DC Component: What Is Fault in Power System?

Mohan Raj C
DC Component
What is fault in power system?
→ Accidental or intentional conductive path between two or more conductive parts (e.g., three
phase short circuit) forcing the electric potential differences between these conductive parts to be equal
or close to zero – IEC 60909-0.
Fault current nature

→ Short Circuit is the flow of current in the undesired path because of the introduction of low
impedance between 1 or more Phase to ground or to other phases leads to abnormal flow of current.
→ During the faulty condition fault current will be Symmetrical or Unsymmetrical for few
cycles from the time of fault because of the transient component called I dc (DC component) which is
exponential in nature.
→ As we all know our system is composed of RL in which L is predominant. Let’s considered

a RL circuit with a AC voltage source and a switch in open condition. When the switch closes at
time(t)=0, and depends on the Voltage angle (θ) at which the switch closes going to define weather Idc
will present or not.
FIGURE 1: RL CIRCUIT WITH AC VOLTAGE SOURCE
→ If we apply KVL to this circuit we will get,
𝑑𝑖
𝐿( ) + 𝑅𝑖 = 𝐸𝑚 sin⁡(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃) (1)
𝑑𝑡
→ The solution of this differential equation is given by,
𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃 − 𝜑) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(𝜃 − 𝜑)𝑒 −𝑅𝑡/𝐿 (2)

Where,
𝜔𝐿 𝑋
𝜑 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1 ( ) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1 ( )
𝑅 𝑅
→ In equation 2 the first part of the equation is Isym and second part is Idc Part which is
exponentially decaying in nature.
Why DC component is there in Short Circuit current?
• A simple explanation of the origin of the transient component is that in power systems, the
inductive component of the impedance is high.
• The current in such a circuit is zero when the voltage is at peak, and for a fault at this instant,
no direct current (DC) component is required to satisfy the physical law that states the
current in an inductive circuit cannot change suddenly.
• When the fault occurs at an instant θ = 0, there has to be a transient current whose initial
value is equal and opposite to the instantaneous value of the AC short-circuit current.
• This transient current can be called a DC component that decays at an exponential rate.
- J. C. Das - Short-Circuits in AC and DC Systems_ ANSI, IEEE, and IEC Standards
→ Let’s consider system with highly inductive where X/R ratio is very high, thus
φ = tan-1(X/R) = 90°
FIGURE 2: HIGHLY INDUCTIVE SYSTEM, CURRENT LAGS VOLTAGE BY 90°
→ From this wave form we can see when current is at max voltage is at zero and when voltage
is at max current is at zero.
→ Let’s consider the fault at time t=0, at voltage angle(θ)=0°, where our system inductive
angle(φ)=90° the current wave form will be
FIGURE 3: ASYMMETRICAL FAULT CURRENT
𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(2𝜋𝑓(𝑡 = 0) + 0 − 90°) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(0 − 90°)𝑒 −𝑅(𝑡=0)/𝐿
𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(−90°) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(−90°)𝑒 0
𝑖 = −𝐼𝑚 − (−𝐼𝑚 ) = 0⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎𝑡(𝑡 = 0)
Where,
𝐼𝑠𝑦𝑚 = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 ⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎𝑡(𝑡 = 0)
→ Let’s consider the fault at time t=0, at voltage angle (θ)=90°, where our system inductive
angle(φ)=90° the current wave form will be
FIGURE 4: SYMMETRICAL FAULT CURRENT
𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(2𝜋𝑓(𝑡 = 0) + 90° − 90°) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(90° − 90°)𝑒 −𝑅(𝑡=0)/𝐿
𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(0°) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(0°)𝑒 0
𝑖 = 0⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎𝑡(𝑡 = 0)
Where,
𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 0⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎𝑡(𝑡 = 0)
→ From this we can understand Idc magnitude depends on θ(Voltage angle) and φ(system
inductive angle). Idc=Isym when θ-φ=90°, Idc<Isym when θ-φ≠90°, Idc=0 when θ=φ
→ Decaying time constant of Idc depends on X/R, when X/R is high it takes long time for Idc
from 100% to <1%. When X/R is less it decays in very short time from 100% to <1%. Equation 2 can
be written as,
𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃 − 𝜑) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(𝜃 − 𝜑)𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏
Where,
𝐿
𝜏=
𝑅
𝑋 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 𝐿 𝑋
= → =
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅 2𝜋𝑓𝑅
When,
𝑡
𝑡 = 𝜏,⁡⁡⁡𝑒 (−𝜏) = 𝑒 −1 = 0.3678
→ That is when t = τ, Idc = 36.78%, at 5 time constant(5τ),

5𝜏
𝑡 = 5𝜏, 𝑒 (− 𝜏 ) = 0.006737
→ That is when t = 5τ, Idc = 0.6737%, higher the X/R longer the time for Idc to come below 1%
and lesser the X/R lesser the time constant for Idc to come below 1%.
Simulation
FIGURE 5: ETAP SLD

→ For the above system 6 cases are considered with different θ (voltage angle) and X/R ratio
which defines the Idc magnitude and its time constant respectively.
Csae-1: θ = 0 and X/R = 99999

→ Irms = 31.5kA, Im = √2Irms = 44.547
→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1(X/R) = 89.999° ≈ 90°, θ = 0,

→ τ = (X/R)/2πf = 318.468s (1τ) at 5τ = 1592s (Idc < 1%)
→Idc = 44.547 = Im
FIGURE 6: CASE 1 RESULT GRAPH
Case-2: θ = 45 and X/R = 99999

→ Irms = 31.5 kA, Im = √2Irms = 44.547
→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1 (X/R) = 90, θ = 45,

→ τ = (X/R)/2πf = 318.468s(1τ) at 5τ = 1592s (Idc < 1%)
→ Idc = 25 < Im
Case-3: θ = 90 and X/R = 99999

→ Irms = 31.5 kA, Im = √2Irms=44.547 kA
→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1 (X/R) = 90, θ = 90,

→ τ = (X/R)/2πf = 318.468s (1τ) at 5τ = 1592s (Idc < 1%)
→ Idc = 0
Case-4: θ = 0 and X/R = 99999

→ Irms = 31.5 kA, Im = √2Irms = 44.547 kA
→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1 (X/R) = 89.999° ≈ 90°, θ = 0,

→ τ = (X/R)/2πf = 318.468s (1τ) at 5τ = 1592s (Idc < 1%)
→ Idc = 44.547 = Im
Case-5: θ = 0 and X/R = 14

→ Irms = 31.5 kA, Im = √2Irms = 44.547 kA
→ X/R = 14, ϕ = tan-1(X/R) = 85.914°, θ = 0,

→ τ = (X/R)/2πf = 44.585ms(1τ) at 5τ = 222.92ms (Idc<1%)
→ Idc = 44.434 < Im

Case-6: θ = 0 and X/R = 0.001
→ Irms = 31.5 kA, Im = √2Irms = 44.547 kA
→ X/R = 0.001, ϕ = tan-1(X/R) = 0.057°, θ = 0,

→ τ = (X/R)/2πf = 3.18*10-06s (1τ) at 5τ = 1.59*10-05s (Idc < 1%)
→ Idc = 0.0443 << Im
Conclusion
When fault happens in power system, fault current will be symmetrical or asymmetrical
because of the presence of DC component which is based on θ and φ. Magnitude of Idc is going to be
define by the Voltage angle (θ) at which fault happens and our system inductive angle (φ), whereas
X/R defines the decay time constant of the Idc weather DC component will persist for long time or
short time.
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Mohan Raj C

Fault current nature

→ As we all know our system is composed of RL in which L is predominant. Let’s considered

FIGURE 1: RL CIRCUIT WITH AC VOLTAGE SOURCE

→ If we apply KVL to this circuit we will get,

𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃 − 𝜑) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(𝜃 − 𝜑)𝑒 −𝑅𝑡/𝐿 (2)

Why DC component is there in Short Circuit current?

FIGURE 2: HIGHLY INDUCTIVE SYSTEM, CURRENT LAGS VOLTAGE BY 90°

FIGURE 3: ASYMMETRICAL FAULT CURRENT

𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(2𝜋𝑓(𝑡 = 0) + 0 − 90°) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(0 − 90°)𝑒 −𝑅(𝑡=0)/𝐿

𝑖 = −𝐼𝑚 − (−𝐼𝑚 ) = 0⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎𝑡(𝑡 = 0)

𝐼𝑠𝑦𝑚 = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 ⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑎𝑡(𝑡 = 0)

FIGURE 4: SYMMETRICAL FAULT CURRENT

𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(2𝜋𝑓(𝑡 = 0) + 90° − 90°) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(90° − 90°)𝑒 −𝑅(𝑡=0)/𝐿

𝑖 = 𝐼𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃 − 𝜑) − 𝐼𝑚 sin⁡(𝜃 − 𝜑)𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏

→ That is when t = τ, Idc = 36.78%, at 5 time constant(5τ),

FIGURE 5: ETAP SLD

Csae-1: θ = 0 and X/R = 99999

→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1(X/R) = 89.999° ≈ 90°, θ = 0,

FIGURE 6: CASE 1 RESULT GRAPH

Case-2: θ = 45 and X/R = 99999

→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1 (X/R) = 90, θ = 45,

Case-3: θ = 90 and X/R = 99999

→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1 (X/R) = 90, θ = 90,

FIGURE 8: CASE 3 RESULT GRAPH

Case-4: θ = 0 and X/R = 99999

→ X/R = 99999, ϕ = tan-1 (X/R) = 89.999° ≈ 90°, θ = 0,

FIGURE 9: CASE 4 RESULT GRAPH

Case-5: θ = 0 and X/R = 14

→ X/R = 14, ϕ = tan-1(X/R) = 85.914°, θ = 0,

→ Idc = 44.434 < Im

FIGURE 10: CASE 5 RESULT GRAPH

→ X/R = 0.001, ϕ = tan-1(X/R) = 0.057°, θ = 0,

FIGURE 11: CASE 6 RESULT GRAPH

For power system studies and corporate training requirements,Contact us.

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