Int. J. Elect. Enging Educ., Vol. 14, pp. 237-240. Manchester V.P., 1977.

Printed in Great Britain

SIMPLE CALCULATION OF CRITICAL CLEARING TIME

B.FOX
School ofElectrical and Electronic Engineering, Ulster College,
The Northern Ireland Polytechnic

NOTATION
Et voltage behind transient reactance
M angular momentum of rotor
Vb infinite busbar voltage
X, generator transient reactance
Xc circuit reactance
8 generator transient power angle

INTRODUCTION
When a fault occurs near the terminals of a synchronous generator feeding into a
large interconnected system, the electric power output of the generator falls; the
rotor accelerates, and synchronism will be lost if the fault is not cleared in time.
Experience of teaching the transient stability of synchronous generators at the
Higher Technician (H.N.C. Supplementary Certificate) level has led the author to
seek a simple method for obtaining critical clearing time, that is, the maximum
fault clearance time that does not result in a loss of synchronism. It will be shown
here that the critical clearing time for the most severe fault condition can be
obtained quite simply without recourse to the numerical integration used in the
conventional treatment'T', It is this 'worst case' value that determines the maximum
combined relay and circuit breaker operating time required to ensure no loss of
synchronism under any fault condition.

THEORy4
Many practical systems can be reduced to a synchronous generator feeding an
infinite busbar through a double-circuit transmission line (Fig. 1). The equivalent
circuit of this system is shown in Fig. 2. Resistance has been neglected for simplicity.
Taking Vb as reference
Vb = I Vble io and s, = IEtleili
If the effect of saliency on the power-angle relationship is neglected, the power
transferred to the infmite busbar before the fault occurs is given by

IEtll Vblsin8 _ P . "

X+X - osmu
t _c
2
237

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238

infinite
2 busba r

fault

FIG. 1 Generator feeding infinite busbar.

FIG. 2 Equivalent circuit.

If the mechanical power input from the turbine is Pm' then

r; =Po sin 00
where 00 is the pre-fault transient power angle.
The power transferred to the infinite busbar during the fault depends on the
location and type of the fault. We will assume that this power is given by PI sin o.
When the fault has been cleared, by the removal of circuit 2, the power
transferred to the infinite busbar is given by
IEtllVblsino_ p . ~
X, + Xc - 2 sm u

The pre-fault, fault and post-fault power-angle curves are shown in Fig. 3.
The equation of motion of the rotor of the synchronous generator during the
fault is
d20 _ M' _ Pm - PI sin 0
dt 2 - M - M (1)

where M'is the accelerating power acting on the rotor.

In general, the behaviour of 0 with time must be obtained by numerical
integration of equation (l).

ANALYSIS OF WORST CASE

The accelerating power acting on the rotor is greatest when
(a) Pm is constant (no governor action),
(b) PI is zero.
These conditions therefore represent the most severe case from the point of
view of maintenance of synchronism.

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 239

Pc

r
power
~

~ fault

P,

0 60 6,

FIG. 3 Power-angle curves.

In practice, PI will be approximately zero when a three-phase-to-earth fault

occurs at the sending end of circuit 2. During such a fault the behaviour of the
transient power angle is obtained from equation (1 )5;

-
d 20 P
=-!!!...
dt 2 M
P t2
:.0 = 2M +00 (2)

By the equal-area criterion", 0 must not exceed the critical clearing angle 01
during the fault if synchronism is to be maintained. (See Fig. 3.) 01is obtained by
noting that Al = A 2

. ,,_ -I [ P2 cos 02 + Pm (02 - 00) ]

.. UI - cos P (3)
2

Denoting the critical clearing time, i.e. the time for 0 to reach 01> by t e , we have
from equations (2) and (3),

(4)

This equation allows direct calculation of critical clearing time.

CONCLUSION
Adirect method of obtaining critical clearing time has been presented. The method
does not require the use of numerical integration, and has therefore been found
valuable in teaching transient stability at the Higher Technician level.

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240

REFERENCES

[I) Guile, A. E. and Patterson, W. Electrical Power Systems, Vol. 2, Oliver and Boyd, (1972).
[2) Neuenswander, J. R. Modern Power Systems, International Textbook Company, (1971).
[3) Stevenson, W. D. Elements ofPower System Analysis, McGraw-Hill, (1962).
[4) Weedy, B. M. Electric Power Systems, Wiley, (1972).
[5) Elgerd, O. I. Electric Energy Systems Theory, McGraw-Hill, (1971).

ABSTRACTS- ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH

Simple calculation of critical clearing time

A direct method for the calculation of critical clearing time is presented. The method is only
applicable to the most severe fault condition. However, this is the most important condition,
as it determines the maximum combined relay and circuit breaker operating time for maintenance
of synchronism under all fault conditions.

Calcul simple de temps critique

Une methode directe de calcul de temps critique est presentee dans cet article, mais elle n'est
d'application qu'a la condition la plus severe de defaut, C'est cependant la plus importante car
elle determine le temps maximum du fonctionnement combine du relais et du disjoncteur
pour maintenir le synchronisme pour toute espece de defaut.

Einfache Berechnung del kritischen Kurzschlusszeit

Eine direkte Methode zur Berechnung der kritischen Kurzschlusszeit wird gegeben. Die
Methode ist nur auf die schwerste Kurzschlussbedingung anwendbar. Diese ist jedoch die
wichtigste Bedingung, da sie die kombinierte Relais- und Leistungsschalterausschaltzeit zur
Aufrechterhaltung des Synchronismus unter allen Fehlerzustanden bestimmt.

Calculo simple del tiempo eritico de desconexlon

Si presenta un metodo directo para calcular el tiempo critico de desconexion, Este rnetodo
solamente se puede aplicar al caso en que se produce el fallo mas severo. Sin embargo, ese
caso es el mas importante, pues es el que determina el valor maximo del tiempo de operadon
conjunta del rele y del interruptor para mantener el sincronismo bajo cualquier otro tipo de
fallo.

JOURNALS RECEIVED
Vol. 14 No.3
Bildung und wissenschaft: Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, (1976) and I, (1977). Inter Nationes,
Kennedyallee, 91-103, D-53 Bonn-Bad Godesburg, West Germany.
Computer Education: No. 25 (Feb. 1977). A joint publication of the Computer Education
Group (affiliated to the British Computer Society) and Schools Council Project Technology.
Electrotechnica Electronica Automatica: Vol. 20, No.4 and Vol. 24, No.8, Str. Brezoianu
23- 25, Bucharest, Rumania.
Elektrotehnilki Vestnik, Electrotechnical Review, YU-61001 Ljubljana, P.O. Box n-lI,
Yugoslavia.
Engineering: Cornell Quarterly, Vol. 11, No.3, (Autumn 1976).
Engineering Education: Nov. (1976), Jan. and Feb. (1977). American Society for Engineering
Education, I Dupont Circle, Washington D.C. 20036.
French Techniques: No.3, 1976. The Economic Services of the French Embassy, per the
French Commercial Delegate, 18th Floor, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester MI 4BW.
N. T.Z. Nachrichtentechnische Zeitschrift - Communications Journal: Dec. (1976), Jan., Feb.
(1977). V.D.E.-Verlag GmbH, I Berlin 12, Bismarckstrasse 33.

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