USER’S MANUAL

August 2000

FCDIST USER’S MANUAL

Prepared by:

Safe Engineering Services & technologies ltd.

1544 Viel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3M 1G4
Tel.: (514) 336-2511 Fax: (514) 336-6144
Email: support@sestech.com
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Safe
Engineering Services & technologies ltd. Safe Engineering Services & technologies ltd assumes no responsibility for any
errors that may appear in this document.

The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the
terms of such license.

 Safe Engineering Services & technologies ltd. 1992-2000

All Rights Reserved
 REVISION RECORD
DATE VERSION/REVISION
December 1992 Version 1 at Revision Level 0
February 1993 Version 1 at Revision Level 1
September 1993 Version 1 at Revision Level 2
November 1997 Version 1 at Revision Level 3
December 1998 Version 7 at Revision Level 0
August 2000 Version 9 at Revision Level 0

VSS:/Helpdev/Manuals/Fcdist/Fcdist.doc

Address comments concerning this manual to:

Safe Engineering Services & technologies ltd.

___________________________________________
1544 Viel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3M 1G4
Tel.: (514) 336-2511 FAX: 336-6144
Email: support@sestech.com
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1-1

1.1 GENERAL ..................................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2 THE IMPORTANCE OF FAULT CURRENT DISTRIBUTION ...................................................................1-1
1.3 ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR FAULT CURRENT CALCULATION ....................................................1-1
1.4 ADVANTAGES OF THE FCDIST APPROACH TO FAULT CURRENT DISTRIBUTION
CALCULATION..........................................................................................................................................1-2
1.5 PREPARING INPUT DATA........................................................................................................................1-2
1.6 VIEWING, PRINTING AND PLOTTING COMPUTATION RESULTS.......................................................1-3
1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THIS MANUAL ........................................................................................................1-3
2 FCDIST INPUT DATA ........................................................................................................ 2-1
2.1 REPRESENTATION OF AN ELECTRIC NETWORK IN FCDIST .............................................................2-1
2.2 SUMMARY OF INPUT DATA ....................................................................................................................2-1
2.3 CONDUCTOR DATA .................................................................................................................................2-3
2.4 CURRENT SOURCE DATA.......................................................................................................................2-4
3 FCDIST INPUT COMMAND FILES.................................................................................... 3-1
3.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................3-1
3.2 THE FCDIST INPUT COMMAND LANGUAGE.........................................................................................3-1
3.3 FCDIST COMMAND HIERARCHY ............................................................................................................3-1
3.4 TEMPLATE FCDIST COMMAND INPUT FILE .........................................................................................3-2
3.5 AVAILABLE INPUT MODES .....................................................................................................................3-2
3.5.1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3-2
3.5.2 A TYPICAL ENGINEERING PROBLEM .......................................................................................3-4
3.5.3 COMMAND MODE INPUT SESSION - THE SICL INPUT PROCESSOR....................................3-6
APPENDIX A DEFAULT SETTINGS .................................................................................... A-1
APPENDIX B FILE AND LOGICAL UNIT ASSIGNMENTS .................................................. B-1
APPENDIX C COMPUTATION OF EQUIVALENT RESISTIVITY AND PERMEABILITY
OF A CONDUCTOR........................................................................................................... C-1

FCDIST Page iii

 TABLE OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 2.1 Schematic Diagram of FCDIST Circuit Model...................................................................................................... 2-1

Figure 3.1 Template FCDIST Input Command File ................................................................................................................ 3-3
Figure 3.2 Power System Network........................................................................................................................................... 3-5
Figure 3.3 Transmission Line Configuration .......................................................................................................................... 3-5
Figure 3.4 Sample Command Input File ................................................................................................................................. 3-6
Figure 3.4 Sample Command Input File (cont'd) .................................................................................................................... 3-7

FCDIST Page v
 Chapter 1 Introduction

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL
The FCDIST program calculates fault current distribution in multiple terminal transmission line and
distribution line networks. FCDIST uses a simple set of data concerning the network and has been
implemented with ease of use as an important design criterion.

1.2 THE IMPORTANCE OF FAULT CURRENT DISTRIBUTION

The design of optimized, cost-effective grounding systems requires two key elements of data:

A representative model of the soil structure in which the grounding system is located.
An accurate estimate of the fault current actually flowing into the grounding system.
FCDIST addresses the second of these key requirements. By providing the user with an accurate estimate
of fault current distribution, and hence the actual fault current flowing into a grounding system, FCDIST
makes it possible to avoid over-design of the grounding system due to otherwise necessary conservative
assumptions regarding the fault current entering the grounding system under study. This can result in
significant time and financial savings.

1.3 ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR FAULT CURRENT

CALCULATION
A common conservative assumption regarding fault current distribution is to assume that the entire line
fault current flows into the grounding system of interest (typically a transmission line structure or
substation). It is also possible to use current distribution data measured from the network under study or
other, similar, networks.

There are computer-based modeling methods available which can produce more accurate and realistic
calculations of the fault current distribution. Three such methods are described below, in increasing
order of sophistication:

Model the network under study as a simplified ladder network consisting of the transmission line
series and shunt impedances for each span. This type of model ignores inductive coupling between
the transmission line phases and the neutral wires.
Make a computer model of the transmission line network incorporating a single phase wire (which
can be used to represent all three phases), and a single (possibly bundled) neutral conductor. The
transmission line parameters are assumed to remain constant across all the spans in any given arm of
the transmission line network. This model accounts for coupling between the phase wire and the

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 Chapter 1 Introduction

neutral. Structure ground impedances are assumed to be equal for all structures in any arm of the
network. This is the approach taken by FCDIST.
Make a complete computer circuit model of the transmission line right-of-way. This model accounts
individually for the self and mutual impedances of every phase and neutral conductor, as well as
other non-energized conductors. Varying parameters, including the structure ground impedances, can
be specified for each section (or span) of the network. This approach is taken by SPLITS, which is
distributed with the MultiGround+, MultiFields+ and CDEGS software packages.

1.4 ADVANTAGES OF THE FCDIST APPROACH TO FAULT

CURRENT DISTRIBUTION CALCULATION
Fault and unbalance current distribution is determined by the grounding of the various sections of the
transmission line and associated substations, and also the inductive coupling between the phase wires
and the sky wires. The model created by FCDIST, which accounts for inductive coupling, and assigns
unique ground impedances to the central site and terminal stations along the transmission line, and
accounts for the grounding of all structures along the transmission line, takes into consideration all the
key elements necessary to calculate fault current distribution accurately. By using a single phase and a
single (possibly bundled) neutral wire, and constant parameters for all sections, the amount of necessary
input data is maintained at a relatively low and easily manageable level. Although this approach is not as
flexible or as powerful as the complete circuit model approach taken by SPLITS, it is much easier to
gather and prepare the input data.

1.5 PREPARING INPUT DATA

For best results, enter your FCDIST data using the Input Toolbox or the command-based SICL program
for a command mode input session. Both of these programs provides you with a user-friendly
environment, including preliminary error-checking, in which you can specify the engineering data
required by FCDIST. They offer detailed on-line help and can plot selected data on your video screen to
help you verify your data entry. Note that, if you prefer to prepare your data outside of these interactive
environments, you can always use a word processor (in ASCII mode) to create or edit a SICL input file
before invoking the SICL input processor, and then use the OPEN-FILE and READ commands within
SICL to process the file you have prepared. SICL, SMILS and SIDS create a complete, syntactically
correct FCDIST input file at the end of the interactive session.

Section 3.5 of Chapter 3 shows how to enter FCDIST data using the command mode approach.

For information on file-naming conventions, consult the Getting Started manual.

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 Chapter 1 Introduction

1.6 VIEWING, PRINTING AND PLOTTING COMPUTATION

RESULTS
When you run FCDIST, computation results are stored in a user-readable printout file and in a machine-
readable database file. When FCDIST has finished running, you can view your results in the following
ways:

i) For most convenience, use the Output Toolbox or the SIRPS report and plot generator to extract
information from the machine-readable database file. SIRPS (which is used internally by Output
Toolbox) can extract a summary of the most important results and display it promptly on your
screen or save it in a report file for subsequent printing. SIRPS can also prepare customized
reports and plots, for immediate display on your video screen or subsequent hardcopy printing.
See the Getting Started manual and the SIRPS User's Manual for details on how to use
SIRPS. Consult the various How To… manuals for more details about the Output Toolbox.
ii) Edit or print the user-readable printout file which contains complete computation results. Note
that this file can be quite long, so verify its length before printing it!
Note that no results are automatically displayed on your screen or on your printer when a FCDIST run
ends. In order to view your results, proceed as described above.

For information on file-naming conventions, consult the Getting Started manual.

1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THIS MANUAL

The FCDIST User's Manual introduces the user to the program, explains how FCDIST represents a
transmission line network in order to calculate fault current distribution, and explains the input data
required by the program. It also introduces the user to the preparation of input files for the program using
the SICL input processor. The manual includes an overview of the FCDIST Command Language.

Complete information on how to prepare input files for the program in a command mode session, a
dialogue mode session, and a menu-mode session is presented in the SICL user's manuals and in various
How To… manuals. Information on how to produce graphical output using the interactive output
processor is given in the SIRPS User's Manual and in the How To… manuals.

The FCDIST User's Manual is structured as follows:

Chapter 2: provides an explanation of the input data required by FCDIST and how this data is used
to create a circuit model of the transmission line network.
Chapter 3: describes the FCDIST input command file, and how to prepare an FCDIST input file
using the SICL input processor.
Appendix A: specifies the default values used by the program when the user does not specify a
particular value for a given parameter.

FCDIST Page 1-3

 Chapter 1 Introduction

Appendix B: explains the assignment of the files created and used by FCDIST.
Appendix C: explains the relationship between the relative permeability of a conductor and its GMR
or reactance at 1 foot spacing. This appendix also explains the relation between resistivity and AC
and DC resistance.
Note that while this manual presents all necessary background material for running FCDIST and
provides examples of how to prepare FCDIST input files, it does not describe all available commands in
full detail. A list of these commands is printed in the small booklet entitled SES Input Command
Language Reference Guide. A full description of each command is located in the SICL/CSIRPS
Structured Command Help Reference (available from the program in the form of Windows help, and
via the SICL/CSIRPS command prompt by typing HELP).

References

1. Janos Endreyni, "Analysis of Transmission Tower Potential During Ground Faults," IEEE
Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-86, No. 10, October 1967.
2. F. Dawalibi, D. Bensted, D. Mukhedkar, "Soil Effects on Ground Fault Currents," IEEE
Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-100, No. 7, July 1981, pp. 3442-3450.

FCDIST Page 1-4

 Chapter 2 FCDIST Input Data

2 FCDIST INPUT DATA

2.1 REPRESENTATION OF AN ELECTRIC NETWORK IN

FCDIST
A schematic diagram of the circuit model used in FCDIST to represent a transmission line network is
shown in Figure 2.1. Note that for simplicity, this model shows only 3 transmission line arms, but
FCDIST can create circuit models with an arbitrary number of arms.

Figure 2.1 Schematic Diagram of FCDIST Circuit Model

2.2 SUMMARY OF INPUT DATA

The FCDIST circuit model of a transmission line network (please see Figure 2.1) consists of three basic
elements: i) a central site, ii) terminal stations, and iii) transmission lines connecting the central site to
the terminal stations. These elements, and the data required by FCDIST to specify them, are explained in
more detail below:

1) Central Site. This is a node which connects to all arms of the network. The user must specify the
central site ground impedance (i.e., shunt impedance). Typically this site represents a faulted
substation or transmission line structure and the shunt impedance is set equal to the ground
impedance (resistance) of the faulted site. Only one central site can exist in a given FCDIST run.

FCDIST Page 2-1

 Chapter 2 FCDIST Input Data

2) Terminal Stations. At least one, and possibly several, terminal stations may exist in each
FCDIST model. The terminal stations consist of a specified ground impedance representing the
impedance of the terminating station ground network, and a current source which energizes the
transmission line. The data specified by the user is as follows:

• Terminals: each arm of the transmission line ends in a terminal section. The user enters the
terminal ground impedance and, optionally, the terminal name.

• Sources: each arm of the network is energized by current sources whose current can be
specified with an arbitrary magnitude and phase relative to each other (i.e., as a complex
number). Each source is connected via a lead with a specified series impedance to the
transmission line neutral. This lead also has a mutual impedance with respect to the phase
wire.

3) Transmission lines. The transmission line is modeled as a single phase wire and single bundled
neutral conductor. Each transmission line is made up of sections (i.e., spans) which are all of the
same length. Each span is terminated by a ground shunt connected to the neutral bundle. This
represents the ground impedance of the transmission line towers connected to the neutral lead.
Each section of the neutral has a series impedance and mutual impedance with respect to the
phase wire. Data entered by the user is given below:

• Phase Wire: the location of the phase wire is specified in terms of its cross sectional location
in the right-of-way.

• Neutral Wire Bundle: The FCDIST model also includes a single neutral (i.e., ground) lead.
The neutral lead can be a conductor bundle composed of several conductors regularly
arranged on the perimeter of a circle. Location of the bundle is specified in terms of the
position of the bundle centre and the number of conductors, and the position of the first
conductor. See Section 2.3 for more details. The neutral lead has a series impedance and a
mutual impedance with respect to the phase wire, which can be calculated by the program or
specified by the user. More details are provided in Section 2.3.

• Section Shunt: Each section (or span) of the transmission line has a ground shunt impedance
located at its extremity, away from the central site. The section shunt represents the ground
impedance of the transmission line structures. This ground shunt is a complex valued
quantity which is the same for all structures in a given arm of the transmission line network.

• The user must also specify the span length and the number of spans in each transmission line
arm.

Note that terminal, source, neutral, section and phase parameters must be specified separately for each
transmission line arm.

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 Chapter 2 FCDIST Input Data

To fully describe the transmission line network it also necessary to specify the electric characteristics
(resistivity and permeability) of the soil in which the network is located. A uniform soil model is used.
The user must also specify the power system frequency.

2.3 CONDUCTOR DATA

Conductor Location

All conductors should be in air. If any conductors are in soil, the program prints an error message and
terminates.

Calculation of Neutral Conductor Self and Mutual Impedances

For the neutral conductors, the program accepts self and mutual impedances in one of two modes. The
first is the impedance mode: the equivalent self impedance and mutual impedance of the reduced neutral
bundle is specified directly by the user. For a bundled neutral conductor, the equivalent self impedance
and mutual impedance are given by the following equations:

FG ∑ Z IJ
Zse = Zs +
n

H K i=2
m li n

F n
I
= G∑ Z J n
Z me
H K
i=1
m Ai

where

n is the total number of conductors in the bundle.

Zs is the total impedance (external + internal) of one conductor (in ohms).
Z m1i is the mutual impedance between the bundle conductor (in ohms).

Z m Ai is the mutual impedance between each conductor in the bundle and the phase conductor
(in ohms).
Zse is the equivalent self impedance (in ohms).

Z me is the equivalent mutual impedance between the bundle conductor and the phase
conductor (in ohms).

The second available mode is the characteristics mode. When this mode is selected, the program
calculates the equivalent self impedance and mutual impedance of the bundle after reduction based on
the physical characteristics and configuration of the conductors. The required input data is described in
the following points.

Required network data:

FCDIST Page 2-3

 Chapter 2 FCDIST Input Data

The span length. The span length is the same for all sections in a given arm of the transmission line
network. When the impedances are specified directly, the span length is not used.
Required data for the neutral conductor bundle:

X coordinate of the center of the neutral bundle.

Y coordinate of the center of the neutral bundle.
Distance between the center of bundle to the center of a conductor
Starting angle of first conductor in neutral bundle.
Number of conductors in the bundle.

Note: all conductors in a bundle should be identical.

Relative permeability of the neutral conductor(s). Alternatively, this value can also be specified as
the geometric mean radius or the 60 hertz reactance at 1 foot spacing of the conductor (the option
selected depends on the setting of a flag specified by the user).
Relative resistivity of the neutral conductor(s). Alternatively, the user can specify this parameter in
terms of the conductor dc resistance or the conductor ac resistance (the option selected depends on
the setting of a flag specified by the user).
External radius of the neutral conductors.
Internal radius of the neutral conductors, in the case of hollow conductors (this is 0 for solid
conductors).
Required phase conductor data:

For the phase conductor, the coordinates of the faulted phase must be specified when the
characteristics of the conductors are specified in order to calculate the mutual impedance between the
phase wire and the neutral wire. When the impedances are entered directly by the user, the phase
coordinates are not used.

2.4 CURRENT SOURCE DATA

The user must specify the magnitude and phase of the power source current energizing each arm of the
transmission line network. Typically, this value represents the current in the faulted phase. For load
analysis, or if the currents in the non-faulted phases are not negligible, the current flowing in the phase
conductor is specified as the total vector sum of the three phase currents. This improves the accuracy of
the calculation of the currents in the central site and in each tower.

The program accepts source currents in cartesian or polar notation. By default, the program uses the
cartesian notation.

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 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

3 FCDIST INPUT COMMAND FILES

3.1 INTRODUCTION
The data specifying the transmission line network parameters required by FCDIST is contained in a
command file. The command file is a plain-text file which is composed of English-like commands and
is essentially self-explanatory. The command file is processed by FCDIST, which extracts from it all
necessary engineering data and run control data. FCDIST then calculates the required parameters based
on the data contained in the command file. The FCDIST Command Language is explained in Section
3.2, while Section 3.3 explains the hierarchy of FCDIST commands. Section 3.4 shows a template
command input file which can be used as a model for all FCDIST command input files. The mechanisms
for preparing this input data using the SICL input processor is explained in Section 3.5. This section uses
a sample study to illustrate the different input methods.

3.2 THE FCDIST INPUT COMMAND LANGUAGE

Every FCDIST input file begins with the Program Command, which is the program name, i.e., FCDIST.
The body of an FCDIST command file consists of several groups of interrelated commands or modules.
Each group of commands is introduced by a Module Command. Each Module Command (or module
header) is followed by a series of commands which specify data and parameters for FCDIST. These are
called the Specification Commands. A command is made up of the command verb, optional qualifiers,
and optional or mandatory data variables. Variables and qualifiers specified on the same command line
are separated by commas. Real numbers can be entered with exponents, for example 2.1E-09 or 0.7E+11
(note that no spaces are allowed before or after the "E"). FCDIST commands can be abbreviated. All
FCDIST commands are listed in the SES Input Command Language Reference Guide, and detailed
descriptions and definitions of each command and its parameters are given in the SICL/CSIRPS
Structured Command Help Reference. The entries in the Help Reference are organized
alphabetically, and an index to where each command is found is given in this reference.

3.3 FCDIST COMMAND HIERARCHY

The complete list of FCDIST commands is organized according to the hierarchy of FCDIST commands.
You can see the hierarchy of commands and subcommands in FCDIST by observing the nested
indenting scheme in the sample input files given in Figures 3.1 and 3.4.

At the top of the FCDIST command hierarchy is the Program Command ("FCDIST") which is unique.
Below this level are the Module Commands, then commands belonging to each module, and then the
subcommands belonging to each command.

It is important to note that if an input file is created interactively using the SICL input preprocessor, or if
a manually prepared input file is to be read by SICL, it is possible to skip certain command levels in the

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 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

hierarchy. In SICL, any command which takes no qualifiers or variables, and which only serves to
introduce subcommands can be omitted in the input file. SICL will prompt the user to resolve any
ambiguities, or SICL will fill in the command itself, if the default SICL setting is used. If the input file
is to be read directly by FCDIST (or any other engineering program), it must include all commands in
the hierarchy.

If the input file is prepared using the SMILS input processor, it is not necessary to specify all commands.
Like SICL, SMILS will fill in missing commands and supply default input values. Likewise, if an input
file is read in using SMILS, many commands can be omitted from the input file, and SMILS will fill
them in as necessary. Since the SIDS input processor is dialogue-driven, it will prompt the user for all
necessary input data, and provide appropriate default input values as required.

Note also that it is possible to specify the different modules of an FCDIST input file in any order, but
certain error and warning messages may be adversely affected if a logical order is not respected for
certain commands. Consider, for example, the command UNITS of the OPTIONS module; any data
specified before the UNITS command will be assumed to be in METRIC units for the purposes of error-
checking, whether metric or British units are specified by the UNITS command. Within a given module,
commands which are logically independent, for example the commands RUN-IDENTIFI and UNITS of
the OPTIONS module, can be specified in any order. In general, however, you should follow the order
set out in the sample input files of this chapter when specifying most types of data, since many
commands within a module must follow each other in a specific order. Note that if a non-cumulative
command such as UNITS is specified more than once, then the setting specified by the last appearance
of the command in the input file will be retained.

3.4 TEMPLATE FCDIST COMMAND INPUT FILE

A template command input file is shown in Figure 3.1 This template file shows the modules and
commands which make up every FCDIST command input file. The annotations alongside the main text
explain the functions of each part of the file. The template file does not show any specific data; to
represent any particular problem, data values must be used in place of the variable names used in the
template command file. Certain commands, for instance the SECTIONS and TERMINAL commands
(and their subcommands), must be repeated for every arm of the transmission line network.

3.5 AVAILABLE INPUT MODES

3.5.1 Introduction
Alternative methods exist for preparing the input data required by FCDIST. The prefered method is to
use the Input Toolbox. This is outlined in the Getting Started manual and described in details in various
How To… manuals. This chapter describes the command mode of data entry using a typical engineering
problem which is described in detail in Section 3.5.2.

FCDIST Page 3-2

 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

Figure 3.1 Template FCDIST Input Command File

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 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

3.5.2 A Typical Engineering Problem

A circuit diagram of the relevant portion of a power system of interest is shown in Figure 3.2; the
transmission line configuration and characteristics are shown in Figure 3.3. The transmission line
configuration and characteristics are the same for all three arms of the transmission network. The
diagram shown in Figure 3.2 corresponds to the typical circuit model shown Figure 2.1 of Chapter 2. For
the sample study, actual line and structure parameter values take the place of the component labels used
in Figure 2.1.

A 230 kV line-to-ground fault occurs at Substation EAST CENTRAL. There is a double circuit
transmission line between each terminal and the substation. The fault occurs on Phase A of Circuit 1.

Each tower has two neutral conductors of the 7 No. 8 alumoweld type and the phase wires are 795 MCM
Drake. The GMR and the average AC resistance for the neutral wires are 0.002085 feet and 2.785
Ω/mile, respectively.

The ground resistances of the transmission line towers in the GREENBAY-EAST CENTRAL arm of the
network, which are 1/5 mile apart, are all assumed to be equal to 10 Ω. The towers in the HUDSON-
EAST CENTRAL and NEWHAVEN-EAST CENTRAL arms, which are also 1/5 mile apart, have a
higher resistance of 28 Ω.

The ground resistance of all three terminals is assumed to be constant and equal to 0.2 Ω, 0.3 Ω and 0.3
Ω for the GREENBAY, HUDSON and NEWHAVEN terminals, respectively. The ground network
impedance at the fault location (Substation EAST CENTRAL)is assumed to be proportional to the local
soil resistivity ρ. Calculations have shown that for a soil resistivity of 100 Ω-m, the resistance of one
possible grid design is equal to 0.32 Ω.

When a fault occurs on phase A at Central Site, the currents in each phase are as follows:

GREENBAY : 1226 -j 5013 Amps (total)

Phase A: 1352 -j 6781 Amps
Phase B: -414 +j 845 Amps
Phase C: 288 +j 923 Amps
HUDSON : 722 -j 6453 Amps (total)

Phase A: 646 -j 6109 Amps

Phase B: -232 -j 180 Amps
Phase C: 308 -j 164 Amps
NEW HAVEN: 745 -j 5679 Amps (total)
Phase A: 658 -j 5603 Amps
Phase B: -210 -j 47 Amps
Phase C: 297 -j 29 Amps

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 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

Figure 3.2 Power System Network

Figure 3.3 Transmission Line Configuration

FCDIST Page 3-5

 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

In the circuit model, only a single phase wire is specified, which carries the vector sum of the three phase
wire currents under fault conditions. The location of this single phase corresponds to the location of the
faulted Phase A of Figure 3.3.

The location of both neutral wires is specified. They are considered to be a pair of bundled conductors,
with the bundle centre 115 feet high, at the midpoint of the transmission line tower. The radius of the
neutral bundle is half the distance between the neutral wires, i.e., 24 feet.

The purpose of the study is to:

1. Determine the distribution of the fault current between the ground wires and the ground network at
the fault location.
2. Determine the magnitude of the current which returns to the power source via the terminal grounds.
3. Determine the influence of the mutual impedances between phase and ground wires. This manifests
itself as a "trapped" current in the ground wires.
A printout of the results file for the sample problem is stored in file FCDISOUT.PUT which is shipped
with the software.

3.5.3 Command Mode Input Session - The SICL Input Processor

The sample problem data specified in Section 3.5.2 is used to prepare an FCDIST-compatible input file.
This file is shown in Figure 3.4. This file can be prepared interactively using the SICL input processor.
An interactive SICL session consists of issuing SICL commands (which include all FCDIST commands)
at the SICL command line. SICL provides on-line error detection and many automation features, as well
as certain integrated graphics capabilities. As explained in Section 3.2.2, when an input file is prepared
using SICL, it is possible to leave some commands unspecified, and also to skip levels in the command
hierarchy - SICL will fill in any missing commands and prompt the user to resolve any ambiguities.
Alternatively, a command file can be prepared using a text editor and used as input to SICL, which will
then fill in any missing commands, check the input commands for errors, carry out any specified
automated command-generating functions, and produce the FCDIST-compatible command input file.

Interactive input sessions using SICL are explained in detail in the SICL User's Manual, and also in
Chapter 6 of the Getting Started manual.
FCDIST
TEXT,SAMPLE TEST OF FCDIST
TEXT,MULTIGROUND ANALYSIS
OPTION
RUN-IDEN,FCDIST_INPUT
UNITS,INCH_RAD
PRINTOUT,DETAIL
OUTPUT,BOTH
!,

Figure 3.4 Sample Command Input File

FCDIST Page 3-6

 Chapter 3 FCDIST Input Command Files

SYSTEM
AVERAGE_SOIL,100.0
FREQUENCY,60.0
GRID,EAST CENTRAL,0.32,0.0
!,===================================================
TERMINAL,GREENBAY
EARTH,0.2,0.0
SOURCES,CARTESIAN,1225.88,-5013.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0
SECTION,66,1056.0,10.0,0.0
PHASE,16.0,92.5
BUNDLE,0.0,115.0,24.0,0.0,2
NEUTRAL,0.002085,2.785,.1925,0.0,2,3
!,===================================================
TERMINAL,HUDSON
EARTH,0.3,0.0
SOURCES,CARTESIAN,722.02,-6452.57,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0
SECTION,27,1056.0,28.0,0.0
PHASE,16.0,92.5
BUNDLE,0.0,115.0,24.0,0.0,2
NEUTRAL,0.002085,2.785,.1925,0.0,2,3
!,===================================================
TERMINAL,NEWHAVEN
EARTH,0.3,0.0
SOURCES,CARTESIAN,744.90,-5678.771,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0
SECTION,35,1056.0,28.0,0.0
PHASE,16.0,92.5
BUNDLE,0.0,115.0,24.0,0.0,2
NEUTRAL,0.002085,2.785,.1925,0.0,2,3
ENDPROGRAM

Figure 3.4 Sample Command Input File (cont'd)

FCDIST Page 3-7

 Appendix A Default Settings

APPENDIX A

DEFAULT SETTINGS
The default setting is the value used by the program when the command specifying a given parameter is
not entered by the user. The default parameter values are as follows:

SOIL CHARACTERISTICS
=====================
Average soil resistivity : 100.00 Ohm-meter
Soil relative permeability : 1.00

Power source frequency : 60.00 Hertz

=======================

CENTRAL SITE
============
Central site name : CENTRAL SITE
Central site impedance : 0.10 + j 0.00 Ohms
Number of terminals : 1

TERMINAL
========
Name : TERM_n (n is the terminal number)
Earth Impedance : 0.10 + j 0.00 Ohms
Source Current : 10000.0 + j 0.00 Amp.
Neutral Connection Impedance : 0.00 + j 0.00 Ohms
Mutual Impedance : 0.00 + j 0.00 Ohms
Number of Sections : 1
Span Length : 1000.00 Meters
Shunt Impedance : 10.00 + j 0.00 Ohms

Phase Conductor
===============
X Coordinates (Xp) : 0.00 Meters
Y Coordinates (Yp) : 25.00 Meters

Neutral Conductor (7 No. 8 ALUMOWELD)

======================================
X Coordinates (Xn) : 0.00 Meters
Y Coordinates (Yn) : 35.00 Meters
Number of conductors : 1
Bundle radius : 0.00
Starting angle : 0.00
Outer Radius : 0.0048895 Meters
Inner Radius : 0.00 Meters
Relative Permeability : 8.1523
Relative Resistivity : 6.4967

FCDIST Page A-1

 Appendix B File and Logical Units Assignments

APPENDIX B

FILE AND LOGICAL UNIT ASSIGNMENTS

The primary input/output file assignments are as follows:

File Type File Name Unit

Input Command File Input user-defined* 5
(prepared by user)
Computation Results File Output user-defined* 9
Database File for SIRPS Output user-defined 21
graphics and report module
Data Exchange File Input/ user-defined* 11
Input: Central Site ground impedance Output
calculated by MALT
Output: Fault current in central
site calculated by FCDIST
Command Definition File: Input PRGCOMMAN.NDS 19
file containing the commands, their
qualifiers and synonyms.
DO NOT ALTER
System Setup File: Input FCDISFLG.FLG 88
contains software customization
flags. DO NOT ALTER
*See the Getting Started manual for file-naming conventions used by the software
which you should follow.

The input file (Unit 5) contains all the information you need to supply. The main output file (Unit 9)
contains a formatted summary of the input data and all pertinent computation results. The database file
(Unit 21) contains all pertinent computation results in a format accessible by the SIRPS plotting and
report-generation software.

FCDIST Page B-1

 Appendix C Computation of Equivalent Resistivity and Permeability of a Conductor

APPENDIX C

COMPUTATION OF EQUIVALENT RESISTIVITY AND

PERMEABILITY OF A CONDUCTOR
The equivalent relative permeability (with respect to free space) and relative resistivity (with respect to
annealed copper) of a conductor can be determined from other quantities such as GMR, reactance at 1 ft
spacing, and AC/DC resistance as follows:

Equivalent Relative Permeability

Relative Permeability = -4.0 * log GMR R a f

or
b
Relative Permeability = X a * K1 f + 4.0 * log R g a f
Equivalent Relative Resistivity

Relative Resistivity = K 2 * R DC * R 2
or
Relative Resistivity = K 2 * R AC * R 2

Where:

GMR : Geometric Mean Radius, in feet

Xa : Reactance at 1 foot spacing, in ohms/mile
R DC : DC resistance, in ohms/mile
R AC : AC resistance, in ohms/mile
R : Conductor radius, in feet
f : Frequency, in Hertz
K1 : 1977.884
K2 : 10518.98
log : Natural logarithm function

FCDIST Page C-1

 USER COMMENT FORM

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FCDIST Page U-1