Insulation Coordination Studies

The Selection of Insulation Strength

March 25, 2014

Adam Sparacino

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTS, INC.

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 Definition of Insulation Coordination1

Insulation Coordination (IEEE)

The selection of insulation strength consistent with expected
overvoltages to obtain an acceptable risk of failure.
The procedure for insulation coordination consists of (a)
determination of the voltage stresses and (b) selection of the
insulation strength to achieve the desired probability of failure.
The voltage stresses can be reduced by the application of surge
protective devices, switching device insertion resistors and controlled
closing, shield wires, improved grounding, etc.

(1) IEEE Std 1313.1 1996 IEEE Standard for Insulation Coordination Definitions, Principles, and Rules.
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 Four Basic Considerations

Understanding Insulation Stresses

Understanding Insulation Strength
Designing Methods for Controlling Stresses
Designing Insulation Systems

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 Four Basic Considerations

Understanding Insulation Stresses

Understanding Insulation Strength
Designing Methods for Controlling Stresses
Designing Insulation Systems

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 Definition of Overvoltages

Overvoltage
Abnormal voltage between two points of a system that is greater than
the highest value appearing between the same two points under
normal service conditions.2
Overvoltages are the primary metric for measuring and
quantifying power system transients and thus insulation
stress.

(2) IEEE Std C62.22 1991 IEEE Guide for the Application of Metal Oxide Surge Arresters for Alternating Current
Systems, 1991.
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 Vocabulary of Voltage

Peak line ground Voltage

RMS Voltage line ground = (Vpeak/ 2)

Peak Voltage line ground = VL L_rms 2/ 3

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Illustration of Overvoltages

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 Four Basic Considerations

Understanding Insulation Stresses

Understanding Insulation Strength
Designing Methods for Controlling Stresses
Designing Insulation Systems

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 Electrical Insulation

Insulation can be expressed as a dielectric with a function to

preserve the electrical integrity of the system.
The insulation can be internal (solid, liquid, or gaseous), which is
protected from the effects of atmospheric conditions (e.g.,
transformer windings, cables, gas insulated substations, oil circuit
breakers, etc.).
The insulation can be external (in air), which is exposed to
atmospheric conditions (e.g., bushings, bus support insulators,
disconnect switches, line insulators, air itself [tower windows, phase
spacing], etc.).

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 Insulation Strength
Typical Volt Time Curve for Insulation Withstand
Strength for Liquid Filled Transformers

Source: IEEE Std 62.22-1997, IEEE Guide for the Application of Metal-Oxide Surge Arresters for AC Systems

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 Insulation Strength

Example for Transformers Windings

Normal system operating voltage
345 kVL L_RMS (1.00 p.u.)
Maximum continuous operating voltage (MCOV)
362 kVL L_RMS (1.05 p.u.)
Basic switching impulse insulation level (BSL)
745/870/975 kVL N_Peak
Basic lightning impulse insulation level (BSL)
900/1050/1175 kVL N_Peak
Chopped wave withstand (CWW)
1035/1205/1350 kVL N_Peak

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 Frequency of Different Events

seconds milliseconds
10-20 minutes microseconds
Power
Frequency

Power System Control Transients

& Dynamics & Surges

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 Four Basic Considerations

Understanding Insulation Stresses

Duty and Magnitude of applied voltage
Understanding Insulation Strength
Ability to withstand applied stress
Designing Methods for Controlling Stresses
Designing Insulation Systems

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 Potential Overvoltage Mitigation

1. Surge Arresters
Need to be sized and located properly to clip overvoltages.
2. Pre Insertion Resistors/Inductors
Need to be sized according to equipment being switched (only help
during breaker operation) to prevent excessive overvoltages from
being initiated.
3. Synchronous Close/Open Control
Need to use independent pole operated (IPO) breakers and program
controller based on equipment being switched (only help during
breaker operation) to prevent excessive overvoltages from being
initiated.
4. Surge Capacitors
Need to be sized and located to slow the front of incoming surges

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 Four Basic Considerations

Understanding Insulation Stresses

Duty and Magnitude of applied voltage
Understanding Insulation Strength
Ability to withstand applied stress
Designing Methods for Controlling Stresses
Designing Insulation Systems

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 Insulation Coordination Process

1. Specify the equipment insulation strength, the BIL and BSL of

all equipment.
2. Specify the phase ground and phase phase clearances that
should be considered.
3. Specify the need for, location, rating, and number of surge
arresters.

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 Insulation Coordination Studies
1. Very Fast Transients (VFT) Analysis (nanoseconds time frame)
GIS disconnected switching.
Quantify the overvoltages throughout the substation.
Primary intent of determining location and number of surge arresters
within the substation.
2. Lightning Surge Analysis (microseconds time frame)
Quantify the overvoltages throughout the substation.
Primary intent of determining location and number of surge arresters
within the substation.
3. Switching Overvoltage Analysis (milliseconds time frame)
Quantify the overvoltages and surge arrester energy duties associated
with switching events and fault/clear operations.
Primary intent is to verify that transient overvoltage mitigating devices
(e.g., surge arresters, pre insertion resistors, synchronous close control)
are adequate to protect electrical equipment.
Capacitor, Shunt Reactor, Transformer, and Line Switching Studies.

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 Insulation Coordination Studies (cont.)

4. Temporary Overvoltage Analysis (seconds time frame)

Quantify the overvoltages and surge arrester energy duties as produced
by faults, resonance conditions, etc.
Primary intent is to verify conditions that cause problems within the
system and develop the necessary mitigation.
Fault/Clear, load rejection, ferroresonance studies.
5. Steady State Analysis (minutes to hours time frame)
Quantify voltage during various system configurations.
Power flow/stability studies.

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 EXAMPLE APPLICATION
STUDY FOR INSULATION COORDINATION

LIGHTNING SURGE ANALYSIS

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 Refer to Figure 2 for Refer to Figure 2 for
details of line details of line
terminations. terminations.
500 kV LINE BML00 BLU00
500 kV LINE
BML01 BLU01
All lengths shown in meters.
la = 30.70
la = 21.19
lb = 25.66
lb = 20.74
lc = 21.76
lc = 23.64

la = 23.47 la = 23.47
lb = 22.56 lb = 22.56
lc = 21.64 lc = 20.64
WEST 500 kV BUS
GWB06

la = 9.518
lb = 8.603 la,b,c = 8.323
la,b,c = 8.323 la,b,c = 19.59 la,b,c = 5.634
lc = 7.689

G752W G952W G762W G962W G772W G872W G972W

CB CB CB CB CB CB CB CB CB
G752E G952E G762E G962E G772E G872E G972E

G3A00 la,b,c = 19.59 G4A00 la,b,c = 8.323

la = 26.42 GML00 GLU00
lb = 25.51 la = 12.47
DUMMY BUS (POSITION FOR la,b,c = 8.323 la,b,c = 5.634
lc = 24.59 FUTURE BREAKER) lb = 11.55
lc = 10.64
GEB06
la = 70.15
lb = 76.25
EAST 500 kV BUS la = 26.42
la = 70.62 lc = 82.30
lb = 25.51
lb = 76.69 lc = 24.59
lc = 82.77
B3A01 B4A01
XFMR
B3A00 B4A00

XFMR Refer to Figure 3 for Refer to Figure 3 for

details of XFMR details of XFMR
terminations. terminations.

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 Example for Line/XFMR Termination
500 kV Line

Line Trap1

To Transformer
Gas-to- Surge
Air Arrester
Bushing
CCVT

To GIS
Gas-to-Air Bay #6
Bushing
550 kV GIS

Surge 350 MCM

Arrester Ground Lead
(38)

Notes
To GIS
Bay (1) Line traps only on phase A and C for 500 kV lines. In
EMTP model, phase B has a 2.53 m section of
550 kV GIS conductor modeled in place of line trap.

350 MCM
Ground
Lead (38)

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 Approach for Evaluation the Insulation Coordination of
the 550 kV Gas Insulated Substation

Step 1: A severe voltage surge was injected into the substation for various
operating configurations to screen for maximum potential overvoltages.
Screening Analysis

Step 2: The resulting overvoltages were compared to the Basic Lightning Impulse
Insulation Level (BIL) of the equipment and the protective margin1 for the
equipment was calculated.

Step 3: If overvoltages resulted in less than a 20% protective margin in the initial
Detailed Analysis

screening analysis for cases with the full system in or N 1 contingencies, a more
detailed analysis was performed to identify the protective margins resulting from a
reasonable upper bounds lightning surge based on the configuration of the
substation and connected transmission lines.
For the detailed analysis, specific details of the transmission lines such as conductor
characteristics, shielding design, ground resistivity, keraunic level, etc. are considered to
determine a reasonable upper bounds to place on the lightning surge impinging on the
substation.

(1) Protective Margin = [ BIL / Vmaximum_peak 1] x 100%

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 Lightning Surge Incoming From 500 kV Line
Phase to Ground Voltage of Incoming Lightning Surge

MLFULL_halfSRC>MLSRCA(Type 1)
4000

Peak = 3264 kV (1.2 x 2720 kV CFO)

Time-to-peak = 0.5 microseconds.

3000

2000

Lightning surge impinges

substation from 500 kV Line.

1000

Lightning surge initiated at

1.0 microseconds.

0
0 5 10 15 20
Time (us)

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 Lightning Surge Incoming From 500 kV Line
Highest Phase to Ground Voltage Observed in GIS

MLFULLB>G752WB(Type 1)
2000

GIS Basic Impulse Insulation Level (BIL) = 1550 kV

1500

Protective Margin = 40%

([1550/1109 1] x 100%)
Peak overvoltage =
1109 kV.

1000

500

0
0 5 10 15 20
Time (us)

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 EXAMPLE APPLICATION
STUDY FOR INSULATION COORDINATION

TRANSMISSION LINE SWITCHING ANALYSIS

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 Transmission Line Switching Analysis
Potential Equipment Concerns
Excessive Transient Overvoltages and
the Possibility of a Flashover During
Energizing or Re Closing
Overvoltages Exceeding Guidelines
Used to Develop Line Clearances
Transmission line is energized
(normal energizing or re-closing).

Applicable Criteria
Basic Switching Impulse Level (BSL)
Probability of Flashovers

Potential Mitigation Techniques

Synchronous Close Control
Pre Insertion Resistors/Inductors
Surge Arresters
Shunt Reactors

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 Statistical Switching Methodology

Source-Side Voltage

cycle window
Case simulated with
200-400 energizations

3 = cycle 2 = 2.08 ms

Each pole can close at anytime

within the cycle window centered
around the closing time (Tclose) for
each energization. Random closing
times based on a normal (Gaussian)
distribution

Tclose

Three poles closing

centered around closing
time (Tclose)
Sliding cycle window for pole
closing shifted over a half cycle
timeframe using a uniform
distribution

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 Electro Geometric Line Model
Example 345 kV Transmission Line

Shield Wire:
Alumoweld 7#8
14.5 14.5
Outside diameter = 0.385
RDC = 2.40 Ohm/mi

78
(63 at midpoint)

B C A

27 27 Phase Conductor:
ACSR Lapwing
2/c Bundle 18 spacing
Outside diameter = 1.504
RDC = 0.059 Ohm/mi
54 Thick/Diam = 0.375
(24 at midpoint)

Center
Line
Line Length (total) = 85 mi
Untransposed
Ground resistivity = 37 Ohm m

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Statistical Switching Overvoltage Strength Characteristics
and SOV densities of the line

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 Statistical Distr. Of Overvoltages Along 500 kV Line with
NO Surge Arresters

Statistical Distribution of Overvoltages Along Line

110%
Statistical
distribution based on
100%
the case peak
Estimated insulation method from IEEE
90% Std 1313.2 1999.
withstand for the
80% transmission line: CFO = 3.53
p.u., f/CFO =5%.
70%
Sending End
60% 1/4 Point
98% of the overvoltages along
50% the line are 2.62 p.u. (1070 1/2 Point
kV).
3/4 Point
40%
Highest overvoltage at the
Remote End
remote end of the line = 2.75
30% p.u. (1123 kV). Example CFO
20% E2 is the value in which the
overvoltages exceed 2% of the
10% switching operations.

0%
1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
Peak Overvoltage (Per Unit on a 500 kV Base)

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 Statistical Distr. Of Overvoltages Along 500 kV Line with
Line End Surge Arresters

Statistical Distribution of Overvoltages Along Line

110%
Statistical
distribution based on
100%
the case peak
Estimated insulation method from IEEE
90% Std 1313.2 1999.
withstand for the
80% transmission line: CFO = 3.53
p.u., f/CFO =5%.
70%
Sending End
60% 1/4 Point
98% of the overvoltages along
50% the line are 2.16 p.u. (882 1/2 Point
kV). 3/4 Point
40%
Remote End
30%
Example CFO
20% Highest overvoltage along the E2 is the value in which the
line = 2.21 p.u. (902 kV). overvoltages exceed 2% of the
10% switching operations.

0%
1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
Peak Overvoltage (Per Unit on a 500 kV Base)

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 EXAMPLE APPLICATION
STUDY FOR INSULATION COORDINATION

SHUNT CAPACITOR SWITCHING ANALYSIS

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 Shunt Capacitor Switching Analysis
Potential Equipment Concerns
Contact Wear from Excessive Inrush
Current Duty
Excessive Transient Overvoltages
Induced Voltages and Currents in
Capacitor bank is energized and Control Circuits
transient inrush currents flow
through capacitor bank breaker Step and Touch Potentials During
and voltage surges propagate Switching
into the system.

Applicable Criteria
ANSI/IEEE Inrush Current Limits
Basic Switching Impulse Level (BSL)
Breaker Capability Beyond Standards
IEEE Std 80 for grounding

Potential Mitigation Techniques

Current Limiting Reactors
Synchronous Close Control
Pre Insertion Resistors/Inductors
Surge Arresters
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 Capacitor Bank Re Strike
During De Energization

Current Through Switching Device Voltage on Each Side of Switching Device

High frequency Second restrike occurs and Peak overvoltage

current is current is re established from 1st restrike
interrupted

Voltage on system
side of switching
First restrike
device
occurs and
current is re
established

Current is
interrupted

Voltage on capacitor
bank side of
switching device (DC
trapped charge)

Peak overvoltage
from 2nd restrike

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 Voltage Magnification

When a shunt capacitor bank is energized with a nearby

capacitor at a lower voltage, the potential for voltage
magnification may exist when the following condition is true:

Furthermore, when C1>>C2, and L1<<L2 the condition can be

exaggerated

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 Voltage Magnification (Cont.)

Example 4.39 p.u. overvoltage at LV

bus when capacitor bank is switched.

Example 1.95 p.u. overvoltage at HV

bus when capacitor bank is switched.

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 EXAMPLE APPLICATION
STUDY FOR INSULATION COORDINATION

SHUNT REACTOR SWITCHING ANALYSIS

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 Shunt Reactor Switching Analysis

Potential Equipment Concerns

Excessive Inrush Currents from
Energizing
Transient and Temporary Overvoltages
from Resonance Conditions
Shunt reactor is energized and
inrush current flows through the Generation of Harmonics
system and circuit breaker.
Resonance from Parallel Lines
Applicable Criteria
Equipment Insulation Levels
Voltage Sag/Dip Criteria
Harmonic Distortion

Potential Mitigation Techniques

Synchronous Close Control
Surge Arresters
Appropriate Relay Settings
Operational Limitations

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 Resonance Overvoltages

345 kV Substation 345 kV Substation

Voltage Measured on Energized Line
Line in service
(breakers closed
at both ends)

Line out of service

(breakers open at
both ends)

345 kV Substation 345 kV Substation

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 Resonance Overvoltages

Line breakers open to

trip the line at 200 ms.
Peak overvoltage
= 2.94 p.u.

Anticipated temporary overvoltage

It is anticipated that the line equipment (TOV) capability (1.5 p.u. for 100 ms).
would be capable of withstanding at
least 1.5 p.u. for 100 ms.

The shunt reactors should be tripped

within 550 ms of the line breakers
tripping to avoid excessive
overvoltages for this case.

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 Summary
Insulation Coordination is the selection of insulation strength.
Determine maximum insulation stress.
Determine the minimum insulation strength with margin taking into
account stress reducers (surge arresters, pre insertion resistors,
synchronous close control, etc.) that can withstand the maximum
stress.
Studies help in quantifying the maximum anticipated stress
and determining the rating/location of overvoltage mitigating
devices.
A key component of insulation coordination is pairing the
correct strength to the correct stress.
As a rule of thumb, the shorter the time the overvoltage is applied to
the insulation the greater the magnitude of overvoltage the insulation
can withstand before failure.

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THANK YOU FOR YOU ATTENTION

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