Gas Insulated

Switchgear (GIS)
by
Akinwande, Quadri Olufemi
Power Plant,
Dangote Cement PLC, Ibese.
Contents
What is a Switchgear
What is a GIS
Why SF6
Features of Siemens 8DA10 GIS
Benefits of GIS
References.
 WHAT IS A SWITCHGEAR
Switchgear is a generic term and includes the entire range of switching
devices and their combination with associated control, measuring,
protecting and regulating equipment. The assemblies of such devices
and equipment with associated inter-connections, accessories,
enclosures and supporting structures, intended, in principle, for use in
connection with the generation, transmission, distribution and
conversion of electric energy also form a switchgear.
The main functions of switchgear are:
i. Electrical protection
ii. Electrical isolation of sections of an installation
iii. Local or remote switching
 What is a Gas insulated
Switchgear

A gas insulated switchgear is a switchgear in which it insulating

medium is Sulphur Hexaflouride (SF6) gas. The gas is used as
insulating medium for all primary component.

SF6 is a colourless, odourless, non inflammable, non toxic, chemically

neutral and inert gas.
 Why SF6 Gas
i. It is a colourless and odourless gas.
ii. It has a density of 6.139kg/cubic meter i.e. five times heavier than air
(1.2041kg/cubic meter at 20deg.Cel and 0.1MPa).
iii. It has a specific heat capacity of 3.7 time that of air, thereby, having
excellent thermal conductivity. High heat transfer permits lower
operating temperatures.
iv. It has an insulation capacity of 2.5 times that of air, thereby, providing
a good dielectric strength compared to air.
v. Nontoxic, nonflammable and noncorrosive.
vi. Chemically stable with high breakdown strength. SF6 molecules
provide excellent arc quenching during electrical operations which
minimizes contact wear and maintenance.
vii. Readily available in many commercial locations.
 Why SF6 Gas Contd

Also, For distribution switchgear, SF6 provides these important

advantages:
I. Size reduction
II. Weight reduction
III. Reliable operation
IV. Ease of installation
V. Ease of handling
VI. Ease and reduction of maintenance
 Why SF6 Gas Contd

On the environmental aspect SF6 gas have the following merits

I. SF6 does not deplete the ozone layer when released into the
atmosphere. This is because SF6 does not contain chlorine atoms as
do CFCs (chlorinated fluorocarbons).
II. SF6 has been identified as a greenhouse gas. This means that SF6 is
one of a group of gases which can absorb and reradiate back to earth
some of the earth's natural infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases are
important to maintain the natural surface temperature of the earth.
 8DA10 SWITCHGEAR
Fixed-mounted circuit-breaker switchgear 8DA10 is indoor, factory-assembled,
type-tested, metal enclosed, metal-clad, SF6-insulated switchgear for single
busbar applications, as well as for traction power supply systems.
 Technical Data of 8DA10
Specifications Value
Rated Voltage 36 kV (33kV)
Rated Frequency 50/60 Hz
Rated short-duration power-frequency 70 kV
withstand voltage

Lightning Impulse withstand 170kV

Short-circuit Breaking Current 40kA (31.5kA)

Short Time Withstand Current (3s) 40kA

Short-circuit Making Current 100/104kA

Peak Withstand Current 100/104kA

Busbar Nominal Current 5kA
Feeders Nominal Current 2500A
 Technical Features of 8DA10
GIS
1. Low Voltage Compartment
1 2. Multifunction protection relay
3. Control and Indication board
2
for three position disconnector
and Circuit breaker position.
3 4. Manometer for monitoring of
4 feeders gas compartment
5 5. Gas filling port for feeder
6 compartment
6. Circuit breaker operating
mechanism
7
7. Voltage detecting system
8 8. Busbar housing
Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd

9
9. Busbar
10 10. Busbar housing
11
11. Three position disconnector
12 12. Upper bushing
13 13. Circuit breaker housing
14 14. Vacuum interrupter
15 15. Current transformer
16
16. Pole support plate
17. Panel connection housing
17
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd
1. Low Voltage Compartment: Inside this compartment is mounted, the
Protection, Control, Measuring and metering equipments

2. Multifunction Protection Relay: This is a SIPROTEC 4 relay family. It is

used mainly as a protective, control and monitoring relay for both the
generator and distribution feeders.
The protective functions includes:
Time-overcurrent protection (definite-time/inverse-time)
Directional time-overcurrent protection (definite-time/inverse-time)
Sensitive dir./non-dir. earth-fault detection
Displacement voltage
Intermittent earth-fault protection
Breaker failure protection
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd
Control Function :
Flexible number of switching devices
Position of switching elements is shown on the graphic display
Local/remote switching via keyoperated switch
Control via keyboard, binary inputs, DIGSI 4 or DCS system
Extended user-defined logic with CFC

Monitoring Function:
Operational measured values V, I, f,...
Energy metering values Wp, Wq
Circuit-breaker wear monitoring
Slave pointer
Trip circuit supervision
Oscillographic fault records
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd
The Manometer for
monitoring the feeder
compartment SF6 gas
pressure.

It has a graduation
between -100kPa to
200kPa.
The two red graduated
level to the right and
left indicates No safe Zone for high and low gas pressure limit respectively.
While the middle green graduated level indicate safety limit level for the gas
pressure in the feeder compartment.
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd

Three Position Disconnector:

The three position disconnector combine the
work of a disconnector and an earthing
1
switch and it is designed for No-load
operation. 2

It has three major parts namely:

1. Closed Position Fixed contact 3
2. Movable Contact
3. Ready-to-Earth Fixed contact

The operation of three position disconnector

with the indicator is described in the below,
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd

-Three Position Disconnector is in OPEN position

-The Circuit Breaker is in OPEN position
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd

-Three Position Disconnector is CLOSED

-The Circuit Breaker is CLOSED
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd

-Three Position Disconnector is in READY-TO-EARTH position

-The Circuit Breaker is in OPEN position
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd

-Three Position Disconnector is EARTHED

-The Circuit Breaker is in CLOSED position
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd
Circuit Breaker:
The Circuit Breaker is an integral part of the switchpanel and consists;
Operating mechanism with stored-energy spring mechanism and control
elements
Operating linkage for contact operation
3 switchpanel poles with vacuum interrupters

Operating Mechanism: The circuit-breaker is closed electrically (From remote

station or from the multifunction protective relay) or mechanically with the
ON pushbutton. The charged closing spring is forced to release thereby
transmitting the operating power to the vacuum interrupters through an
operating linkage. The closing spring is immediately recharged, by the spring
charging motor or manually with the hand crank coupling of the gear, after
closing.
Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd
The circuit breaker position and the charging condition of the spring can be
read on the indicators while the number of times the breaker was operated
can be read from the operations counter.
1. Auxiliary Switches 9. Operations counter
2. ON Pushbutton 10. Circuit breaker status indicator
3. Closing coil 11. Closing Spring charged/not
4. 1st Shunt Release charged indicator
5. OFF Pushbutton 12. Position switch
6. Undervoltage Release 13. Closing Spring
7. Operating Shaft for Circuit 14. Gear with hand crank coupling
breaker 15. Rating Plate
8. Opening Spring
 Technical Features of 8DA10 GIS
Contd
Vacuum Interrupter: This is a device inside which making and breaking
of electrical circuit occur in the medium voltage switchpanel.
It consists mainly of
1. Moving contact
2. Metal bellows
3. Fixed contact
 Bushing
Top Flange

Interrupter Support

Vaccum Interrupter

Terminal

Sectional view of switchpanel pole with vacuum interrupter

 Benefits of Gas Insulated
Switchgear
1. Local Operator safety :
The total enclosure of all live parts in earthed metal enclosures
provides immanent protection against electric shock and minimizes
the risks associated with human errors. The high-grade switchgear
remains hermetically
sealed for its whole service life, thereby, providing a substantial
contribution to reduce accident risk.
 Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd
2. Very high operational reliability:
Inside the enclosed gas compartments, the primary conductors have
complete protection against all external effects. The minimal use of
synthetics reduces the fire load. The SF6 insulation ensures
complete freedom from oxidation for the contacts and screwed
joints, which means that there is no gradual reduction in the
current carrying capacity of the equipment as it ages.
There is no reduction in insulation capacity due to
external factors.
 Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd

3. Important contribution to the security of supply

Total enclosure also means that the equipment is almost completely
independent from the environment. SF6-insulated switchgear can
also be used under difficult climatic conditions, for example:
In humid areas with frequent condensations from temperature
changes, and even in places with flooding potential.
Where the reliability of the insulation might otherwise suffer from
contamination, e.g. dust from industry or agriculture or saline
deposits in coastal areas.
Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd

Gas insulated switchgear completely eliminates this possibility

throughout the whole service life of an installation.
In contrast to air insulation, whose insulating capacity reduces
with increasing altitude, SF6-insulated switchgear retains its full
insulating capacity regardless of height above sea level.
So larger and more costly special designs, or equipment with
higher insulation ratings - and therefore more costly - are avoided
 Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd
4. Small space requirement
Due to the high dielectric strength of the gas, the switchgear is
compact with minimum space requirements. The excellent safety and
low space requirement of SF6 switchgear allows it to be sited directly
in conurbations and close to load centres, such as city
centres, industrial manufacturing plants and commercial areas.
Therefore, this fulfils one of the basic essentials of power distribution,
namely that substations should be placed as close as possible to load
centres in order to keep transmission losses to a minimum, to
conserve resources and to minimize costs.
 Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd
Due to this compactness, it also allows for existing buildings to be
used in a situation where switchgear replacement or extension are
to be done to meet the needed load growth.

Air Insulated
Switchgear

Gas Insulated
Fig. 1: Space Switchgear
comparison between
AIS and GIS
 Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd

5. Excellent economical and ecological features

Distinct economic benefits come from:
- the long service life,
minimal maintenance expenditure thanks to
maintenance-free, gas-tight enclosures
reduced costs for land, buildings, transport and
commissioning.
- maximum operational reliability as a prerequisite for the
remote control and automation of power networks
 Benefits of Gas Insulated Switchgear
Contd

Ecological and economic benefits arise from:

- Minimum transmission losses as a result of placing equipment
close to load centres.
- Reduced primary energy consumption and emissions
contribute to economically optimized power supply systems.
- And the long service life of SF6 switchgear also
contributes to the conservation of resources.
 Refrences

1. Siemens, 2010, Installation and Maintenance Instruction: Medium

Voltage Switchgear, Revision: 07.
2. G & W, SF6 Gas and Environment.
3. Sharif Ahmed, 2014, Medium Voltage Gas Insulated Switchgear, IEEE
Conference Presentation.
4. Capiel, Frequently asked questions and answers on SF6