Examples from the D-A-CH-CZ document “Technical Rules

for the Assessment of Network Disturbances”

DIgSILENT PowerFactory *

Summary 2 Bandsaw in a Sawmill

The “Technical Rules for the Assessment of Net- This example is taken from Section 7.4.2 of the D-A-
work Disturbances” document (D-A-CH-CZ [1]) CH-CZ document [1]. The operator of a sawmill in-
contains numerous examples of connection re- tends to connect a new bandsaw with a power rating
quests and their assessment with regard to volt- of 50 kVA, featuring a DC motor powered through a
age changes, flicker, harmonics and commutation 6-pulse, line-commutated converter. The impact of
notches. The PowerFactory “D-A-CH-CZ Exam- commutation notches is assessed. The correspond-
ples” project contains examples from the D-A-CH- ing study case in the PowerFactory example is named
CZ document to facilitate ease of understanding. “Example Bandsaw in a Sawmill”. The short-circuit
power at the point of common coupling is defined as
10 MVA.
1 Introduction To prevent the relative depth of any commutation
notches from exceeding the value of 0.10 approved
for low-voltage networks, the short-circuit voltage of
The “D-A-CH-CZ Examples” project contains exam-
the commutation reactance must be at least 0.038 p.u.
ples from the D-A-CH-CZ document “Technical Rules
According to the recommendation contained in the D-
for Assessment of Network Disturbances” [1] pro-
A-CH-CZ document, the relative short-circuit voltage
cessed in DIgSILENT PowerFactory. Activation of the
should always be at least 0.04. The minimum value
specific individual study case opens a display of the
for the relative short-circuit voltage of the commuta-
corresponding example. Assessment of the connec-
tion reactance is therefore defined as 0.04.
tion request undertaken by executing the “Connection
Request Assessment” command. The most important
results appear in the single line graphic result boxes.
A report summarising the assessment is displayed in 3 Sheet Metal Processing Centre
the output window.

The following sections contain descriptions of the ex- This example is taken from Section 4.6.2 of the D-A-
amples. CH-CZ document [1]. A sheet-metal processing cen-
tre is planned to be connected to a low-voltage net-
work. A cable with a length of 150 m is connected
from the transformer station (MV/LV) to the selected
point of common coupling. This industrial plant is to
contain a large motor that will be switched on once
each day before proceeding to operate continuously

* DIgSILENT GmbH, Heinrich-Hertz-Str. 9, 72810 Gomaringen, Germany, www.digsilent.de

D-A-CH-CZ EXAMPLES

throughout the day, as well as machines for stamping, This exceeds the limit for long-term flicker intensity of
nibbling and positioning operations. Data defining the 0.5. Connection of the sheet-metal processing centre
network components and the installations contained in the originally-planned form is therefore not admissi-
within sheet-metal processing centre are listed in Sec- ble.
tion 4.6.2 of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. The con-
nection must be assessed in terms of the maximum
voltage change (due to the presence of the large mo- 3.2 Relocating the point of common cou-
tor) as well as the level of flicker encountered while the pling to the transformer station
motor is in continuous operation.

The sample calculation provided in the D-A-CH-CZ Moving the point of common coupling to the trans-
document does not consider the impedance of the former station is one potential course of action for re-
20 kV network [1]. This is therefore modelled in the ducing the flicker severity. This option is investigated
PowerFactory example using an ideal voltage source in the “Example Sheet Metal Proc. PCC TrfStation”
for the 20 kV network. In addition, a network model study case. Owing to the higher short-circuit power
variation named “Var. Sheet Metal Processing Cen- at this point, the voltage change induced by stamp-
tre 20 kV Network” is available. In this variation, the ing, nibbling and positioning operations at this loca-
ideal voltage source has been replaced by a network tion is only 0.1709% ≈ 0.17%. This produces a value
equivalent featuring the short-circuit power given in of 0.2914 ≈ 0.29 for both short-term and long-term
the description of the example. This variation can be flicker severity, placing it below the limits. Connection
activated for each of the following study cases to al- of the sheet metal processing centre can therefore be
low the assessment to be performed considering the approved provided that the point of common coupling
impedance of the 10 kV network. is relocated to the transformer station.

3.1 Assessment at Point of Common 3.3 Assessment at the supply terminal

Coupling
A calculation for the supply terminal is performed to al-
The assessment at the point of common coupling de- low assessment of the load within the industrial plant.
scribed above is conducted in the “Example Sheet This exercise is contained in the “Example Sheet
Metal Proc. Centre PCC” study case. At 0.649% ≈ Metal Proc. Centre SupplyTerminal” study case. The
0.65% the voltage change caused by activation of the supply terminal is located at a substantial distance
large motor lies substantially below the limit, which is from the point of common coupling, to which it is con-
6% in low-voltage networks with repetition rates of less nected by a 50 m cable in the original plan. When the
than 0.01 per minute (several times daily). Due to the point of common coupling is relocated to the trans-
low repetition rate the voltage change is not relevant former station, the resulting length of the cable be-
to flicker. Connection of the motor is admissible. tween the point of common coupling to the supply ter-
minal is 200 m. This case is now subjected to investi-
The voltage change arising from stamping, nibbling gation.
and positioning operations is 0.4411 % ≈ 0.44 %. At a
repetition rate of 240 per minute the voltage change on The short-circuit power at the supply terminal is
the flicker reference curve (𝑃ref = 1.0) is slightly less 2.594 MVA, while the voltage change produced by
than 0.59% (0.5865% according to Figure 4-10 in the stamping, nibbling and positioning operations is
D-A-CH-CZ document [1], cf. flicker reference curve 0.5312% ≈ 0.53%. This in turn results in a short-term
in the study case “flicker reference curve” of the Pow- and long-term flicker severity slightly exceeding 0.9.
erFactory project). This indicates a short-term and
𝑃
long-term flicker severity for the sheet-metal process- 𝑃st = 𝑑 · ref
ing centre point of common coupling equalling 0.75 in 𝑑ref
continuous operation. 1.0
= 0,5312% ·
0.5865%
𝑃
𝑃st = 𝑑 · ref = 0.9057
𝑑ref
≈ 0.9
1.0
= 0.4411% ·
0.5865%
= 0.7521 Based on this value for long-term flicker severity, which
≈ 0.75 lies above the emission limit for devices as well as the

Rev.1 2
D-A-CH-CZ EXAMPLES

compatibility level defined in EN 61000-2-2 [1, 2], it gard to harmonics. A more extensive assessment of
may be assumed that sensitive devices within the sys- harmonics is not required. The emission limits for har-
tem will be subject to disturbance. monic currents and 𝑇 𝐻𝐷𝑖A are provided as supple-
mentary information.

At the focus is on a drive unit with a line-commutated

4 Bank Office Building converter, commutation notches must also be consid-
ered [1]. Assessment with a short-circuit power of
10 MVA at the point of common coupling is not, how-
This example is taken from Section 6.7.2 of the D-
ever, indicated in the corresponding section of the D-
A-CH-CZ document [1]. The corresponding study
A-CH-CZ document. To prevent the relative depth
case in the PowerFactory example is named “Exam-
of commutation notches from exceeding the value of
ple Bank Office Building”. A new office is planned to
0.10 allowed in low-voltage networks, the short-circuit
be built with a connected load of 100 kVA, in which
voltage of the commutation reactance must be at least
various devices and systems that generate harmonics
0.0046 p.u. According to the general recommendation
will be in use. As indicated in Section 6.7.2 of the D-A-
contained in the D-A-CH-CZ document, the relative
CH-CZ document, the short-circuit power at the point
short-circuit voltage should always be at least 0.04.
of common coupling is defined as 10 MVA [1].
In response to this consideration the minimum value
The ratio of short-circuit power to connected load for the relative short-circuit voltage of the commuta-
(power ratio) is 100 (and thereby lower than 150). For tion reactance is defined as 0.04.
this reason further assessment of the harmonic prop-
erties of this connection will be required. The har-
monic load is 53 kVA, and the harmonic load content 5.2 Point of Common Coupling with
is 0.53. The harmonic load content lies below the limit, 3 MVA
which in this particular case is 0.82. The connection
can be approved. Reflecting Section 6.7.1 and Section 7.4.1 [1], this
supply variation is based on a short-circuit power of
3 MVA at the point of common coupling. The corre-
5 Automatic Lathe in a Machine sponding study case in the PowerFactory example is
named “Example Automatic Lathe (PCC 3 MVA)”. Har-
Shop monics and commutation notches are assessed.

The power ratio is 75 and lower than 150 which neces-

This example is taken from Sections 6.7.1 and 7.4.1 of sitates a more extensive analysis of harmonics. The
the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. An automatic lathe is to individual sources of harmonics are subjected to as-
be installed in a machine shop which has a connected sessment based of their group assignments. Two au-
load of 40 kVA. The automatic lathe uses a variable- tomatic lathes are included in the assessment, mean-
speed drive unit with a line-commutated 6-pulse con- ing that a maximum of only two automatic lathes are in
verter with a power of 6 kVA. Harmonic sources are simultaneous operation, as indicated in Section 6.7.1
already present in the machine shop, as detailed in of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. The results are a har-
Section 6.7.1 of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. monic load of 21 kVA and a harmonic load content of
0.525 ≈ 0.53. The harmonic load content is less than
the limit, which lies at 0.71 in this case. The connec-
5.1 Point of Common Coupling with tion can be approved with regard to harmonics.
10 MVA
To prevent the relative depth of the commutation
notches from exceeding the value of 0.10 approved
Based on Section 6.7.1 in the D-A-CH-CZ document for low-voltage networks, the short-circuit voltage of
the short-circuit power at the point of common cou- the commutation reactance must be at least 0.015 p.u.
pling is defined as 10 MVA [1]. The corresponding According to the general recommendation contained
study case in the PowerFactory example is named in the D-A-CH-CZ document, the relative short-circuit
“Example Automatic Lathe (PCC 10 MVA)”. voltage should always be at least 0.04. In response to
this consideration the minimum value for the relative
The ratio of short-circuit power to connected load
short-circuit voltage of the commutation reactance is
(power ratio) is 250 and obviously in excess of 150.
defined as 0.04.
The connection can therefore be approved with re-

Rev.1 3
D-A-CH-CZ EXAMPLES

6 Short-circuit power The PowerFactory example estimates the transformer

copper losses to be 5 kW.

The “Example Short-Circuit Power” study case pro- This produces the following results at the point of com-
vides two examples taken from Chapter 3 of the D-A- mon coupling V1:
CH-CZ document [1]. The short-circuit power values
• Short-circuit power:
at the various points of common coupling and at the
𝑆kV = 8.4173 MVA ≈ 8.42 MVA
supply terminal are calculated in these examples.
• Impedance angle: 𝜓kV = 68.2∘

6.1 Example 1 for calculation of short- The low-voltage cables have a strong influence on the
short-circuit power at the point of common coupling
circuit power
V2 and at the supply terminal. Reflecting the fact that
Section 3.3 of the D-A-CH-CZ document neglects the
In the example from Section 3.3 of the D-A-CH-CZ effect of temperature, whereby the resistances per unit
document, the PowerFactory results at the supply ter- length are valid at 20°C [1], the resistances in the Pow-
minal and the point of common coupling V2 agree with erFactory example are defined accordingly (assuming
the data presented in the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. a maximum operating temperature of 20°C).

At the supply terminal: If the effects of temperature were to be considered

with corresponding adaptations of the data for the ca-
• Short-circuit power:
ble types, then the result would be a lower short-circuit
𝑆kV = 0.9880 MVA ≈ 0.99 MVA
power for the points of common coupling in the low-
• Impedance angle: 𝜓kV = 18.5∘ voltage network (worst-case scenario). In calculat-
ing the short-circuit power with low-voltage cables and
At the point of common coupling V2: overhead lines, PowerFactory automatically uses the
resistance per unit length reflecting the data defined
• Short-circuit power:
using the cable and line types at 70°C. This data cor-
𝑆kV = 1.6017 MVA ≈ 1.60 MVA
responds to Annex E (Diagram for determination of
• Impedance angle: 𝜓kV = 26.4∘ short-circuit impedance and short-circuit power in the
low-voltage network) found in the D-A-CH-CZ docu-
The results for the point of common coupling V1 dis- ment [1].
play slight variations. The source of this difference is
the rounding-off applied to the impedance values in
the D-A-CH-CZ document solution. The impedance of
6.2 Example 2 for calculation of short-
the higher-level network is:
circuit power
2
𝑈nNetz (20 kV)2
𝑍Netz = = = 8Ω
𝑆kNetz 50 MVA The second example of a calculation to determine
𝑅Netz = 𝑍Netz · cos(𝜓kNetz ) short-circuit power is taken from Section 3.5 of the
D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. The PowerFactory results
= 8 Ω · cos(50∘ ) = 5.142 Ω
agree with the solution provided in the D-A-CH-CZ
𝑋Netz = 𝑍Netz · sin(𝜓kNetz ) document.
= 8 Ω · sin(50∘ ) = 6.128 Ω
At the point of common coupling V:

When converted to the low-voltage level (400 V) this • Short-circuit power:

corresponds to a resistance of 2.057 mΩ and a reac- 𝑆kV = 2.1308 MVA ≈ 2.13 MVA
tance of 2.451 mΩ.
• Impedance angle: 𝜓kV = 29.5∘
The impedance of the transformer is: On the busbar SS:
2
𝑈rT 𝑢 [%]
𝑍T = · k • Short-circuit power:
𝑆rT 100% 𝑆kV = 8.9848 MVA ≈ 8.98 MVA
(0,4 kV)2 4% • Impedance angle: 𝜓kV = 72.5∘
= ·
400 kVA 100%
= 16.0 mΩ

Rev.1 4
D-A-CH-CZ EXAMPLES

In this example the D-A-CH-CZ document does not per minute for a period of 2 hours, with a duration of
specify the temperature dependency of the resis- 240 ms for each welding pulse. The repetition rate is
tances per unit length for the low-voltage cables [1]. therefore 120 per minute and the shape factor is 1.3
Therefore, this PowerFactory example defines the re- (according to Figure 4-11 [1]).
sistance per unit length for the low-voltage cable type
assuming a maximum operating temperature of 20°C. The resulting maximum voltage change between two
of the three phases is 0.4988% ≈ 0.50%. In the calcu-
lation of flicker severity the voltage change (0.4988%)
calculated by PowerFactory is weighted by the shape
7 Motor Start-up factor (1.3) (the conversion to flicker-equivalent, regu-
lar rectangular voltage changes is automatically per-
formed by PowerFactory : 1.3 · 0.4988% = 0.6484% ≈
This example is taken from Section 4.6.1 of the D-A-
0.65%). At a repetition rate of 120 per minute the volt-
CH-CZ document [1]. The corresponding study case
age variation on the flicker reference curve is 0.7017%
in the PowerFactory example is named “Example Mo-
≈ 0.7% (Figure 4-10 in the D-A-CH-CZ document [1],
tor Start-Up”. The connection of a motor is sub-
cf. flicker reference curve in the “flicker reference
jected to investigation focusing on voltage changes
curve” study case in the PowerFactory project). The
and flicker caused by the motor start-up process. The
resulting short-term and long-term flicker severity is
motor starts a maximum of 5 times within a period of
0.924.
10 minutes. The data for the motor and the point of
common coupling are provided in Section 4.6.1 of the 𝑃
𝑃st = 𝑑 · ref
D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. 𝑑ref
1.0
The motor start-up is accompanied by an apparent = 0.6484% · = 0.924
0.7017%
power change of 32.147 kVA ≈ 32.15 kVA. This re-
sults in a voltage change of 1.30%. Based on Figure This means that the limits for short-term and long-term
4-10 of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1], at a repetition flicker severity are exceeded. The connection is not
rate of 5 per 10 minute period, the voltage change on admissible in this configuration.
the flicker reference curve is 3.427% (𝑃ref = 1.0 at
Potential remedial measures are listed in Section 4.6.4
𝑟 = 0.5 min−1 , cf. flicker reference curve in the study
of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. For instance, the rep-
case “flicker reference curve” from the PowerFactory
etition rate of the welding pulses can reduced to 9 per
project). This indicates that the motor causes a short-
minute or a welding machine with a three-phase con-
term flicker severity of 0.379.
nection (3PH load technology) can be used. These
𝑃 remedial measures can be reproduced by altering the
𝑃st = 𝑑 · ref
𝑑ref existing example in PowerFactory accordingly.
1.0
= 1.30% · = 0.379
3.427%
This is less than the limit value of 0.8. The connection 9 Aerial Cableway
is admissible.
This example is taken from Sections 6.7.4 and 7.4.4
of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. The corresponding
8 Spot-Welding Machine study case in the PowerFactory example is named
“Example Aerial Cableway”. The intention is to con-
nect the drive unit for an aerial cableway to an MV
This example is taken from Section 4.6.4 of the D- network, where the point of common coupling has a
A-CH-CZ document [1]. The corresponding study short-circuit power of 60 MVA. The DC motor receives
case in the PowerFactory example is named “Ex- power from a line-commutated 6-pulse converter with
ample Spot-Welding Machine”. A single-phase spot- a power of 500 kVA. The converter is assigned to
welding machine is planned to be connected between Group 2 for the assessment of harmonics.
two phases of the three-phase network. This re-
quires a 1PH PH PH load technology connected via The ratio of short-circuit power to plant power is 120,
a Yd5 transformer. The data for the point of com- thereby lower than 300, meaning that further assess-
mon coupling and the network user’s installation are ment of harmonics is required. At 1.0 the harmonic
provided in Section 4.6.4 of the D-A-CH-CZ document load content lies above the limit, which is 0.635 in this
[1]. The spot-welding machine operates at 120 pulses case. For this reason the connection cannot be ap-

Rev.1 5
D-A-CH-CZ EXAMPLES

proved without remedial measures to reduce harmon- the relative depth of any commutation notches from
ics. For informational purposes the specified harmonic exceeding the value of 0.10 allowed in low-voltage net-
currents and the prescribed 𝑇 𝐻𝐷𝑖A are displayed in works, the short-circuit voltage of the commutation re-
the output window. actance must be at least 0.255 p.u.

The ratio of converter power to short-circuit power at

the point of common coupling is 0.008333. To prevent 10.2 Point of Common Coupling with
the relative depth of any commutation notches from
10 MVA
exceeding the value of 0.05 approved for medium-
voltage networks, the short-circuit voltage of the com-
mutation reactance must be at least 0.136. The corresponding study case in the PowerFactory
example is named “Example Skilift (VP 10 MVA)”. With
reference to Section 7.4.3, in this variation the short-
circuit power at the point of common coupling is de-
10 Ski Lift fined as 10 MVA. The sole object of this assessment is
commutation notches. To prevent the relative depth of
any commutation notches from exceeding the value of
This example is taken from Sections 6.7.3 and 7.4.3
0.10 allowed in low-voltage networks, the short-circuit
of the D-A-CH-CZ document [1]. The operator of a
voltage of the commutation reactance must be at least
ski lift plans to replace the existing asynchronous mo-
0.077 p.u. ≈ 0.08 p.u.
tor with a converter-based drive system with a power
of 100 kVA. Due to its harmonics the converter is as-
signed to Group 2 for harmonic assessment.
References
10.1 Point of Common Coupling with
[1] Technical Rules for the Assessment of Network
3 MVA Disturbances,
2nd Edition, 2007,
The corresponding study case in the PowerFactory Publisher: VEÖ - Verband der Elektrizitäts-
example is named “Example Skilift (VP 3 MVA)”. With unternehmen Österreichs, Vienna (A), VSE - Ver-
reference to Sections 6.7.3 and. 7.4.3 the short-circuit band Schweizerischer Elektrizitätsunternehmen,
power at the point of common coupling is defined as Aarau (CH), CSRES - Ceske sdruzeni regulo-
3 MVA. Harmonics and commutation notches are as- vanych elektroenergetickych spolecnosti, Prague
sessed. (CZ), VDN - Verband der Netzbetreiber, Berlin
(D),
Because the ratio of short-circuit power to plant power Available from: VEÖ - Service GmbH, Vi-
is less than 150, more extensive evaluation of harmon- enna (A), VSE - Verband Schweizerischer
ics is necessary. At 1.0 the harmonic load content Elektrizitätsunternehmen, Aarau (CH), CSRES -
lies above the limit, which is 0.449 in this case. For Ceske sdruzeni regulovanych elektroenergetick-
this reason the connection cannot be approved with- ych spolecnosti, Prague (CZ), VWEW Energie-
out remedial measures to reduce harmonics. For in- verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main (D)
formational purposes the specified harmonic currents
and the prescribed 𝑇 𝐻𝐷𝑖A are displayed in the output [2] EN 61000-2-2: Electromagnetic compatibility
window. (EMC), Part 2-2: Environment - Compatibility
levels for low-frequency conducted disturbances
The ratio of converter power to short-circuit power at and signalling in public low-voltage power supply
the point of common coupling is 0.033333. To prevent systems