Wi nd Sessi on

Effective Grounding of Wind Farm Collector Circuits

By
B G th P E Ben Guth, P.E.
Doug Jones, P.E.
What is transient overvoltage (TOV)?
What is the cause of TOV? O
How is TOV mitigated?
Do all types of WTGs have problems with TOV?
A d d ll i i i h i k f ll ? And do all mitigation techniques work for all types?
How is TOV mitigating equipment specified?
Must design an economical grounding system that: g g g y
controls TOV to acceptable levels
limits fault current while enabling secure ground fault
protection p
Transient Overvoltages (TOV) can lead to surge
arrester and other equipment failure
G di t f hi h d di Grounding transformers or high speed grounding
switches usually provide adequate mitigation
Different wind turbine types can mean different yp
grounding methods
Transformer Transformer
69/92/115
MVA
230 kV
34.5 kV
34.5 kV Main Bus
52F1 52F2 52F3 52F4 52CAP
Collector
1
Collector
2
Collector
3
Collector
4
DVAR
Typically 34.5kV
Approximately 30MVA per circuit
Underground cabling for circuits tend to be highly Underground cabling for circuits tend to be highly
capacitive
MOV type surge arrestors installed at each end of the yp g
cable system
Pad mount or nacelle mounted generator step up
t f (GSU) transformers (GSU)
(35kV) solidly GndY primary (1kV-480V) solidly GndY
secondary
(35kV) Delta primary (1kV-480V) solidly GndY secondary (35kV) Delta primary (1kV 480V) solidly GndY secondary
Type 1 squirrel-cage induction generators yp q g g
Type 2 wound rotor induction generator with
t ll d t i t controlled rotor resistance
Type 3 doubly fed generator commonly called a Type 3 doubly fed generator commonly called a
doubly-fed induction generator
Type 4 generator interfaced to the grid totally
through a variable speed power electronic drive
system. y
T i l f l ib i f 4 9 Typical fault contribution range of 4 to 9 per
unit
Typical fault contribution range of 4 to 9 per
unit
Typical fault contribution less than 2 per unit
for remote faults before crowbar
Aft b it bl T 2 After crowbar engages it resembles a Type 2
T i l f l ib i i l d Typical fault contribution is very low and
dependant upon pre-fault loading
Usually Type 3 and 4 WTG short circuit
current contributions dont matter that much
and can be complicated to determine exactly and can be complicated to determine exactly
Ground fault
Inadvertent opening of circuit during generation
Capacitor bank switching p g
Collection cable capacitance Collection cable capacitance
Ground reference primarily derived by Substation
f transformer
Circuit disconnects from Substation during a Circuit disconnects from Substation during a
ground fault
Overvoltage of non-fault phases depends on
grounding/generator type
A new ground reference must be derived from
circuit to be effectively grounded
Very small Neutral to Ground Impedance
100
25
50
75
[kV]
-25
0
25
0 00 0 05 0 10 0 15 0 20 0 25 0 30 0 35 [s]
-100
-75
-50
(file Cable.pl4; x-var t) v:G5NCA -X0004A v:G5NCB -X0004B v:G5NCC -X0004C
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 [s]
Neutral potential & ground potential are coupled
l b h li d i only by the line-to-ground capacitances:
A
Gnd = 0 V
A-Gnd Fault on
Ungrounded System
N
V
L-G
= 1 p.u.
V
L-G
V
L-L
1 73
A
C B
= 1.73 p.u.
Un-faulted System
NN
C B
100
25
50
75
[kV]
-25
0
25
0 00 0 05 0 10 0 15 0 20 0 25 0 30 0 35 [s]
-100
-75
-50
(file Cable.pl4; x-var t) v:NGNCA -X0070A v:NGNCB -X0070B v:NGNCC -X0070C
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 [s]
Definition of Effectively Grounded
Effectively grounded when the coefficient of
grounding (COG) is less than 80%
COG = V
LG
/V
LL
Effectively grounded: V
LG
< 80% of V
LL
If i l V i 34 5 kV th f lt d h If nominal V
LL
is 34.5 kV, the un-faulted phases
must be V
LG
< 27.6 kV
An effectively grounded system can be
i d h approximated when system:
X
0
& X
1
are both are inductive
X
0
/X
1
3 X
0
/X
1
3
R
0
/X
1
< 1
To obtain effective ground either reduce R
0
& X
0,
or
increase X
1
Increase X
1
= Increase Load Losses
Install high speed ground switch
f h l Requires very fast switching, < 1 cycle
Mechanical interlocks do the job well
Currently only one manufacturer Currently only one manufacturer
Electric interlocks have not proven reliable, fast
enough
Install grounding transformer
Specifications needs study Specifications needs study
Wye-Delta or Zig-Zag
Equally effective for limiting TOV
Zig-Zag will be physically smaller but are specialty
built transformers available from a limited number
of manufacturers with generally long lead times and
high pricing due to one-off design
Wye-Delta available pad-mount type are readily
available from multiple manufacturers
Primary Voltage
Rated KVA (if needed)
Continuous Neutral Current Continuous non-
tripping current due to unbalance of the system tripping current due to unbalance of the system.
Neutral Fault current and duration
Impedance
Primary winding connection
Secondary connection
Ohms per phase
Requires study/calculation Requires study/calculation
Rated time
10 second, 1 minute, 10 minute, or extended (less then 90
days/year) days/year)
Generally a 10 second rating for a WPP with an effectively
grounded system due to fast and sensitive protection
requirements equ e e ts
Continuous rated current
Based on rated time (IEEE 32)
10 second rating = 3% continuous current 10 second rating 3% continuous current
Example: 3500 amps for 10 sec = 3500 * 0.03 =105 amps
continuous
Model the system
Ch t i l t (2000kVA 5 75% +/ 7 5% Choose some typical parameters (2000kVA, 5.75% +/-7.5%,
use 6.2%)
Simulate ground fault
D i V 0 8 * V (l h 27 6 kV) Determine V
LG-unfaulted
< 0.8 * V
LL
(less than 27.6 kV)
Modify transformer parameters as needed, repeat
Once youve reached desired performance, calculate:
ohms per phase
Maximum fault current from grounding transformer
One size does not fit all must consider the system y
Check with transformer manufacturer to ensure
buildability/availability
Its a good idea to limit TOV due to ground faults,
d d i d WTG and reduce transients due to WTG, resonance, etc.
Debate if the COG method is valid for a Debate if the COG method is valid for a
asynchronous system
Must verify surge arresters, cables, and other
equipment will withstand the TOV during ground
fault for expected fault duration fault for expected fault duration
For Type 1 & 2 WTGs grounding transformers and
fast ground switch breakers are both effective in
mitigating TOV
TOV results whether the step-up transformers are
connected /Yg or Yg/Yg
Generators are ungrounded, therefore do not provide zero
sequence fault current
Ensure the generator will trip off quickly if the
substation breaker opens inadvertently
Both grounding transformers and ground switch g g g
breakers can be effective in mitigating TOV
Ground switch breaker may be the preferred option y p p
as it forces the crowbar to engage and doesnt
require a full transient analysis
Transient analysis may be needed
Transient analysis adds design time, costs and
complexity
Type 4 machines should have low fault current
ib i SLG f l contributions to a SLG fault
Verify fault current contribution from WTG
manufacturer manufacturer
For SLG faults on the system the Type 4 power
electronic controller switches out very quickly electronic controller switches out very quickly
thereby not sourcing voltage to a SLG fault. As a
result no significant energy is provided that would
create TOV create TOV
Questions
Chong Han, Don E. Martin, Member, IEEE, and Modesto R. lezama, Transient Over-Voltage (TOV) and
Its Suppression For a Large Farm interconnection.
Eaton Application White Paper, Transient Over voltages on Ungrounded Systems from Intermittent
Ground Faults.
Pacific Crest Transformers Article, Grounding Transformers April, 02 2009.
St W S l P E L Wi d Pl t C ll t D i Wi d F C ll t S t G di IEEE Steven W. Saylors, P.E., Large Wind Plant Collector Design Wind Farm Collector System Grounding, IEEE
PES Transmission and Distribution Conference 2008.
Mike Reichard, Fault Current Contributions From Variable Speed (Type 3 and 4) Wind Turbine
Generators Texas A&M Protective Relaying Conference Fault Current Contributions from Wind Plants
April 1, 2009. p ,
ANSI/IEEE Std 32-1972 IEEE Standard Requirements, Terminology, and Test Procedures for Neutral
Grounding Devices.
Reigh A. Walling, Michael L. Reichard, Short Circuit Behavior of Wind Turbine Generators
EMA VDH/GSMI brochure (Combined 34.5 kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker & Mechanically Interlocked),
available online at: http://www.ema-sa.com.ar
IEEE Standard C62.22-1997, Guide for the Application of Metal-Oxide Surge Arresters for Alternating-
Current Systems.