Introduction to Switchyard

Equipment
Abhishek Kr. Jha
Sr. Engineer

Switchyard Equipment

LA
CVT
CT
Isolator
Circuit Breaker
Transformer and Reactor

Substation ?
Assemblage of switchyard eqpmt.,
busbars, transformers and reactors ,
auxiliaries etc.
Incomer and outcomer based on the
formula :
{(VS*VR)/X}*sin

INSULATION COORDINATION
Selection of the dielectric strength of
equipment in relation to the
operating voltages and overvoltage's
which can appear on the system for
which the equipment is intended and
taking into account the service
environment and the characteristics
of the available preventing and
protective devices

LIGHTNING ARRESTOR

P o w e r S y s t e m s O v e r v o lt a g e s
T e m p o r a r y O v e r - v o lt a g e s

S w it c h in g O v e r - v o lt a g e s

O v e r - v o lt a g e s d u e t o li g h t n in g .

Temporary Over-Voltages

Typically due to faults

< 1.4 pu
ms to tens of second or even minutes
Not dangerous to insulation

Switching Over-Voltages
Due to system switching
operations
1.5 pu 5 pu depends on system
voltage
mostly damped asymmetric
sinusoids
front time of first peak tens of
s to a few ms.
decides external insulation in
EHV/UHV system

Over-Voltages due to
Lightning
Due to direct or indirect lightning
strokes.
known to contribute to 50% of system
outages in EHV & UHV systems
few hundred kV to several tens of MV.
Few kA to 200 kA
very short duration : times to front : 1 to
few tens of s
times to tail : few tens to hundreds of s.
Decides line insulation (BIL)
Severely influences Transformer insulation.

Advantages of MOSA
Improved reliability due to simplicity of the
design.
Superior protective characteristics.
Minimum energy absorption
commensurate with the protective levels
provided.
Superior performance on low impedance
circuits(e.g cable and capacitor
application)
Gentle operation due to absence of spark
gaps

 The Zinc Oxide Arresters are made by mixing

ZnO with small amounts of additives such as
Bi2O3, CoO, Cr2O3, MnO and Sb2O3
Granuling the mixture, then drying, pressing

into discs and finally sintering

1% THIRD HARMONIC IN SYSTEM
VOLTAGE MAY INTRODUCE ERROR
UPTO 100% IN THE MEASURED
VALUE

ECTION OF RATINGS OF
CONTINOUS VOLTAGE RATING
TEMPORARY OVER VOLTAGE
LIGHTING OVER VOLTAGE
SWITCHING OVER VOLTAGE
ENERGY HANDLING CAPACITY

15

Continuous Voltage rating: - Arrester can operate

without any type of restriction
At present, 303kV has been specified as continuous voltage
rating. This has to take into account, high system voltages,
ageing and manufacturing deviations etc.
In 400kV system (420/1.732= 242kV), considering high
voltage condition and also over voltage/ over flux relay
provided, system voltages are generally limited to 110% i.e. up
to 268 kV. Hence COV rating upto 270kV should be adequate.

Temporary Over Voltages: - Capability of Arrester to

Deal with temporary over voltage of system
At present, 390kV has been specified as rated voltage (10
second rating)
As per IEC-60071(2) and also as per IEEE-C62.---, Over
Voltages upto 1.5 p.u. have been specified for Earth faults and
Load rejection Conditions.
Taking Temporary Over Voltages upto 1.5p.u., maximum
Voltage seen by LA will be
V = (420*1.5/1.732) / Ktov= 338.5kV.
Ktov= 1.075 from voltage and time characteristic
Over and above, Instantaneous Over Voltage Relays shall trip
the line for voltages more than 1.4p.u. and hence such
condition will not be encountered.
Hence, 336kV LAs shall be adequate.

EW RATINGS OF 400 kV S
S.N

Characteristics

Value(for 400 kV
System)

Rated arrester voltage

336 kV

Nominal Discharge current

(8/20 Sec wave)

20 kA

Minimum discharge capability

12 kJ/kV

Continues operating voltage

267

Min Switching surge residual voltage (2

kA)

670 kVp

Max residual voltage at

i)

10kA nominal discharge current

800 kVp

ii)

20 kA nominal discharge current

850 kVp

iii)

Steep fronted wave residual voltage

925 kVp

Pressure relief class

40/50/63 kA(as
applicable)
18

CVT

Capacitor voltage transformer

A voltage transformer comprising a capacitor
divider unit and an electromagnetic unit so
designed and interconnected that the secondary
voltage of the electromagnetic unit is
substantially proportional to the primary
voltage, and differs in phase from it by an angle
which is approximately zero for an appropriate
direction of the connections

HV Terminal
Bellow Level Indicator
Upper Capacitor Unit

Lower Capacitor
Unit

EMU

Sec.
Terminal
Box

 There are approximately 280 310 elements

in
C1 about 15 - 25 elements in C2
MV Voltage Tap = Vs* C1/(C1+C2)
where, Vs Primary Voltage

 In the event of an element failure in C2, Capacitance C2 increases. Hence,

Capacitor Divider Ratio Increases.
MV Tap / Intermediate Voltage Reduces.
Hence Secondary Voltage Reduces.
In the event of an element failure in C1 , Capacitance C1 increases.
Capacitor Divider Ratio Reduces.
MV Tap / Intermediate Voltage Increases.
Hence Secondary Voltage Increases.
Number of C2 Elements are lesser , e.g. 20 ; hence change in C2 due to
one element failure is (1/20) x 100 = 5%.
Number of C1 Elements are more e.g. 90; hence change in C1 due to one
element failure is (1/90) x 100 = ~ 1%.

Electromagnetic Unit
The component of a capacitor voltage transformer,
connected across the intermediate terminal and the earth
terminal of the capacitor divider which supplies the
secondary voltage. An electromagnetic unit comprises
essentially a transformer to reduce the intermediate
voltage to the required value to secondary voltage, and an
inductive reactance, approximately equal, at rated
frequency, to the capacitive reactance of the two parts of
the divider connected in parallel.

 Compensating Reactor is provided to

compensate for the phase displacement in
Capacitor elements
wL = 1/w (c1+c2)
L = 1/ w2 (c1+c2)

 Ferro resonance in CVTs is due to the

Capacitance in Voltage Divider in series with
the inductance of the Transformer and series
reactor. This circuit is brought to resonance by
various disturbances in the network that may
saturate the iron core of the transformer, over
heat electro magnetic unit and lead to
insulation breakdown.

Ferro resonance in CVTs is due to the Capacitance in Voltage

Divider in series with the inductance of the Transformer and
series reactor. This circuit is brought to resonance by various
disturbances in the network that may saturate the iron core of
the transformer, over heat electro magnetic unit and lead to
insulation breakdown.
Ferro resonance suppression circuit is provided in CVT Secondary to suppress
Ferro resonance oscillations.
The ferro-resonance suppression device (FSD) contains a saturable reactor, which
acts like a switch, presenting a very high impedance under normal conditions and
switching on a damping resistor across the secondary at a prescribed voltage, and
switching off the damping load when voltage has normalized. The voltage
sensitive switching strategy effectively suppresses ferroresonance without
imposing a heavy permanently connected stabilizing burden on the unit.

Current Transformer
As per IEC 60044-1

Functions:
- Metering
- Monitoring
- Relaying/Protection

.
.
.

Live Tank CTs

Dead tank CTs

Hairpin design and Eye Bolt design

Tech Parameters
Extended Current Rating:
If CT has an extended current rating, in percentage
of the rated primary current, it shall be treated as
Rated continuous thermal current. (120%)

Rated Short time thermal current:

RMS value of the primary current, which a CT will
withstand for one second, without suffering harms,
the secondary winding being short-circuited.
40kA for 1 sec.

Rated dynamic current:

Peak value of the primary current, which a
CT will withstand, without suffering harms,
the secondary winding being short-circuited.
Unless specified, it is 2.5 times the STC
value.

Temperature Rise:
The rise in temperature, while carrying a
primary current equal to rated continuous
thermal current, with a unity pf burden,
corresponding to rated output.

Burden:

It is the impedance of the secondary circuit in ohms and

pf.

Rated output:

The value of apparent power (in VA at specified pf),

which the CT is intended to supply to the secondary
circuit at rated secondary current & with rated burden
connected to it. Standard values- 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 30 VA

Accuracy Class:

It is the designation to indicate the limits of errors of CT

Technical Parameters
Accuracy Class for Measuring CTs:
Highest permissible percentage current error at
rated current prescribed for concerned accuracy
class.
Standard classes- 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 3, 5
For 25% to 100% of rated burden

Accuracy class for Protective CT:

Highest permissible percentage composite error
at rated accuracy limit primary current prescribed
for concerned accuracy class.

5P20

% Composite Error

Protection Class

ALF

Rated Instrument Limit Primary Current:

For measuring CTs, the minimum primary current at
which the composite error 10%, secondary burden
being equal to rated burden.
Instrument Security Factor (ISF):
ISF = rated IPL / rated primary current
Secondary apparatus safety is greatest when the value of
ISF is small.

Composite Error:
Under steady-state, the rms value of difference
between:
a) Instantaneous value of primary current, ip.
b) Instantaneous value of secondary current x rated
transformation ratio, Kn x is

c = (100/Ip)x
(1/T)x0T(ip-Knis)2 dt
Current error = (Knis - ip)x100/ip
Composite Error =| Current Error + Phase angle error|

Siemens makes SF6 filled CTs.

CGL & Siemens make Live Tank CTs, while others make,
Dead Tank.

SIEMENS

Isolator

PROVIDE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION

VISIBLE ISOLATION
FACILITY FOR EARTHING
SMALL CURRENT INTERRUPTION
CARRY SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT BUT
NOT FOR BREAKING SC CURRENT

PARTS OF DISCONNECTORS

CURRENT CARRYING ARMS

SUPPORT INSULATORS
BASE FRAME
OPERATING MECHANISM

TYPES OF DISCONNECTORS
HORIZONTAL- CENTRE BREAK OR
DOUBLE BREAK
VERTICAL VERTICAL SWITCH, KNEE
TYPE OR PANTOGRAPH TYPE
Tandem type

 DEPENDS ON
-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENT
-SWITCHING SCHEME
-EARTHING REQUIREMENT
-COMPACTNESS (space available)
-ECONOMY

EARTH SWITCH

Post Insulators
A post insulator consists of one post insulator unit or an
assembly of such units and is intended to give rigid support to
a live part which is to be insulated from earth or from another
live part.
FUNCTIONS
Bus Supports
Mechanical Load Sharing
Support Insulators for Isolators
Insulators for CT, CVT, CB, IVT etc.
Support Insulators for Wave Traps

Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breakers (CBs) are the switching and
current interrupting devices.
The CBs are necessary at every switching
point in the substation.
A Circuit breaker differs from a disconnector
switch mainly in three aspects:
- Fault current interruption.
- Arc extinction
- Speed of operation

 Basically a circuit breaker(CB) comprises of

a set of fixed and movable contacts.

Contacts can be operated by means of an
operating mechanism.
Separation of current carrying contacts
produces the arc ,the arc is extinguished by
suitable media such as dielectric oil,air,sf6
gas and vacuum.
Arc is extinguished by lengthening, cooling,
splitting or rotation.
In some breakers arc is drawn in the
direction of splitters by magnetic field.

 Rated Voltage
The rated voltage of the circuit breaker is the
highest system voltage in which the circuit breaker
is to be used. This is phase to phase voltage for
three phase circuit expressed in kVrms.
Rated Current
The rated normal current of a circuit breaker is the
r.m.s. value of the current which the circuit
breaker can carry continuously without exceeding
the limits of temperature rise in various parts. The
limits are specified in IEC 62271-1.

 Rated short Circuit Breaking Current :

The rated short circuit breaking current of a
circuit breaker is the highest rms value of short
circuit current which the circuit breaker is
capable of breaking at a stated recovery
voltage (mostly equal to the rated voltage) and
a stated reference restriking voltage under
prescribed conditions of use and behavior.
Symmetrical breaking current is the rms value
of a.c. component of the short circuit current
at the instant of contact separation. The
asymmetrical breaking current is the rms value
of the total current ; comprising a.c. and d.c.
components of the current, at the instant of
contact separation

Making Capacity
The making capacity is defined to take care of the
capability of circuit breaker to close on dead short
circuit.
The making current of the circuit breaker is the peak
value of the maximum current wave (including the
dc component) in the first cycle of the current after
the circuit is closed by the circuit breaker.
The rated short circuit making current should be at
least 2.5 times the rms valve of a.c. component of
rated breaking current.
Rated making current = 1.8 x 2 x Rated short
circuit breaking current
= 2.5 x Rated short circuit breaking current
Here factor 1.8 takes into account the doubling
effect and voltage drop across the breaker contacts
duriNg short circuit.

 Rated Operating sequence (Duty cycle)

The Rated Operating Sequence (Duty Cycle) of the circuit
breaker denotes the sequence of opening and closing
operations which the circuit breaker can perform under
specified conditions. The operating mechanism
experiences severe stresses during the auto-reclosure
duty; however, the circuit breaker should be able to
perform the operating sequence as follows:
O-t-CO-T-CO
where,
O = opening operation
t = time required for circuit breaker to be ready to receive
closing order from auto-reclosure relay (0.3 s to be used
for rapid reclosure)
CO = close operation followed by open operations
T = time required by the circuit breaker, insulating media
for regeneration and operating mechanism (3 min)
CO = close operation followed by open operations

 A Transient recovery voltage refers to the voltage

across the pole immediately after the arc extinction.
Such voltage has power frequency component plus
an oscillatory transient component. The oscillatory
transient component is due to the inductance and
capacitance. The power power frequency
component is due to the system voltage. The The
oscillatory component subsides after a few microseconds and the power frequency component
continues
The frequency of the transient component is given
by :
f = 1 /(2LC)
f = Frequency of transient recovery voltage , Hz
L = Equivalent inductance. henry
C= Equivalent capacitance, Farad

Fault Occurs : As the fault occurs the fault

impedance being low, the currents increase and
relay gets actuated. The relay contacts close, the
trip circuit of the circuit breaker closes and trip
coil is energized. The operating mechanism starts
operating for opening operation. The circuit
breaker contacts separate.
Arc is drawn between the breaker contacts. The
arc is extinguished in the Circuit Breaker by
suitable techniques. The current reaches final
zeroas the arc is extinguished and does not
restrike again.

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON ARC

QUENCHING MEDIUM

AIR BREAK CIRCUIT BREAKER

OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
MINIMUM OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
SULPHER HEXAFLOURIDE
CIRCUIT BREAKER
VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER

Recovery Voltage and build up of

dielectric strength of the medium

MAJOR PARTS OF A CIRCUIT

BREAKER

INTERRUPTOR
SUPPORT COLUMN
OPERATING MECAHNISM
CONTROL & MONITORING
DEVICES
PUMPS & COMPRESSORS

INTERRUPTOR
Interrupter houses the fixed, moving
and arcing contacts and the linkage
mechanism for operating moving
contacts. There are different types
of interrupters depending upon the
type of nozzle design and arc
extinction method

OPERATING MECHANISM
A. Spring assisted motor
mechanism
B.
Pneumatic operating
mechanism
C. Hydraulic mechanism
D. Combination of above

SPRING OPERATING
MECHANISM
Opening spring and closing spring with limit
switch for automatic charging.

Breaker operation shall be independent of the

motor used for compressing the closing/opening
spring.

Closing action of circuit breaker shall compress

the opening spring ready for tripping.

When closing springs are discharged after closing

a breaker, closing springs shall be automatically
charged for the next operation

POLE DESCRIPANCY
This feature is introduced to detect cases in which one or more
poles of a 3 phase CB remains in open condition where as the other
poles are closed. This may arise due to mal-operation or sluggish
operation of one or more poles. It essentially is a timer connected
to a series parallel connection of Auxiliary switch
ANTI PUMPING
Anti pumping feature blocks the closing of a CB more than once
(multiple closing) with a single pro-longed closing impulse (say,
the operator keeps on giving a closing impulse without releasing
the closing handle).
AUTO RECLOSE
Circuit Breaker shall be capable of performing auto-reclose
operation in case of a transient fault.
LOCK OUTS AND ALARMS
SF6 alarm and L/O
Operating mechanism alarm / lock out
Trip circuit supervision

 Guaranteed SF6 leakage 0.5% per year.

Separate SF6 monitoring for each poles for 145kV and
above.
Operating duty 0-0.3S CO 3 min. CO.
S.C. rating 40/50/63KA (for 400kV & 220KV)

31.5 kA for 145KV

- Line charging interruption Capability 600A
for
420kV, 125A for 245kV(IEC), 50A for
145kV(IEC).
Op. Mechanism Pneumatic/Spring/Hydraulic.
Aux. DC(220V) supply variation 70 -110% for trip of 85
110% for close.
2 Independent trip circuits, each having separate
pressure switches.

CSD
CONTROLLER IS USED TO OPEN (OR
CLOSE)
THE CB AT ITS MOST FAVOURABLE
CONDITION
CONTROLLER MONITORS THE
SYSTEM
PARAMETERS (LIKE VOLTAGE
WAVEFORM)
AND DECIDE OPTIMUM SWITCHING
CONDITION AND HENCE KNOWN AS
POINT
ON THE WAVE SWITCHING

Circuit Breaker GA Drg W/o

PIR

THANK YOU