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L-L fault: I1 and I2 equal and opposite

Short answer

From I_a=0 and I_b=-I_c, sequence currents become I_a0=0, I_a1 = (j/√3)I_b, I_a2 = -(j/√3)I_b. Thus I_a2 = -I_a1: equal magnitude, 180° phase difference. The positive and negative sequence networks connect in parallel (opposition) through the fault impedance; the zero sequence network is left open.

Show that positive and negative sequence currents are equal in magnitude but out of phase by 180° in a line to line fault on a power system network. Draw a diagram showing inter-connection of sequence networks for this type of fault.

In a line-to-line fault, Ia2=−Ia1I_{a2} = -I_{a1}: the positive and negative sequence currents have equal magnitude and are 180° out of phase, while Ia0=0I_{a0} = 0.

Boundary conditions (fault between phases b and c through ZfZ_f)

  a o-----------  Ia = 0
  b o-----+        Ib = If -->
          Zf
  c o-----+        Ic = -Ib
Ia=0,Ib+Ic=0,Vb−Vc=ZfIbI_a = 0, \qquad I_b + I_c = 0, \qquad V_b - V_c = Z_fI_b

Sequence currents

Ia0=13(Ia+Ib+Ic)=13(0+Ib−Ib)=0Ia1=13(Ia+aIb+a2Ic)=13(a−a2)IbIa2=13(Ia+a2Ib+aIc)=13(a2−a)Ib\begin{aligned} I_{a0} &= \tfrac13(I_a + I_b + I_c) = \tfrac13(0 + I_b - I_b) = 0 \\ I_{a1} &= \tfrac13(I_a + aI_b + a^2I_c) = \tfrac13(a - a^2)I_b \\ I_{a2} &= \tfrac13(I_a + a^2I_b + aI_c) = \tfrac13(a^2 - a)I_b \end{aligned}

Hence

Ia0=0,Ia2=−Ia1I_{a0} = 0, \qquad I_{a2} = -I_{a1}

Now a−a2=j3a - a^2 = j\sqrt3 and a2−a=−j3a^2 - a = -j\sqrt3, so

Ia1=j33Ib=Ib3∠90∘,Ia2=−j33Ib=Ib3∠−90∘I_{a1} = \frac{j\sqrt3}{3}I_b = \frac{I_b}{\sqrt3}\angle90^\circ, \qquad I_{a2} = \frac{-j\sqrt3}{3}I_b = \frac{I_b}{\sqrt3}\angle{-90^\circ}

Both have magnitude ∣Ib∣/3|I_b|/\sqrt3 and differ in angle by 180°: they are equal and opposite.

Voltage condition

Vb−Vc=(a2−a)Va1+(a−a2)Va2=(a2−a)(Va1−Va2)ZfIb=Zf (a2Ia1+aIa2)=Zf(a2−a)Ia1\begin{aligned} V_b - V_c &= (a^2 - a)V_{a1} + (a - a^2)V_{a2} = (a^2 - a)(V_{a1} - V_{a2}) \\ Z_fI_b &= Z_f\,(a^2I_{a1} + aI_{a2}) = Z_f(a^2 - a)I_{a1} \end{aligned}

so

Va1−Va2=ZfIa1V_{a1} - V_{a2} = Z_fI_{a1}

With Va1=Vf−Z1Ia1V_{a1} = V_f - Z_1I_{a1} and Va2=−Z2Ia2=Z2Ia1V_{a2} = -Z_2I_{a2} = Z_2I_{a1}:

Ia1=−Ia2=VfZ1+Z2+ZfI_{a1} = -I_{a2} = \frac{V_f}{Z_1 + Z_2 + Z_f}

Fault current: If=Ib=(a2−a)Ia1=−j3 Ia1=−j3 VfZ1+Z2+ZfI_f = I_b = (a^2 - a)I_{a1} = -j\sqrt3\,I_{a1} = \dfrac{-j\sqrt3\,V_f}{Z_1 + Z_2 + Z_f}.

Interconnection of sequence networks

        Ia1 -->           <-- Ia2
  +--(Ea)--Z1---o F1--Zf--o F2---Z2--+
  |                                  |
  N1 ------------------------------- N2

  Zero sequence network: not connected (Ia0 = 0)

The positive and negative sequence networks are connected in parallel (in opposition) through ZfZ_f; the zero sequence network is left open.

The positive network drives Ia1I_{a1} out of F1 and the same current enters F2 of the negative network, so Ia2=−Ia1I_{a2} = -I_{a1}.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5

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