Dynamic Short-Circuit Analysis of Synchronous Machines

Dynamic operational behavior (DOB) of electrical machines can cause effects that are difficult to describe and understand. The short-circuit behavior (SCB) in particular is a dangerous DOB for machine and human. It could destroy the machine itself and cause heavy damage to the power supply unit and mechanical coupling components. Analytical calculation of the SCB is simplified and thus not highly accurate. Therefore, the finite element method simulation of the SCB is an important tool for understanding these effects without the danger of damaging the machine by experiments. In this paper, a suitable field formulation, modeling details, and simulation methods for dynamic analysis of synchronous machines are presented in detail. In particular, the accuracy of 2-D and 3-D transient electromagnetic simulations is analyzed by comparison against the available measurements performed on a chosen testing salient pole synchronous machine under the conditions of three-phase, two-phase, and single-phase short circuit.