CHAPTER 4

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Description of SCA Software

A stand alone SCA.exe file has been developed using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0
(VB). Figure 4.1 is the main window of SCA software. To secure the SCA software,
proper user name and password are required if users wish to use the software as shown
in Figure 4.2.

Figure 4.1: Main Window.

Figure 4.2: SCA Login Window.

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After login process complete, a SCA module in Figure 4.3 will display in the window.
The module consists of there main menus, which are separately shown in Figure 4.4, 4.5,
and 4.6.

Figure 4.3: SCA Module.

Figure 4.4: File Menus.

Figure 4.5: Complex Calculator Menus.

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 Figure 4.6: Help Menus.

From File menus in Figure 4.4, there different examples are included in SCA. First-
cycle and interrupting duty currents (IEC peak and breaking asymmetrical currents)
calculation in Example 1 is calculate using ANSI/IEEE standard method; while
Example 2 is calculate using IEC 909 standard method.

Figure 4.7: Example 1.

Users can use the program without any worry because the Save and Load features are
included in SCA. Users can load the existing data by click the Load menus or save new
data by click Save menus. Users no need to fill in all the data but they can load the
existing data and modified it. Thus, save the user time.

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 Figure 4.8: Data of Example 1.

Figure 4.9: Result of Example 1.

Result of Example 1 will display as above when users click the Run menus.

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Example 2 calculates the fault current contributions of synchronous machines, directly
connected to a bus using IEC method.

Figure 4.10: Example 2.

There are four tabs available in Data window. Users can choose the types of fault
current contribution use to calculate IEC peak and IEC breaking symmetrical,
asymmetrical currents by clicking the tab. Figure 4.11 to 4.14 shows the data and results
of example 2 contributed from different sources.

Figure 4.11: Data and Result of 110 MVA Generator.

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 Figure 4.12: Data and Result of 50 MVA Generator.

Figure 4.13: Data and Result of 2000 hp Synchronous Motor.

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 Figure 4.14: Data and Result of 10000 hp Synchronous Motor.

Example 3 is calculated the first-cycle and interrupting duty currents using both
ANSI/IEEE and IEC standard methods. This will explain in 4.3 sections.

Complex calculator in Figure 4.5 used as a complex numbers addition, subtraction,

multiplication and division operations. The features of complex calculator are shown as
below.

Figure 4.15: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division Operations.

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Additional features of complex calculator are polar form to rectangular form conversion
and rectangular form to polar form conversion.

Figure 4.16: Polar to Rectangular and Rectangular to Polar Conversions.

Help topic window and About SCA window are included in Help menus in Figure 4.6.

Figure 4.17: Help Topic Window.

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 Figure 4.18: About SCA Window.

Figure 4.17 is description about the terminology used in short-circuit currents

calculation. The terminology will help users more understanding about the short-circuit
currents. Information about SCA, such as version of SCA will note in Figure 4.18.

4.2 Comparison Procedures of ANSI and IEC 909 Short-circuit Currents Calculation

The Table 4.1 shows the equivalent between ANSI and IEC duties, through
qualification apply. The short-circuit calculations in ANSI and IEC standards are
conceptually and analytical different.

Table 4.1: Equivalent between ANSI and IEC Short-circuit Calculation Types.
ANSI calculation type IEC calculation type
First-cycle current Initial short-circuit current, I”k
Closing-latching duty current, crest Peak current (making current), ip
Interrupting duty current Breaking current Ibsym and Ibasym
(symmetrical an asymmetrical)
Time-delayed 30-cycle current Steady-state current, Ik

The following comparison of calculation procedures underlines the basic philosophies in

ANSI and IEC calculations.

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 Firstly, IEC requires calculation of initial symmetrical short-circuit current, I”k,
in each contributing sources. These components I”k currents form the basic for further
calculations. Thus, tracking each contributing source current throughout the network is
necessary. Each of these component currents is a function of machine characteristics,
R/X ratio, type of network (meshed or radial), type of excitation system for the
synchronous generators, contact parting time (minimum time delay), and the
determination whether contribution is near to or far from the short-circuit location.
Multiplying factors on generators, unit transformers, and power station units (PSUs) are
applicable before the calculation proceeds. The PSU consisting of a generator and a
transformer is consider as a single entity, and separate procedures are applicable for
calculation of whether the fault is on the high- or low-voltage side of the transformer.
IEC treats each of above factors differently for each contributing source.

This approach is conceptually different from that of ANSI, which makes no

distinction between the type of network, and the network is reduced to a single
Thevenin impedance at the fault point, using complex reduction, or from separate R and
X networks, through prior impedance multiplying factors are applicable to account for
ac decay. ANSI states that there is no completely accurate way of combining two
parallel circuits with different value of X/R ratios into a single circuit with one X/R ratio.
The current from several circuits will be the sum of the decaying terms, usually with
different exponents, while from a single circuit, it contains just one such term. The
standard then advocates separate X and R networks and states that error for practical
purposes is on the conservative side.

In all IEC calculation, therefore, the initial short-circuit current is first required
to be calculated as all other currents are based on this current. These initial short-circuit
currents from sources must be tracked throughout the distribution to be applied to initial
short-circuit current. In ANSI calculations, interrupting duty and first-cycle networks
can be independently formed with prior impedance multiplying factors.

Second, both standards recognize ac decay, through the treatment is different.

ANSI standards model motors with prior multipliers. Where the contribution of the
large motors is an appreciable portion of the short-circuit current, substitution of
tabulated multipliers with more accurate data based on manufacturer’s time constants is

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recommended, but ANSI treats these multipliers on a global basic and these do not
change with the location of fault points or the contact parting time of the breaker. IEC
treats each motor individually and decay must be calculated on the basic of contact
parting time, machine type, and its size, speed, proximity to the fault. Contributions
from motors can be ignored in certain cases in IEC, while ANSI considers motor
contributions throughout.

Third, ANSI makes no distinction between remoteness of induction and

synchronous motors for the short-circuit calculations. Impedance multiplying factors of
the motors are considered to account for ac decay, irrespective of their location. IEC
considered generators and motors as near to or far from the fault location for breaking
and steady-state current calculations. Asynchronous machines are considered near if the
sum of all motors I”k is > 5% of the total I”k without motors, otherwise these are
considered remote. Synchronous machines are considered as near if their I”k is more
than twice the rated current.

Fourth, both standards recognize the rapid decay of the dc component of the
fault current and add a half-cycle of tripping time to arrive at the contact parting time
(IEC minimum time delay).

Fifth, IEC calculations require that the dc component be calculated at the contact

parting time to calculate the asymmetrical breaking current, idc = 2 I " k Exp − 2 πft X R

where X/R is computed differently for radial or meshed networks. In radial networks idc
is the sum of the dc currents calculated with X/R ratios in each of the contributing
elements.

Calculation of the dc component at the contact parting time is not required in

ANSI. The dc decay is built into the post fault calculations with E/X or E/Z multipliers
from the curves. Also, the rating structure of ANSI takes into account certain
asymmetry, depending on the contact parting time in Figure 4.19.

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 Figure 4.19: Ratio S as a Function of Contact Parting Time.

4.3 Comparison Results of ANSI/IEEE and IEC 909 Short-circuit Currents

Calculation

Figure 4.20: Example 3

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 The procedures of the two standards are applied to a network shown in Figure
4.20 above. SCA allow users to choose the standards of short-circuit currents calculation,
either using ANSI or IEC. Results of calculation by the two standards are compared.

For ANSI standards, impedance data in Figure 4.21 is needed to calculate the
fault occurred at F1 (138 kV), F2 (13.8 kV) and F3 (4.16 kV). User can modify the data
input.

Figure 4.21: ANSI Impedance Data of Example 3

In IEC standards, more data are require for short-circuit currents calculation
because IEC treats each motor individually and decay must be calculated on the basic of
contact parting time, machine type, and its size, speed, proximity to the fault.

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 Figure 4.22: IEC Impedance Data of Example 3

The results of F1 (138 kV), F2 (13.8 kV) and F3 (4.16 kV) calculated using ANSI/IEEE
and IEC standard methods shown from Figure 4.23 to 4.28.

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Figure 4.23: ANSI F1 Result

Figure 4.24: IEC F1 Result

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Figure 4.25: ANSI F2 Result

Figure 4.26: IEC F2 Result

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 Figure 4.27: ANSI F3 Result

Figure 4.28: IEC F3 Result

The calculations demonstrate that there are differences in results obtained by

ANSI and IEC methods. Comparison the results of F1, F2, and F3 calculated from
ANSI and IEC standards showing in Table 4.2.

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 Table 4.2: Comparison Results of F1, F2, and F3 Calculated
from ANSI/IEEE and IEC Standards.
ANSI standards IEC standards
F1 F2 F3 F1 F2 F3
First-cycle current 20.574 57.266 18.396 22.500 59.080 19.68
(kA sym rms)
or
Initial short-circuit
current, I”k (kA sym
rms)
Closing-latching duty 51.720 158.51 47.370 57.560 156.99 45.54
current, crest (kA
peak)
or
Peak current (making
current), ip (kA peak)
Interrupting duty 24.710 79.607 18.213 26.480 74.76 18.85
current (kA)
or
Breaking current ,
Ibasym (kA)

Table 4.2 shows the characteristic values of the short-circuit current at the fault point for
the IEC 909 and the ANSI Standard. The table refers respectively to the faults F1, F2,
and F3, symmetrical and asymmetrical breaking currents are evaluated at t = 0.05 s.

Referring to Table 4.2, it is possible to make the following comments and discussions.
• The IEC 909 Standard give results that higher than the ANSI/IEEE Standard.
• The results between ANSI/IEEE and IEC 909 standard are within the ± 0.5 range,
which is acceptable.
• The IEC 909 Standard results are differently from the ANSI Standard results
because IEC does not take into account the contribution of motors.

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• IEC Standard is current based, while the ANSI Standard is impedance based.
• ANSI requires calculation of a single Thevenin equivalent fault point X/R ratio,
based on separately derived R and X values at the fault point. The IEC Standard
uses a unique R/X ratio, calculated from the complex form of the R and X values
at the fault location for each contribution, and uses this unique ratio for
calculating the asymmetrical fault currents from each machine to the fault point.

4.4 Validation

To proof the SCA software performed all the calculation correctly, the hand
calculation was used for the validation.

Table 4.3: Comparison Results of F1, F2 and F3 Calculated

from ANSI/IEEE with Hand Calculation.
ANSI standards Hand calculation
F1 F2 F3 F1 F2 F3
First-cycle current 20.574 57.266 18.396 20.569 56.289 18.397
(kA sym rms)
or
I”k (kA sym rms)

Closing-latching duty 51.720 158.51 47.370 57.710 161.29 47.372

current, crest (kA
peak)
or
Peak current (making
current), ip (kA peak)
Interrupting duty 24.710 79.607 18.213 24.648 79.610 18.216
current (kA)
or
Ibasym (kA)

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 Table 4.4: Comparison Results of F1, F2 and F3 Calculated
from IEC with Hand Calculation.
IEC standards Hand calculation
F1 F2 F3 F1 F2 F3
First-cycle current 22.500 59.080 19.680 22.500 59.070 19.710
(kA sym rms)
or
I”k (kA sym rms)
Closing-latching duty 57.560 156.99 45.540 57.530 156.96 45.262
current, crest (kA
peak)
or
Peak current (making
current), ip (kA peak)
Interrupting duty 26.480 74.760 18.850 26.470 74.810 18.840
current (kA)
or
Ibasym (kA)

Results calculated both two methods between the hand calculations results is
within the ±0.5 range, which is acceptable. Just slightly different between compared
results because results calculated in SCA are more accurate.

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