Phase Fault Calculations

To find the prospective fault current at any point in the

network, a sum is made of the impedances in the network between the source of supply
(including the source impedance) and the point at which the fault is occurs.
The summed impedance Z=r + jx is then divided into the nominal applied voltage (U0) to find
the fault current Ik:

Maximum Fault Current

This calculation gives the highest possible prospective fault current. For example, for a three-
phase and neutral circuit, a symmetrical fault (all three phases shorted) would give the highest
current. The calculation also uses circuit resistances measured at 20°C (lowest resistance, highest
fault current).
Three-phase and three-phase and neutral circuit
Maximum fault current is the 3-phase symmetrical fault current (Isym)is:

Single phase circuit

Maximum fault current is the phase to neutral fault current (Iph-n) is:

Where:
• Ze = external phase impedance
• Z1 = phase conductor impedance
• Uph = phase voltage
• Zn = neutral impedance
Minimum Fault Current
This calculation gives the lowest prospective fault current. For example, for a three-phase and
neutral circuit, a phase-neutral fault would give the lowest current. The calculation also uses
circuit resistances measured at the average fault temperature.
Three phase and neutral circuit

Three phase circuit

Single phase circuit

Where:
• UL = line voltage (phase to phase) voltage
• Uph = phase voltage
• Ze = external phase impedance
• Z1 = phase conductor impedance at the average fault temperature
• Zn = neutral conductor impedance at the average fault temperature

Earth Fault Calculations

 To find the value of earth fault current at any point in a
network, a sum is made of the earth fault impedances in the network between the Source of
Supply (including the source impedance) and the point at which the earth fault is assumed to
occur, i.e., the path through which the earth fault current will flow.
The summed earth fault impedance (Zs) is then divided into the open circuit voltage (Uoc) to find
the fault current (I_k1):

When performing earth fault calculations all resistances are calculated at the average fault
temperature. The value of open circuit voltage (Uoc) will depend on the voltage at the source of
supply.
For each circuit in any network, the total earth fault impedance (Zs) can be calculated using:

Where:
• Ze = external earth impedance
• Z1 = phase conductor impedance
• Z2 = circuit protective conductor (CPC) impedance

See Also