A Method to Decide the Switching Instants of
Controlled Switching Circuit Breaker
for Shunt Reactors
'W.Y. Lee, 'K.Y. Park, 'J.K. Chong, 'B.Y. Lee, H. J. Kim
'Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Vitzrotech Co. Ltd., South Korea
Abslrod- This paper describes a method which determines
the operating instants of the circuit breaker for controlled
switching of shunt reactors independent of the network
configuration, in order to reduce overvoltages and inrush
currents. Some other previous papers offered the favorable
instants for both isolated and directly earthed neutral case, but
not for the earthed neutral through a reactor. The proposed
method in this paper is based on two facts. First, the instant of a
maximum voltage between contacts of the circuit hreaker(CB) is
the optimum point for closing to minimize the inrush current.
And secondly, both the minimum arcing time of the CB and the
current interruption instant of each poles should he considered as
the reference for the opening instant. The performance of the
proposed method was verified by the results of simulation studies
using the electromagnetic transients program(EMTP). The
behaviors of CB treated in the simulation involve the rate of
decay of dielectric strength between contacts and the scatter of
the operating time. Especially, the results of EMTP show that the
closing and opening instants of the second one among the three
poles shift continuously with the ratio of the impedance of a shunt
reactor to that of the neutral reactor in the range of 30 phase
angle, respectively. And also the maximum scatter of the CB
dosing time to ensure the inrush current of less than a certain
level can he provided.
Index Ierms-circuit breaker, controlled switching, inrush
current, optimum instant, reignition, shunt reactor.
I. INTRODUCTION
Since the reliability of a system for delivering the stable
electric energy should be considered as the most important
thing of all. the application of the digital and intelligent
technology to the operation of circuit breakers has not been in
common. But recently in conjunction with the development of
an electronic technology this barrier would be getting lower.
The controlled switching applied to circuit breakers has
received considerable attention as an effective method to
reduce the switching surges and stresses on the apparatus
0-7803-7525-4/02/$17.00 Q 2002 IEEE.
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*L
involved[l][2]. Especially, an inrush current on closing and
overvoltages due to current chopping or reignition during
opening have been recognized as the representative problems
in the shunt reactor switching. Up to date in order to reduce
the generation of these switching surges, the conventional
methods with a closing resister or an arrestor have been used.
but the recent evolution of the circuit breaker technologies, in
conjunction with the increased application of the electronics to
power system control, has made it possible to extend the
application of controlled switching to reduce switching
surges[3]-[7]. For the case of a network configuration with the
neutral earthed through the reactor in shunt reactor
applications, the magnitude and the instant of the crest voltage
across the contacts of circuit breakers are vaned as a function
of the ratio of a neutral reactor to shunt reactor. The optimum
instants for switching should be decided by the voltage across
the contacts or the anticipated current interruption moments as
well as the characteristics of circuit breakers, namely the
scatter of the circuit breaker operating time and the slope o f
the dielectric strength of a contact gap. In the previous studies,
only the network configurations with both an isolated neutral
and an earthed neutral have been considered but the switching
of shunt reactors with neutral earthed through an reactor has
not been dealt with.
In this paper a method is proposed which determines the
operating instants of the circuit breaker for controlled
switching of shunt reactors independent of the network
configuration.
11. DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL SWITCHING INSTANTS
The controlled switching has been adopted as an effective
method to reduce either overvoltages or inrush currents at the
application of circuit breakers to the shunt reactor switching.
The optimal point-on-wave for switching should be determined
by the circuit configuration and the characteristics of circuit
breaker in use. Fig. I shows the simple circuit configuration
with variable neutral reactor(LG) which is considered for
calculating the switching instants in this paper. In this figure if
the neutral reactor becomes to be a large extreme value, this
rcuit is similar to the isolated neutral condition and in the other
case of lower extreme values, earthed neutral condition may be
available. It is assumed that each pole of a circuit breaker
operates independently and the rate of decrease of dielectric
1760
strength(RDDS) between gap during contact traveling is
linearly proportional to the gap distance.

Ls LG
m
N -
V
-
L pole 2 IVLj
Fig. I.Circuit configuration for the eonoolld switching of a shunt reactor Vp and o represent the peak value of the applied voltage
( L sourcc side reactor, LR.s.T : shunt reactor of each phase) between the phase and the earth and an angular frequency,
respectively.
In the following sections a determining both
For the last phase to close, phase S, the voltage of a neutral
optimal closing and opening instants is described under some
point (VN) is also affected by the closing of the preceding
assumed conditions phases, it becomes as described in (3).

A. Optimum closing instant

The current should be initiated at voltage crest across each
contact in order to reduce or mitigate the inrush current of
shunt reactors. It is noted that these instants are not identical to
that of the mechanical contact touch because of the pre-strike
occurred at contact gaps subject to the applied voltage. Since it 771
Wt =-
is necessary to derive the magnitude and the instant of the S 6
voltage crest of each pole for determining the optimal closing
instants, the influence of the value of the neutral reactor on the
instant of a voltage crest across the circuit breaker contacts
vs (OT s ) = V .(If-
my21
From these equations it is known that the crest voltage across
should be described. And also the RDDS of contacts and the the contact on phase S always occurred at the same instant(716
deviation of a closing time scatter should be considered to
I[ ) and only the magnitude is changed as a function of the
decide the instants of mechanical contact touches.
parameter m as shown in (4) and (5). The voltages excursion
In the controlled switching, the target instants are the
as described in above equations are shown in Fig. 2.
moment of contact touches. Even though the same target
instants are used for closing the shunt reactor, the moment at
which a current starts to flow could differ due to the effect of
RDDS of circuit breakers. For simplification, the first pole to
close is assumed as phase R then consequently the next two
phases at which voltage crests are occurred would be noted as
phase T and S. For phase R the voltage waveform across the
contact gap can be easily estimated from the steady state
voltage. It is not affected by the value of the neutral reactor.
But for the case of a second closing pole, phase T, the
potential of a neutral point is changed due to the closing of
phase R and the magnitude therefore, the instant of crest
voltage between the contacts on phase T are also affected.
The voltage excursion across the contact of the second
operating pole is given by ( I ) with respect to the phase angle ..
-.
t phare S and T
Vs. VT: voltage BCTOSS the c ~ n t a c of
of the first pole as the reference and the instant at which the Fig. 2. Voltages across the contacts dunng closing (Reference phare angle :
peak voltage is appeared can be expressed as written in (2) voltage zero cross of phase R)
where Lc and L represent the inductance of a neutral and a
shunt reactor, respectively. The parameter m included in above The possible range of the instants and magnitudes of voltage
equations represents the ratio of the inductance of a shunt crests are appeared in this figure as bold lines marked with (1)
reactor to that of a neutral reactor(LiLc). and (2) with the variation of m. The trajectory of optimum
closing instants which corresponds to the voltage peak of a

1761
second closing pole with respect to the preceding zero cross of Although the circuit breaker behavior regarding to the rate
the reference voltage (phase R) is plotted as the curve ( I ) in of decay of dielectric strength of contacts gap is not changed,
Fig. 3 as the function of the parameter m. the K included in (7) should be modified according to the
In order to determine the optimum contact touch, the circuit magnitude of the applied voltage between contact gaps. The
breaker behaviors such as a mechanical scatter( A T ) of results obtained from (7) are the calculated instants which do
operation mechanism and the rate of decay of dielectric not consider the relationship among the poles therefore, it is
strength(RDD.9) between the contact gap should be necessary to use the same reference instant for three phase
appropriately considered. The relative value(K) of a circuit controlled switching. In Fig. 5 , the procedure for determining
breaker RDDS (Scs)with regard to the rate of voltage the optimum closing instants of each poles is illusuated.
approaching to the zero cross (SFO VP)is represented as (6). As the results from this procedure, the optimum contact
touches (tT, 1s') for phase T and S are given in (8) and (9) with
K=- respect to the preceding voltage zero cross on phase R as the
(6)
sR reference instant
In Fig. 4, the relationship between the contact touch and the
current initiation moment is illusuated and the instant of the
contact touch for the voltage peak point, marked P,
corresponds to the moment of 16.
And when concerning the scatter of operating time(*AT)
the span in which current could be initiated with symmetrical
making voltage around a peak voltage(P) is bounded with two
points as the left side lirnit(A) and the right side limit(B). And
the corresponding contact touch points would be t3 and 17,
respectively. The target point for a contact touch is set to 15
resulted from a mean value of these two extreme cases in order
Y

\&
to keep a maximum margin. It is noted that the calculated B(x2.Y2)
target point tS is not identical to t6 obtained from the voltage
peak point P. Fsin x F-W+b
This means that if the voltage applied to the contacts is
varied, K is also changed. The making target point for closing
around peak voltage was known as (7) through the previous
study[7].
t
target
= f ( K , AT)
0 ,
7
\ tl

t2 t3 t4
t5
16 17
target point

)
x
-- _T + cos(w-AT)
4 OK

(Step 1)
Determine K for the applied voltage
across the contacts.

(Step 2)
t,,,,.,=f(K. A T )

(Step 3)
Determine the optimum closing
instants for each poles with respect to
the preceding voltage zero crossing of
1 ~ 1 ' 1 ' 1 ' 1 phase R o n the identical time axis
0 5 10 15 zo
Katio 01 Inductance 'm' Fig. 5 . Procedure for determining the optimum daring instants for each phase
Fig. 3. Optimum instant for switching with respect to the preceding zero
crossing a B function of the parmeter m

1762
B. Optimum opening insranr
Determining opening instants is purposed to reduce
overvoltages due to current chopping or reignition at the
current interruption and is dependent on the arcing time of
circuit breakers. But it is not possible to achieve the
elimination of both causes at the same time hence a
compromise solution which is suit to the requirements must be
reached. Since overvoltages caused by reignition are normally
severer than current chopping overvoltages, it is necessary to
increase the time interval between the contact separation and
following current zero to he larger than the minimum arcing
time of the circuit breaker. However, since the current zero
anticipation for each pole is needed for deciding the instants of
contact separations, the effect of neutral reactor on the current
zero is described in this section. For the first pole to
clear(phase R) the current zero is predictable from the normal
current waveform independently of the neutral condition of
shunt reactors. But for the second pole to clear(phase T), the
neutral condition affects the instant of current zeros which are
derived from ( I O ) and (11).
The potential variation of the neutral point due to the
opening of phase R leads the phase angle of a current through
a pole T to be changed. Equation (10) describes the voltage
excursion on the phase T of a shunt reactor which is
represented as the VL in Fig. I . From (IO), the instant of the
currenl zero on phase T is derived as one given in ( I I). The
curve noted as (2) in Fig. 3 presents the phase variation of a
current zero. The reference instant uscd in ( I I ) corresponds to
the voltage zero on phase R and the estimated current zeros of
each pole are presented in Fig. 6.
.r,,
,
f' '\
, The making instants(t1, 12, 13) of each pole resulted from
Fig. 6. Current interrupting instants of each poles with respect to the
reference vo1rrgc zero
1763
The instant of a current zero(t1') on phase R is delayed 90"
from the reference point. For the phase T, the second operating
pole, the zero cross of its current is located within the region
between 12' and 13' and for the last operating pole the real
instant of a current zero occurs at 14' except for the isolated
neutral condition at which the current through both poles is
interrupted simultaneously.
The minimum arcing time and the variation of the operating
time should be considered for determining the optimum instant
of contact separation.
111. RESULTSOFTHE SIMULATION
For verifying the performance of the proposed method, the
simulation studies with electromagnetic transients
program(EMTP) are carried out. The making instants and
corresponding inrush currents are presented by using the
model circuit with the parameters of 550kV power system as
shown in Fig. 1. The inductance of a source side reactor and
that of a shunt reactor equal to 190mH and 6.0H, respectively
are used as significant system parameters. The parameter m
would he all possible values including the upper and the lower
extreme values. It is assumed that the slope of the dielectric
withstand between contact gap is identical to that of the
applying voltage at zero cross
To assess the performance of the proposed method the
current initiation at the voltage peak due to the pre-strike is
confirmed under the several conditions of a neutral reactor and
with the variation of RDDS. The representative result of these
verifications is illustrated in Fig. 7.
-2
(I), (2). (3): the rate of decreaseofdielectric strength for contact gaps on each
pole
Fig. 7. Optimal contact touch instants obtained from the proposed method
(m=l)
the target contact touches(t1'. 12'. 13') are at crest voltage across
the contact and this means that the inrush current has the
minimum level and the symmetrical waveform.
Hence, the mechanical variation in closing time should be
also considered in order to limit the inrush current. The spread
of the operating instants of each pole is given by normally
distributed random numbers which have a mean and a standard
deviation(o ). It is assumed that the possible variation span of
the closing time is within the range bounded by +AT around
the mean value as shown in Fig. 8. And the corresponding 30
in the given distribution is equal to AT. When the contacts are
close lo touching during the closing stroke the mean value of
the decrease in the withstand voltage can be approximated by a
linear function of time. The slope K(kV/sec) which is identical
to that of voltage at zero cross is depicted in Fig 8.
The calculated instant of a contact touch is set to the mean
value of the normal distribution which represents the statistical
scatter of operating time. The magnitude of inrush currents is
evaluated by the simulation studies with EMTP
negative
tolerance
nominal
positive
tolerance
slope : K
Fig. 8. Probability characteristics of &e variation in closing times
The inrush current increases with the scatter of a closing
time. During the simulation study, 100 closing operations are
performed with the statistical variation of closing time under
the condition of the preset time tolerance(AT) varying from 0
to 2.0 ms. Typical ones among the results for the case of AT
equal to 1 .Oms and 2.0 ms are appeared in Fig. 9.
For the case of AT equal to 2.0ms the maximum occurrence
locates in the range from 1.4 to 1.5 p.u. and the upper limiting
value i s about 1.8p.u. with respect to a normal current. For the
other values of A T , the ranges bounded by 30 are marked
with bold lines in Fig. 10 which correspond to the distribution
of inrush currents.
z ?, ?
, ?, ?, ,9 %, 2, ?,
Inrush Current (P.u.)
Y ~ R U Sinrush currents in p.u. (AT=l.O, 2.Orns)
Fig. 9. Number of ~ccurren~e
It means that if inrush current is required to be limited
below 1.5 p.u. the scatter of circuit breaker operating time
should be less than 1.4ms.
1164
For the circuit breaker with no scatter of operating time, the
corresponding inrush current is almost 1.0 p.u,, Therefore, the
instant of the contact touch for each pole is verified to be
calculated correctly.
2 1.8
1.6
1.4
c
-
g 1.2
8 1.0
0 1.0 2.0
Variation of Operating Time (ms)
Fig 10. Distribution of the inrush current with respect to operating time
scattenng(K=l)
IV. CONCLUSION
The optimum closing and opening instants for shunt reactor
applications in the cases of earthed neutral through a reactor as
well as both the isolated and directly earthed neulral are
provided by the method proposed in this paper. From the
results of this study it is clear that the magnitude and the
instant of the peak voltage across the contacts are affected by
the ratio of the inductance of a shunt reactor to that of neutral
reactor. Therefore the relative slope(K) of RDDS should be
considered to calculate the optimum instants. The performance
of the proposed method was verified by the simulation studies
with EMTP considering the behaviors of circuit breakers such
as the rate of decrease of dielectric strength and the variation
in operation times of the circuit breaker as important
parameters.
Additionally, the operation time scatter to limit the inrush
current to the level of less than a certain magnitude can be
established by using the obtained results.
V. ACKNOWLEDGMENI
This work was supported by the components and material
technique development program sponsored by the Ministry
of Commercial, Industry and Energy of South Korea.
VI. REFERENCES
[I1 Task Force 13.00, "Conuolled switching - A state-of-the-an survey (pan
I )" ELECTRA No.162. October 1995
121 Task Force 13.00, "Controlledswitching - A state-of-the-an survey (pun
IIY ELECTRA No.164, February 1996
. . D.F. Peelo. J.H. Sawuda. "Exoeriencewith controlled transmission line
131
1
autoreclosing und controlled shunt reactor switching on B.C. Hydro
system".CIGRE, 13-101, 1998
141 Y. Fushirni. T. Kobayashi. E. Haginomon, A. Kobayashi and K.
Suzuki."Re-ignitionfr& controlled s&ching of EHV high power shunt
reactor", CIGRE. 13-106. 1998
IS1 R.J. Rajotte, C. Charpentier. S. Breault, H. Hai Le and H.Huynh. "Field
tests of a circuit breaker synchronous controlll. IEEE Trans. on Power
e ~ in,
~ e i i ~vol. . NO. 3, iUiy 1995
(61 Working Group 13.07. "Controlled switching o f H V A C CBs guide for
application lines, reactors. capacitors, transformers (1st PmY,
ELECTRA, No.183. April 1999
[7] Working Group 13.07, "Controlled switching of H V A C CBs guide for
application lines, remors. capacitors. transformers (2nd PmY,
ELECTRA. No.185, August 1999
VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Woo-Young Lee received the B.S and M.S
degree i n electronic engineering from Kyungbook
National University in 1980 and 1982
respectively. Since 1982.he has becn with KERI,
s n principle research engineer in the advanced
power apparatus research group. His research
inlcrests me controlled switching, measuring
techniques i n high power, partial discharge
mwurement.
Tel:055-280-1572. Fax:055-280-1589
E-mail: wylee@ ksn.rc.kr
Kyong-Yop Park received the B.S degree i n
electrical engineering from Seoul National
University in 1979, the M.S and Ph.D degree from
Liverpool Univrsity, U.K. Since 1981.he has been
with KERI. 8s a executive director of [he
advanced power apparatus research group. His
research interests are flow field analysis, analysis
of lest results and arc phenomena i n gas circuit
breakers.
Tel:055-280-1561,Fsx:055-280-1589
E-mail: kypwkI3kcri.re.b
1765
'7 Jin-Kyo Chong received the B.S and M.S
\i degree in clecttical engineering from Kangwon
National University in 1991 and 1994
1j respectively. Since 1994. he h a been with KERI,
as a senior research engineer i n the advanced
power apparatus research group. His research
1 interests are the mdysis of an slrctromngnetic
-..
-1
i field and the test o f circuit breakers.
Tel:055-280-1564. Fux:O55-28O-I589
E-mail: ikchone@keri.re.kr
Byeong-Yoon Lee received the B.S. M.S and
Ph.D degree i n elrcrrical engineering from Seoul
National University in 1990.1992 and 1997
respectively. Since 1996, he has been with KERI.
iv B senior research cngincer i n the advanced
power apparvtus research group. His research
interests are flow field analysis. electric
magnetic analysis and arc phenomena i n gas
circuit breakers.
TcI:O55-280~1565.
Fax:055-280-1589
Hee-Jim Kim received the B.S and M.S dzgrec
in electrical mginzeting from Kwangwmn and
lnhv University in 1980 and 1982 rcspcctivrly.
Since 1994. he has hem with Vilrro Tech Co.. as
a manager of the technical institute in this
company. His research interests are the design of
a vacuum interrupicr and D circuit breaker and
plasma applications.
Tel:03l-489-2004. Fm03 1492-2216
E-mail: hikim@vitrrotech.com