, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 207217, 2009.
© Association for Scientific Research
Sava Koç*, Zafer Aydoğmu**
* Department of Electrical Education,
Batman University Technical Education Faculty– BATMAN
** Department of Electrical Education,
Firat University Technical Education Faculty – ELAZIĞ
A MATLAB/GUI (Graphical User Interface) based simulation tool has been
developed to calculate the shortcircuit fault currents in power transmission lines and to
use as an educational material for courses on power system analysis. Presented program
provides the calculation of threephase (3LS), single linetoground (1LG), linetoline
(2LS), and double linetoground (2LG) faults on transmission lines. Symmetrical
components of currents and voltages are used for calculations in the program. By means
of the program, calculated fault currents and voltages on the fault point of the line have
been presented both in perunit and in real values. Furthermore, this calculated currents
and voltages can be observed in GUI screen. In this way, an educational tool has been
developed for the students to check the accuracy of their calculations and to observe the
variations of waveforms. The purpose of this GUI based tool is to help the student to
understand the concept of symmetrical components and shortcircuit faults.
!"# Short circuit, Symmetrical components, Graphical User Interface.
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There are a number of different types of faults that may occur in power systems.
Three phase symmetrical fault occurs in three phase systems where the phase
conductors are in contact with each other. The phase to phase fault occurs when two
phase conductors are in contact with each other. A single phase to ground fault occurs
between a phase conductor and neutral conductor or ground conductor in three phase
grounded neutral systems. If two phase conductors are in contact with the neutral or
ground conductor, a two phase to ground fault occurs.
Fault analysis is very important part of power system analysis. Students have
difficulties to understand the concept of faults and method of calculations. Teaching
symmetrical fault analysis is easier than teaching unsymmetrical faults to the students.
One reason for the difficulty can be attributed to the increased numerical
complexity in dealing with the symmetrical components in the unbalanced three
phase environment. This complexity leads to a loss of focus and lack of understanding
of the basic processes affecting the values of currents and voltages after the occurrence
of a fault and the students become indifferent to the variation in the results from one
type of fault to another [1].