Kds Tutorial GIS Substation
Kds Tutorial GIS Substation
Kds Tutorial GIS Substation
Topics Covered
Section 1. Background
Section 2. Field Experience and Persistent Design Challenges Section 3. Operational Experience and Practices Section 4. Recent Developments Bibliography
Section 1 Background
1970s-1990s: Gas-filled (SF6) short lengths installed. Many lab models for higher voltages, including three phase designs in a single duct. Also, SF6/N2 1990s: 500 kV mass impregnated paper for submarine DC systems in the Baltic Sea 1970s-1990s: Low temp. cryogenic/supercon. designs tried. 1990s witnessed the phenomenal growth in HTS technology
High temperature superconductor technology is developing rapidly but [is] not yet fully commercially viable for bulk power transport.
What are the alternatives? Three choices in technology: Conventional underground power cables Compressed gas cables (SF6 - Sulphur Hexa-fluoride) Superconducting cables.
Why GIS?
Land costs in urban areas
Why GITL?
GITL
In addition to the advantages listed above
There are currently only two alternatives: Underground cablesconventional or superconducting, or Gas Insulated Transmission Lines (GITL)
GITL, compared to underground cables, have the additional advantage of reduced ground surface magnetic fields.
Installations from distribution voltages right up to the highest transmission voltages (765 kV) have been in service for 30 years or more. Both isolated-phase and
The phase conductor is almost always of aluminium. The outer enclosure is also of aluminium, although earlier designs used
Usually busducts are of rigid design although flexible and semi-flexible designs have been proposed. None are in use.
Growth of GIS
Voltage Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 60 100 kV 100 200 kV 200 300 kV 300 500 kV 500 700 kV >700 kV
5. 6.
7.
8.
Bus Section
Cable Termination
Expansion joint
Bushing
Circuit-breakers
Disconnectors
Earthing/grounding switches
measuring devices
Expansion joints
Diagnostic/monitoring devices
GIS grounding and control wiring Termination modules
Diagnostic methods for identifying defects in a GIS installation have been proposed by CIGRE. Many gross assembly errors and poor quality assurance procedures can give rise to significant partial discharges (PD), which in the presence of moisture may lead to toxic by-products in the SF6 gas. Automated insulation condition monitoring systems, with innovative sensors, are being developed and installed on GIS and other HV power apparatus. New techniques for PD detection/location are perhaps the most significant developments in GIS condition monitoring.
n = n0 exp x
Collisional Ionization in NitrogenUniform Electric Field n0 = electrons initially at x = 0 n = electrons at x = ionization coefficient for the gas
Molecular Formula
BP C
SF6 C4F6
C5F8 C5F10 CF3CN C2F5CN C3F7CN C8F16O
-63.8 -5
25 22 -63 -30 1 101
2.5/760 mm 3.9/730 mm
5.5/600 mm 4.3/600 mm 3.6/753 mm 4.7/735 mm 5.8/550 mm 6.3/760 at 180C
TEV or TGPR can be a very serious EMC and personnel safety problem. Voltage rise on grounded shields of several kV at distances up to several km have been observed in early days.
Such transient voltages on the grounded enclosure arise from an internal collapse of voltage in the SF6 gas, internal restrikes across circuit breaker or disconnect switch contacts, or flashover of external insulation close to GIS, e.g., and air-SF6 bushing.
Internal voltage collapse produces travelling waves, in both directions, from the point of breakdown. Such transients are often called VFTO (very fast transient overvoltages).
At the points of discontinuity (changes in surge impedance) these VFTO waves get reflected and refracted. Such transitions can be modelled as junctions of transmission lines.
Being high freq. transients, the currents are confined to the skin depth of the coaxial conductors. Typical impedance junctions are air/SF6 bushing, GIS/cable connections, ground leads connecting the enclosure to the earthing grid/mat/plate, or a ZnO arrester.
Support spacer flanges can also act as sites for reflections. For a L-G fault, the step voltage may be:
m
U 100% = (LIWL)GIS x (1.20) x 1.12 1.20 ~ Pos. Polar. Breakdown Neg. Polar. Breakdown 1.12 is a factor to allow for 100% breakdown under LI, i.e. 2.?.LIWL; ?=6%
Internal breakdown give a step voltage rise-time, dependent on gas pressure of SF6,
Tr(min) (11.5) ns p where, p is in mPa.
For re-strikes, EMTP studies show that switching a no-load transformer may produce up to 3 p.u. of overvoltage and disconnect switch operation may produce between 1.5-2 p.u. The two, opposite travelling waves are 50% in voltage magnitude.
Fig. 2a
Num. example
.
GEOMETRY
MATERIALS
VOLTAGE
Surface Charge
Pre-Breakdown Current Pulses Particle Contamination
MEAS.
Design Principle
The field with the insulator should not exceed the field at the central conductor surface without the insulator. Very difficult to achieve!
60 Hz breakdown voltage of 102 mm/292 mm coaxial electrode system with free conducting particles, SF6 pressure 440 kPa, voltage ramp 2 kV/s.
Critical Problems
1. 2. 3. 4. Triple-junction design Tangential vs. normal field at the insulator Surface discharges from partial discharges Presence of metallic particles on the insulator surface 5. For D.C. applications - the problem of bulk charging of insulator 6. Poor quality material - voids & other defects
Very often the PD level generated by these defects is below the detection sensitivity of 1pc. Intrinsic breakdown of epoxy spacer is over 1MV/mm - but the material does age. Early designs operating AC stress was 10 kV/mm (rms) at maximum locations. Many of these failed in service in about 5 years.
Typical stresses now range from 2 kV/mm (rms) at 145 kV and 4.1 kV/mm (rms) at 800 kV. But some high voltage designs still use 5-6 kV/mm (rms). Economic pressure to reduce spacer dimension since this will affect the enclosure diam. Metallic protrusions and contaminants exhibit a silent initiation phase.
PD detection requires increasing detection sensitivity as the spacer size increases with voltage level of GIS. For example, a 500 kV spacer should perhaps be tested with a detection sensitivity of about 0.5 pc. Such a level is difficult to achieve in a factory.
Improved ultra wideband techniques, including coupler designs may allow measurements to 0.1 pc in a factory environment. With further improvements in noise filtering, high quality test transformers, levels of 0.01 pc have been achieved in a factory setting. Another factor is the reduced margin between BIL and operating stress as the voltage class becomes higher.
When there are voids present, either from the start or due to slow initiation activity at protrusions and metallic inclusions, the electron production rate is too low to start a PD in one minute of test. (3 electrons/cm3-sec). Also, a great deal of detection threshold depends upon the radial position of cavity. Testing spacers in a factory at a higher voltage would compensate for the lack of initiatory electrons.
The question of x-ray irradiation during spacer testing has now been taken up seriously by manufacturers. XIPD - X-ray Induced Partial Discharge - is a new technique for quality improvement. The question of trapped DC charge on a GIS bus bar and its subsequent impact on spacer flashover, should not be ignored.
Even a small protrusion on the central conductor near a spacer would deposit a line charge on the spacer. The local field at the tips of such a line charge could be high enough to initiate a local discharge. A trapped charge of, say, 0.8 pu on a 550kV GIS is equivalent to a sustained DC voltage of ~340kV in the bus.
Such a line charge may be particularly dangerous when the disconnect switch operates. The combined transient field plus the line charge filed may be sufficient to cause spacer flashover.
Typical sequential variations of the breakdown voltage of a coaxial conductor without and with a composite-profile cone spacer.
Insulating spacers are widely used in highvoltage power apparatus. From a withstand voltage of view spacers are the weakest components and an improvement in the understanding of surface flashover characteristics of such solid insulators is beneficial for better designs of power apparatus.
In the busbar of GIS there could be trapped charge after disconnect switch operations. The electrical stress created by these charges can lower the withstand voltage. Work was undertaken to determine the changes, if any, in the early stages of the surface breakdown under lightning impulse voltage when there is a prior direct stress.
Comparison of streak image of surface flashover and gap breakdown in the air. (a) gap breakdown, (b) surface flashover
DC Prestressing
Some papers reported that in busbar of GIS equipment there could be trapped charge after disconnect switch operation. From previous work, it was found the surface charge accumulated on the spacer surface after applied impulse voltage.
The application of DC prestressing will approximate conditions resulting from disconnect operation or lightning/switching surge.
The results obtained with the combined dc and impulse voltages have indicated that a dc voltage alters the electric field distribution along the surface of a spacer
From the experiments, it is clear that the initiation luminosity of flashover on insulating spacer is at somewhere between two electrodes. There would be local field enhancements at several places. It is not possible or economically justifiable to employ spacers with perfect or near perfect surfaces. Hence, improvements in the withstand voltage can only be obtained by preventing field enhancements through other means such as a weakly conductive coating.
The development of flashover from the onset of stage one activity when there is a dc initial voltage is much more rapid than when there is no dc voltage. The rapid flashover development can give rise to fastfronted transients in the substation.
Predischarge development in SF6. t=0 is the start of the voltage breakdown at the gap.
Predischarge development at an insulator surface with a protruding disturbance near the anode.
Predischarge development at an insulator surface with a protruding disturbance near the cathode.
Predischarge development at an insulator surface with a protruding disturbance near the cathode.
Phase resolved accumulated counts, showing the influence of X-ray intensity. Accumulation time: 20s; text voltage: 40 kV
a No X-rays b Ion dose rate 5.4 A/kg (21mR/s)
Continuous long time recording of voltage X-rays and PD activity; SF6 pressure: 600 kPa.
Nearness to a spacer
Electric wind
Die marks, oxide layers and local damage is always present and these are the main sources of particles. Surface conditioning of the enclosure is essential. Any surface conditioning process must address: oxide layers, Die marks, Burrs and loosely attached machining debris
1. 2. 3. 4.
Fixed on phase conductor Fixed on enclosure Free to move in elec. field Fixed on spacer
Loss of dielectric strength of SF6 in the presence of a 0.45/6.4 mm wire particle in a coaxial system subject to direct voltages.
Hjk
L;l
L;l L;l
H L L L
Comparison of the effect of coefficient of restitution on the calculated maximum bounce height for 0.45/6.4 mm copper particles, field strength 2.5 kV/mm peak, 60 Hz.
BUT A metallic particle on a dielectric coating may acquire charge by: conduction through coating by partial discharge between particle and coating OR by contact charging from and already charged surface
Effect of applied voltage on maximum height reached by an aluminum wire particle (0.45 mm dia./6.4 mm long) in a 70/90 mm GIS/GITL system (_______ uncoated, - - - coated) for a coefficient of restitution of 0.95.
Comparison of calculations and measurements: Particle motion from calculations and videotape observation.
hj
Smoothed curves of lifting field vs. pressure for spherical steel particles 1.5 mm diameter.
Migration velocity of particles in 226/89 mm coaxial electrode system as function of slope at 50 kV rms.
Development of DC GIS for incorporating into expanding national/international HVDC systems Search for replacement gases for SF6. The most promising is an 80%/20% N2/SF6 mixture. Circuit breakers will continue to use pure SF6, and least in the near to midterm.
Improved one-break circuit breakers for compact transmission voltage GIS for urban centres. Replacement of existing AIS by GIS will accelerate, especially near urban centres.
New Developments
UHF partial discharge detection HVDC GIS SF6/N2 mixtures Long GITL installations Compact substations
Switching impulse tests for SF6/N2 mixture confirm theoretical models. Recycling guidelines for SF6 and extracting SF6 from SF6/N2 mixtures are now available. Three phase rectangular enclosures for 500 kV class have been tested (~200 cm x 200 cm). Long-term field tests for GIL: minimum 1 year on a 100 m section.
Comparison of aerial lines and GIL must take into account the total life cycle costs, over 50 to 70 years. Combined voltage and current sensors. Highly integrated sub-station layout - a mixture of metal clad and air-insulated technology. Very thick coatings on conductors.
For DC GIS a conductive coating on spacers. Using an epoxy enclosure for GIL. Japanese ~3 km 275 kV GIL.
Distribution of degree of importance assigned by users to the development of built-in technology to monitor parameters as indicated.
Distribution of major failure causes reported by users for all voltage classes.
CIGRE survey 2000 Major failure frequency (FF) 2nd GIS survey total population and comparison between the 1st and the 2nd survey results.
Identification of main component involved in the failure from GIS voltage class point of view.
CIGRE Survey 2000: Identification of main component involved in the failure from GIS age point of view (5 most involved components).
In-service fault rate (faults/station-year) vs. years in service for 25 North American GIS.
Comparison of single-phase enclosed SF6 CGI bus bars for rated voltages of 230 kV and 550 kV
The dimensions selected reflect the manufacturers design and manufacturing philosophy including design testing, quality control and manufacturing tolerances.
Typical design of compressed gas insulated transmission line. Shipping module is 18 m long with insulators every 6 m. Other designs may use only disc or conical insulators. Drawing not to scale.
Required specifications.
Cost breakdown of 60 foot CGIT shipping module (including assembly, labour and testing).
Optimum dimensions for three conductor cable: Re = 5.56 Rc, R1 2.78 Rc.
Designs of threeconductor CGIT systems. Post insulators a-c are attached to metallic ring which moves inside enclosure, insulators d-f are attached by welding to inside of enclosure.
SO2F2
SO2 HF
0.006
0.002 1.0
HF
S2F10
3
0.01
decomposition source
toxicity (weighted)
formula
state
abundance
decomposition source
toxicity (weighted)
medium high high non toxic medium non toxic non toxic
internal arcs
Chemical measurements. Example of chromatographic measurements. Defect a): PD level of 10-15 pC. SOF2 and SO2F2 by-products as a function of the time under voltage.
Chemical measurements. SOF2 and SO2F2 by-products measured after various events. *High sensitivity (0.1 ppmv) chromatography (TCD + FPD/SSD)
A comprehensive catalogue of guidelines for the handling and management of SF6 is available from the US EPA.
Grounding-Transient Voltage Rise No Floating Components or Tools Left Inside!! When Filling with Gas - Avoid Condensation of SF6 - Specially on Spacers Very Important to Have a Written Training Manual for Site Erection and Testing
Capacitive Couplers
Diagram A
Reliability
PD levels of moving particles (length l = 5 and 7 mm) on the enclosure according to IEC-270.
Signal amplitude for moving particles (length l = 5 and 7 mm) on the enclosure measured by the UHF-method at CF f = 1.29 GHz.
Transmission coefficient tTEM of the TEMmode for a dielectric spacer disc (thickness is 5 cm, r = 6.5).
Transmission coefficients ITE and ITM for a dielectric spacer disc (thickness is 5 cm, r = 6.5).
Four discharges from an impacting A1/0.5/10 particle. Voltage level/phase = 100 kV/086 (Erms 6.5 kV/cm at the enclosure).
Multiple discharges from an impacting A1/0.5/10 particle. Voltage level/phase = 120 kV/084 ((Erms 7.8 kV/cm at the enclosure).
Defect
Significant size
Protrusion on hv-cond.
Protrusion on enclosure Free particles Particles on spacer Gas filled ball
Floating electrode
4 mm 10 mm 5 mm 12 mm yes yes
1 2 mm 4 6 mm 3 5 mm 3 5 mm -
Defects detected at typical nominal field strength compared with critical size of defects.
Possibilities, features, items of advanced GIS More parameters measured. History of events can be stored. Advanced techniques for measurement. Trend analyses possible (gas density etc.) Prediction of need for maintenance (condition-based instead of preventive).
Implications, benefits Prediction on ageing, planning of replacement, retrofit. The condition of the installation can be predicted. Reduced maintenance costs. Increased availability. Reduced outage costs.
(Continued on next slide)
Implications, benefits
Reduced maintenance costs. Prediction of development Increased availability. requiring corrective action Reduced outage costs. (service disturbance and Reduced redundancy of primary unforeseen maintenance can circuit possible lower initial be avoided costs. Unmanned operation. The conditions can be Maintenance can be contracted checked by distance to a third party. (teleservice). Reduced maintenance costs.
(Continued on next slide)
Implications, benefits
Simplified circuit breaker. Controlled switching. Reduced breaker wear. Reduced system transients. Reduced space requirement. New current and voltage More flexibility in location of transformers. measurement devices. Reduced initial and LCC. Shorter delivery lead times. Complete factory assembly and Enhanced features. test of GIS bays. Higher quality. Optimised system solution.
Possibilities, features, of secondary system Reduced number of connections and interfaces Standardised hardware, flexible software Increased opportunities for self-testing EMC precautions
Implications, benefits Reduced spaced requirement. Shorter lead time. Lower costs of assembly, engineering and sitework. Lower initial cost. Shorter lead time. Increased flexibility. Higher reliability, higher availability. Facilitated, lower cost.
hh
hh
Quality assurance testing. 1. Combination of tests is frequent during development. 2. Movement of contacts, mechanisms. 3. Some tests out of batches, pressure vessels etc. 4. Requalification after some years of production.
Conditioning procedures in the field have to be adapted to move particles to harmless locations. UHF PD detection techniques help in the process.
It is now recognized that very small voids in a spacer may not be detectable through conventional PD detection techniques, but may give rise to very low probability breakdowns under VFTO pulses.
Also spacers are known to acquire surface charge if nearby corona exists and under prolonged exposure to DC stress. Even AC GIS spacers may be exposed to DC stress due to trapped charges after disconnect switch operation. One manufacturer has proposed the use of weakly conducting surface coatings.
Considerable discussions are underway to develop guidelines for incorporating advanced technologies for monitoring and diagnostics. Obviously, some simple questions have to be answered first!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Why do it? What is the added value? Criteria for selection Reliability and estimated life Compatibility with other systems Can it be retro-fitted?
GIS need less maintenance and it is possible to evolve protocols for conditionbased and reliability-centred maintenance. Moreover, environmental impact and investment/risk analyses are becoming necessary. There is a more to further reduce the size of GIS especially for EHV/UHV range by incorporating one-break gas circuit breakers. For a 500 kV GIS floor savings of 35% and cost reductions of 20-30% are envisaged.
Other features are: Pockels cell based VT and tolerating a higher enclosure temperature. R & D effort is underway to replace AIS with GIS for 500 kV systems and for refurbishing 25 year old GIS.
Both VHF/UHF PD detection techniques are used for on-site commissioning. One manufacturer reports that for 72.5 kV to 245 kV GIS either technique may be used. Particles on spacers are difficult to detect. Correlation of signal level to pC in the PD is not possible.
VHF (30 300 MHz) and UHF (300 3000 MHz methods detect the TEM, TE or TM waves generated by PDs. Below about 300 MHz only TEM mode can exist. Using detection above 100 MHz improves signal/noise ratio. Signal conditioning techniques are adopted, for example, filtering to reject noisy frequency bands, phase locking and signal integration, gating of noise sources.
To identify and differentiate between PD sources the significant parameters are: 1. Peak signal magnitude / RMS of total signal. 2. Repetition rate. 3. Periodicity of signal groups and phase angle of individual pulses with respect to power frequency.
Since particles are the most troublesome course of PD and insulation failure and deterioration, below we examine PD signals from fixed and free particles.
If it is possible to vary the voltage and conduct visual examination, we can determine PD inception/extinction voltages of free particles.
Fixed particles give PD levels of up to 25 pC. Periodicity may be either equal to power frequency or double if voltage is raised.
Free particles produce PD when they strike an electrode or a spacer. Usually PD levels are low and random. At higher voltages particles cross the gas gap and give rise to very high PD levels (100 pC or more) and may lead to breakdown. Current UHF detection works in the range 300 3000 MHz and has the advantage of low noise level.
The cutoff frequencies for a simple coaxial waveguide with outer radius a and inner radius a-b are expressed as:
The cut-off frequency for TEM mode is 0. Hence all higher modes of TEM exist but get progressively weaker. The resonant frequency for TE and TM are often only 5-10 MHz apart. Full consideration has to be given to all TE/TM modes for proper interpretation of PD measurements. Of course, reflections/attenuations have to be taken into consideration.
Four discharges from an impacting A1/0.5/10 particle. Voltage level/phase = 100 kV/086 (Erms 6.5 kV/cm at the enclosure).
Multiple discharges from an impacting A1/0.5/10 particle. Voltage level/phase = 120 kV/084 ((Erms 7.8 kV/cm at the enclosure).
Measuring result of the frequency response of a disc sensor (disc radius r = 5 cm, lD = 7 cm).
Attenuation of signals occurs due to several causes: losses in the metal enclosure and the disc/conical spacers.
Enclosure Spacers
- very low
A continuous UHF monitoring system is needed for GIS which are critical for power supply system security. In the U.K., several such systems are in operation. (National Grid Company and Scottish Power.)
UHF signals from a set of 3-phase couplers is cabled to a node for data acquisition(DAQ). All nodes of the GIS are linked by a fibre-optic token ring network, which can control up to 256 nodes. Network operates at 38.4 kB. PD signal range may be from 1 pC to 1000 pC and the frequency range is 500-1000 MHz.
The system software can permit on-line, event or history modes of operation. Other on-line condition monitoring data systems can be integrated with the UHF PD monitoring system (circuit breakers, disconnect switches, etc.)
1. More stringent manufacturing quality control. 2. Larger enclosure diameter to reduce the operating field at the enclosure. 3. Particle traps. 4. Dielectric coatings on the inside surface of enclosure and on the central conductor.
We now know a fair bit about these PD sources, e.g., Moving particles produce PD signals in a random relationship to the 60 Hz wave. The magnitude, however, depends upon size and on the applied voltage. A fixed protrusion on either conductor or on a spacer will produce corona signals is a known relationship to the power frequency voltage.
A floating metallic component will also produce PD signal in a fixed relationship to the power frequency waveform, but its magnitude is the highest.
So the procedure is to record the full frequency spectrum, pick some suitable PD signal frequency and establish its relationship with the 50 Hz / 60 Hz waveform.
Since the UHF signals are being monitored the attenuation is high - the enclosure skin effect contributes a lot to this. As a result couplers have to be installed at a separation of not more than 20 m.
400 kV GIS in UK (Scottish Power and National Grid) have perhaps 25 to 30 three phase sets installed. At this number of couplers the technique becomes comparable in number of sensors to the acoustic methods. Mandatory on all new EHV/UHV GIS. Loss of a 420 kV GIS may trigger insurance claims.
Voids in spacers are unlikely to be detected by any form of PD test on site. Quality control during manufacture is the only answer. Floating components may arise due to corrosive action on nuts/bolts and intermittent sparking under VFTO.
The magnitude and the phase angle of PDs with respect to 60 Hz varies with the type of defect. The sources listed above produce PD signals in the descending order. That is, floating electrical parts produce the largest PD. Except for the moving metallic particles, which give random signals, the other PD signals have a definite phase relationship with applied AC voltage.
In general PD detection methods may be grouped into four types: A. Electrical B. Acoustic C. Optical D. Chemical Of these, the electrical methods offer the most sensitivity and versatility for detection and location. The other three methods can provide additional information.
Some of the PD detection methods are more suitable for type testing or development testing, for example, chemical and optical. For monitoring and troubleshooting in the field, the electrical and acoustic sensors are commonly used. Conventional PD detection, as per IEC 270, works in the range of 10 KHz to 1 MHz. This is unsuitable on site since the signal/noise ratio is poor.
Due to the different media the signal has to travel, many sensors are required for location of the PD source. An acoustic probe is more useful during conditioning with AC voltage, since a portable sensor can be moved around to identify the location. Also phase relationship with 50/60 Hz is helpful.
UHF techniques
In the field the shielding requirements are difficult to achieve. UHF techniques in this respect are simpler since the environment noise is less likely in these high freq. ranges.
Since the rise-time of a PD signal is very short (1ns or less), some of the cavity resonances in the GIS are excited, and the total capacitance of a GIS is not a determining factor.
Feature Extraction
Data Base ----------> Classification Decision
Void in a spacer
Floating metal objects ------- --------
SF6 Related Info. Pressure Moisture Breakdown By-products PD Data Sensor Locations Data Acquisition Data Reduction Data Analysis Using Present and Historical Data
INTEGRATED CONTROL, MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM
What are Detailed Aspects of UHF PD Detection in GIS? The Resonant Frequencies What Freq. Range you Select? What Type of Coupler?
Internal External New GIS Existing GIS
Coupler Location
Signal/Noise Ratio Propagation Through GIS
Software Design Customized Signal Analysis Data Bank Expert or Neural Systems Calibration Comparisons With Other Data
Purpose: Developmental tests Type tests Production tests Commissioning tests Monitoring/Diagnostic PD - very early local breakdown of gas. May lead to failure in time. Corona stabilization makes voltage level for PD much lower than that for breakdown, except for LI and VFTO.
Quality control is essential for all the components that go into a GIS
Optical techniques are best suited for the developmental and type test stage. However, an adequate number of windows are [is?] essential for visual checks during service. Chemical methods are best suited for the developmental, type test and perhaps as a back-up in the field.
In practice it is the ratio of downstream stable products SO2F2/SOF2 which offers discrimination as to the source of discharges, for example, tests at CESI show:
Phenomena PD Disconnector Cap. Switching Time 260 hrs 200 oper 400 oper SO2F2 15 ppml 5 21 SOF2 35 97 146 Ratio 0.43 0.05 0.14
Cir. Break.
5 oper @ 31kA
5 oper @ 18kA
<50
<50
3390
1560
<0.01
<0.03
Currently, in equipment in service the choice is between the Electrical and Acoustic methods. Often both are used, since in some ways they complement each other. Acoustic sensors could be either AE type or Accelerometers. The PD electrical signal to the resultant acoustic signal have a very complex relationship, but it is less susceptible to environmental noise, and is non-invasive.
Two areas of Health and Environmental impact: A. Through its normal use in a work place ARCING BY-PRODUCTS B. Global environmental impact - OZONE DEPLETION & WARMING Regarding A. the industry is developing stringent guidelines to protect workers and to minimize leaks into the global atmosphere.
By itself SF6 is non-toxic and the TLV level is about 1000 ppmv. However, many organizations require a much lower level. Three levels of personnel protection recommended are:
Breakdown by-products arise, both under arcing and under low-energy discharges, such as corona. Above ~500C SF6 begins to break up and at ~3000C dissociation is complete. During the cooling period, at ~1000C, many chemical reactions occur. H2O is a major factor.
TLV levels for the by-products are established; there are national variations.
IEC 1634 lists many of the relevant data and controversies!
It is the release of Cl that is responsible for O3 depletion. The following relative role is quoted by IEC1624: CO2 (60%), CH4 (15%), N2O (5%), CFC (12%), SF6 (10-2%) There is, however, controversy about these figures! (See IEEE Trans. on Dielec. and Elec. Insul.,
Vol 2, No. 5, 1995, p. 953)
SF6 concentration in upper atmosphere has doubled in the past decade. Increasing at ~8.7% / year. Elect. industry uses ~80% of world production of SF6 (~7000 metric tons in 1993), and the production is expected to grow to ~10,000 metric tons by 2010. SF6 is 25000x more effective than CO2 as a Greenhouse gas.
Environmental activists, however, argue that for estimating a worst case impact we must assume that ALL SF6 will eventually leak into the global atmosphere. Estimates show that SF6 concentration in upper atmosphere is rising at 8.7% per year. Approx. doubled in a decade. Could reach 10 parts in 1012 by vol. by 2010. SF6 does not deplete ozone - no chlorine in its structure.
But SF6 is very effective in absorbing (and reflecting back to Earth) infra-red radiation. 25000x more effective than CO2! Present contribution of SF6 to global warming is <0.01%. If the present usage trends continue SF6 contribution to the greenhouse effect could reach 0.1% by the end of the 21st century.
No reliable estimates of how much actually leaks into the Earths atmosphere. No inventory check or validation of used gas stockpile is maintained. SF6 can be destroyed by incineration at 1100C in waste disposal plants.
The nauseating and tissue irritant effects often cause the most panic and alarm. Several absorbants are quite effective: Alumina, Soda Lime, Molecular Sieves, and combinations thereof. The most common by-products are: SOF2, SO2, HF, CF4, SF4, SO2F2, plus the various metal fluorides.
S2F10 is formed, most likely, in low energy discharges. However, at above 200C it decays if H2O is present. Although, it is difficult to detect, there is reluctant acceptance of its likely presence. The accumulated experience with arcing byproducts suggests that the component to want/monitor is SOF2. HF, of course, is highly reactive and hence corrosive.
SF6 - N2 Mixtures
SF6 does not occur naturally in the environment 80% of the world production is used by the electrical industry It contributes about .01% to the Greenhouse effect. But its concentration in the atmosphere is growing very rapidly.
It is an efficient absorber of infra-red radiation and its global warming potential is estimated to be ~25,000x greater than that of CO2. Its atmospheric life is very long - the half-life, i.e., to be reduced to 37% of its original value, is anywhere between 800 and 3200 years. So, there is concern in industry about the longterm prospects for its continued use in switchgear and GIS. Hence, the interest in mixtures. No other synthetic gas (fluoro-carbons) is better in its environmental impact.
SF6/N2 mixtures less susceptible to effects of field non-uniformity than pure SF6, thus mitigating the effects of particles and surface protrusions. Less is known about dielectric behaviour above 1MPa (10 atmos.) PD and corona have not been as extensively studied in SF6/N2 mixtures as in either gas alone.
Also, less is known about chemical stability of mixtures under low energy discharges. Little is known about the production rates of S2F10, S2OF10, S2O2F10. SF6/N2 mixtures do not have arc quenching properties of SF6 by itself.
SF6/N2 mixtures are less sensitive to protrusions and surface roughness than pure SF6, e.g., for roughness higher than 100. The corona stabilization effect is not as pronounced.
The arc quenching properties of mixtures are not as good as pure SF6. SF6/N2 mixtures are not particularly better when it comes to arcing breakdown byproducts (SO2, SOF2, SO2F2, SOF4). Even a low SF6 content (<10%) still generates these by-products.
Breakdown Voltages
Measured and calculated 60 Hz ac breakdown voltage values for SF6/N2 mixtures. Similar behaviour is exhibited under lightning and switching impulse voltages
Field Test of 1000kV Gas Insulated Switchgear Basic specifications and ratings
Field Test of 1000kV Gas Insulated Switchgear Field test items on switchgear
Leakage of SF6 <0.5% / yr Combined VT/CT Single-break CB for 500 kV 1100 kV Prototype GIS Refurbishing of old GIS Replacement of AIS in urban areas Mechanical design to allow for SF6/N2 mixtures
By 1991 - accumulated experience of 200,000 CBB-YRS. The average age is still only 8 yrs.
Users expectation is a life between 30 - 40 yrs. Asset depreciation period used 20 to 50 yrs. GIS is expected to have a longer life that AIS
RE: Maintenance several categories may be defined and equipment classified, e.g.
Routine inspection Preventive maintenance Repair maintenance Corrective/special maintenance and component categories may be:
Most major utilities have codes of practice for delivering maintenance services for GIS Life cycle costs have to be evaluated: LCC = CI + CP + CR + CO + OC + CD CI: installation (equip. + land + comm. etc.) CP: planned corrective CR: repair CO: operation OC: outage CD: decomm.
Three 600m lengths in Tuscany, SCOF type design 1250 mm2 Water cooled through adjacent pipes. Power transfer through 2.4 GVA with water cooling, up to 7 GVA if internal oil-cooling is added.
Project initiated 20 years ago. At that time PPL was not as well established, so Pirelli decided to use paper, and the internal oil pressure is 1.3 mPa The ends are terminated with one SF6 immersed bushing and one outdoor termination.
About 50% gain in a.c. dielectric strength if oil pressure raised from 0.3 mPa to 1.3 mPa. Impulse strength up by 10% both at room temp. and at 90C. Oil duct 40mm, insulation 35mm thick, outer PE sheath dia. 155mm. 2.4 MV LI peak; 1.8 MV SS peak. Part of a 1000 kV Pilot Plant.
INSULATION HAS TO BE DESIGNED FOR LOW PROBABILITY BREAKDOWN SPECIALLY UNDER VFTO
HF and optical techniques Advances in nanotechnology for insulating materials will have major impact on the design of GIS
Bibliography
General Bibliography
1. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Gas Insulated Substations, 1985, Toronto, Canada. Pergamon Press, UK, 1986. 2. IEEE Substations Committee Tutorial on GIS/GIL, 2004. Publication #03TP165, USA. 3. Electric Power Substations Engineering, Editor John D. McDonald, Second Edition, CRC Press, New York, USA, 2007. 4. Bibliography on Gas Insulated Substations, IEEE Substations Committee Report, IEEE Transactions on Pwr. Apparatus & Systems, Vol. PAS-96, No. 4, pp. 12801287, 1977. 5. Addendum I To Bibliography of Gas Insulated Substations, IEEE Substations Committee Report, IEEE Transactions on Pwr. Delivery, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 10031020, 1989.
6. Bibliography of Switchgear Literature, IEEE Committee Report, IEEE Transactions on Pwr. Delivery, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 177-188, 1990.
Specific References
1. R. Kurrer, K. Feser, The Applications of Ultra High Frequency Partial Discharge Measurements in Gas Insulated Substations, IEEE Trans. On Power Delivery, Vol. PWRD-13, pp.893-905 July 1998.
2. J.S. Pearson, O. Farish et al, Partial Discharge Diagnostics for Gas Insulated Substations, IEEE Trans. On Dielec. And Electrical Insulation, Vo. DEIS-2, pp. 893905, October 1995. 3. Diagnostic Methods for GIS Insulating Systems, Working Group 15.03, Paper 15/23-01, CIGRE Session 1992. 4. C.J. Jones, O. Beierl et al, Guidelines for Monitoring Control and Supervision of GIS Incorporating Advanced Technologies, Paper 23-203, CIGRE Session 1996. 5. Bo H.E. Wahlstrom, Y. Aoshima et al, The Future Substation A Reflective Approach, Paper 23-207, CIGRE Session 1996.
6. D. Allan, T. Blackburn et al, Recent Advances in Automated Insulation Monitoring Systems, Diagnostic Techniques and Sensor Technology in Australia, Paper 15-101, CIGRE Session 1998. 7. A. Kaczkowski, W. Knoth, Combined Sensors for Current and Voltage are Ready for Application in GIS, Paper 12-106, CIGRE Session 1998.
8. M.D. Judd, O. Farish, B. Hampton, The Excitation of UHF Signals by Partial Discharges in GIS, IEEE Trans. On Dielec. And Electrical Insulation, Vol. DEIS-3, pp.213-228, April 1996.
9. T. Hasegawa, K. Yamaji et al, Development of Insulation Structures and Enhancement of Insulation Reliability of 500 kV DC GIS, IEEE Trans. On Power Delivery, Vol. PWRD-12, January 1997. 10. K.S. Prakash, K.D. Srivastava, M.M. Morcos, Movement of Particles in Compressed SF6 GIS with Dielectric Coated Enclosure, IEEE Trans. On Dielectric and Electrical Insul., Vol. DEIS-4, June 1997.
11. J.M. Braun, G.L. Ford et al, Reliability of GIS Epoxy Insulators: the Need and Prospects for More Stringent Acceptance Criteria, IEEE Trans. On Power Delivery, Vol. PWRD-8, pp. 121-131, January 1993.
12. A. Hjortsberg, G. Homstrom, E. Osterlund, Current Transmission Systems for HVDC Including a Solid Insulator Having a Surface Coating of Resin Containing Chromium Oxide or Iron Oxide, US Patents #4, 688,142,18, August 1987. 13. M. Meguro, K. Katada et al, Compact GIS in Harmony with Environment and CAD Evaluating System for 550 kV Substation Design, paper 23-202, CIGRE Session 1998. 14. W. Buesch, H.P. Dambach et al, Application of Partial Discharge Diagnostics in GIS at On-Site Commissioning Tests, Paper 15-104, CIGRE Session 1998. 15. L.G. Christophorou, R.J. van Brunt, SF6/N2 Mixtures: Basic and H.V. Insulation Properties, IEEE Trans. On Dielectrics and Electrical Insul., Vol. DEIS-2, October 1995. 16. CIGRE WG 23.10, SF6 and the Global Atmosphere, Electra, No. 164, February 1996.