Power quality aspects in high-voltage

networks
Dr. Erik Sperling / Roman Roethlisberger
Presentation overview

1. General introduction

2. RC-dividers for PQ monitoring

3. Advantages and benefits
4. Modern system requirements of the network
5. International research activities

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General introduction - PFIFFNER Group
 Number of global employees 500
 Sales in 2018 consolidation 110 M USD

PCH & R&D PBR

Hirschthal Itajaí
Switzerland Brazil

MGC & PFS PTR

Kaiseraugst Ankara
Switzerland Turkey

ALPHA PDE
Nidau Itzehoe
Switzerland Germany

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General introduction - Global Presence
 Local organisations in 9 countries
 Worldwide representatives

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RC-dividers for PQ monitoring – technology

Equivalent circuit diagram Complex transfer function k(jω)

·
·

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 Technical design

High voltage terminal

Metallic expansion bellows
(hermetically sealed)
RC-divider primary active part
Insulator (Porcelain or composite)

RC-divider secondary active part

Secondary terminal box
AC voltages: 72.5 – 800kV
DC voltages: ±20 – ±500kV
Type ROF/RGF
Oil- or SF6-gas impregnated solutions ROF 420, Germany

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 Advantages and benefits – system behaviour
Worst case scenario Frequency response of an RC-divider ROF420 (NCIT)

Pure resistive divider

→0

Pure capacitive divider

→∞

→ →∞

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 Advantages and benefits – system behaviour
Switching impulse measurement Ligthning impulse measurement

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 Modern system requirements of the network – Power quality

Definition:
It is the comparison between current existing values, measured in the power
network, and agreed characteristics of the energy by the supplier.

Main quality criteria are:

1. Voltage/current magnitude
2. Fundamental frequency
Definition of power quality criteria in:
3. Wave shape
Standard EN 50160
(voltage/current)
4. Availability
5. Distortion

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Modern system requirements of the network – demands on modern IT’s
Voltage signals with permanent or transient occurrence

• voltage signals in the harmonic range

• voltage signals in the sub-harmonic range
• DC components
• Transient voltage signals

DC fr 3kHz 10kHz f

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 Modern system requirements of the network – PQ examples
Range of frequency fHF > fr

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 Modern system requirements of the network – PQ examples
Range of frequency fHF > fr Voltage sag with 400 Hz superimposed signal

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 Modern system requirements of the network – PQ examples
Range of frequency: transient Phenomena >> fr

Few impulses
Very fast du/dt
Duration: approx.
0.3ms

Many impulses
High-frequency
content
Duration: approx.
1ms

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Comparison Inductive Voltage Transformers / RC dividers
Conventional inductive Voltage RC Divider
Transformer
Measuring method Magnetism principle Divider principle
Galvanic separation No galvanic separation
Accuracy class at stationary Up to class 0.1 Up to class 0.1
frequency Very good Very good
Burden range 0 VA … up to several 100VA; specified Small burden range
burden range shall not be left 0 VA … 3 VA (kΩ-range)
Very good Very good

Secondary Voltage
Dependence of the secondary
windings
Measurement of higher harmonics
100V; 110V; 115V (1; √3; 3) 1.625V; 2V; 3.25V; 4V; 6.5V (√3)
100V; 110V; 115V (1; √3; 3)
Secondary windings are physically No separation
separated
20 Hz to max. 1.5 kHz 0 Hz to 1MHz
(depending on the Voltage level) Very good
Bad

Accuracy class at higher harmonics At nominal frequency only, out of nominal 10 Hz … 10 kHz
frequency very big deviations Amplitude error 0.2% possible
Very bad Very good

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Comparison Inductive Voltage Transformers / RC dividers
Conventional inductive Voltage RC Divider
Transformer

Behavior at impulse Voltage Voltage division by control layers in the Internal linear Voltage division
bushing Very good
Good

Behavior at ferro resonances Avoidable by separate activities Absolutely no ferro resonance

Bad Very good

Discharge possibilities for Cables and Normal thermal limit of the windings Due to higher resistance values, longer
Overhead lines Very good discharge times
Good
No load at the secondary windings Very good Very good

Short circuit at the secondary Protection by fuses or miniature circuit Absolutely no influence
windings breakers Very good
Very bad
DC offset in AC Systems Saturation, thermal problem Absolutely no problem
Bad Very good

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Frequency response Voltage measuring systems
Higher system Voltage
EOF72 , Oil insulated, inductive VT

EOF123, Oil insulated indcutive VT

EOF245, Oil insulated inductive VT

ECF245, Oil insulated capacitor CVT

ECF362, Oil insulated capacitor CVT

ROF420, Oil insulated RC-divider

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 Frequency response RC dividers
Amplitudengenauigkeit
1.01
normierter Fehler nr(f)

1.005

0.995

0.99
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Frequenz [Hz]

Phasengenauigkeit
2

1.5

1
Winkel [°]

0.5

0
-0.5

-1
-1.5

-2
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Frequenz [Hz]

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 Modern system requirements of the network – Possible impacts

 increasing of power losses within the network

 increasing electric stresses within the HV insulation system
 thermal stresses within the connected equipment due to harmonic currents
 increased sound noise emission (transformers, coils, capacitors etc.)
 incorrect control of equipment.
 faulty activation of protection equipment (old protection system)

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Modern system requirements of the network – RC-divider

Why RC-dividers are now usable and necessary as a measuring and protection device in
the transmission and distribution network ?

• Today, modern secondary measuring and protection equipment have low burden requirements
• Offset of DC voltage within the AC network (no saturation effect)
• Increasing content of sub-harmonic voltages, like ferro-resonancies, sweps, deeps, sags, flickers
and so on.
• Increasing content of harmonic sinusoidal voltages superimposed to the fundamental voltage,
due to usage of synthetic converters (1kHz up to 25kHz)
• Transient voltages due to increased number of switching operations

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Thank you very much !
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Dr. Erik Sperling
Roman Röthlisberger

PFIFFNER
5042 Hirschthal, Switzerland
: +41 62 739 28 28
Internet: www.pmw.ch

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