institute of Technology

Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Chapter 2
Short Circuit Analysis

By
Tenaw Ayew
 Outline
 Introduction
 Causes of power system faults
Per unit quantities
Symmetrical component analysis
 Sequence networks
Unbalanced fault
 Single line to ground fault
 Line to line fault
Double line to ground fault
2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 2
 Introduction
A short circuit is an accidental or intentional conductive
path between two or more conductive parts forcing the
electric potential differences between these conductive parts to be
equal or close to zero.

A Short circuit is not commercially viable to construct a

power system that is 100% free from faults (if technically
possible).

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 3
 Effect of fault

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 4
 Causes of power system faults
 The causes of short circuit faults in the power system are:-
 Insulation failure
 Flashover
 System over-voltages caused by lightning and switching surges.
 Insulation contamination
 Falling trees and tree branches shorting overhead lines
 Vehicles and aircraft hitting towers and poles
 Birds shorting overhead lines
 Winds and gales

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 5
 Types of power system fault
 There are two types of fault. The series (open circuits)
faults are characterized by
an increase in voltage and
frequency and a fall in
current in the faulty
phase.

The shunt faults(short circuits) are

characterized by an increase in current
and fall in voltage and frequency.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 6
 Symmetrical Fault
The faults that involve all three phases are known as the
symmetrical fault. Such types of faults remain balanced even
after the fault.
The symmetrical faults mainly occur at the terminal of the
generators.
The fault in the system may arise on account of the resistance of
the arc between the conductors or due to the lower footing
resistance.
The symmetrical fault is sub-categorized into
line-to-line-to-line fault (L-L-L).
three-phase line-to-ground-fault(L-L-L-G)

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 7
 Per unit quantities
 This is a system whereby the power system parameters i.e. voltage,
current, power, and impedance are normalized.
 A base value has to be chosen and the p.u. value is the ratio of the
actual quantity to the base value.

 Base value is always a real number and hence phase angle remains
the same for both actual and p.u. quantities.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 8
 Cont’d
 Line – Line – Line Fault – Such  L – L – L – G (Three-phase line to the
types of faults are balanced, i.e., the ground fault) – The three-phase line to
system remains symmetrical even the ground fault includes all the three
after the fault. The L – L – L fault phases of the system. This type of fault
occurs rarely, but it is the most occurs between the three phases and the
severe type of fault which involves ground of the system. The probability of
the largest current. occurrence of a fault is nearly 2 to 3
percent.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 9
 Cont’d
 Symmetrical fault analysis includes:

o Determination of voltage at any fault point

o Determination of current at any fault point

o Determine the value of reactance necessary to limit the fault current at

any desired value.

 Techniques of symmetrical fault analysis;

 Network reduction method…………for a small network ( delta to

star or star to delta transformation)

 Bus admittance matrix………………..for large interconnection system

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 10
 Example 1
A 3-phase transmission line operating at 10 kV and having a resistance of 1Ω
and reactance of 4 Ω is connected to the generating station bus bars through a 5
MVA step-up transformer having a reactance of 5%. The bus bars are supplied
by a 10 MVA alternator having 10% reactance. Calculate the short-circuit kVA
fed to a symmetrical fault between phases if it occurs
(i)At the load end of the transmission line
(ii)at the high-voltage terminals of the transformer

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 11
 Solution

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 12
 Example 2
For the simple power system given below, the generator voltage is 5% above
rated voltage. Determine fault currents when faults occur at bus 1. What is
the contribution of the motor and the generator to the fault current?

Figure shows the single-line diagram of the network.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 13
 Solution
Let 100 MVA (= 105 kVA) be the base MVA.
 First convert to per-unit

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 14
 Example 3
Figure shows a generating station feeding a 220 kV system. Determine
the total fault current, fault level, and fault current supplied by each
generator for a three-phase fault at the receiving end of the line?

Fig shows the single-line diagram

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 15
 Cont’d

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 16
 Example 4
Figure shows a power system network. Each of the alternators G1 and
G2 is rated at 125 MVA, 11 kV, and has a sub-transient reactance of
0.21 p.u. Each of the transformers is rated at 125 MVA, 11/132 kV, and
has a leakage reactance of 0.0б p.u. Find (a) fault MVA and (b) fault
current for a fault at bus 5.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 17
 Cont’d

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 18
 Symmetrical Components
 The majority of faults in power systems are asymmetrical.
 To analyse an asymmetrical fault, an unbalanced 3-phase circuit has to
be solved.
 Although the direct solution of such a circuit is very difficult, it can be
more easily obtained by using symmetrical components.
 Any set of unbalanced 3-phase voltages (or current) can be
transformed into 3 balanced sets.
These are:
Positive sequence
Negative sequence
Zero sequence

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 19
 Positive & Negative Sequence
A positive sequence set of three  A negative sequence set of three
symmetrical voltages (i.e. equal in symmetrical voltages, equal in
magnitude and all displaced from each magnitude and having the phase
other by 120 degrees) having the same sequence acb opposite to that of the
phase sequence abc as the original set original set and denoted by Va2, Vb2,
and denoted by Va1, Vb1, Vc1 as shown Vc2 as shown in Fig.
in Fig. a

1200
1200
1200 1200
b

c
Importance: Synchronous Generator is
Importance: Relay and circuit breaker
protected from unbalanced conditions by
operate on positive sequence components.
using negative sequence relay.
2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 20
 Zero Sequence
 A zero sequence set of three voltages, all equal in magnitude and phase with
each other ( zero phase displacement to each other) and denoted by Va0,
Vb0, Vc0 as shown in fig below.

Importance: zero sequence components are used in the calculation of leakage Flux.

 The three sets of balanced phasors generated by the transform have the following
properties:
 The positive set has the same order as the unbalanced set of phasors a-b-c.

 The negative set has the opposite order as the positive set of phasors a-c-b.

 The zero set has no order because all three phasor angles are equal.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 21
 Sequence set Representation
 Any arbitrary set of three phasors, say Ia, Ib, Ic can be represented as
the sum of three sequence sets

Conversion from Sequence to Phase

 Any set of phase quantities can be converted into symmetrical components.
 Assume 𝑉𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 then, 𝑉𝑏 lags 𝑉𝑎 by 1200 and 𝑉𝑐 lages 𝑉𝑏
by 1200 .
 Let’s assume the complex operator, a=𝑒 𝑗120 , a2 = 𝑒 𝑗240
 The a has the following properties, a3 = 1 (a2 )∗ = a
a2 = 𝑒 𝑗240 = 𝑒 −𝑗120 = a∗ 1 + a + a2 = 0

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 22
 Cont’d
If 𝑉𝑎 , 𝑉𝑏 and 𝑉𝑐 represent unbalanced set of voltage phasor, the
three balanced sets are written as:
(𝑉𝑎1 , 𝑉𝑏1 , 𝑉𝑐1 ) Positive Sequence set
(𝑉𝑎2 , 𝑉𝑏2 , 𝑉𝑐2 ) Negative Sequence set
(𝑉𝑎0 , 𝑉𝑏0 , 𝑉𝑐0 ) Zero Sequence set
 A set of ( balanced) positive sequence phasor is written:
𝑉𝑎1 , 𝑉𝑏1 =a2 𝑉𝑎1 , 𝑉𝑐1 =a𝑉𝑎1
 A set of ( balanced) negative sequence phasor is written:
𝑉𝑎2 , 𝑉𝑏2 =a𝑉𝑎2 , 𝑉𝑐2 =a2 𝑉𝑎2
 A set of ( balanced) zero sequence phasor is written
𝑉𝑎0 , 𝑉𝑏0 =𝑉𝑎0 , 𝑉𝑐0 =𝑉𝑎0

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 23
 Cont’d
 The three phasor (𝑉𝑎 , 𝑉𝑏 , 𝑉𝑐 ) can be expressed as a sum of positive,
negative and zero sequence phasors defined as follow;
𝑉𝑎 =𝑉𝑎1 + 𝑉𝑎2 + 𝑉𝑎0
𝑉𝑏 =𝑉𝑏1 + 𝑉𝑏2 + 𝑉𝑏0
𝑉𝑐 =𝑉𝑐1 + 𝑉𝑐2 + 𝑉𝑐0
 Let as express those as a reference phasor 𝑉𝑎1 , 𝑉𝑎2 , 𝑉𝑎0
𝑉𝑎 =𝑉𝑎1 + 𝑉𝑎2 + 𝑉𝑎0
𝑉𝑏 =a2 𝑉𝑎1 + a𝑉𝑎2 + 𝑉𝑎0
𝑉𝑐 =a𝑉𝑎1 + a2 𝑉𝑎2 + 𝑉𝑎0 𝑉𝑎 1 1 1 𝑉𝑎1
𝑉 = a2 a 1 𝑉𝑎2
 We can write in the matrix form as, 𝑏
1 1 1 𝑉𝑐 a a2 1 𝑉𝑎0
Generally if A= a2 a 1 Symmetrical
a a2 1 component
transmission matrix
2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 24
 Cont’d

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 25
 Example1
The phase voltages across a certain load are given as:
Va = (17б – j132) Volts
Vb = (–128 – j9б)Volts
Vc = (–1б0 +j100)Volts
Compute positive, negative, and zero sequence components of voltage.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 26
 Example 2
A balanced Δ-connected load is connected to a three-phase system and
supplied to it is a current of 15 Amp. If the fuse in one of the lines
melts, compute the symmetrical components of the line currents.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 27
 Sequence Network
 A sequence network is the 1Φ equivalent circuit consisting of sequence
impedance. The network also includes any generated emfs of like sequence.

 In analyzing asymmetrical faults, the various sequence networks are inter-

connected to represent the fault condition. Sequence networks of Synchronous
machines (generator or motor) grounded through a reactor (impedance Zn). Ea, Eb,
and Ec are the induced emfs of the three phases.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 28
 Cont’d
 A sequence network for synchronous generator and motor are similar except for
the direction of current flow. An induction motor has the same sequence networks
as the synchronous motor except for the +ve sequence voltage source(IM doesn’t
have a DC source of magnetic flux in their rotor circuit, Emi=0).

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 29
 Sequence network for Transmission line
 The positive and negative sequence impedances are the normal phase
impedance values.

 For zero sequence impedance of overhead transmission line is 2_3.5

times +ve sequence impedance higher values apply to double circuit
and lines without a ground wire.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 30
 Sequence network for balanced Y impedance load
 Zn only appears in the zero sequence network(+ve and –ve sequence currents
don’t flow through the neutral impedance.

 If the neutral is solidly grounded, Zn=0.

 If the neutral point isn’t connected to the ground, Zn=infinity(open circuit or

no sequence current exists).
2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 31
 Sequence network for balanced ∆ impedance load
 The sequence network impedance is given below:

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 32
 Sequence Network for Transformer
 The positive and negative sequence values are the normal
balanced values.
 Zero sequence impedance depends on winding connections.

 For zero sequence currents to flow through the windings on one side
of the transformer and into the connected lines, a complete circuit
must exist.

 There must be a path for the corresponding current in the coupled

windings on the other side.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 33
 Cont’d

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 34
 Example 1
Draw the positive, negative, and zero sequence networks of the sample
power system as shown in Fig.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 35
 Solution

Negative sequence networks

zero sequence networks

Positive sequence networks

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 36
 Example 2
A 50 MVA,11kV, synchronous generator has sub-transient reactance of 20%. The generator supplies
two motors over a transmission line with a transformer at both ends as shown in Fig. The motors
have the rated input of 30 and 15 MVA, both 10kV, with 25% sub transient reactance. The three-
phase transformer is both rated 60 MVA,10.8/121kV, with leakage reactance of 10% each. Assume
zero sequence reactance for generator & motor of 6% each. Current limiting reactor of 2.5 ohms each
is connected in the neutral of the generator & motor 2. The zero sequence reactance of the line is 300
ohms. The series reactance of the line is 100 ohms. Draw the positive, negative, and zero sequence
networks.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 37
 Solution

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 38
 Cont’d

Positive sequence networks

Zero sequence networks

Negative sequence networks

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 39
 Unsymmetrical Fault
 The cause of unbalanced system is unsymmetrical fault and unsymmetrical load. It is also known
as shunt fault.

 Shunt fault can be classified into three categories;

 Single Line to ground fault (L-G)
 Line to line fault (L-L)
 Double line to ground fault (L-L-G)

 Among power system faults, LLLG(3ᵩ to ground) faults are the most severe and
dangerous. The order of severity of fault is given by: LLLG >LLL > LLG > LL >
LG>Open fault.
 Among power system faults, LG(line to ground) faults are the most common and
occur frequently. The order of frequency of occurrence is given by: LG > LL >
LLG > LLL > LLLG > Open fault.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 40
 Single Line to Ground Fault
 Generally, a single line-to-ground fault on a transmission line occurs
when one conductor drops to the ground or comes in contact with the
neutral conductor. Such types of failures may occur in power systems
due to many reasons like high-speed wind, falling off a tree,
lightning, etc.
 If we have a single line-to-ground fault,
where phase a is shorted through Zf to
ground, the model becomes:

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 41
 Cont’d
 The sequence domain fault condition is satisfied by connecting the sequence
network in series along with three times fault impedance. The phase domain fault
current, IF becomes:

 Transforming these phase domain currents to sequence domain:

 This gives one of our sequence-domain fault conditions.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 42
 Example 1
Two 11 KV, 12 MVA, 3ф, star-connected generators operate in parallel.
The positive, negative, and zero sequence reactance of each being
j0.09, j0.05, and j0.04 pu respectively. A single line-to-ground fault
occurs at the terminals of one of the generators. Estimate (i) the fault
current (ii) the current in the grounding resistor (ii) the voltage across
the grounding resistor.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 43
 Solution

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 44
 Line-to-line fault
 A line-to-line fault or unsymmetrical fault occurs when two
conductors are short-circuited. The figure shown below shows a three-
phase system with line-to-line fault phases b and c.
 Phase domain fault conditions:

 Transforming these into sequence domain:

 So, the first two sequence domain fault currents are:

 To derive the remaining sequence domain fault condition, rearrange the above
equation and transform it to sequence domain.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 45
 Cont’d
 Sequence domain fault conditions:
 These can be satisfied by:
 Leaving zero sequence network open
 Connecting the terminal of positive and negative networks via Zf.

 The fault current is the phase b current, which is given by:

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 46
 Double line to ground fault
 A double line-to-ground (DLG) fault involves a short circuit between two
phase conductors b and c and ground. As with the line-to-line fault, there is a
symmetry to the principal phase a. In a double line-to-ground fault, the two
lines contact with each other along with the ground.
 Phase domain fault conditions:

 Transforming these into sequence domain:

 These can be satisfied by:

 Connect the terminal of positive and negative networks directly.
 Connect the terminal of zero and positive networks via 3Zf.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 47
 Cont’d

 The fault currents are the sum of phase b and phase c currents, as
given by:
 In the sequence domain fault currents is:
 Io can be determined by simple analysis of the interconnected sequence
networks.

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 48
 Example 2
For example,1, above, assumes that the Rn = 0. Find the fault
current in each phase and voltage of the healthy phase for a
double-line-to-ground fault on terminals of the generator.
Solution

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 49
 Cont’d

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 50
 Example 3
The figure below shows a power system network. The load is consuming rated power
at rated voltage and unity power factor. Determine the sub-transient fault current in
per-unit and amperes resulting from a bolted
A) An LG (single line to ground) fault at bus 1
B) LL (line to line) fault at bus 1
C) DLG (double line to ground) fault at bus 1

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 51
 Solution
The sequence networks for the system are generated by interconnecting
the sequence networks for each of the components.

Zero sequence network Positive sequence network

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 52
 Cont’d
Now, let’s assume there is some sort of
fault at bus 1. Determine the Thevenin
equivalent for each sequence network from
the perspective of bus 1. The positive &
negative sequence network simplifies to the
following Thevenin equivalent

Negative sequence network

Thevenin equivalent for zero

sequence network

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 53
 Cont’d
Next, we’ll see how to interconnect these networks to analyze different
types of faults The interconnected sequence networks for a bolted LG
fault at bus 1:The fault current is 𝑰𝐹 = 3𝑽𝐹/(𝑍0+𝑍1+𝑍2+3𝑍)

The current base at bus 1 is:

So, the fault current in kA is:

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 54
 Cont’d
The interconnected sequence networks for a bolted LL fault at bus 1

The sub-transient fault current is given by:

The interconnected sequence networks for a bolted DLG fault at bus 1:

Here, because 𝑍𝐹 = 0, 𝑽0 = 𝑽1 = 𝑽2; To find 𝑰𝐹, we must determine 𝑰0 ;We

can first find 𝑉0 by applying voltage division

The per-unit fault current is:

2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 55
2/28/2026 Tenaw A. 56