The Calculation of Short Circuit Currents in

Overhead Ground Wires Using the EMTP/ATP

Marco Polo Pereira

Paulo Cesar Vaz Esmeraldo

Furnas Centrais Eltricas S.A.

Transmission Planning Department
Rua Real Grandeza, 219, Sala 1607
CEP 22283-900 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
mpolo@furnas.gov.br
esmerald@furnas.gov.br

Abstract The overhead ground wires, besides improving

the transmission line performance against lightning, also
can be used for the transmission of signals or, more
recently, for the transmission of data, with the installation
of optical fiber ground wires (OPGW). The short-circuit
current that circulates during the occurrence of a phase-toground fault near the substation is one of the most
important parameters for the specification of the OPGW.
For each installation it is necessary to determine the type,
diameter and length of each one of the ground wires
necessary to withstand the corresponding short-circuit
currents.
Keywords: Short circuit currents, OPGW, ground wires,
EMTP/ ATP, Alternative Transients Program.

structure where the short circuit occurred, the towerfooting resistance is a component to be included in the
modeling of the circuit. The part of the current that returns
through the ground wires depends on its impedances, and,
therefore, on the place where the fault occurred and on the
characteristics of each one of the ground wires.
There are cases where ground wires of higher capacity
have to be used for a certain length near the substations
because the fault currents are higher near the substations.
Usually this length is such that the amount of impedance in
the cables is enough to reduce the fault current to a level
that is below their current carrying capacity.
The behavior of the fault current along the transmission
line is indicated in the Figure 1.

I. INTRODUCTION
Current

The purpose of this article is to present the practical

methodology and the EMTP/ATP modeling techniques
used in a prospective study regarding the installation of
OPGW in 345 and 500 kV transmission lines in Brazil.
The usual procedure is to substitute one of the existing
grounding wires by an OPGW. The theoretical background
was not investigated because the EMTP/ATP has all the
models needed for the full determination of all the currents
that are involved in the OPGW specification. The basic
approach is to show which are the specific aspects and
which are the details that have to be take in account when
performing such type of simulation.

II. GENERAL REMARKS

The currents caused by phase-to-ground faults in the
transmission return through the ground and the ground
wires. The fault can occur in any place along the
transmission line and the short-circuit current is higher
near the substations. As the path for the current to reach
the ground passes through the grounding system of the

Length

Figure 1 Variation of the fault current along the

transmission line
When new cables (like the OPGW) are installed in
substitution to one of the existing ground wires, the
division of the current between the two different types of
cables is a function of the impedances of the new set of
cables. It is possible that different lengths and types of
ground wires have to be used near the substations, mainly
for the places in the electric system where high shortcircuit currents can circulate in the grounding cables.

Ipr21

Ipr22

Ipr11

Ipr12

If1

If2

It

Figure 2 Circulation of fault currents in the cables and in the ground

The circulation of the fault currents in the conductor

cables, ground wires and in the grounding system of the
structures can be seen in the Figure 2.

The EMTP/ATP allows the representation of all the

components indicated above for any configuration with
almost any quantity of elements.

III THE CALCULATION OF FAULT CURRENTS

Together with the EMTP/ATP (being part of the same

computational package) there are the LINE CONSTANTS
routine (for the calculation of transmission line
parameters), the LCC (which allows the creation of the
input data file for LINE CONSTANTS) and the
ATPDRAW (an auxiliary program, mainly for the creation
of the input data files for the EMTP/ATP). This set of
programs is fully adequate for the modeling of all the
involved components and its use is recommended.

The process for finding the appropriate type of cable and

its length is interactive, beginning with the calculation of
the parameters of the transmission line for each specific
configuration of ground wires and conductor cables. After
the parameters are calculated the simulation of faults along
the transmission line must de done in order to compare the
calculated values with the current carrying capacity of the
ground wires.

The determination of the short-circuit currents in the

ground wires is very laborious because it involves a great
amount of data manipulation and a lot of steps until an
acceptable solution is found. This is mainly caused
because the EMTP/ATP is a program that was developed
basically for the calculation of transients and in this case it
is being used just for finding results in the industrial
frequency range.

The configuration of the circuit is shown in Figure 3. The

modeling of the transmission line consists basically of
three sections. Just a single section can model the central
part of the transmission line, but near the two substations it
is necessary to detail each span. This is done because this
is the region where the higher stresses can occur in the
ground wires. Due to these higher stresses it is possible
that different type of cables have to be used in this region.

The PI-sections used in the modeling of the transmission

line, as shown in the Figure 3, have to be calculated for
each one of the configurations regarding each possible set
of cables (types and lengths) that could be considered as
for the solution of the problem.

The main purpose of the simulations is the determination

of the short circuit currents, being, therefore, a problem in
the industrial frequency range. The models of the
components have to be established for that purpose. The
transmission line has to be detailed as shown in the Figure
3 and have to be modeled by a component that allows the
representation of all cables. The short circuit equivalent
impedances at the two substations in the ends of the
transmission line must be represented.

The scheme indicated in Figure 3 is mounted as a circuit in

the EMTP/ATP and simulations of faults (like the one
indicated on tower 3) along the transmission line are
carried out. The fault is represented by a connection of low
impedance between the phase and the tower in the point of
interest. The short circuit currents in each one of the
ground wires are verified and compared with the current
carrying capacities of the cables.

It is recommended that all simulations be done with a

program that allows the complete representation of all the
involved elements, basically the ground wires, the phase
conductor cables, the short circuit equivalent imp edances,
the transfer impedance between the two substations and
the sources behind the short-circuit equivalents.

When the current carrying capacity of the cable is

exceeded a new configuration must be simulated,
2

N1 line sections

SE1

One line section

N2 line sections

~
T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

T5

T4

T3

T2

SE2

T1

Figure 3 Diagram showing the modeling of the transmission line

considering a new type of OPGW or conventional ground

wire. In some situations it is necessary to modify the type
and/or the extension of the existing ground wires to better
allow the division of the current between the conventional
ground wire and the OPGW.

be used the option for the creation of the transmission line

model (.pch file), as well as the reference branch option
in order to facilitate the data assembly of the
corresponding input data file for the EMTP/ATP
simulations.

It is necessary to verify the current distribution between

the cables in each point of transition for a new
configuration of cables (when different types of cables
have to be used). In these points, usually an OPGW of
lesser capacity, in parallel with a conventional ground wire
of high impedance, takes most of the current, being an
important point for the verifying the correct sizing of the
OPGW cable.

For the present type of modeling that was used for the
simulations it was found that it was necessary to use the
ATP for WindowsNT version because of the great amount
of components. The current EMTP/ATP version (ATP
Salford) doesnt have enough capacity for the modeling in
question.
The sources were represented by type 14 (AC sources at
the fundamental frequency, 60 Hz for the case) in series
with the short-circuit equivalent impedances seen at the
two ends of the transmission line.

Therefore, the process is interactive and the solution

depends on a great amount of simulations and verifications
so that optimized configurations can be obtained for the
types and lengths of ground wires.

Resis tances of very small values represent the fault. In

order to facilitate the reading of the currents in the cables,
resistances of very small values were added at the cable
connections at each tower. Using this procedure it is
possible to use the option of the EMTP/ATP that allows
the determination of the maximum values occurred in the
simulation. By using this option it is possible to read the
data directly from the transient part of the solution and not
from the steady state solution. The sources can be
conveniently adjusted for obtaining RMS values.

The OPGW data have to be obtained directly from the

manufacturers. Usually this type of cable is still in the
developing phase and they have been submitted also to
other type of tests, like the tests for lightning discharges
currents of low intensity which flow just after the main
stroke ceases.

IV. MODELING IN THE EMTP/ATP

A schematic input data file for the EMTP/ATP is shown in

the Attachment I. The full file has more than 1400 lines of
instructions and it would be impossible to include it in its
complete form.

The transmission line, which is the main element in the

simulation, is represented by a sequence of PI-models of
the EMTP/ATP. The length of each section is a function of
the length of the average span of the transmission line
under study, usually in the range 400 to 450 meters.

V. ADDITIONAL REMARKS
The central part of the transmission line, which normally
does not need to be detailed, can be represented by just one
PI-section, independently of the length.

The correct specification of the ground wires depends on

the correct determination of the fault currents that circulate
in the cables during the fault to ground. These faults are
highly affected by the physical and electric parameters of
the components involved in the simulation. Many aspects
are of concern for this type of simulation.

The calculation of the parameters of each PI-section is

obtained by using the "Line Constants" program, being the
input data file prepared with the LCC program. It should
3

1600
1400

Current (A)

1200
1000
8 0 0
6 0 0
4 0 0
2 0 0
0
0

Distance (km)

Figure 4 - Currents in the tower-footing resistances

The distribution of the currents in the cables is directly

dependent of the of the short circuit equivalents and of the
voltage of the source. The corresponding impedances of
the short circuit equivalents must be calculated considering
the long-run expansion of the network. The voltage of the
source must be the maximum steady-state operating
voltage of the system.

The currents in the ground wires are shown in the Figure 5,

in function of the representation of the tower-footing
resistances in the adjacent towers, for the side towards the
central part of the transmission line and for the same case
shown in the previous Figure 4.
16000
14000

Current (A)

The tower-footing resistances affect the flow of the current

in the cables. The actual distribution of tower-footing
resistances for the worse conditions should be used, but
they arent always available.

12000

Igw1

10000
8000
6000

Igw2

4000
2000
0

The option would be, then, to use average values, being

important to use some conservative comb ination of values.

10

12

14
16
Number of Towers

18

20

Figure 5 Currents in the ground wires

In the point where the fault is applied it can be used a high

value, as well as in the adjacent towers for the side of the
transmission line where the fault current decreases. In the
other direction, lower average values should be used. With
this combination of values for the tower-footing
resistances the greatest part of the currents in the cables is
forced to return for the nearest substation, maximizing the
current that circulates in the ground wires.

It is clearly observed that special care must be given to

include a certain number (10 as in this case) of adjacent
towers towards the other end of the transmission line. The
difference between the two extreme cases is more than 40
% in the value of the current in the ground wire.

The Figure 4 shows the currents in the tower-footing

resistances, in function of the representation of the
resistances in the adjacent towers towards the middle of
the transmission line. In this in case there is a higher
resistance (100 ohms) in the point where the fault occurs
and lower values (20 ohms) in the other towers. The fault
is always simulated in a tower that is located 3.7 km from
the nearest substation. For the case there is an initial span
equal to 100 m and all the others have 400 m. Each curve
exists until a certain length because from that point no
grounding resistances were included in the simulation.

Current (A)

20000
15000
10000

Iopgw

5000

Igw

0
0

10

15

20

Number of towers

It can be seen a significant variation in the currents

measured in the tower-footing resistances, demonstrating
clearly that it is necessary to include the resistances of the
adjacent towers in order to correctly determine the
circulating currents in the ground wires.

Figure 6 - Current variation in the transition point

In the Figure 6 it is shown the variation in the current at
the point of transition from a type of ground wire to
another of smaller diameter.
4

VI. CONCLUSIONS

quantity of towers after the point of application of the fault

towards the central part of the transmission line.

A) The correct specification of a ground wire depends

basically on the short circuit currents that circulate in the
cables during the occurrence of phase-to-ground faults
along the transmission line. The circulating current is
greater for faults in the neighborhoods of the substations.

F) The process, although technically simple, is very

laborious and time consuming, being necessary to establish
a systematic way for obtaining the values of the currents in
the ground wires.
G) The points of transition for the configurations with
different type of cables must be verified very carefully, in
view of the redistribution of the currents that occurs in
these points.

B) Considering the complexity of the calculations, it is

recommended that the simulations are carried out with a
program such the EMTP/ATP, which allows the complete
representation of all the involved elements.

H) The technical data about the characteristics of the

OPGW cables, as well as on its short-time current carrying
capacities, are of fundamental importance for the
specification of the ground wires.

C) The installation of OPGW increases the complexity of

the simulations because it introduces a cable with different
characteris tics when compared to the traditional ones. In
some situations it is necessary to modify the diameter
and/or the extension of the existing cables to better divide
the current between the conventional cable and the OPGW.

VII. REFERENCES

D) The models available in the ATP/EMTP are fully

satisfactory for the determination of the short circuit
currents, but the process is interactive and very laborious.
Special care must be taken to establish a systematic
process for assembling the cases.

[1] H. W. Dommel, EMTP Theory Book, BPA, Portland,

August 1986.
[2] Can/Am Users Group, ATP Rule Book.
[3] H. K. Hoidalen, L. Prikler and J.L. Hall, ATPDrawGraphical preprocessor to ATP, Windows version ,
International Conference on Power Systems Transients,
June 20-24, 1999, Budapest.

E) The modeling of the configuration in analysis must be

carried out tower by tower in the neighborhoods of the
substations, being necessary to represent a reasonable

Attachment I Partial Input data file for EMTP/ATP

BEGIN NEW DATA CASE
C Generated By ATPDRAW December, Wednesday 15, 1999
C Miscellaneous Data Card ....
C dT >< Tmax >< Xopt >< Copt >
.0001
.100
60.
60.
500
1
0
0
1
0
/BRANCH
C EQUIVALENT IMPEDANCE FOR SUBSTATION 1
51
F1A SE1A
23.3
52
F1B SE1B
21.8
53
F1C SE1C
C EQUIVALENT IMPEDANCE FOR SUBSTATION 2
51
F2A SE2A
10.0
52
F2B SE2B
11.5
53
F2C SE2C
C TRANSFER IMPEDANCE BETWEEN THE TWO SUBSTATIONS
51 SE1A SE2A
1226.
52 SE1B SE2B
81.2
53 SE1C SE2C
C GROUNDING RESISTANCE AT THE SUBSTATIONS
TSE1
0.5
TSE2
0.5
C PHASE-TO-GROUND FAULT SIMULATION
XT1 XA1A
.10E-3
C CURRENT MEASUREMENT IN THE GROUND WIRES
C TOWER X1
XAP1
XT1
.10E-3
XAG1
XT1
.10E-3
XT1 XBP1
.10E-3
XT1 XBG1
.10E-3

-------------------------------------------------THE SAME MEASURING STRUTURE IS USED FOR ALL TOWERS

-------------------------------------------------------C TOWER-FOOTING RESISTANCES
XT1
20.0
--------------------------------------------ALL TOWER-FOOTING RESISTANCES ARE REPRESENTED
--------------------------------------------------C BEGINING OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE MODEL
C FIRST SECTION NEAR THE SUBSTATION 1 (100 METERS) [NOT SHOWN IN THIS FILE]
C SECOND SECTION NEAR THE SUBSTATION 1 (400 METERS)
$VINTAGE, 1
1 XA1A XA2A
3.69878135E-02 3.23176537E-01 4.11954918E-03
2 XA1B XA2B
2.34647634E-02 1.80294747E-01 -7.09441581E-04
3.69822693E-02 3.23175893E-01 4.24858830E-03
3 XA1C XA2C
2.34633533E-02 1.59440133E-01 -2.11589948E-04
2.34647634E-02 1.80294747E-01 -7.07510143E-04
3.69878135E-02 3.23176537E-01 4.12299397E-03
4 XBP1 XAP2
2.33933784E-02 1.74517823E-01 -4.44034401E-04
2.33893542E-02 1.71413931E-01 -3.48437878E-04
2.33898561E-02 1.57971059E-01 -1.77417160E-04
1.69932906E+00 4.14713249E-01 2.57179085E-03
5 XBG1 XAG2
2.33898561E-02 1.57971059E-01 -1.89551261E-04
2.33893542E-02 1.71413931E-01 -3.69146264E-04
2.33933784E-02 1.74517823E-01 -4.68834455E-04
2.33160474E-02 1.68739983E-01 -2.86810787E-04
2.39343047E-01 3.98516962E-01 2.70759196E-03
$VINTAGE, 0
C
1500.
60.
1
1
.4 00000
44
C SECOND SECTION NEAR THE SUBSTATION 1 (400 M) [USING REFERENCE BRANCH OPTION]
1 XA2A XA3A XA1A XA2A
2 XA2B XA3B
3 XA2C XA3C
4 XBP2 XAP3
5 XBG2 XAG3
--------------------------------------------------------------------N1 PI-SECTIONS (400 M EACH) FOR REPRESENTING THE TL NEAR SUBSTATION 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------C CENTRAL SECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE (45.8 KM) [NOT SHOWN IN THIS FILE]
---------------------------------------------------------------------BEGININIG OF THE PI-SECTIONS FOR REPRESENTING THE TL NEAR SUBSTATION 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------/SWITCH
C < n 1>< n 2>< Tclose ><Top/Tde ><
Ie
><Vf/CLOP >< type >
/SOURCE
C < n 1><><YAmpl. >< Freq. ><Phase/T0>< XA1
><
T1
>< TSTART >< TSTOP >
C SOURCE BEHIND THE EQUIVALENT IMPEDANCE AT SUBSTATION 1
14
F1A 0
199200.
60.
-1.
1.
14
F1B 0
199200.
60.
-120.
-1.
1.
14
F1C 0
199200.
60.
120.
-1.
1.
C SOURCE BEHIND THE EQUIVALENT IMPEDANCE AT SUBSTATION 2
14
F2A 0
199200.
60.
-1.
1.
14
F2B 0
199200.
60.
-120.
-1.
1.
14
F2C 0
199200.
60.
120.
-1.
1.
BLANK BRANCH
BLANK SWITCH
BLANK SOURCE
BLANK OUTPUT
BLANK PLOT
BEGIN NEW DATA CASE
BLANK