International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012
Insulation Design and Simulation of
Theint Theint Hnin, Thet Naung Win
Pyinmana Substation by Using ATP

Abstract—Insulation coordination is the selection of the
insulation strength and selection of the dielectric strength of
the equipments in relation to the voltages which can appear on
the system for which equipment is intended and taking into
account the service environment and the characteristics of the
available protective devices. Insulation coordination is
essential power engineers to reduce the number of outage and
preserve the continuity of service and electric supply.
Moreover, it is concern with the design of new lines and
substations with implementing measure appropriate measure
to improve the lightning performance of the existing lines and
substations. In practice, insulation coordination is the
selection of the insulation strength for each equipment in the
substation. Insulation coordination design of a substation also
consists of the selection of the minimum insulation strength,
or minimum clearance, since minimum strength can be
equated to minimum cost in substation design. The design
process begin with a selection of the reliability criteria,
followed by some type of study to determine the electrical
stress placed on the equipment or on the air clearance. This
stress is then compared to the insulation strength
characteristics, from which a strength is selected. If the
insulation strength or the clearance is considered to be
excessive, then the stress can be reduced by use of
ameliorating measures such as surge arresters, protective
gaps, shield wires, and closing resistors in the circuit
breakers. After the selection of the reliability criteria, the
process is simply a comparison of the stress versus the
strength. It expects to extend the life time of insulation and to
improve the insulation coordination. For the analysis of the
designed system, ATP (Alternative Transient Program) will be
employed.
Index Terms—Insulation coordination design, insulation
strength, substation insulation coordination, ATP model,
simulation result
I. INTRODUCTION
Substation contains transformer, switchgear and other
valuable equipment with non-self restoring insulation,
which have to be protected against failures and internal
destruction. For other apparatus, which contain self-
restoring insulation, like string insulators, they may be
allowed to flashover in air. But the flashovers should be
kept to a minimum so that the system disturbances are the
least.
Hence, lightning protection requires establishment of
protective voltage levels called shunt protection levels, by
means of protective devices like lightning arresters. The
protective level of the substation insulation depends on the
station location, the protective level of the arrester, and the
Manuscript received May 10 , 2014.
  Temporary overvoltages (TOY), as produced by
Theint Theint Hnin, Department of Electrical Power Engineering,
Mandalay Technological University, (e-mail:theinttheinthnin1@gmail
.com). Mandalay, Myanmar,+95420720083
Thet Naung Win, Department of Electrical Power Engineering,
Mandalay Technological University, Mandalay, Myanmar (e-mail:
thetnaung 67@gmail.com)
All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR
line shielding used. The line insulation in the end spans
near the substation is normally reduced to limit the
lightning overvoltages reaching the substation. In a
substation, the busbar insulation level is the highest to
ensure continuity of supply. The circuit breakers, isolators,
instrument and relay transformers, etc. are given the next
lower level. Since the power transformer is costly and
sensitive device, the insulation level for it is the lowest.
II. INSULATION COORDINATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION
For substation insulation coordination, the task is
similar in nature It is to specify:
 The equipment insulation strength, that is, the BIL
and BSL of all equipment.
 The phase-ground and phase-phase clearances or
strike distances. Figure 1 illustrates the various
strike distances or clearances that should be
considered in a substation.
 The need for the location, the rating, and the
number of surge arresters.
 The need for the location, the configuration, and the
spacing of protective gaps.
 The need for the location, and the type (masts or
shield wires) of substation shielding.
 The need for the amount and the method of
achieving an improvement in lightning
performance of the line immediately adjacent to
the station.
Figure 1. The Strike Distances and Insulation Lengths in a Substation
In these lists, the method of obtaining the specifications
has not been stated. To the person receiving this
information, how the engineer decides on these
specifications is not of primary importance, only that
these specifications result in the desired degree of
reliability. It is true that the engineer must consider all
sources of stress that may be placed on the equipment or
on the tower. That is, he must consider
 Lightning overvoltages (LOV), as produced by
lightning flashes
 Switching overvoltages (SOV), as produced by
switching breakers or disconnecting switches
faults, generator overspeed , ferroresonance , etc.
 Normal power frequency voltage in the presence
of contamination
A. Basic Lightning Impulse Insulation Level (BIL)
 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

The BIL is the electrical strength of insulation expressed actual EMTP is the result of a cooperative development
in terms of the crest value of the standard lightning effort among many users.
impulse. That is, the BIL is tied to a specific wave shape in Studies involving use of EMTP can be put into two
addition being tied to standard atmospheric conditions. The general categories.One in design which includes insulation
BIL may be either a statistical BIL or a conventional BIL. coordination, equipment ratings, protective device
The statistical BIL is applicable only to self-restoring specification, control system design, etc. The other is
insulations, whereas the conventional BIL is applicable to solving operating problems such as unexplained outages or
non-self-restoring insulations. BILs are universally for dry system failures. A partial list of typical EMTP studies
conditions. follows: Switching surges, Lightning Surges, Insulation
Coordination, High Voltage DC (HVDC).The EMTP
B. Basic Switching Impulse Insulation Level (BSL) provides the ability to perform insulation coordination
design. The insulation coordination of 230 kV Pyinmana
The BSL is the electrical strength of insulation expressed
substation will be modeled and simulated using the ATP
in terms of the crest value of a standard switching impulse.
program.
The BSL may be either a statistical BSL or a conventional
BSL. As with the BIL, the statistical BSL is applicable
only to self-restoring insulations while the conventional III. OVERVIEW OF THE PYINMANA SUBSTATION
BSL is applicable to non-self-restoring insulations BSLs are The Pyinmana Substation was built in 1985 and finished
universally for wet conditions. in 1989. The area of the Pyinmana Substation is 11 acre
wide previously but now the substation have 32.01 acre.
TABLE I The substation is located in the east of the Pyinmana
TRANSFORMER AND BUSHINGS BILS AND BSLS township and it is at the side of Pyinmana-Sugar station
System Transfor- Transfor- Transfor- Transfor-
nominal/max mer mer mer mer road. It is one of the largest substation in Myanmar.
system BIL,kV BSL,kV bushings bushings Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar is also provided
voltage,kV BIL,kV BSL,kV electricity from this substation.
Pyinmana substation is comprised with two transformers
230/242 650 540 650 - having 100 MVA and 60 MVA.100 MVA transformer
*
750 620 750 -
825 685 825 -
connect six distribution feeders at 33 kV side and 60 MVA
900 745 900,1050 - transformer also connect to other six distribution feeders.
345/362 900 745 900 700 Presently, Pyinmana primary substation is supplying the
*
1050 870 1050 825 electricity to Naypyitaw Council region, Naypyitaw
1175 975 1175,1300 825 International Airport (Ayelar), Pyinmana township and
500/550 1300 1080 1300 1050 surrounding areas. The two main transformers of Pyinmana
*
1425 1180 1425 1110
1550 1290 1550 1175
substation are shown in Figure 2and Figure 3.
1675 1390 1675 1175

TABLE II
INSULATION LEVELS FOR OUTDOOR SUBSTATIONS AND
EQUIPMENTs
Rated max Outdoor Circuit Disconnecting
voltage kV Substations Breakers Switches

BIL BIL BSL BIL BSL( kV)

(kV) (kV) (kV) (kV) estimate
145 650 650 - 650 -
169 750 750 - 750 -
242 900 900 - 900 -
1050 - 1050 -
362 1050 1300 825 1050 820
1300 900 1300 960 Figure 2. 100 MVA, 230/33/11 kV Transformer at Pyinmana Substation
550 1550 1800 1175 1550 1090
1800 1300 1800 1210

800 2050 2050 1425 2050 1320

1500

C. Alternative Transient Program

The ATP also known as Electromagnetic Transient

Program (EMTP) is a computer program for simulating the
Electromagnetic, Electromechanical and control system
transients or transient Analysis of Control Systems (TACS)
on multiphase electric power systems. It was first developed
as a digital computer counterpart to the Analog Transient
Network Analyzer (TNA). Many other capabilities have
been added to the EMTP over the years and the program
has become as a culture in the electric utility industry. The

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 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

Figure 3. 60 MVA, 230/33/11 kV Transformer at Pyinmana Substation

There are five 230 kV transmission lines connected to

Pyinmana substation. The generated power from Paung-
Laung Hydro power station is supplied to Pyinmana
substation with two 230 kV feeders. Naypyidaw, the capital
of Myanmar is supplied from Pyinmana substation with one
230 kV feeder. Pyinmana substation is also interconnected
with Tharzi substation via Shwe Myoe substation and
Taungoo substation via Thae Phyu substation.The
maximum and minimum power flow on 230 kV feeders are
shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5. Layout Diagram of the Switch Yard Security of the Pyinmana

Substation

ATP model is implemented to know the insulation

coordination level in the actual system. The voltage
magnitudes are measured at specific location such as 230
kV bus, connection points, primary and secondary of
Figure 4. Power Flow on 230 kV Transmission Lines of Pyinmana Substation transformer. Figure 6 shows ATP model for 230 kV
Pyinmana Substation.
IV. MODELING OF PYINMANA SUBSTATION
When the lightning surge strike in practical system, the
practical system have actual insulation level coordinate or
not coordinate compare the standard level refer to the
Table. The implementation of ATP model involves the
separation distance of the substation equipments and
equipments rating. These data are measure from the layout
diagram of the Pyinmana Substation.
The practical insulation coordination strength of the
substation equipments measure building a substation model
with ATP. The actual substation insulation levels may have
coordinate or not coordinate level according to the ATP
simulation result, the results are compare the standard BILs
and BSLs values. If measurement insulation voltage level
coordinate in the actual system, the actual system have
acceptable insulation level.

Figure 6. ATP Model for Pyinmana Substation

V. STUDY ON PRESENT LA INSULATION LEVEL

For the insulation coordination study at Pyinmana
substation, the lightning strike is applied at 5 th tower from
the substation. As the lightning strike is nearer to the
substation, the more overvoltage can be applied at the
substation. This is due to the fact that, some of charges and
hence overvoltages are discharged to the ground through
the grounding resistors of the towers. The maximum

All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR

 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

lightning magnitude is about 160 kA because Pyinmana 800

substation is locating in the middle of Myanmar. In this [kV]

study, the lightning magnitudes is applied 160 kA and three 500

wave shapes are considered as 1/70, 2/70 and 3/70 µs.
2.5

[MV]
200
2.0

1.5
-100

1.0

-400
0.5

0.0
-700
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VCONNA v:VCONNB v:VCONNC
-0.5
Figure 10. Voltage at the Connection Point Due to 160 kA, 1/70 s Lightning
-1.0 Surge
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VTWR5A v:VTWR5B v:VTWR5C
800

Figure 7. Voltage at 5th Tower Due to 160 kA, 1/70 s Lightning Surge [kV]

1.5
500
[MV]

1.0

200
0.5

0.0 -100

-0.5
-400

-1.0

-700
-1.5 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VBUSA v:VBUSB v:VBUSC

-2.0 Figure 11. Voltage at the Bus Due to 160 kA, 1/70 s Lightning Surge
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VTWR1A v:VTWR1B v:VTWR1C 800

Figure 8. Voltage at 1st Tower Due to 160 kA, 1/70 s Lightning Surge [kV]

According to the measurement, the voltage at 5 th tower is 500

2129.9 kV which is greater than the BIL of the substation.

The resulting measured voltages at the 5 th tower due to160 200
kA, 1/70 µs lightning surge under present LA installation
are shown in Table III. According to the discharge through
the tower grounding resistors, this voltage become 1540.7 -100

kV at 1st tower which is nearest to the substation. The

lightning surge voltage at 1st tower is shown in Figure 8. At -400
5th tower, the maximum voltage is at phase ‘b’ also at 1 st
tower it is at phase ‘b’.
-700
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25
800 (file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VPRIA v:VPRIB v:VPRIC

[kV]
Figure 12. Voltage at the Primary Side of Transformer Due to 160 kA, 1/70
500
s Lightning Surge
800

[kV]

200
500

-100
200

-400
-100

-700
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25 -400
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VENDA v:VENDB v:VENDC

Figure 9. Voltage at the End of Line Due to 160 kA, 1/70 s Lightning Surge
-700
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [ms] 0.25
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:CBA v:CBB v:CBC

Figure 13. Voltage at the Circuit Breaker Due to 160 kA, 1/70 s Lightning
Surge

All Rights Reserved © 2012 IJSETR

 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

In figure 9 to 13 show the ATP simulation results at the Measured 160 kA

end of the line ,at the connection point ,at the location of Point
circuit breaker ,at the primary side of transformer and 230 Rise/Fall Time 1/70µs 2/70 µs 3/70 µs
kV bus. In this figures ,the red line show voltage at phase Vend 1212.6 788.60 666.9
Vbus 907.42 891.40 856.3
‘a’ , the green line show the voltage at phase ‘b’ and the
Vconn 953.11 878.56 835.10
blue line show voltage at phase ‘c’. In figure 9 to 13 the Vpri 940.9 903.30 862.9
comparison for these three phases ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘c’. Among VCB 953.11 878.56 835.10
the three phase voltage, the amplitude of phase ‘a’ voltage
is largest. The phase ‘a’ voltage at the end of the red line is Without any arrester, maximum overvoltage which
largest which is 725.5 kV as shown in figure 9. In figure appears on the line end is 1212.6 kV, which is greater than
10, the phase ‘a’ voltage at the connection point is largest BIL of substation. From this result, it can be concluded
which is 754 kV.In figure11, phase ‘a’ voltage at the bus is more arresters that needs to install for suppression of
largest which is 708.2 kV. In figure 12, phase ‘a’ voltage at overvoltages.
the primary side of transformer is largest which is 702 kV.
In figure 13, phase ‘a’ voltage at the circuit breaker is TABLE V
largest which is 702 kV. MEASURE VOLTAGES IN KILOVOLTS FOR VARIOUS WAVE SHAPES
UNDER PRESENT LA INSTALLATION

TABLE III Measured Point 160 kA

MEASURE VOLTAGES IN KILOVOLTS FOR PHASE ‘A’ AT 160
KA,1/70 ΜS LIGHTNING SURGE UNDER PRESENT LA Rise/Fall Time (µs) 1/70 us 2/70 us 3/70 us
INSTALLATION
End(kV) 725.5 650.1 562.5
160 kA,1/70µs lightning strike at the 5th tower Bus(kV) 708.2 667 621.9
Vend 725.5 kV Conn(kV) 754 703 631.9
Vbus 708.2 kV Pri(kV) 702 664.8 622.9
Vconn 754 kV CB(kV) 754 703 631.9
Vpri 702 kV
VCB 754
According to the simulation results, 160 kA, 1/70 µs is
the largest among the three different waves shapes. From
Figure 14 show the ATP simulation result, the red line this result, it can be concluded that the larger the lightning
show voltage at the end of line, the green line show voltage magnitude and wave shape the more overvoltages are
at the bus, the blue line show voltage at the connection carried out at the incoming point, buses, circuit breaker,
point and the pink line show voltage at the primary side of disconnecting switches and transformers. Therefore, the
transformer. The measure voltage at 160 kA, 1/70 µs more arresters are required to cancel the overvoltages in the
lightning strike at 5th tower, the connection point of the substation.
phase ‘a’ voltage is largest which is 754 kV.
At the instant of lightning surge, the magnitude of phase A. Safety Margin
‘a’ voltage is largest compared to other phases. Thus most
of voltage magnitude measurements are carried out at phase For insulation coordination study, the simulation is also
‘a’. The comparison for phase ‘a’ voltages at line end, bus, executed for without arresters condition. The resulting data
connection point and primary side of transformer are shown for without arresters condition is described in Table VI
in Figure 14. compared to Table VII.
The voltage at the connection point is noticeably large
compared to other voltages. Among the measured voltages
the voltage at the primary side of the transformer is BIL  Max : Voltage
smallest and that at the connection point is largest. The Margin  100[%]
voltage at the connection point is exactly the same as that of
circuit breaker point. BIL
800
TABLE VI
[kV] MARGIN OF 230 KV PYINMANA SUBSTATION WHILE ALL
ARRESTERS ARE REMOVED
500

Measured 160 kA
Point
200 Rise/Fall Time 1/70µs 2/70 µs 3/70 µs
Vend -15.5 24.9 36.5
Vbus 13.6 15.1 18.4
-100 Vconn 9.2 16.3 20.5
Vpri -25.5 -20.4 -15.1
VCB -5.9 2.4 7.2
-400

According to the regulations, the margin must be greater

-700
0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 [ms] 0.14
than 20 % of BILs. For 230 kV system, substation
(file 28(160)s.pl4; x-var t) v:VENDA v:VBUSA v:VCONNA v:VPRIA
equipments such as disconnecting switches, bushings, etc.,
Figure14. Comparison for Phase ‘a’ Voltages at 160 kA the BIL is 1050 kV, disconnecting switches are 900 kV and
TABLE IV for transformers, it is 750 kV. Table VI shows the margin of
MEASURED VOLTAGES IN KILOVOLTS FOR VARIOUS WAVE 230 kV Pyinmana substation while all arresters are
SHAPES WHILE ALL ARRESTERS ARE REMOVED removed. The margins that are less than 20 % are

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 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2012

highlighted in the Tables. Therefore, more additional LA is substation equipments. Besides, the cost of the transformer
necessary for the safety of substation. is very high. So, transformer insulation coordination level
is not mainly change in the substation to get the safety
TABLE VII margin of the substation.
MARGIN OF 230 KV PYINMANA SUBSTATION UNDER PRESENT LA
INSTALLATION
VII. CONCLUSION
Measured Point 160 kA
For overvoltage suppression, the additional arresters are
proposed at the 230 kV buses will improve the insulation
Rise/Fall Time (µs) 1/70 us 2/70 us 3/70 us level of Pyinmana substation. By addition the LA is low
End(kV) 30.9 38.1 46.4 cost and save the economically. It is confident that, this
Bus(kV) 32.6 36.5 40.8 paper can support on the well understanding for insulation
coordination design of substation and the improvement
Conn(kV) 28.2 33 39.8
scheme. ATP software can give an easy and reliable
Pri(kV) 6.4 11.4 16.9 approach to the insulation coordination problem. Lightning
CB(kV) 16.2 21.8 29.8 overvoltages within substations are effectively reduced by
the high performance of surge arrester. This metal oxide
For 160 kA, 1/70 s lightning strike, the margin is only surge arrester is a key technology for insulation
about 6.4 % which is much below the standard margin 20 coordination. The substation is not easily breakdown. The
%. Therefore, more additional LA are necessary for the system is more safe by reducing the breakdown sequence.
safety of transformers.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
VI. IMPROVEMENT ON INSULATION COORDINATION AT The author would like to thank to U Thet Naung Win,
PYINMANA SUBSTATION lecturer Department of Electrical power Engineering
Mandalay Technological University. The author is deeply
TABLE VIII grateful to U Kyaw San Lwin, lecturer Department of
MARGIN OF 230 KV PYINMANA SUBSTATION WITH FOUR Electrical power Engineering Mandalay Technological
ADDITIONAL LA AT 230 KV BUS
University. The author also wishes you thank you to
Measured 160 kA Dr.Khin Thuzar Soe, Associate Professor and Head,
Point Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Mandalay
Rise/Fall Time 1/70µs 2/70 µs 3/70 µs Technological University for her encouragement, advices
Vend 30.9 38.04 46.6
Vbus 43.3 43.9 45.1
and continuous guidance throughout the study.
Vconn 42.3 43.4 45.4
Vpri 20 21 22.6
VCB 32.7 33.9 36.3 REFERENCES
[1] Andrew R. Hileman, H.Lee Willis Published in 1999, “ Insulation
coordination for power system,” ABB Electric Systems Technology
As shown in Table VIII, the safety margin of Institute Raleigh, North Taylor &Francis Group Boca Raton London
transformers can be at 20 % that is equal to recommended New York
margin of 20 % with the installation of four additional LAs [2] NOOR AZILA BINTI KHAZIMAH, May 2006, “The analysis of
lightning overvoltage by EMTP for lightning protection design of 500kV
at 230 kV buses. Therefore, it is recommended that the substation,” Fakulti Kejuruteraan Elekerik Kolej University Teknikal
installation of four additional LAs at 230 kV buses will Kebangsan Malaysia.
improve the insulation coordination level of Pyinmana [3] Hans Kr. Høidalen Professor, November 26 th 2009, “ATP draw version
5.6,” Norwegian University of Technology Trondheim, Norway.
substation and can protect transformers at lightning risks. [4] M.Aburaida(AMIEE), “On The Insulation Coordination Studies Using
(EMTP),” Electricity corporation in Sudan and SCECO-EAST in
TABLE IX Damman, Saudi Arabia.
CHANGING THE BIL CALCULATING THE MARGIN OF 230 KV [5] Annual Report 2013,“MyanmaElectric Power Enteprise, Ministry of
PYINMANA SUBSTATION Electric Power.”
Measured 160 kA
Point
Rise/Fall Time 1/70µs 2/70 µs 3/70 µs
Vend 30.9 38.1 46.4
Vbus 32.6 36.5 40.8
Vconn 28.2 33 39.8
Vpri 22 26.1 30.8
VCB 28.2 33.04 39.8

The Table IX show do not add the LAs in the 230 kV

busbar. At present LAs installation, if new transformer BIL
900 kV is changed, the safety margin of transformers at 160
kA, 1/70µs condition can become 22 % that is greater than
the recommended margin of 20 %. Also if changing the
new circuit breaker BIL 1050 kV, the safety margin of
circuit breaker at present LAs installation is greater than
the recommended margin of 20 %.
In Table VIII the transformer BIL is calculated 750 kV
because that is commonly used in the substation. And low
cost and save economically. The transformer is non-self
restoring equipment and lowest the insulation level in the

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