CIGRE-IEC 2016 Colloquium on

EHV & UHV (AC & DC)

Montreal, Canada May 9-11, 2016

Canadian Experience
with
Dry Type EHV Current Transformers
Presented By:
Binzhan Chen BC Hydro
Bob Middleton RHM International
James Nicholson Manitoba Hydro

The HV DryShield Current

Transformer Technology

The HV DryShield Current

Transformer

1 Primary Winding: U-Shaped dry type

composite condenser graded bushing.
1

2 Link: Mechanical connection enabling

change in primary winding turns.
3 Secondary windings independently sealed
against moisture.
4 Secondary terminal box.
Note: Dynamic stability performance is
enhanced thanks to the larger primary winding
arms spacing.

A Stress-Free Insulation Design

BENEFITS OF THE HV DRYSHIELD

TECHNOLOGY
Before: Potential for explosion, toxic
byproducts with oil & gas filled CTs

Explosive Failure of an Oil Filled CT

Conventional oil and gas filled CTs have the following

hazards:
Worker injury from catastrophic explosion of oil-filled
CTs and expulsion of toxic decomposition products
from SF6-filled CTs
Environmental damage from oil and gas leaks
Heavy unit weight complicates construction handling
Condition assessment maintenance required periodically

Solution: T&D substituted conventional

CTs with dry type CTs

Installed HV DryShield CTs

Dry type CTs (72 & 145 kV) manufactured by RHM

International provide the following benefits:
Improved safety no risk of explosion and toxic
decomposition products are eliminated
Easier installation half the weight of conventional units
and physically smaller
Environmentally friendly oil or gas leaks are
eliminated & recyclable insulation materials are used
Low maintenance lower cost of ownership

Over 25 years of continuous dry type innovation up to 600 kV

The Manitoba Hydro HV

DryShield Current Transformer
Experience

A Few Facts:
90% of our power comes from hydroelectric
MH operates both AC and DC
transmission systems
A 500 kV DC transmission system
consisting of 2 Bi-Poles (a third under
construction) transmits electricity from
northern Manitoba to southern Manitoba
115 kV, 138 kV, 230 kV and 500 kV AC lines
transmit electricity around the province
In addition to providing electricity to
approx. 525,000 customers in Manitoba,
MH exports to its neighboring provinces
and to mid-western markets in the US.

HV & EHV Current Transformers

Historically oil-filled CTs were purchased for
these requirements.
An aging inventory of oil-filled CTs and an
increasing trend of catastrophic failures led
to a reassessment of the type of technology
to be used going forward
MH Rosser station July 2008, 230kV oil filled
CT failure.
In 2010 MH started to investigate the
practicality of switching to the HV
DryShield dry type CT for its HV and EHV
requirements

HV & EHV Current Transformers

This investigation involved the following due diligence steps:
A review of published engineering papers on the technology
A review of the certified type tests & routine tests performed on
the HV DryShield CT
A compliance check with CSA instrument transformer standards
Reference checks (BC Hydro, Hydro-Quebec, Measurement
Canada)
Factory assessment by MB Hydro, QC staff. BC Hydro factory
assessment report.
MB Hydro in-house testing of a sample 138 kV HV DryShield CT
which was provided by the manufacturer for this acceptance,
investigation and confirmation testing

To date approximately 249 HV DryShield current transformers have

been purchased for the Manitoba Hydro transmission system:
Voltage
115kV
138kV
230 kV

# of Units
45
33
171

CT features include:
110% continuous overvoltage rating
Ambient temperature operating range from -50C to 40C
Series/parallel primary connection with multi-ratio taps
Maximum short circuit ratings of 50 kA and 63 kA & special 72kA @
a 138kV legacy Station.
4 cores, each core dual rated for metering and protection accuracies
(0.3B1.8 and 10L800) for 230kV, and (0.3B1.8 and 2.5L800) for 138kV,
115kV.

115 kV HV DryShield CT
Brandon GS

230 kV HV DryShield CT
Ridgeway Station

600 kV HV DryShield Current Transformer R&D Project

In July 2014 MH experienced a
catastrophic failure of one of its vintage
500 kV (600 kV MCOV) oil-filled CTs.

The success of the HV DryShield CT

technology at 115 kV, 138 kV and 230 kV
prompted MH to investigate the feasibility
of replacing the EHV CT with a 500kV
(600kV MCOV) HV DryShield CT.

600 kV HV DryShield Current Transformer R&D Project

Project Specifications:
600 kV maximum continuous operating voltage
200x400 to 2000/4000A series/parallel primary, 5-5-5-5A
secondary
63 kA short circuit rating
4 cores dual accuracy rated for metering and protection (i.e.
maximum tap ratings of 0.3B1.8 and 2.5 L800)
RF 1.0
Ambient temperature operating range -50C to 40C

600 kV HV DryShield Current Transformer R&D Project

Two designs were evaluated
single stage and two stage
(double decker)
It was found that although the
single stage design was still
economical at 230 kV and 300
kV significant cost savings
and weight reduction could
be achieved by using a
double decker design at 600
kV.
This development is described in paper 016
and presented tomorrow session 7B

The BC Hydro HV DryShield

Current Transformer Experience

A Few Facts:
80% of our power comes from hydroelectric
Over 19,000 km of transmission lines
deliver electricity around the province.
Operating voltages are 69 kV, 138 kV, 161
kV, 230 kV, 287 kV, 360 kV and 500 kV.
In addition to providing electricity to
approx. 1.8 million customers in BC, BCH
exports to Alberta and to markets in the
US.

To date there are approximately 195 HV DryShield current

transformers installed on the BC Hydro transmission system:
72.5kV

74

138kV TPY

38

145kV

18

170 TPY

245

21

287

32

ZH-300

The Northwest Transmission Line Project

A new interconnection project to bring power to northwest BC for potential
industrial development. Involved a 344 km 287 kV transmission line from the
Skeena substation to a new substation near Bob Quinn Lake.
CT Requirements for the project:
- Robust design for high reliability
- Minimal maintenance
- 6 cores (4 TPY and 2 TPS)

HV DryShield Chosen

BC Hydro Current Transformer Replacement Program

A multi-year replacement program to replace:
- its aging fleet of oil-filled CTs (oil leaks, PCB
contamination, explosive failure concerns).
- its leaking SF6 gas-filled current transformers which
have become a high maintenance and operating cost
for BC Hydro.
Decision has been made to replace with dry type technology
(HV DryShield)
BC Hydro is currently evaluating the HV DryShield
technology for its 500 kV applications.

Typical BC Hydro Current Transformer Specifications

Parameters
Max. continuous L-G voltage (kVrms)

BIL (kVcrest)

2303

2873

5003

2533

3153

5503

950

1050

1550

Rated primary current (A)

600 - 4000

Rated secondary current (A)

Protection class

TPY

Accuracy (%)

7.5

Resistive burden Rb ()

Mechanical short time rating, Idyn

(kArms)

63

40

40

Thermal short time rating, Ith (kArms)

63

40

40

Internal discharge (pC)

<5

In conclusion:
Two large western Canadian utilities have acquired a
large inventory of HV dry type current transformers up to
300 kV with both planning to extend the use of this
technology up to 500 kV.
Both have blanket agreements in place.