HT SHUNT CAPACITORS AND CAPACITOR BANKS

0.1 1.1 INTRODUCTION In any power utility, maintaining stable power supply at proper voltage is always a problem. Due to lot of inductive load the reactive power flow takes place in the system which results into lowering of system voltage and increase in T&D losses.

1.2 The HT shunt capacitors provided in the form of bank at 11kV, 22kV, 66kV and 132kV provides an interim solution in improving the power system stability, the voltage and power factor. The HT shunt capacitor bank also compensate the losses occurring in the transmission lines and transformers. 1.3 The HT shunt capacitors are being installed by power utilities in the Country at various voltages. The bank is connected to the main bus and thus the parameters of the bus as above are improved. The paper hereunder describes the planning, design and construction as well as maintenance aspects of capacitor banks. 1.0 2.1 PLANNING OF CAPACITOR BANKS The Indian power system is divided into 5 zones such as Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and North Eastern Region Electric Grids. The power system of constituent state power utilities and corporate power utilities are connected in group in the Regional Grid. Thus in a particular Regional Grid power flow varies depending upon the demand and supply in the sub-region (constituent utility). Thus depending upon the maximum loading on the system, the Regional Electricity Board decides the total quantum of reactive power compensation. The allocation to various constituent members is done by the Regional Electricity Board and in turn the constituent electricity board or utility has to provide the quantum of capacitors in their respective network.

2.2 So far as Gujarat Electricity Board is concerned, as on 31.12.2002 about 3600MVAR capacitor banks have been provided in the system of around 8500MW. This is owing to the fact that the power system of Gujarat is creeper configurated with all the generation concentrated in the southern part of the State and EHT lines extending to the far Northern Region, far Western Region (Saurashtra Region) and far North Western Region (Kutch Region). In such a situation any steps for improving the power system (by constructing new lines and sub-station) do not bring any fruitful results. Thus to improve the bus voltage at 11kV, 22kV, 66kV and132kV, there is no alternative but to provide HT shunt capacitors in the sub-station to take care of the drop in bus voltage due to distribution load comprising inductive component. 2.3 For installation of capacitor banks it is necessary to collect the data from various sub-stations connected directly with the distribution network (11kV, 22kV, 66kV and 132kV). The voltage profile during normal and abnormal loads as well as peak hours including seasonal load are studied and provision of capacitor bank is decided in terms of its capacity. For example if voltage dip on 11kV bus is ranging from 2% to 5% we can install about 2.5MVAR capacitor bank on 11kV

and if the dip is higher we can provide 2.5 x 2MVAR capacitor bank. In 66kV and 132kV class bus, 10MVAR capacitor bank is a must for small decrease in bus voltage and for large variation in the bus voltage, multiple of 10MVAR capacitor banks are required to be introduced in the sub-station. The duration of low voltage and nature of connected load as well as the revenue is also instrumental in taking a decision regarding installation of capacitor bank. The nature of the load i.e. harmonic, oriented loads, seasonal load, public amenities load (water works, sewage work etc.) has to be evaluated before embarking on the decision to install the capacitor bank. 2.4 While planning the installation of capacitor banks, load flow study is also taken into account considering various contingencies so that the situation of over voltage due to the presence of capacitor bank is avoided under extreme low load condition. 2.5 The physical planning of installation of capacitor bank include the actual availability of space at each sub-station and also ease in operation are important for final decision for installation of capacitor banks. 3.0 COMPONENTS OF CAPACITOR BANK

3.1 As per the practice prevailing today, the capacitor bank of 11kV comprise 200KVAR external fuse type capacitor cell, isolators, LAs, in-door breakers panel, CT, RVT and reactor. 3.2 22kV, 66kV and 132kV capacitor bank comprise 200KVAR internal fuse type capacitor cell, out-door breaker, in-door control panel, CT, isolators, LAs, NCT and reactor. 3.3 All the equipments are supported by suitable galvanized mild steel latticed structures and well founded. The capacitor cells are mounted in the special racks above a minimum specified ground level. Capacitor cells are connected in series-parallel to form a capacitor bank. Thus the racks are also supported by latticed structures made out of galvanized mild steel angles, channels etc. The typical single line diagram for 11kV and 22/66/132kV capacitor banks is shown in the diagram.` 4.0 GENERAL DESIGN ASPECTS 4.1 CAPACITOR BANKS 4.1.1 Capacitor bank shall be made of number of capacitor units groups in seriesparallel. Three phase star/double star connected and suitable for out-door operation. The capacitor unit shall be built in a container of 1.6mm thick C.R.C.A. sheet steel and shall be hermetically sheet and shall be painted in epoxy paint by spray method. 4.1.2 The capacitor unit shall be made out of polypropylene and alluminium coil properly embossed for impregnation. Capacitor dielectric shall be 100% polypropylene. Each capacitor unit shall have 2 machines of 15KVA voltage class with a creepage distance of 373mm. 4.1.3 The capacitor shall have low value of loss not exceeding .2 Watt per KVAR. The dielectric medium shall be non toxic.

The protective fuses shall be external type in case of 11kV capacitor bank and shall be of adequate thermal capacity. The capacitor unit together with external fuse shall be arranged in such a way to avoid bird faults by providing adequate clearance between the body and the line terminal. 4.1.5 The 22kV, 66kV and 132kV capacitor units shall be internal fuse type and each unit shall be provided with fuses for each element within the unit itself. 4.1.6 In case of fault, the faulty element will automatically go out of circuit. 4.1.7 The capacitor unit shall be capable of operating at 10% over voltage of the rated Rms voltage. The peak and crest value shall not exceed the rated Rms voltage by more than 56%. The capacitor unit shall be suitable for continuous operation for the current not exceeding 30% which is likely to flow at + - 10% rated voltage and +1% to 5% rated frequency (50 hz). 4.1.8 Each capacitor unit shall contain directly connected discharge resistors which shall be capable of reducing the residual voltage from crest value of rated voltage to 50 volts or less within 5 minutes. 4.1.9 Each capacitor bank is protected against lightning by gapless zinc oxide Arrester. The protection equipment include over current, earth leakage and protection to detect unbalance loading due to abnormal conditions. 4.1.10 For over current protection, each bank is provided with triple pole IDMT characteristics O/C & E/F relay. One master trip relay is also used for over current protection and earth fault protection. 4.1.11 For the phase unbalance detection residual voltage transformer (RVT) three phase units of suitable rating shall be provided. Neutral of the primary windings of the RVT is connected with the unearthed neutral of the capacitor bank of which the secondary winding would form an open delta for feeding a voltage relay, which would actuate an alarm/trip at the predetermined settings. 4.1.12 The residual voltage transformer is suitably designed for capacitor bank being discharged through its windings after the disconnection of the bank from the supply source. 4.1.13 The protection includes, over voltage and instantaneous no voltage protection and power factor control. 4.1.14 Time delay Relays : Adjustable type of relays to prevent the re-switching in of the capacitor bank earlier than the minimum time required for bringing down the discharge voltage within safe limit after a switch-off, is included. 4.2.0 INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMER 4.2.1 The instrument transformer i..e. CT, PT, NCT, RVT, is provided for metering and protection. These transformers shall be designed as per IS : 2705 IEC Publication No. 186, IS:3156 or IEC. 4.3.0 CIRCUIT BREAKERS (11kV, 66kV) 4.3.1 The circuit breakers shouldl comply with the requirement of the latest edition of IS:2516, Part-I Section-III or IEC Publication No. 56 (as amended up to date). 11 kV circuit breakers is of vacuum and indoor, with raising and lowering mechanism, transportation truck, isolating plug and spouts with automatic safety shutters, padlocking arrangements and necessary mechanical interlocks. The switch board unit has the control and relay board on the front. The switchboard unit shall accommodate the circuit breaker, CTs, PTs and busbars. 4.3.2 The circuit breaker for 66 KV is SF6 type and for 11 KV vacuum type only. 4.3.3 The circuit breakers is capable of rapid and smooth interruption of currents under all conditions, completely suppressing all undesirable phenomena even under the most severe and persistant short circuit conditions of during capacitor

4.1.4

switching operations. There shall be no restriking, no abnormal voltage and no high frequency current generation consequent to switching the capacitor banks. The over voltage caused by curcuit breaker while switching inductive or capacitive loads shall not exceed 2.5 times the highest phase to neutral voltage. The circuit breaker shall be suitable of 7.2 MVAR, 12.65 KV, & 14.4 MVAR 76 KV, for 11 KV & 66 KV respectively. 4.3.4 The circuit breaker shall be trip free. 4.3.5 The symmetrical breaking capacity of the breaker shall remain constant within the limits of the rated voltages specified. For voltage lower than the rated voltage, the breaking current shall remain constant. 4.3.6 The main contacts shall be first to open and the last to close so that there will be little burning and wear of the secondary contacts. Arcing contacts, if provided shall be first to close and last to open and shall be easily accessible for inspection and replacement. Tips of arcing and main contacts shall be silver plated. The Circuit breaker shall be suitable for rapid closing and tripping/opening. The breaker opening and closing operations shall be obtained from compressed spring charging mechanism or pneumatic mechanism. The spring charging mechanism shall be suitable for motor and manual operations. Spring operated mechanism shall be complete with opening spring, closing spring and shall be provided with all necessary accessories to make the mechanism complete operating unit. 4.3.7 The closing release shall operate correctly at all values of voltage between 85% and 110% of the rated voltage. The shut trip shall operate correctly under all operating conditions of the circuit breaker upto the 110% rated breaking capacity of the circuit breaker and at all values of supply voltage between 70% to 130% rated voltage. 4.4.0 CONTROL AND RELAY BOARD (FOR 11kV CAPACITOR BAKS) 4.4.1 Each capacitor bank is controlled by an indoor type floor mounting draw out cubicle type switch board enclosing circuit breaker in it. On the front of this switchboard is provided the control and relay board of the switchgear. The front board is made of sheet steel. The front of panels where relays and instruments are to be mounted are of strained & level steel plate minimum 3 mm thick and side panels, doors and back covers of minimum 2 mm thick steel plates. All instruments relays and control switches, indicating maps etc. shall be mounted on the front side of the panel. 4.4.2 3 Nos. flush mounting type square dial Ammeter are provided for indication of each phase current continuously. The Ammeter shall be suitable for use with CT rates for 5 Amps. Nominal secondary current. Full scale value of the Ammeter shall be 20% excess of the nominal current. 11000/110 volts or 11000/220 V potential transformers shall also be provided. One power factor meter with center zero scale indicate the power factor of the system is provided having minimum range of 0.5 lag to 0.5 lead. 4.4.3 Indicating lamps are provided on the control panel to indicate the following: (i) Circuit Breaker spring charged : 1 No. (ii) Circuit Breaker Trip Circuit healthy. : 1 No. (iii) ON & OFF position of Circuit Breakers : 2 Nos. (iv) Circuit Breaker Auto Tripped. : 1 No. The indicating lamp under (ii) shall be provided with continuous monitoring circuit and shall give an automatic indication and alarm under any abnormal condition in trip circuit. All the lamps shall be connected to the 230 V AC supply of the sub-station except the lamps under (ii) and (iv) which shall be connected to auxiliary DC supply of the sub-station.

4.4.4

4.5.0 4.5.1

4.6.0 4.6.1

Fuses shall be cartridge type. Carrier and base for the fuses and links for all DC and AC Circuit have imprints of rating, voltage and circuit designation. A cut out of suitable dimensions alongwith a cover plate shall be provided at the bottom of the cabinet to receive control cables. The 11000/110V or 11000/220 V PT to be provided in each circuit breaker switchboard unit shall be suitable for metering, over voltage and under voltage protection of the capacitor banks. AC & DC fail alarm scheme shall be provided. 1 No. KVARh meter to record 3 Phase KVARh of the Capacitor bank shall be provided. The energy meter shall be of Electro Magnetic type or Digital/static type. CORELESS SERIES REACTOR (11kV & 66kV) The reactor shall operate satisfactorily with harmonic currents upto 50% of the fundamental current. The reactors shall be outdoor type non-magnetically shielded or dry air cooled type and shall conform to the latest edition of ISS: 5553 (Part-II) of IEC Publication No. 289 (as amended uptodate). The reactor shall be natural air cooled coreless type with one bushings each on incoming and outgoing side. ISOLATORS : (11kV & 66kV) Isolators shall be outdoor type, triple pole, double break, pedestal mounted, suitable for gang operation and manual operation. Manual operating handle shall also be provided. The isolator shall be provided with manually operated single earth switch where specified. The isolators shall be so constructed that the switch blade shall not fail to the closed position if the operating shaft gets disconnected. Suitable interlocking should be provided to prevent the accidental closing of the isolator without removal of the earth blade from the live circuit. The contacts shall be silver plated. Position indicators for ON/OFF and auxiliary contacts for remote indication shall be provided. MOUNTING RACKS/ELEVATED STRUCTURES FOR CAPACITOR BANK (11kV & 66kV) The frame shall be made of hot dip galvanized steel angle sections. The mounting pads shall be welded to the frame. Each end of the rack shall have provision to receive incoming line leads. Sufficient space must be provided between rows in a rack for easy replacement of any capacitor unit. Lifting lugs or eyes shall be provided. Mounting pads shall have holes for mounting base insulator. Insulator shall be mounted between individual racks, if necessary and insulator required for base mounting and for bus support shall be of 22/33kV Class. An aluminium/Copper bus; supported on suitable insulator shall be provided in each rack for connection of units either in series or parallel. Disposition of the individual units and their connections and other accessories maintaining adequate clearances shall be so designed that there should be minimum possibility of bird fault and thereby causing damage to the capacitors and its other accessories.

4.7.0 4.7.1

4.7.2 4.7.3

4.8.0

PRINCIPLES AND OPERATION OF HT SHUNT CAPACITOR BANK

4.8.1

The capacitor bank is basically a tool to compensate for the reactive power drawn by the consumers through various distribution feeders. The power factor which is lagging to the extent of .7 can also be corrected to about .9 or . 95. Due to fix nature of inductive load in respective feeder more voltage drop takes place as current lags behind the voltage and for a given load the current drawn will be more and therefore the voltage drop IZ will be more. Thus voltage will be sacrificed when inductive load is connected. The low power factor will also mean a loss to the utility which is supplying power as the energy meters record only active power. Low power factor also means increase in current as stated above and in turn means increase in I2R losses. The provision of purely capacitive load on the bus makes the angle between voltage and current to reduce and thus improve the situation of low voltage (low power factor) and high loss. The power consumption of the capacitor unit is kept very low (about .2 watts per KVAR). Thus 200KVAR unit would consume 40 Watts. Capacitor bank is connected on the sub-station bus and is always kept charged and therefore the compensation is always available. To protect the capacitor unit from the damage due to harmonics pumped by the erratic loads (rolling mill, railway engine, lifts, electronics appliances etc.) reactors are provided in series. The capacitor bank is controlled by in-door or out-door breaker as the case may be and the respective control panel installed in the control room. The capacitor cells are connected in series-parallel to form the adequate capacity (2.5MVAR, 10MVAR etc). In case of 11kV capacitor bank residual voltage transformer (RVT) is provided to protect the capacitor unit, in case of shifting of neutral (owing to failure of few capacitor cells). In such a case the RVT connected between the two neutral points experiences a differential current and provides a signal to the relay and drip coil upto breaker (Neutral displacement relay). In case of 22kV, 66kV and 132kV capacitor banks the current is insignificant and RVTs cannot provide sufficient protection against the internal fault of the capacitor unit. Therefore neutral current transformer (NCT) is provided with term ratio 1:1. Besides it is note worthy that the 11kV capacitor banks are provided with the capacitor cells which have external fuse arrangement to take care of the internal fault whereas in case of 22kV, 66kV and 132kV class capacitor cells internal fuse type capacitor units are procured. As stated above the current in the buses of 22kV, 66kV and 132kV is insignificant and therefore the damage to one step within the capacitor unit will not matter much and will not bring down the capacity of the capacitor bank. Besides in case of higher voltage buses it is difficult to get shut down of the capacitor bank very often for replacement of external fuses etc. Therefore the internal fuse type capacitor units provides much facility.

4.8.2

4.8.3 4.8.4

4.8.5 4.8.6

4.8.7

4.8.8

4.8.9

4.8.10 In capacitor bank lightening arrestors, isolators etc. are also provided for easy maintenance. 4.8.11 During the construction of capacitor bank it should be ensured that proper electrical clearances are maintained and the capacitor bank should be covered with a chain link fencing and proper warning of danger should also be displaced. 4.8.12 The modern practice of constructing a bank is to lay the capacitor unit horizontally and connect them. While carrying out the construction work it should be ensured that all the series parallel connections should be sufficiently tight. Similarly clamp connectors to the bus wires and to the equipment are sufficiently tight. 4.8.13 Proper time to time maintenance of the capacitor bank is very much vital for the power system. During the operations it should be ensured that after fault the capacitor bank should be charged only after the time prescribed by the manufacturer i.e. ( 5 minutes to 10 minutes) as the minimum time required for each capacitor unit is to discharge from its 7.6 KW rating to safe level of 50Valt is usually 5 to 10 minutes. While carrying out the maintenance also this point is very much vital. In polluted areas frequent maintenance is recommended.