Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Short circuit current fundamentals: Characteristics/magnitudes/definitions for high voltage circuit breaker duties

Conference ·
OSTI ID:427892

The ANSI/IEEE Standards C37 provide many sections identifying the characteristics, magnitudes and relationships for short circuit/fault currents. Also, these Standards provide many sections defining the preferred ratings that circuit breakers and/or fuses are to be capable of. The goal for this paper is to provide a general/executive summary and clear definition for Medium and High Voltage Short Circuit (SC) current rating requirements for circuit breakers and present the five stages (steps) of SC current that are derived from the Standards. It has been encountered that one commercial power system analysis program calculated fundamental SC current values correctly, but did not comply with the IEEE/ANSI Standards definition for stage 2 asymmetrical values. This mis-directed the decision of the required circuit breaker rating. There definitely is another commercial program that does provide values and definitions that comply with the Standards for all specified magnitudes in the five stages of SC current. It is important to be able to clearly understand the SC current characteristics when making circuit breaker selection. For instance, what value should be used: Asymmetrical Peak or RMS, Rated SC current, Close and Latch and/or other magnitudes. This paper will provide a guide to evaluate the required circuit breaker capability/rating, per the latest ANSI/IEEE Standards, for the supplier to comply with.

OSTI ID:
427892
Report Number(s):
CONF-9510203--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

A new IEEE/ANSI standard for generator circuit breakers
Journal Article · Fri Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1995 · IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery · OSTI ID:64423

Proposed transient recovery voltage ratings for power circuit breakers
Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1965 · IEEE Trans. Power Appar. Syst.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6922325

Development of improved methods for type testing present day medium voltage circuit breakers for outdoor service
Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) · OSTI ID:6502699