Unbalanced Faults

Faults at the Generator Terminals

Unbalanced Faults
Common unbalanced faults are SLG, LL and LLG faults.
Unbalanced faults unbalance the network, but only at
the fault location.
This causes a coupling of the sequence networks.
How the sequence networks are coupled depends upon

the fault type.

Well derive these relationships for several common
faults.
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Single Line-to-Ground (SLG) Faults

With a SLG fault only one phase has non-zero fault current -well assume it is phase A.

I af
f
Ib
f
I c

?

0
0

SLG
Then since
I 0f
1 ?
1 1

1
1 f

2
0

I f 1 0 I f I f I f I a

3
3

1 2 0

I f

With the generators normally producing balanced three-phase voltages,

which are positive sequence only, we can write

Va = 0 for a single line to ground fault

V+ + V- +V0 = 0

SLG Equivalent Circuit

V I f ( Z Z Z 0 )

I f

Va

Ia

0
(Z Z Z ) 3

Ia

3Va

(Z Z Z 0 )

Ib Ic 0
5

Example
Consider a system with sequence impedances given by
Z+ = j0.2577, Z- = j0.2085, and Z0 = j0.14; find the voltages
and currents at the fault point for a single line-to-ground fault.
Solution
The sequence networks are connected in series for a SLG fault.
The sequence currents are given by;
Therefore,

Sequence Voltages

Phase Voltages

Double Line to Ground Fault

Fault conditions
Ia = 0
Vb= Vc=0

V
Z Z // Z 0

Va
V V V
3

V E I Z
I
I
o

V
Z
Vo
Zo

Double line-to-ground fault

Vb Vc 0

Ib

Ic

Va 0
1
V 1 1
a1 3
Va 2
1

Ia 0
1
a
a2

1 Va
a2 0

a 0

1
Va1 Va 2 Va 0 Va
3
In

Va 0 0 Z 0
V V 0
a1 f
Va 2 0 0

0
Z1
0

0 I a0
0 I a1
Z 2 I a 2

10

Double line-to-ground fault

V f I a1Z1 0 Z 0

I
Z
a1 1 V f 0
f
V f I a1Z1 0 0

V f I a1Z1 0 Z 0

V f I a1Z1 V f 0



V f I a1Z1 0 0

0
Z1
0

0
Z1
0

0 I a0
0 I a1
Z 2 I a 2

0
0
Z 2

I a0
I a1
I a 2

11

Double line-to-ground fault

V f I a1Z1

I
Z

V
a1 1
f
f
V f I a1Z1

Z0
0
0

Va 1

Vf

Z1
0

Z2

Z1

Va 2

Z0

Ia2

Vao
+

I a1

Vf
I a1
Z Z
Z1 2 0
(Z2 Z0 )

I a 0 I a1 I a 2 I a 0

0
I a0
0 I a1

1 I a 2
Z 2

Ia0

12

Double line-to-ground fault

Example : Find the line currents and the line-to-line voltages when a
double line-to-ground fault occurs at the terminals of the generator
described in single line-to-ground fault example. Assume that the generator
was unloaded and operating at rated voltage when the fault occurred. The
generator has positive sequence reactance of 0.25 , negative sequence
reactance of 0.35 and zero sequence reactance of 0.10 per unit. The neutral
of the generator is solidly grounded. Neglect resistance.
I a1

Ea
1. 0 j 0
1.0

j 3.05 p.u.
Z1 Z 2 Z 0 /( Z 2 Z 0 ) j 0.25 ( j 0.35 j 0.10) /( j 0.35 j 0.10) j 0.3278

Va1 Va 2 Va0 Ea I a1Z1 1 ( j3.05)( j 0.25)

1.0 0.763 0.237 p.u.
Va 2
0.237

j 0.68 p.u.
Z2
j 0.35
V
0.237
a0
j 0.2.37 p.u.
Z0
j 0.10

Ia2
I a0

13

Double line-to-ground fault

I a I a1 I a 2 I a 0 j 3.05 j 0.68 j 2.37 0
I b a 2 I a1 aI a 2 I a 0 ( 0.5 j 0.866)( j 3.05) ( 0.5 j 0.866)( j 0.68) j 2.37

3.230 j 3.555 4.80132.30 p.u.

I c aI a1 a 2 I a 2 I a 0 ( 0.5 j 0.866)( j 3.05) ( 0.5 j 0.866)( j 0.866) j 2.37
3.230 j 3.555 4.8047.70 p.u.
I n 3I a 0 3 j 2.37 j 7.11 p.u.

I n I b I c 3.230 j 3.555 3.230 j 3.555 j 7.11 p.u.

Va Va1 Va 2 Va 0 3Va1 3 0.237 0.711 p.u.

Vb Vc 0

Vab Va Vb 0.711 p.u.

Vbc 0

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Double line-to-ground fault

Vca Vc Va 0.711 p.u.
Expressed in amperes and volts,

Ia 0
I b 837 4.80132.30 4017132.30 A
I c 837 4.8047.70 401747.70 A
I n 837 7.11900 5951900 A
Vab 0.711

13.8
5.6600 kV
3

Vbc 0
Vca 0.711

13.8
5.661800 kV
3
15

Line-to-line fault

Vb Vc

Ib

Ic

Ia 0

Ib Ic

Ia0
1
I 1 1
a1 3
I a 2
1

a
a2

Ia0 0

I a 2 I a1

Va 0
1
V 1 1
a1 3
Va 2
1

1
a
a2

1 0
a 2 I c

a I c

1 Va
a 2 Vc
a Vc

16

Line-to-line fault
Va1 Va 2
-

Va1

Vf

Z1
I a1

Z2
Va 2

Va 0 0 Z 0
V V 0
a1 f
Va 2 0 0

0
Z1
0

0 I a0
0 I a1
Z 2 I a 2

Ia2

0 V f I a1Z1 I a 2 Z 2

I a1

Vf
Z1 Z 2

17

Line-to-line fault
Example : Find the subtransient currents and the line-to-line voltages at the fault under
subtransient conditions when a line-to-line fault occurs at the terminals of the generator
described in the sing line-to-ground fault example. Assume that the generator is unloaded
and operating at rated terminal voltage when the fault occurs. Neglect resistance.

I a1

1.0 j 0
j1.667 per unit
j 0.25 j 0.35

I a 2 I a1 j1.667 per unit

I a0 0

I a I a1 I a 2 I a 0 j1.667 j1.667 0

I b a 2 I a1 aI a 2 I a 0 j1.667(0.5 j 0.866) j1.667(0.5 j 0.866)

j 0.833 1.443 j 0.833 1.443 2.886 j 0 per unit

I c I b 2.886 j 0 per unit

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Line-to-line fault
in the sing line-to-ground fault example, base current is 837A, and so

Ia 0

I b 2.886 837 2416180 0

I c 2.886 837 241600
Va1 Va 2 1 ( j1.667)( j 0.25) 0.583 per unit
Va 0 0

(Neutral of generator grounded)

Line-to-ground voltages are

Va Va1 Va 2 Va 0 0.583 0.583 1.16600 p.u.

Vb a 2Va1 aVa 2 Va 0
Vc Vb 0.583(0.5 j 0.866) 0.583(0.5 j 0.866)

0.583 p.u.

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Line-to-line fault

Line-to-line voltages are

Vab Va Vb 1.166 0.583 1.749 per unit

Vbc Vb Vc 0.583 0.583 0 per unit
Vca Vc Va 0.583 1.166 1.749 per unit
Expressed in volts, the line-to-line voltages are

Vab 1.749

13.8
13.9400 kV
3

Vbc 0kV

Vca 1.749

13.8
13.94180 0 kV
3

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