0161

ASSESSMENT OF SHORT CIRCUIT POWER LEVELS IN HV AND MV NETWORKS

WITH RESPECT TO POWER QUALITY
V. ALLEGRANZA, A. ARDITO, M. DELFANTI L. LO SCHIAVO
E. DE BERARDINIS
CESI Politecnico di Autorità per
Milano Milano l’Energia Elettrica e il Gas
ITALY ITALY ITALY
ardito@cesi.it maurizio.delfanti@polimi.it lloschiavo@autorita.energia.it

ABSTRACT automation, protections selectivity, etc.).

As far as the second case is concerned (i.e. voltage quality,
The Italian Regulator (AEEG - Autorità per l’energia on which AEEG has now begun to focus), Ssc is considered
elettrica e il gas) is paying great attention to voltage quality an important parameter for power quality (as far as
and has started up a research task in the framework of the transmission networks are concerned, the Italian regulator
Public Interest Energy Research Project named "Ricerca has already planned to publish the minimum conventional
di Sistema" (Italian Ministry for Productive Activities levels of Ssc for the busses of the Italian transmission
Decree of 28 February 2003) aimed to the monitoring of network with Resolution n. 250/04 [2]).
representative portions of the MV network. Without entering into more specific matters, the present
Moreover, the Italian Regulator has requested the paper will outline the reasons why attention has been
calculation of the minimum short circuit power focused on Ssc with reference to power quality. In particular,
(hereinafter, Ssc) levels on the EHV and HV transmission it is appropriate (and technically feasible, as described
network (Resolution n. 250/04), as Ssc represents a below) to correlate the variations in operating conditions
meaningful and synthetic parameter for the robustness of due to the “ordinary” load variability to the capacity of the
the electric network if related to the customers network of facing such variability without an excessive
characteristics in terms of disturbing emissions. reduction of the voltage value in the connection point. With
A simple method to correlate rapid voltage changes caused good approximation, the rapid voltage variations related to
by rapid variations of loads (f. i. motor starting) with Ssc in the above-mentioned phenomena can reach different values
the connection site has been set up. Based on this method, a according to the network Ssc levels.
criterion for the classification of HV and MV customers and
substations is proposed: this criterion leads to a direct
DEFINITIONS AND POSSIBLE USES OF
correlation between the customers and substation rated
power and Ssc in the point of common coupling (PCC). SHORT CIRCUIT POWER
An example of the application of the methodology to the The short circuit power Ssc of a network point P is usually
real short circuit power data coming from HV networks is obtained by multiplying the threephase short circuit current
also reported. Isc by the nominal voltage between phase and phase of the
system (Un) and by factor √3:
INTRODUCTION S sc = 3 ⋅ U n ⋅ I sc (1)
The power supply quality is attracting growing attention According to the above definition, the short circuit power
from regulators in the international context. As far as Ssc at a PCC can be used to obtain the network impedance
electric systems are concerned, customer requirements are from the point itself (Zsc):
getting harder to meet, especially in highly industrialized Z sc = U n2 S sc (2)
countries. On the other hand, distribution networks are
Generally speaking, it is possible to define different values
increasingly characterized by potentially disturbing loads at
of short circuit current (and of short circuit power)
any voltage level (f.i. due to the massive development of
according to the different aims. The present paper, which
power electronics). Load requirements are getting huger,
makes reference to the document [3] published by CEI 136
with reference to both the continuity of the power supply
working group (a project group established by the AEEG
(the most important parameter in an economic sense) and to
Resolution n. 136/04, referring to guidelines for the
the voltage waveform [1]. As in case of the continuity of
connection to the HV and MV networks) defines the
power supply, the level of voltage quality is determined by
following values:
the interaction between the distribution networks and the
customers connected. 1. Maximum threephase short circuit power (aimed at
In the first case (i.e. continuity of power supply, on which devices sizing). It is the value of the short circuit current
the Italian regulator was mainly focused so far), the as planned by system operators and adopted in order to
situation has considerably improved thanks to the choose the short-circuit withstand level of the
interaction between distributors and customers towards a equipment.
better network management (operating strategies, network
2. Maximum operating threephase short circuit power in

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the PCC. It must be calculated under normal operating Rsc ⋅ ( Pcustomer + ∆Pcustomer ) + X sc ⋅ (Qcustomer + ∆Qcustomer )
∆utotal = =
conditions for the network and at maximum generation; U B2
it is used for protection coordination. Rcc ⋅ Pcustomer + X cc ⋅ Qcustomer Rcc ⋅ ∆Pcustomer + X cc ⋅ ∆Qcustomer (3)
= + =
3. Minimum operating threephase short circuit power in U B2 U B2
the PCC. It is the minimum value of the threephase short = ∆ustady − state + ∆u
circuit current in the PCC under normal operating where Rsc and Xsc are the resistive and reactive parts of the
conditions. It must be calculated at minimum generation short-circuit complex impedance Zsc.
(HV network) and with no dispersed generation (MV By focusing on the rapid variation ∆u, being the short
network). circuit power Ssc in a given bus inversely proportional to the
4. Minimum conventional threephase short circuit power in short circuit impedance Zsc in the same bus, one can obtain:
the PCC. It is the minimum value of the threephase short Rsc ⋅ ∆Pcustomer + X sc ⋅ ∆Qcustomer
circuit power under the most critical N-1 conditions of ∆u = =
U B2
the HV network (backfeed for MV network) and with
Rsc X
minimum generation (i.e. without dispersed generation ⋅ ∆Pcustomer + sc ⋅ ∆Qcustomer
on the MV network). Z Z sc
= sc
U B 2 Z sc
The last two Ssc values are useful for coordinating
Rsc X
protections (network/customer) and for evaluating power ⋅ ∆Pcustomer + sc ⋅ ∆Qcustomer
Z Z sc
quality levels. = sc =
S sc
∆Pcustomer ∆Qcustomer
CORRELATION BETWEEN SHORT CIRCUIT +
1+τ 2 1
+1
POWER AND RAPID VOLTAGE CHANGES 2
τ α (τ ) ⋅ ∆Pcustomer + β (τ ) ⋅ ∆Qcustomer
= = =
In order to analyze the rapid voltage changes (RVC) to S k '' S sc
which HV and MV customers are subject, it is possible to ∆S customer (α (τ ) ⋅ cos ϕ starting + β (τ ) ⋅ sin ϕ starting )
make reference to Figure 1, which represents the network = =
S sc
impedance upstream of the delivery point (Zsc).
∆S customer
= γ (τ , ϕ starting ) (4)
customer S sc
where cosϕstarting is the power factor of the instantaneous
power change ∆Scustomer and is the ratio (Xsc/Rsc).
Connection point As shown in Figure 2, in case of high τ values, in equation
(4) it is possible to neglect the contribution due to ∆P and to
make reference to following simpler equation (5).
∆utotal ≈ ∆Scustomer S sc (5)
Such approximation is only valid in case of HV networks,
whereas in case of MV networks it is valid only at a short
Figure 1 – Schematic diagram aimed at evaluating Ssc on HV and MV
networks
distance from the HV/MV substation (high values of Xsc/Rsc,
see Figure 2).
According to this scheme, it is possible to notice that any
Gamma Alfa Beta
variation in the current required by customers causes a RVC 1,1

on the PCC, that affects any customer connected to the same 1,05
1

network. As far as MV networks are concerned, Zsc is the 0,95

0,9

sum of the impedances of HV network, of the HV/MV 0,85

0,8
transformer and of the MV lines. 0,75
0,7
0,65
The total voltage variation in delivery point B is made up by 0,6
0,55
two terms (see equation 3): the first term (∆usteady-state) is 0,5
0,45
referred to the steady-state voltage drop; the second term 0,4
0,35
(∆u) is caused by the RVC following the fast variations of 0,3
0,25
customers real (∆P) and reactive (∆Q) power. The total 0,2
0,15
variation can be estimated by means of the simplified 0,1
0,05
formula below: 0
0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5
Tau=Xcc/Rcc

Figure 2 – Coefficients of eq. (4), cosϕstarting = 0,3

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An over estimation of the RVC variation is introduced and

it increases with the distance from the HV/MV substation. Such values, which can only be referred to “non-disturbing”
That error can reach up to 30% in the points characterized customers, have not been deduced neither from field
by the lowest ratio Xsc/Rsc observations nor from a measurement campaign, but only
from preliminary estimations. In that regard it is important
CHARACTERIZATION OF CUSTOMERS to underline that the ongoing monitoring campaign on
THROUGH PARAMETER KT voltage quality undertaken by RdS [4] will provide useful
information by means of appropriate correlations studies
In general, the instantaneous power variation ∆Scustomer between the rapid voltage variations recorded and the Ssc
required by customers during ordinary service depends on calculated.
the type of customer and can also be related to the customer The values assumed at the present moment seem to be
rated power Srated through the following formula: reasonable, as Kt preliminary estimations are based on
∆S customer = K t ⋅ S rated (6) criteria that:
• allow a 10% voltage drop on HV/MV transformers (HV
The value of the parameter Kt can vary according to the type
customers and HV/MV substations) and MV/LV (MV
of customer (HV customers, MV customers, HV/MV and
customers and MV/LV substations);
MV/LV substations), but it is reasonable to suppose that it
decreases according to Srated in order to take into • take into account typical load transients (motor starting,
consideration the load simultaneous operation. Table I etc).
reports the values of Kt assumed for HV networks.
Table II reports the values of Kt assumed for MV networks.

Table I – Kt values for connections to the HV network Table II – Kt values for connections to the MV network
(HV customers and HV-MV substations) (MV customers and MV-LV substations)
Srated Srated
Kt,HV/MV substations Kt,HV customers Kt,MV/LV substations Kt,MV customers
(kVA) (kVA)
16 0,30 0,50 100 2,00 4,00
25 0,25 0,40 250 1,60 2,80
40 0,20 0,30 400 1,50 2,50
63 0,15 0,25 630 1,43 2,30
1000 - 1,80
2500 - 1,30
A possible interpolation (dotted line in Figure 2) between 5000 - 0,80
the values given to parameter Kt in the above tables and a
continuous function of Srated is the following:
Figure 4 shows the values of Kt for MV networks, along
HV and MV customers :
with the relevant interpolating function.
K t ,customer = 2 S rated (7)
5

HV/MV and MV/LV substation : 4.5

Kt
KtUtenti
Cust
K t ,substation = 1,3 S rated (8)
4

3.5
Kt (1)
KtCabine
Subst
Kt
KtUtenti
Cust
Kt
KtCabine
Subst
It is important to notice that in this formula, which is valid
3

Kt 2.5
for both HV and MV networks, Srated is expressed in MVA.
2

1.5
0,7

Kt Cust 1
0,6
Kt Subst 0.5
Kt Cust
0,5 0
Kt Subst
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6
0,4
Kt
MVA
0,3

0,2

0,1 Figure 4 – Discrete values and interpolating function

for Kt on MV networks
0
0 10 20 30

MVA
40 50 60 70
In case of energization of HV/MV or MV/LV transformers
(inrush current), the parameter Kt would certainly be higher,
Fi as it can even reach 4-6 or 6-11 respectively. However, it
gure 3 – Discrete values and interpolating function
has to be noticed that the energization is not usually carried
for Kt on HV networks

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out during ordinary service; for this reason, it is not taken connected shows a minimum conventional Ssc below the
into consideration in the present methodology. threshold value for rapid variations of 5%.
CORRELATION AMONG VOLTAGE Sk'' max operating
CHANGES, Ssc, AND CUSTOMER RATED
5000
Sk'' min operating
Sk'' min conventional
POWER THROUGH PARAMETER KT
4500
Threshold deltaU=3% for customers
4000 Threshold deltaU=5% for customers

With reference to the above paragraphs, the voltage 3500

Threshold deltaU=7% for customers

variation required by a customer can be calculated (with 3000

precision on HV network and with good approximation on

Sk'' [MVA]
2500
MV network) according to the following equation:
2000

∆S
∆u = customer γ (τ , ϕ starting ) = 1500

S sc (9) 1000

S S
= K t ⋅ customer γ (τ , ϕ starting ) ≈ Kt ⋅ customer 500

S sc S sc 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

As a consequence, after establishing the maximum rapid Srated [MVA]

voltage variation to be expected on the PCC (∆ulim) MV Figure 4 – Application of the methodology proposed to the analysis of
networks and the parameter Kt related to the power variation Ssc on the RTN: busses with HV customers
that the customer requires, it is possible to calculate the
value of Ssc necessary for each network bus: CONCLUSION – ONGOING RESEARCH
Scustomer (10) The paper proposes a methodology to correlate rapid
S sc ≈ Kt ⋅ voltage changes to the load variation and to the short circuit
∆u
For instance, if relations (8) e (9) are adopted for Kt and if a power in the point of common coupling.
maximum rapid voltage change of 5% is to be expected in The method has been based on theoretical considerations
the PCC, this results in: and studies: as a consequence, further investigations are
needed about the assumptions adopted.
HV and MV customers: In particular, field studies and analysis are needed to assess
S sc ,cust ,5 = 40 S rated (11) if the behaviour of customers (in terms of fast load
variations) is correctly modelled by the parameters Kt.
HV/MV and MV/LV substations: Once such parameters will be confirmed with on-field
S sc ,subst ,5 = 26 Srated (12) evidence, it will be possible to make use of the proposed
approach by a regulatory point of view.
Some first results indicate that the short circuit power levels
APPLICATION OF THE METHODOLOGY available on the Italian HV networks (132-150 kV) are
The application of the above-described methodology to the typically higher than the minimum levels calculated with the
analysis of the Ssc on the busses of the Italian Transmission procedure proposed.
Network1 (RTN – “Rete di trasmissione nazionale”) gave As for MV networks, the data collected from the monitoring
some interesting results. campaign on the voltage quality will allow for a better
In particular, none of the busses to which HV/MV tuning of the parameters used in the methodology proposed.
substations are connected shows a minimum operating Ssc or
a conventional minimum Ssc (N-1) lower than the prescribed REFERENCES
values. [1] Towards Voltage Quality Regulation in Europe: An
As regards customers, the results are as follows (see also ERGEG Public Consultation Paper, E06-EQS-09-03
Figure 4): 06-DEC-2006 available on www.ceer-eu.org
• none of the busses to which HV customers are [2] Italian Regulator Resolution n. 250/04, available on
connected shows a minimum operating Ssc below the www.autorita.energia.it
threshold value for rapid variations of 3%; [3] Consultation document 34/06, about technical rules
• there is an extremely limited number of busses with a for the connection to HV and MV distribution
minimum conventional Ssc below the threshold value for networks, available on www.autorita.energia.it
rapid variations of 3%; nevertheless, it is far above the [4] F. Villa, A. Porrino, R. Chiumeo, S. Malgarotti, “The
threshold value for rapid variation of 5%; power quality monitoring of the MV network
promoted by the Italian regulator. Objectives,
• none of the busses to which HV customers are organisation issues, 2006 statistics", Proc. of CIRED
2007- Wien
1 The Ssc values on RTN are communicated by TERNA (Italian TSO)
according to Italian Regulator Deliberation n. 250/04.

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