The Study of Very Fast Transient over Voltages
(VFTO) for the Project of 400/220kV GIS
Substation with one and half Circuit Breaker
Configuration
Naresh Kumar Challagondla
Siemens AG
High Voltage Products, GIS
Berlin, Germany
Email: nareshkumar.challagondla@siemens.com
Abstract—Gas insulated switchgears (GIS) are playing an
important role in today’s power systems. These are being used in
many transmission and distribution substations because of their
compactness and durability. The basic insulation coordination
levels are well defined in the international standards. The ratio of
lightning impulse withstand voltage level to per unit voltage
varies for different system voltages. This ratio decreases when we
go for extra high voltages. Therefore the insulation for extra high
voltages should be carefully designed to avoid the dielectric
failures. Very fast transient over voltages (VFTO) which are
caused by the switching operations are the important factors to
be considered in the design of GIS. The disconnector (DS)
operation is slow when compared to the circuit breaker
operation. Therefore, DS switching is the main source for
generating VFTO in GIS. The transients are characterized by
their short duration and very high frequencies. VFTO study has
been carried out for the project 400/220kV GIS Substation in
accordance with the methodology and guidelines as per CIGRE
WG D1.03 - TB 519 [1] recommendations, IEEE standard
1313.2-1999 [2], IEC 60071-2 [3], IEC 60071-4 [4], and IEEE
technical papers presented in various forums. Accordingly the
study has been carried out to assess overvoltages at various surge
impedance transition points. The results of this study are
represented in this paper.
Keywords—Gas insulated switchgear, HVAC, Very fast
transient over voltages.
I. INTRODUCTION
The development of GIS technology has made it
competitive and preferable in many cases in comparison with
the open-Air type substation. As any dielectric failure within
the GIS is likely to be more time consuming to repair, the
design of GIS must be thoroughly evaluated. In spite of the
merits of GIS it has its unique problems, among which is
susceptibility of the insulation system under very fast transients
(VFT) caused by operation of switching devices. Very fast
transient overvoltages (VFTO) arise within a GIS at any
time and there is an instantaneous change in voltage. Most
often this change occurs as a result of the opening or
978-1-5090-0496-6/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE
Dharababu Thummapal
Siemens Ltd
High Voltage Products, GIS
Aurangabad, India
Email: ramadharababu.thummapal@siemens.com
closing of a disconnector switch (DS). Other events, such
as the operation of a circuit breaker (CB), the occurrence of
a line-to-ground fault or the closing of an earthing switch can
also cause VFTO. However, during a DS operation a high
number of re-strikes and pre-strikes occur due to the low
operating speed of DS compared to a circuit- breaker.
Therefore, DS switching is the main source for generating
VFTO. The transients are characterized by their short
duration and very high frequencies. The rise times are in the
range of some Nano seconds, with dominant frequency
components up to 100 MHz. The maximum value of the VFTO
depends on the voltage difference across the contacts just
before striking and the location considered. Trapped charge
remaining on the load side of a DS must be taken into
consideration. A trapped charge on the load side resulting
in a voltage of 1 p.u (per unit), resulting in 2 p.u across the DS
is normally taken into account as the most unfavorable case
for disconnector switch or phase opposition conditions.
This precondition is normally used for the calculation of
VFTO. For this case the maximum VFTO peak in GIS
configuration has a typical value between 1.5 p.u and 2.8 p.u.
VFTO in GIS are of greater concern at the highest rated
voltages (range 2 equipments), for which the ratio of the
lightning impulse withstand voltage (LIWV) to the system
voltage is lower. For the project 400/220kV GIS Substation,
VFTO analysis for the disconnector operation is simulated
using EMTP RV software.
II. NETWORK CONFIGURATION AND MODELING
Network configuration selected for an analysis is one and
half circuit breaker system. The modelings of GIS components
are based on guidance mentioned in IEC 60071-4.
A. Configuration
The configuration “Fig. 1,” is considered for analysis is one
and half circuit breaker system. It is one of the most reliable
networks for power system service continuity. This network
configuration is more reliable than double bus bar
configuration from service continuity point of view. This III. ANALYSIS
configuration requires tie circuit breaker and its associated
equipment (DS, ES etc.); normally this configuration provides
The propagation of VFTO throughout GIS is analyzed by
open end points which will generate very high frequency fast
representing GIS sections as low-loss distributed parameter
transients during DS operation. So identifying the most
transmission lines. The internal damping of the transients
onerous path for study is important in this type of
influencing the highest frequency components is determined by
configuration.
the spark resistance. The spark is modelled as exponentially
decaying resistance and a small resistance in series to take
care of the residual spark resistance. Skin effects due to the
aluminum enclosure can be neglected. The main portion
of the damping of the very-fast-front transients occurs by
out-coupling at the transition to the overhead line. The
trapped charge remaining on the load side of the
disconnector has a strong influence on the level of VFTO.
EMTP-RV–Electromagnetic Transients Program
Restructured Version is a computer simulated program
specially designed to study the transient phenomena in the
power system. EMTP RV Version 3.1 from Powersys-
Corporation is used for performing the VFTO Study in GIS
substation. This is widely accepted and tested software
package, which can be considered as a standard package for
this type of the studies.
In order to study the VFTO performance of the Gas
Insulated Substation, suitable onerous- path configuration has
to be selected. Data used for the study along with the
methodology adopted are provided. The adopted simplification
Figure 1. Typical one and half CB configuration does not introduce limitations or restrictions in terms of results
validity.
B. Modeling
After preliminary EMTP analysis of the equivalent
The more accurate modeling will produce better results. networks corresponding to the configuration selected, we
Equipment such as disconnector, circuit breaker, current have selected the following cases for detailed analysis to
transformer, capacitive voltage transformer, SF6 to air bushing decide VFTO level in GIS.
etc., are modeled with its equivalent surge capacitance. The
GIS bus duct is modeled as loss free distribution Cases Description Opened Operating
parameter line, with surge impedance of 67.88 ȍ and Description CB DS
1 All lines connected, C02.C-Q0 CO2.C-Q2
velocity of propagation of 288m/μs. The operating T2 feeder out
disconnector is modeled with spark resistance across its
contact. The spark resistance is simulated using Toepler’s spark 2 All lines connected, C01.C-Q0 C01.C-Q2
law. T1 feeder out
3 OHL4 out C04.A-Q0 C04.A-Q1
R (t) = R0exp (-t/IJ) + r
4 OHL3 out C03.A-Q0 C03.A-Q1
Where,
5 OHL2 out C02.A-Q0 C02.A-Q1
R0= resistance of the gap while the disconnector is opened.
6 OHL1 out C01.A-Q0 C01.A-Q1
IJ = time constant for the breakdown in SF6.
r = arc resistance. Table 1. Operating modes of Various Disconnector in GIS

The surge arrester is modeled as a capacitance to ground VFTO levels are analysed in the following locations in the
value of 137 pF. The power transformer is modeled by GIS with and without trapped charges
entrance capacitance. The maximum voltage at the transformer
occurs for surge capacitance between about 1 and 6 nF, and 2 ¾ At Busbar-1 & Busbar-2
nF or 4 nF are suggested for use in practice. The BIL of ¾ At SF6-Air Bushing along T1 feeder.
equipment at 400 kV is 1425 kV p , considering a safety factor ¾ At SF6-Air Bushing along T2 feeder.
of 1.15 as recommended in CIGRE WG D1.03 – TB 519,
the VFTO level is required to be contained at 1239.1 kV p ¾ At T1-LA
or below. ¾ At T2-LA
¾ At T1
¾ At T2
 IV. RESULTS
Simulation has been done for various cases and voltage DISCONNECTOR OPERATION
stresses at different points are presented in the table below. The WITHOUT TRAPPED CHARGES
VFTO level of the 400/220 kV GIS substation was determined
for various disconnector switch operations with and without S. No. Locations kV pu Frequency of
considering the trapped charges. A trapped charge on the load oscillations
side of -1 pu (per unit), resulting in 2 pu across the DS contacts (MHz)
is taken into account as the most unfavorable case for
disconnector Switching operation. The comparison of VFTO 1. Busbar-1 360.4 1.05 16.91
level with trapped charge voltage of -343 kV, for selected case
studies at different locations is given in the following (Table 2). 2. Busbar-2 463.6 1.35 17.24
Locations Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 3. SF6 Bushing 507.4 1.48 9.71
Busbar-1 1.09 1.17 2.27 1.53 1.48 1.32 T1
Busbar-2 1.55 1.61 1.43 - 1.47 1.29 4. T1 LA 496.1 1.45 9.26
SF6 1.70 - 1.27 - 1.31 1.27
Bushing 5. T1 358.3 1.04 6.67
T1
6. SF6 Bushing
SF6 - 1.76 1.69 - 1.72 1.25
Bushing T2 NOT SIGNIFICANT being
T2 7. T2 LA CB “OPEN”
T1 LA 1.65 - 1.52 - 1.39 1.37
8. T2
T2 LA - 1.58 1.91 - 1.89 1.30
T1 1.08 - 1.08 - 1.08 1.02
DISCONNECTOR OPERATION WITH
T2 - 1.10 1.11 - 1.10 1.02 TRAPPED CHARGES
Table 2 Comparison of VFTO at various locations due to different DS
operations in the presence of trapped charges S. No. Locations kV pu Frequency of
oscillations
As can be seen the VFTO levels with trapped charges are in (MHz)
the range of 1.02 pu to 2.27 pu. The VFTO level obtained at
busbar 1 during the closing of DS C04.A-Q1 which is 1. Busbar-1 374.5 1.09 25.51
operating on line feeder-4 is the highest at 2.27 pu with a rise
time of 53 ns. The oscillations following the VFTO are in the 2. Busbar-2 533.5 1.55 30.49
range of several MHz.
3. SF6 Bushing 581.7 1.70 11.90
Simulations for the VFTO analysis without T1
considering trapped charges were also carried out and the
maximum value of VFTO level obtained is 1.74 pu. VFTO 4. T1 LA 565.9 1.65 9.90
levels obtained in the absence of trapped charges are lesser
compared to that of VFTO occurred when trapped charges are 5. T1 370.4 1.08 8.93
considered.
6. SF6 Bushing
The magnitude of VFTO, corresponding frequency of
oscillations, front time and the respective waveforms due to T2 NOT SIGNIFICANT being
operation of disconnector switch in case study-1, case study-2 7. T2 LA CB “OPEN”
and case study-3 are studied and some of the results are shown
in the following content (Table 3 and Figures 2 to5). 8. T2
Table 3 VFTO and consequent frequency of oscillations due to operation of
DS CO2.C-Q2

Figure 2. Case 1 (with trapped charges); VFTO at Busbar 1
Figure 3. Case 1 (with trapped charges); VFTO at T 1
VFTO without trapped charges at Busbar 1 and T1 are
shown in the following figures.
Figure 4. Case 1 (without trapped charges); VFTO at Busbar 1
Figure 5. Case 1 (without trapped charges); VFTO at T1
V. CONCLUSIONS
VFTO levels are in the range of 1.04 to 2.27 pu with the
front time of 53 ns and the oscillations following the VFTO are
in the range of 2.94 MHz to 32.89 MHz. VFTO at bus bar-1
while operating DS C04.A-Q1 (case 3) is the highest at 2.27
pu. But the highest VFTO level is within a comfortable
protective margin with reference to lightning impulse
withstand voltage level of 400 kV GIS.
VFTO protection levels across Transformer, GIS and GIS
Bushing with safety factor of 1.15 are presented in CIGRE
Working Group D1.03 – TB 519 and are comfortable. VFTO
mitigation measure is therefore not required even for onerous
line and bus side Disconnecting Switches (DS) for the
respective project.
REFERENCES
[1] Working Group D1.03, TB-519, Very Fast Transient Overvoltages
(AFTO) in Gas-Insulated UHV Substations, December 2012, Cigre
[2] IEEE Std 1313.2-1999 – Guide for the Application of Insulation
Coordination., IEEE Power and Energy Society, 2005
[3] IEC 60071-2, Insulation co-ordination- Part 2: Application guide, Third
edition, 1996-12
[4] IEC 60071-4, Insulation co-ordination- Part4: Computational guide to
insulation co-ordination and modelling of electrical networks, First
edition, 2004-06