1.

1 What is GIS

Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) is a compact, multi component assembly enclosed in a

ground metallic housing which the primary insulating medium is compressed
sulphurhexaflouride(SF6) gas. It generally consists components of

a) Bus bars

b) Circuit Breakers

c) Disconnecting switches

d) Earthing switches

e) Current transformers

f) Voltage transformers

g) Cable and boxes

h) Gas supply and gas monitoring equipment

j) Local control

In our country also few GIS units have been in operation and a large number of units are
under various stages of installation. Although GIS has been in operation in several years, some of
the problems are needful attention. These problems include VFTO during switching operations
or earth faults and transient enclosure voltages and particle contamination.

Because of the entire equipment being enclosed in enclosures, filled with pressurized SF 6
gas, installation is not subject to environmental pollutions, as experienced along coastal areas or
certain types of industries. Such installations are preferred in cosmopolitan cities, industrial
townships, etc., where cost of land is very high and higher cost of SF 6 insulated switchgear is

1
justified by saving due to reduction in floor area requirement. It is not necessary that high
voltage or extra high voltage switchgear to be installed outdoors. Since most of the construction
is modular and the assembly is done in the works, one site erection time both for supporting
structures and switchgear is greatly reduced.

1.2 Why we need GIS

Gas insulated Substations have found a broad range applications in power systems over the
last three decades because of their high reliability Easy maintenance, small ground space
requirements etc.,.
In our country also few GIS units have been in operation and a large number of units are
under various stages of installation.
Although GIS has been in operation in several years, some of the problems are needful
attention
These problems include VFTO during switching operations or earth faults and transient
enclosure voltages and particle contamination.

1.3 Problems with conventional substations

It requires huge amount of area.
Each and every component of substation is exposed to air and pollution.
Particularly in coastal area all the insulators are exposed to air and saline contamination.
Frequent flashovers and breakdown occurs.
Maintenance cost is more.
Installation time is also more.
More concrete work is necessary.

1.4 Disadvantages of GIS

2
 In a GIS, Very Fast Transient Over voltages are caused by two ways, due to switching
operations and line to enclosure faults. Since the contact speed of disconnector switches is low,
restriking occurs many times before the interruption is completed. Each restrike generates Very
Fast Transient Over voltages with different levels of magnitude. Disconnector switch operation is
one among them. Disconnector switches are used primarily to isolate the operating sections of an
HV installation from each other as a safety measure. Beyond this, they must also be able to
perform certain switching duties, such as load transfer from one bus bar to another or
disconnection of bus sections, circuit breakers etc. step shaped traveling wave generated between
the disconnector switch contacts propagates in both directions, reflecting at the components of
GIs, thus resulting in a complex waveform.

The main problems associated with the VFTO are

1) Flashover to ground at the disconnector switch contacts.
2) Failure of electronic control circuits connected to GIs, because of electromagnetic
interference of VFTO.
3) Dielectric strength is reduced under VFTO, if non-uniform electric field is formed by the
particles. For these reasons, VFTO generated in GIS should he considered as an important
factor in the insulation.

1.5 Scope of this project

The main scope of this project is to estimate the magnitude of VFTO which is essential for the
design of GIS.

The present work is aimed to calculate magnitude of fast transient over voltages in
GIS due to switching and single line to ground faults.
It has been calculated for fixed resistance and variable arc resistance .
It has been attempted to compare the transients with load and without load conditions.

2.1 Origin of VFTO

3
 VFT overvoltages are generated in a GIS during disconnector or breaker operations, or by
line-to-ground faults. During a disconnector operation a number of pre- or restrikes occur due to
the relatively slow speed of the moving contact. Figure 1 shows the simplified configuration
used to explain the general switching behavior and the pattern of voltages on closing and
opening of a disconnector at a capacitive load.

During closing, as the contacts approach, the electric field between them will rise until
sparking occurs. The first strike will almost inevitably occur at the crest of the power frequency
voltage, due to the slow operating speed. Thereafter current will flow through the spark and
charge the capacitive load to the source voltage. As it does so, the potential difference across the
contacts falls and the spark will eventually extinguish. The behavior on opening is very nearly a
complete reversal of the above description.

FIG1: Closing & Opening of a switch

In case of a line-to-ground fault, the voltage collapse at the fault location occurs in a
similar way as in the disconnector gap during striking. Step-shaped travelling surges are
generated and injected to GIS lines connected to the collapse location. The rise time of these
surges depend on the voltage the collapse.

For certain switching operations where GIS disconnectors are operated following circuit
breaker operation it is possible to generate very fast transient overvoltages. These can be divided
into internal and external very fast transients. Internal VFTOs create overvoltages between the
GIS conductor and the GIS enclosure which stress the internal insulation of the GIS. Equipment
such as transformers connected to the GIS via overhead lines, cables or direct GIS ducting will
be affected by the VFTOs. Depending upon the magnitude of the VFTO and its frequency

4
content, VFTOs can cause overstressing of the transformer winding insulation. Classifications of
these internal and external VFTOs are summarized in Figure below.

2.2 Classification of VFTO

ORIGIN OF VERY FAST TRANSIENTS IN GIS

.OPERATION OD DISCONNECTORS AND CIRCUIT

BREAKERSAND EARTH SWITCHES

.EARTH FAULTS

GENERATES VERY FAST TRANSIENTS

Internal VFT EXTERNAL VFT

Travelling waves and

Travelling waves radiation outside GIS
inside GIS

OVER VOLTAGES TEV TEMF FTO

VFTO End Radia Overhead

between line/ cable and
conductor and and ted connected plant,
GIS earth from eg transformer
enclosure
earth

FIG2: Classification of VFTO

The source of these VFTOs is due to the restrikes or pre-strikes during disconnector
opening or closing operations, which generate the travelling wave. Due to its construction the

5
GIS is considered as a series of very short lengths transmission lines made up of many sections
of different values of surge impedances derived from the capacitance and inductance values of
each section. As a consequence there are many reflections and refractions of the travelling wave
occurring at the points of discontinuity. The result is a network of high frequency overvoltages
appearing within the GIS.

This is essentially due to the numbers of relatively short of the GIS components each
with their own value of surge impedance, which produces multiple reflections and
correspondingly very high frequency components.

2.2.1 Internal Transients

All the distributed parameter lines take into account the internal mode (conductor-
enclosure) only, assuming that the external enclosure is perfectly grounded. If TEV is of concern,
then a second mode (enclosure-ground) is to be considered. More accurate models were
presented Distributed parameter models shown in take into account the internal mode
(conductor-enclosure) only, assuming the external enclosure to be perfectly earthed. If TEV have
to be considered, it is necessary to add one more mode(enclosure-ground) since at these high
frequencies, the earth connections assume significant impedance values

2.2.2 External transients

An internally generated VFT propagates throughout the GIS and reaches the bushing
where it causes a transient enclosure voltage and a travelling wave that propagates along the
overhead transmission line.

2.2.3 Transient enclosure voltages

6
 Transient enclosure voltages (TEV), also known as transient ground potential rise
(TGPR), are short duration high voltage transients which appear on the enclosure of the GIS
through the coupling of internal transients to enclosure at enclosure discontinuities. The usual
location for these voltages is the transition GIS-overhead line at an air bushing, although they
can also emerge at other points such as visual inspection ports, insulated spacers for CTs or
insulated flanges at GIS/cables interfaces.

3.1 Modelling of GIS components

For accurate analysis of transients, it is essential to find the VFTOs and circuit
parameters. Due to the traveling nature of the transients the modeling of GIS makes use of
electrical equivalent circuits composed by lumped elements and especially by distributed
parameter lines, surge impedances and traveling times. The simulation depends on the quality of
the model of each individual GIS component. In order to achieve reasonable results in GIS
structures highly accurate models for each internal equipment and also for components
connected to the GIS are necessary. The disconnector spark itself has to be taken into account by
transient resistance according to the Toeplers equation and subsequent arc resistance of a few
ohms. The wave shape of the over voltage surge due to disconnector switch is affected by all GIS
elements. Accordingly, the simulation of transients in GIS assumes an establishment of the
models for the Bus, Bushing, Elbow, Transformers, Surge Arresters, Breakers, Spacers,
disconnectors, and Enclosures and so on.

Due to the travelling nature of VFT, modeling of GIS components makes use of electrical
equivalent circuits composed of lumped elements and distributed parameter lines. At very high
frequencies, the skin losses can produce a noticeable attenuation. However, due to the
geometrical structure of GIS and the enclosure material, skin losses are usually neglected, which

7
gives conservative results. Only the dielectric losses in some components, e.g. capacitively
graded bushing, need be taken into account.

Fig 3: Schematic diagram of a typical Gas Insulated

Substation

Here are some of the components which are explained in detail.

a) Bus ducts

For a range of frequencies lower than 100 MHz, a bus duct can. be represented as a
lossless transmission line. The surge impedance and the travel time can be calculated from the
physical dimensions of the duct. Empirical corrections are usually needed to adjust the
propagation velocity. Experimental results show that the propagation velocity in GIS ducts is

8
close to 0.95 - 0.96% of the speed of light. The error committed by ignoring skin effect losses is
usually negligible.

Other devices such as elbows or closed disconnectors can also be modeled as lossless
transmission lines.

b) Surge arresters

A surge arrester model should take into account the steep front wave effect: the voltage
developed across the arrester for a given discharge current increases as the time to crest of the
current increases, and reaches crest prior to the crest of the discharge current. A detailed model
must represent each internal shield and block individually, and include the travel times along
shield sections, as well as capacitances between these sections, capacitances between blocks and
shields, and the blocks themselves. The model shown inTable1 considers two sections,
represented as lossless transmission lines, and a capacitance paralleled by a resistance between
sections.

c) Circuit breakers

The representation of a circuit breaker is very complicated due to internal irregularities.

In addition, circuit breakers with several chambers contain grading capacitors. As these
components are not arranged symmetrically, a circuit breaker has a different transient response
depending upon which terminal is connected to the surge source.

d) Gas to air bushings

A bushing gradually changes the surge impedance from that of the GIS to that of the line.
A detailed model of the bushing must consider the coupling between the conductor and shielding
electrodes, and include the representation of the grounding system connected to the bushing. A

9
simplified model consists of several transmission lines in series with a lumped resistor
representing losses. The surge impedance of each line section increases as the location goes up
the bushing. If the bushing is distant from the point of interest, the resistor can be neglected and a
single line section can be used. More advanced models for capacitively graded bushings were
proposed

3.2 Modelling concept

A GIS system comprising of an Input Cable, Spacer, Disconnector Switch, Bus bar of
5mts length and load has been considered for modeling into electrical network and analysis. The
Fast Transient Over voltage waveform generated during Closing and Opening operation of
Disconnector Switch and Line-to-Enclosure faults has been considered for calculations.
Spacers are simulated by lumped Capacitance. The Inductance of the bus duct is
calculated from the diameters of Conductor and Enclosure. Capacitances are calculated on the
basis of actual diameters of inner and outer cylinders of central conductor and outer enclosure.
Cone Insulators used for supporting inner conductor against outer enclosure are assumed to be
disk type for approximate calculation of spacer capacitance.

The busduct can be modeled as a series of Pi-network or as sequence parameters.

However in this model, it is considered as distributed Pi-network. The Schematic Diagram of a
Typical Gas Insulated System (GIS) is shown in below figure. Assuming that some trapped
charge is left on the floating section of switchgear during opening operation of disconnector
switch, a voltage of certain value is considered during simulation.

10
3.3 Modelling Technique

FIG4: EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT OF GIS

To simulate Very Fast Transient Overvoltages and Transient Enclosure Voltages the
PSPICE models are used. Figure 1 shows the equivalent circuit of a GIs.
This figure explains the generation of VFTO and how it develops TEV. Here, Z I, & and
Z3 are the surge. impedances of gas insulated busduct with respect to enclosure interior surface,
overhead transmission line with respect to the earth surface and the enclosure exterior surface
with respect to the earth surface respectively. C1 and Cz are the capacitances of the bushing and
current transformer (GIs components) respectively.
From the Figure 1, it is very clear that at the bushing surface, the part of Very Fast
Transient Overvoltage causes to produce a voltage on the enclosure. Infact, TEV is the
summation of the voltage drop across the ground wire and the grounding grid. For estimating
these voltages, the equivalent impedance networks for the components l i e transmission line,
capacitance, and the inductance of the ground wire, grounding grid, spark channel , the resistance
of the grounding grid of the spark channel and switch (which follows Toeplers spark law) are
necessary.

11
3.4 Simulation of Very Fast Transient Overvoltages

The GIs behaves like an interconnected transmission line when subjected to fast
transients. For estimating the VFTO level, simulation of all the components of the GIS and other
connected equipment are required because the gas insulated part of GIS forms an excellent loss-
less high frequency distribution network. The transients caused by a single strike is damped in
few ps, i.e., much earlier than a subsequent strike, if any occurs. For this reason, Very Fast
Transient Overvoltages simulation can be conducted by considering each strike separately.
For simulating Very Fast Transient Overvoltages two concepts are important. One is the
representation of the spark channel development and the other is the equivalent circuits of
different GIS components under these conditions transient occur. For considering a strike across
the switching contacts, voltage collapse across the disconnector during the strike and voltage
drop across the disconnector after the strike occurs are important factors for estimating the
VFTO levels in a GIs. The VFTO developed due to earth fault or switching operation is of an
electromagnetic wave nature and it can be considered as traveling wave propagating along the
elements of the substation. The surge impedance of a single phase enclosed co-axial busduct can
be calculated from the following equation

Z = 60ln(b/a) ohms

where, Z is surge impedance of the co-axial busduct.

b is outer diameter of the conductor.
a is inner diameter of the conductor.

12
34.1 Calculation of Inductance

Fig 4: Cross section of typical GIS

The Inductance of the bus duct is calculated from the diameters of Conductor and
Enclosure. It can be calculated by using the formula given below:

L=0.001*l*[ln(r1/r3)+ln(r2/r1)+ln(r4/r3)+2*((r2/r1)^2/(1-( r2/r1)^2)*ln((r1/r2-1))

Where r1, r2, r3, r4, are the radii of the conductors in the order of decreasing
magnitude and
l is the length of the section.

13
3.4.2 Calculation of Capacitance

The Capacitance is calculated with the assumption that the conductors are Cylindrical.
Capacitance is calculated by using the standard formulae given below:

Where o = 8.854 * 10-12, r = 1

b = Outer Cylinder Radius
a = Inner Cylinder Radius
l = Length of the Section

3.4.3 Calculation of capacitance due to spacer

Spacers are used for supporting the inner conductor with reference to the outer enclosure.
They are made with Allumina filled epoxy material whose relative permittivity (r) is 4. The
thickness of the spacer is assumed to be the length of the capacitance for calculation.

14
3.4.4 Calculation of Variable arc resistance

Based on earlier studies in SF6 gas, Toeplers Spark Law is valid for calculation of
Variable Arc Resistance. The Variable Arc Resistance due to Toeplers formulae is given below:

Where KT = Toeplers Constant= 0.005 volt.sec/mt for SF6 under

Uniform Field conditions
` L = Spark Length in meters
qo = Initial Charge or Charge at the instant of breakdown
t = Spark Collapse Time in sec.

The value of time varying spark resistance R(t), is calculated until it reaches a value of 1
to 3 ohms. The integral in the denominator sums up the absolute value of current i through the
resistance R(t) over the time beginning at breakdown inception. Thus, it corresponds to the
charge conducted through the spark channel up to timet. Initial charge q o is an important
parameter while considering the non-uniform fields. But the field between the dis-connector
contacts is almost uniform. Therefore qo is very small.

15
3.5 Single line diagram for 245KV GIS

16
 F
ig5 :single line diagram for a typical gas insulated substation

17
4. Equivalent circuit for the components in GIS

18
Table1: Equivalent circuit for different components in GIS
19
5.1 Transients due to switching operation with fixed resistance
Figure below gives the circuit diagram of the single phase equivalent circuit for 5mts
length GIS. The GIS bushing is represented by a capacitance of 200PF. A fixed resistance of
2ohms of the spark channel is connected in series with the circuit breaker. The equivalent circuit
is shown in the figure.

Due to trapped charge some voltage remains on the floating section which can create
severe conditions because the first restrike can occur at the peak of power frequency voltage
giving a voltage of 2.0p.u. On restrike the voltages on each side will collapse initially zero and
hence creating two 1.0pu voltage steps of opposite polarities. In this it is assumed that restriking
is created at 1.0p.u and 1.0p.u respectively operations are observed.

20
5.1.1 Transients due to closing operation for 5mts length

FIG 6: Equivalent circuit during closing operation with fixed resistance

for 5mts length
This is the equivalent circuit for 5mts length GIS during closing operation with fixed
resistance. Here the switch is closed and whenever the switch contacts approaches the spark will
takes place causing the current to flow through this spark. Due to this transient over voltages are
generated across the disconnector switch.

The plot for this equivalent circuit is shown below with peak amplitude and rise time of
3.0187 and 31.107 respectively.

21
Plot 1: Transient voltages waveform during closing operation

22
5.1.2 Transients due to opening operation

Fig7: single phase equivalent circuit for 5mts length due to opening
operation.

Using the circuit given in FIG transient due to opening of the circuit breaker are calculated as
given in plot Maximum voltage obtained is 3.73p.u with a rise time of 25.87ns. The graphs are
obtained from PSPICE simulations and software is given in appendix-2

23
Plot 2: Transient voltages waveform during opening operation with fixed
resistance

24
5.2 Transient over voltages due to faults

5.2.1Transients due to faults with fixed resistance and without load

Fig8: Equivalent circuit to calculate transients due to faults with fixed

resistance and without load

The equivalent circuit of 5mts length GIS is shown in fig. the transients are obtained with
faults is shown in plot. From this graph, the maximum voltage is obtained.

25
Plot 3: Transient waveforms due to faults with fixed resistance 5mts from
GIS(without load)

26
5.3 Transients due to faults with fixed resistance and with load

Fig 9: Load which should be connected

The load that should be connected comprises of inductor capacitance and two resistors.
The equivalent circuit for GIS due to transient faults which is 5mts from the load is shown the
figure 10.

27
5.3.1Transients due to faults with fixed resistance and with load

Fig10: Equivalent circuit to calculate transients due to faults with fixed

resistance and with load 5mts from GIS

The equivalent circuit of 5mts length GIS is shown in fig. the transients are obtained with faults
is shown in plot. Maximum voltage and rise time are obtained. The graphs are obtained from
PSPICE simulations and software is given in appendix-4.

28
Plot 4: Transient waveforms due to faults with fixed resistance 5mts from
GIS(with load)

29
6.1Transient with variable arc resistance due to switching operation

6.1.1 Transient due to closing operation with variable arc resistance

Fig11: single phase equivalent circuit of transients due to closing operation

with variable arc resistance

Using the circuit given in FIG transient due to closing of the circuit breaker are calculated
as given in plot. The graphs are obtained from PSPICE simulations and software is given in
appendix-5.

30
Plot 5: Transients waveform during closing operationof CB for 5mts GIS with
variable arc resistance

31
6.1.2 Transient due to opening operation with variable arc resistance

Fig 12: single phase equivalent circuit of transients due to opening operation

Using the circuit given in FIG transient due to opening of the circuit breaker are calculated as
given in plot. Maximum voltage and rise time are obtained The graphs are obtained from
PSPICE simulations and software is given in appendix-6

32
Plot 6: Transients waveform during opening operationof CB for 5mts GIS
with variable arc resistance

33
6.2 Transient due to faults with variable resistance

6.2.1Transient due to faults with variable resistance and without load from
5mts GIS

Fig 13: single phase equivalent circuit of transients due to faults with variable
arc resistance and without load

The equivalent circuit of 5mts length GIS is shown in fig. the transients are obtained with faults
with variable arc resistance and without load is shown in plot. From this graph, the maximum
voltage is obtained.

34
Plot 7: Transients waveform during tansient faults for 5mts GIS with variable
arc resistance without load.

35
6.2.2 Transient due to faults with variable resistance and with load for 5mts
GIS

Fig14: single phase equivalent circuit of transients due to faults with variable
arc resistance and with load

Now we are going to analyze the transient overvoltages due to transient faults with variable arc
resistance and with load.
The equivalent circuit of 5mts length GIS is shown in fig. the transients are obtained with
faults with variable arc resistance and with load is shown in plot. From this graph, the maximum
voltage is obtained.

36
Plot 8: Transients waveform during tansient faults for 5mts GIS with variable
arc resistance with load.

37
 7.1 Introduction

The fast transient over voltages due to switching operation and faults can cause damage
to the system equipment. Hence it is advisable to suppress these voltages for protection of
equipment. One of the methods of suppressing these over voltages is by insertion of resistance
during switching. Generally a resistor of 500 ohm is used for this purpose.

In this analysis, a resistor of 500ohm is connected in parallel with the circuit breaker and a
switch is connected in series with the resistor .the transient over voltages are suppressed only if
the current during contact operation flows through the resistor .the switch connected in series
with the resistor is closed at the time maximum voltage is obtained during second re-strike/pre-
re-strike at the load end.

38
7.2 Suppression of fast transient over voltages due to switching operation with
fixed resistance

Fig15: GIS from 5mts length with Fixed Arc Resistance during
Suppression

The equivalent circuit of 5mts length GIS with Fixed arc resistance is shown in above figure. The
transients are calculated across the circuit breaker is shown in plot. The peak amplitude of
2.059V and rise time of 43.42Ns are obtained.

39
Plot 9: Transient waveforms for equivalent circuit with Fixed Arc
Resistance during Suppression

40
7.3 Suppression of fast transient over voltages due to
switching operation with variable arc resistance

Fig16: GIS of 5mts length with variable Arc Resistance during Suppression

The equivalent circuit of 5mts length GIS with Fixed arc resistance is shown in above
figure. The transients are calculated across the circuit breaker is shown in plot. The rise time and
peak amplitude is as 11.67NS and 1.52V respectively.

41
Plot 10: Transient waveforms for equivalent circuit with variable Arc
Resistance during Suppression

42
7.4 Comparison of Transient Results

The results obtained are compared below in a tabular form.

TABLE 2: COMPARISON OF TRANSIENTS DUE TO SWITCHING OPERATIONS

fOR 5MTS LENGTH GIS WITH FIXED AND VARIABLE ARC RESISTANCE

43
8.1 Summary

The fast transient overvoltages are obtained due to switching operations and short circuit
faults are studied.

The transients are calculated with fixed arc and variable arc resistance.
a. When load is connected at the open end of the GIS, the peak voltages and rise times that
are obtained due to short circuit do not follow any particular pattern. This may be due to
variation in damping due to combined effect of circuit and load parameters
b. The transients due to variable arc resistance give lower value of peak voltages than that
obtained with fixed arc resistance.
c. Discretization of the parameters of the Bus duct can give accurate over voltage results.
For each it is recommended that total bus duct length should be divided into smaller
sections.

These Fast transients over voltages can be reduced by about 17% with the use of resistor in
parallel to the circuit breaker.

44
8.2 FUTURE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

In this thesis transients are calculated only for single line to ground fault. This can be
extended for any other faults like double line to ground faults, line to line faults etc.

As discussed in this thesis, the analysis has been carried out with a single GIS system. it
may be necessary to carry out similar analysis with a number of GIS assemblies as is
found practice.
The calculated results can be experimentally verified on actual GIS, with various
simulations as described in thesis.
Simulation can be carried out to estimate the effect of these transient over voltages on
various equipment like transformer, disconnectors and circuit breakers, enclosure etc.
The variable arc resistance can be calculated by various formulae and the results can be
compared.

45