Comparative Analysis between GIS & AIS

-A Review

Abstract- Gas Insulated Substation is becoming more

prominent power system assets. It is serving as a competitive
alternative to the conventional switchgear technology. Gas
Insulated Substation installation are more advantageous than
conventional switchgear substation, because of its higher
reliability, lower maintenance requirements. This paper reviews
the study of 3 phase 132 kV Gas Insulated Substation. For
designing a substation it is essential to know the maximum value
of very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO), hence the study is
based on the estimation of VFTO levels. The VFTO are generated
mainly due to failure in operation of disconnectors, breakers and
grounding switches and earth faults.

Keywords—Gas Insulated Substation (GIS), Sulphur hexafluoride

(SF6), Very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO).

I. Introduction
Gas insulated substation is a complete enclosure of all
energized or live parts in metallic encapsulation filled with
compressed sulphur hexafluoride gas [1]. The sulphur
hexafluoride gas has an excellent electrical insulating
property; it is employed as the insulating medium between the
encapsulation and the energized parts.
A. Gas Insulated Substation
Gas Insulated Substation is a compact metal enclosure wit
encapsulation of sulphur hexafluoride gas in it. The outer
sheath of Gas Insulated Substation is grounded, enclosing the
high voltage inner conductors. Gas Insulated Substation bus
has a surge impedance of 70 ohms which is more than that of
the conventional oil filled cables but much less than that of the
overhead lines i.e., 300-400ohms. As Gas Insulated Substation
is enclosed it permits lower basic insulation level, because it is
free of air contamination. Basic insulation level (BIL) of each
component of GIS system should be more than the magnitude
of switching transients [1].
B. Very fast transient overvoltage
Conductors in GIS have higher specific capacitance to earth in
comparison with the conventional switchgear substation.
Therefore the capacitive current of off loaded bus in GIS is
larger [2]. Other differences are lower surge impedance and
inductances, also GIS has large gradient of electric field
causes fast transients with wave shapes characterized by surge
fronts of very short durations [2].
Fig 1 voltage waveform at disconnector switch opening
The disconnector contacts of GIS moves so slowly at 1cm per
second, due to which a number of strikes and restrikes occur
between the contacts. Strikes and restrikes occurs as soon as
the dielectric strength of SF6 between the contacts is exceeded
by the Overvoltages [3]
C. Generation of VFTO
Origin of very fast transient overvoltages in GIS is:
- Operation of disconnectors, breakers and grounding
switches.
- Earth fault during on site testing or in series.
Overvoltage is determined by the distance between contacts
geometry, the pressure of the gas and the characteristics of gas
at instant of strike. Each strike causes high frequency cuurents
which tends to equalize the potentials at the contacts. When
the current is interrupted, the voltages at the source side and
the load side oscillate independently. Source side voltage
follows the power frequency whereas, load side voltage
remains at the trapped voltage.
 Fig 2 Classification of VFTO in Gas insulated substation

VFTO are generated mainly due to the switching operation of

disconnector. Overvoltage level can be controlled by means of
suitable measures like control switching. Major check
regarding overvoltage protection is the insulation failure.
Basic insulation level (BIL) of each equipment of the system
should be higher than magnitude of switching transients.
When SF6 gas breakdown occurs, it extinguishes very quickly
because of its high electro negativity. Breakdown starts
initially by avalanche, starting with an initial electron, may be
due to cosmic radiation, field emission or other phenomenon
producing electron. Electron produced are accelerated by an
electric field by increasing it kinetic energy. According to
streamer criteria, first avalanche occurs followed by a chain of
avalanches bridging the contacts. Therefore for breakdown,
there should be sufficient electric field to produce a sequence
of avalanches and for this there should be at least one electron
to initiate the first avalanche. But in between steps of making
avalanche there exists a time lag for initiating electron to
available in gap after voltage is applied this is called as
statistical time lag. Formation of spark channel takes definite
time known as formative time lag (in nano seconds).