ABB Transmission and Distribution

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ENGINEERING GUIDELINE
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Substation Control - Interlocking

Contents
1. General 1

1.1 Scope 1

1.2 References 1

2. Interlocking survey 1

3. Examples 2

3.1 Single busbar 3

3.2 Single busbar with transfer bus 5

3.3 Double busbar 7

3.4 1 ½ breaker method 10

4. Special conditions 12

4.1 Combined coupler / sectionalizer 12

4.2 Transformer neutral isolator 12

4.3 Feeder bypass disconnectors (e.g. H-configuration) 13

4.4 Bus disconnectors in feeders connected to double busbar system 13

Revision page 14

1 General
1.1 Scope
This guideline defines the interlocking system in H:V: switchgears

1.2 References
Business Unit Substation/Technical Instruction No. E1A90001/Working Group 03 (26.10.1990)

2 Interlocking Su rvey
Interlocking facilities must be installed in switchgear for circuit breakers, disconnectors and earthing switches to
prevent damages and accidents in case of maloperations.

Interlocking device can be electrical, electromechanical or mechanical. All three types can be combined. Addition-
ally or combined key interlocks are also possible.

Interlocking systems can be realized via relays or coils, via static prints or numerical units.

The interlocking conditions for a high voltage switching device is depending on the switchyard configuration and the
present status of other relevant switching devices
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The individual main conditions for switchgear equipment interlocking are:

• Circuit breakers are not allowed to operate if the adjacent disconnectors are in an intermediate position
• Disconnectors can only be operated when the relevant circuit breakers and earthing switches are open (pro-
tection against disconnectors being switched on load)
• Earthing switches must be blocked for closing if the adjacent disconnectors are closed

in addition to this basic requirements there are some other important points to take care of when installing an inter-
locking system:
• Within the auxiliary switches only end position contacts should be used for interlocking
• Latching relays should not be used
• In case of failure of the auxiliary voltage all interlocks should remain
• Loss of motor voltage or voltage supervision must interrupt the control circuit (e.g. by opening the self-holding
circuit)
• An open high voltage circuit breaker is not isolating between sections (e.g. earthing switches are not allowed to
close)
• If the busbar disconnectors of a bay are on a lower load capacity than the busbar, it is not allowed to connect
the busbars together through the disconnectors only

Additional requirements can be found in the clients specification or in the description of a specific apparatus. Such
additional requirements can be added to above basic features if it is extra interlocking, but extra enabling features
must be very carefully examined before it will be used.

3 Examples
The examples given below are showing some feeders with basic configurations. A lot of other configurations can be
used according to operational requirements. However the general rules for safety operation must always be fol-
lowed. For the examples the item designations according to DIN-standard are used.
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3.1 Single Busbar

3.1.1 Feeder with Circuit Breaker

Figure 3-1:

QO may be closed if...

• the adjacent disconnectors are at end positions

Q1 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 are open
and busbar is not earthed (note 1)
• or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q51 is closed
and busbar is earthed

Q9 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 and Q8 are open
• or (optional condition)
earthing switches Q52 and Q8 are closed

Q51 or Q52 may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q1 and Q9 are open

Q8 may be operated if...

• disconnector Q9 is open
and feeder end is dead (note 2)
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3.1.2 Busbar Earthing Sw itch

Figure 3-2:

Q15 may be operated if...

• no object is connected to the busbar

Note 1:

First condition to check is the busbar earthing switch, if any. Secondly all other earthing switches connected to
the busbar via circuit breaker (open or closed) must be checked.

Note 2:

Checking of dead feeder end (cable, overhead line or transformer connection) is normally done manually, i.e. no
blocking condition is involved in the circuit. For earthing switches one of the following enabling features can be
used:
– Disconnector at the other end of the cable, overhead line or transformer is open
– Voltage checking relay connected to the feeder-end-voltage transformer indicates no voltage at the feeder
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3.2 Single Busbar w ith Transfer Busbar

3.2.1 Feeder with Circuit Breaker

Figure 3-3:

QO may be closed if...

• the adjacent disconnectors are at end positions

Q1 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 are open
and busbar 1 is not earthed (note 1)
or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q51 is closed
and busbar is earthed

Q9 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 and Q8 are open
or (optional condition)
earthing switches Q52 and Q8 are closed

- Q7 may be operated if...

• all other transfer disconnectors (Q7) are open
and transfer bus is not earthed
and earthing switch Q8 is open
and circuit breaker of the transfer bus coupler bay is open (note 3)
or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q8 is closed
and transfer bus is earthed

Q51 or Q52 may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q1 and Q9 are open
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Q8 may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q9 and Q7 are open
and feeder end is dead (note 2)

3.2.2 Transfer Bus Coup ler

Figure 3-4:

QO may be closed if...

• the adjacent disconnectors are at end positions

Q1 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 are open
and busbar 1 is not earthed
or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q51 is closed
and busbar 1 is earthed

Q51 and Q52 may be operated if...

• disconnector Q1 is open
and transfer disconnectors (Q7) of all bays are open

The notes 1 and 2 of item 2.1 should also be regarded.

Note 3:

The sequence for connecting up a bay at load to the transfer busbar is following:
– Close the transfer disconnector (Q7) of the bay. The trip signal from the feeder protection should automatically
be connected to the circuit breaker of the bus coupler
– Close the disconnector(s) and the circuit breaker of the bus coupler bay
– Open the circuit breaker (QO) of the bay
– Open the disconnectors (Ql, Q9) surrounding the circuit breaker. The trip signal from the feeder protection
should automatically be disconnected from the bay circuit breaker
– In case the feeder protections are connected to a current transformer, which will be bypassed of the transfer
disconnector the measuring circuit of the protections must be switched over to a current transformer in the bus
coupler bay
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3.3 Double Busbar

3.3.1 Feeder with Circuit Breaker and Line Disconnector

Figure 3-5:

QO may be closed if...

• the adjacent disconnectors are at end positions

Q1 (Q2) may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 are open
and other disconnector Q2 (Ql) is open
and busbar 1 (2) is not earthed (note 1)
or
other disconnector Q2 (Ql) is closed
and busbar 1 and 2 are connected together (note 4)
and (optional condition) circuit breaker of the bus coupler is blocked
or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q51 is closed
and busbar 1 (2) is earthed

For other conditions refer to item 3.4

Q9 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 and Q8 are open
or (optional condition)
earthing switches Q52 and Q8 are closed

Q51 or Q52 may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q9 and Ql and Q2 are open
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Q8 may be operated if...

• disconnector Q9 is open and feeder end is dead (note 2)

3.3.2 Bus Coupler and B usbar Sectioning with Circuit Breaker

Figure 3-6:

QO may be closed if...

• the adjacent disconnectors are at end positions

and (optional condition applicable only for bus couplers)

tripping is blocked if...

• a bus disconnector (Q1, Q2) of any other bay is running
and the other bus disconnector at the bay is closed

Ql (Q21) may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 are open
and busbar 1 (2A) is not earthed
or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q51 is closed
and busbar 1 (2A) is earthed

Q2 (Q22) may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 and Q52 are open
and busbar 2 (2B) is not earthed
or (optional condition)
earthing switch Q52 is closed
and busbar 2 (2B) is earthed

Q51 and Q52 may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q1 and Q2 (Q21 and Q22) are open

For other conditions refer to item 3.4

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3.3.3 Busbar Sectioning with Disconnector

Figure 3-7:

Q11 may be operated if...

• no other disconnector is closed to busbar section 1A or 1B
and bus sections 1A and 1B are not earthed (note 1)
or
bus sections 1A and 1B are connected through closed disconnectors and breakers
in the bus coupler bays (note 4)

The notes 1 and 2 should be referred.

Note 4:

Closed disconnectors and circuit breaker in the bus coupler bay is the normal condition for enabling. However,
other conditions used on request (see special conditions).
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3.4 1 1/2 Breaker M ethod

The diameter is divided into three sections as indicated by the chain-dotted-lines in the figure. These sections
should be designated with different higher level designations.

Figure 3-8:

Section A and C

Q1 (Q2), QO, Q51, Q52 and Q8 has to be treated as in item 2.1

Q6 may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q52 and Q53 are open
or (optional condition)
earthing switches Q52 and Q53 are closed

Q53 may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q6 and Q61 (Q62) and Q9 are open

Q9 may be operated if...

• circuit breakers QO and QO of section B are open
and earthing switches Q53 and Q8 are open
or (optional condition)
earthing switches Q53 and Q08 are closed
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Section B

QO may be operated if...

• the adjacent disconnectors are at end positions

Q61 (Q62) may be operated if...

• circuit breaker QO is open
and earthing switches Q51 (Q52) and Q53 are open
or (optional condition)
earthing switches Q51 (Q52) and Q53 are closed

Q51 (Q52) may be operated if...

• disconnectors Q61 and Q62 are open
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4 Special Condit ions

Here only some special conditions are mentioned. For normal conditions see item 2.

4.1 Combined Coup ler/Sectionalizer

Figure 4-1:

To operate the sectionalizing disconnectors the coupler breaker and disconnectors must be closed and (optional)
blocked or one busbar side must be disconnected.

4.2 Transformer Neu tral Isolator

Figure 4-2:

The basic rule "no switching on load" must be followed. The neutral point disconnector will normally be released for
operation if the circuit breakers on low voltage side of the transformers are open. However, if the transformer
should not be disconnected for the neutral point operation a current measuring relay is necessary (with time de-
layed drop off) to block the operation. Not allowed network configurations (e.g. connection of neutral without con-
nection to earth) must also be interlocked.
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4.3 Feeder Bypass D isconnectors (e.g. H-Configurations)

Figure 4-3:

– The bypass disconnector is released for operation when all feeder breakers and disconnectors are closed
– - power line carrier signals of the bypassed lines must be bypassed also, using an early close auxiliary switch
– - Line breaker trip must be blocked while bypass disconnector is running

4.4 Bus Disconnecto rs in Feeders Connected to

Double Busbar System
Refer also to item 2.3.1
– - The disconnector closed to the busbar in a double busbar system must be blocked for operation when the
other bus disconnector is closed as long as the two busbars are not connected together
– - The two disconnectors close to the busbars in a double busbar system should be released for operation if a
bus coupler is connecting the busbars together and no earthing is connected. This is the basic rule for transfer-
ring energized feeder from the one busbar to the other
– - Additionally the two disconnectors close to the busbars in a double busbar system should be released for op-
eration if the two bus disconnectors at an other feeder is connecting the busbars together and no earthing is
connected
– - Additionally the disconnector close to the busbar in a double busbar system should be released for operation
if nothing is connected to the busbar
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REVISION

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