Skip to main content

Sequence reactances from fault currents

Short answer

Base current is 2405.6 A. Fault currents in pu: 3-phase 0.7773, L-L 1.0766, L-G 1.7168. Using I_3ph = 1/X1, I_LL = √3/(X1+X2), I_LG = 3/(X1+X2+X0). X1 = 1.286 pu, X2 = 0.322 pu, X0 = 0.139 pu.

A 50 MVA, 12 kV, three-phase alternator were subjected to different types of faults. The fault currents were: (i) 1870 A for three-phase fault (ii) 2590 A for L-L fault (iii) 4130 A for L-G fault. The alternator neutral is solidly grounded. Find the three-sequence reactance of the alternator in per unit.

Assumptions: the faults are at the terminals of the unloaded alternator, so the emf E=1E = 1 pu (rated voltage); resistance neglected; neutral solidly grounded (Zn=0Z_n = 0).

Base current

Ibase=50×1063×12×103=2405.6 AI_{base} = \frac{50\times10^6}{\sqrt3 \times 12\times10^3} = 2405.6\ \text{A}
FaultCurrent (A)Current (pu)
3-phase18700.7773
L-L25901.0766
L-G41301.7168

Fault current formulas

I3ϕ=EX1,ILL=3EX1+X2,ILG=3EX1+X2+X0I_{3\phi} = \frac{E}{X_1}, \qquad I_{LL} = \frac{\sqrt3 E}{X_1 + X_2}, \qquad I_{LG} = \frac{3E}{X_1 + X_2 + X_0}

Positive sequence reactance

X1=10.7773=1.2864 puX_1 = \frac{1}{0.7773} = 1.2864\ \text{pu}

Negative sequence reactance

X1+X2=31.0766=1.6088X2=1.6088−1.2864=0.3223 pu\begin{aligned} X_1 + X_2 &= \frac{\sqrt3}{1.0766} = 1.6088 \\ X_2 &= 1.6088 - 1.2864 = 0.3223\ \text{pu} \end{aligned}

Zero sequence reactance

X1+X2+X0=31.7168=1.7474X0=1.7474−1.6088=0.1387 pu\begin{aligned} X_1 + X_2 + X_0 &= \frac{3}{1.7168} = 1.7474 \\ X_0 &= 1.7474 - 1.6088 = 0.1387\ \text{pu} \end{aligned}

Answer: X1=1.286X_1 = 1.286 pu, X2=0.322X_2 = 0.322 pu, X0=0.139X_0 = 0.139 pu.

The large X1X_1 (it is the steady-state synchronous reactance here, since sustained currents were measured) and small X0X_0 explain why the L-G current is the highest and the 3-phase current the lowest.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5

All Power System Analysis II chapter 5 questions →