Sizing a MV generator circuit

breaker (GCB) in terms of

breaking capacity
By Edvard   | January, 14th 2019 | 16 comments  | Save to PDF
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Home / Technical Articles / Sizing a MV generator circuit breaker (GCB) in terms of breaking capacity

The complex role of a generator CB

The main function of a circuit breaker is to carry the rated current
of the generator and break both the short-circuit current supplied
by the generator and that supplied by the power grid.
Sizing a MV generator circuit breaker (GCB) in terms of breaking
capacity

Introduction to GCB circuits

The basic design of the generator circuit configuration is
displayed in Figure 1. Generator circuit-breakers (GCB) are
essentially located between the generator and the step-up
transformer of the high voltage network.

In generator circuits two different faults are possible with a

combination of high short-circuit current at high asymmetrical
components:

1. The system-source fault (fault on generator side, point A)

and
2. on system-source fault (fault on the transformer side, point
B).
In case of a “bad” synchronisation between the network and
the generator circuit breaker may close into a condition that is
known as “out-of phase”. If this occurs with a phase angle of up
to 90°, the generator circuit-breaker has to interrupt short-circuit
current values nearly as high as the system source fault.
This is in contrast to the values of the short-circuit current under
conditions according IEC 62271-100, which is 25 % of the rated
short circuit current.

If a system-source fault occurs, the short-circuit current is

established at high magnitudes and the breaker is located close
to the generator. The energy of the system feeds the fault from
the system through the transformer.
 Figure 0 – Compact
three phase vacuum generator circuit breaker type: VD4G-50
(15kV-50kA-3150 … 4000A-50/60Hz)
Breaking capacity of a GCB
Requirements in terms of breaking capacity depend on the
amount the installation contributes to the fault current and the
location of the actual fault itself. Figure 1 illustrates a typical
single-line diagram and two possible points of failure, i.e.:

 Fault in A – system-source fault

 Fault in B – generator-source fault
 Figure 1 – Single-line diagram of a
generator connection to the grid with two possible points of
failure (fault in A and B)
Regarding amplitude, fault current supplied by the grid is almost
always higher than that supplied by the generator. This is due to
the lower reactance of the transformer and network compared to
the transient and sub-transient reactance of the generator.

This is also true of the X/R ratio, which is lower when the fault
is supplied by the grid. This current is therefore the
requirement that determines the breaking capacity of the circuit
breaker.
However, when a circuit breaker is chosen for protecting a
generator, in accordance with the new Standard IEC/IEEE
62271-37-013 Ed. 1: High-voltage switchgear and controlgear –
Part 37-013:
Alternating current generator circuit breakers, short-circuit
overcurrent is only one of the parameters required for this
specific application. One must also consider the fault in B,
supplied by the generator, characterized by higher levels of
asymmetry and higher time constants (Figure 2).

Figure 2 – Fault in B supplied by generator

Circuit breakers for generators conforming to Standard IEC/IEEE
62271-37-013 are designed to overcome these critical conditions
and to withstand longer electric arc duration.

For example, the ABB’s VD4G family of generator circuit

breakers includes three apparatuses: VD4G-50, VD4G-40 and
VD4G-25 for voltage ratings up to 15 kV, currents up to 4000 A
and breaking capacities of up to 50 kA for supply by generator.
Generator circuit breakers must conform to  Standard IEC/IEEE
62271-37-013 “High-voltage switchgear and controlgear
–  Part 37-013: Alternating-current generator
circuit  breakers”.

Figure 3 – ABB’s VD4G generator circuit breaker family

The following table lists the breaking capacities of the family in
the three conditions:

1. System-source,
2. Generator-source and
3. Out-of-phase conditions.
In the case of generator-source breaking capacity, the first
value refers to maximum breaking capacity with 110%
asymmetry and the second to 74% breaking capacity but
130% asymmetry (called class G1 in the Standard). The same
value means that the circuit breaker is able to interrupt at
maximum breaking capacity with 130% asymmetry (called class
G2 in the Standard).

In all cases, if the cause of asymmetry occurs during delays in

current zero crossing, it will be necessary to demonstrate that
the circuit breaker is able to interrupt the current within the
maximum arcing time it is able to sustain.
If the arcing time resulting from the lack of current zeroes were to
exceed the maximum arcing time the circuit breaker is able to
sustain, a possible solution would be to delay the release signal
of the circuit breaker so as to return below that maximum value.

This would clearly lengthen the time the installation would be

exposed to short-circuit current. For that reason, this solution
must be carefully assessed and agreed with the user.

The other differences with respect to interruption of faults

supplied by the grid are that the rate of rise of the transient
recovery voltage (TRV) is much steeper and there are fault
currents due to closing in out-of-phase conditions.

Current interruption due to generator-source faults is an

extremely complex phenomenon,  considering the differences
in the way generators  behave due to different design and
construction techniques.

Since it is very difficult to reproduce these faults in test

laboratories, the standard underscores how the only way to
assess the capability of a generator circuit breaker to interrupt a
short-circuit current with lack of current zero crossing is by
simulation.
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Example of how a generator circuit breaker is sized

Two generators connected to the HV grid by means of a
transformer with three windings are considered in the installation
proposed as an example. The starting condition will be that of
an initially no-load generator. A 1.05 voltage
factor is considered for this installation.

The main grid data are:

 Scc=2000 MVA
 X/R=10
 Vn=150 kV
Transformer with 3 windings:

V1 = 150 kV S1 = 150 MVA Vcc_12 = 11.5% at 55 MVA

V2 = 11.5 kV S2 = 75 MVA Vcc_13 = 11.1% at 55 MVA
V3 = 11.5 kV S3 = 75 MVA Vcc_23 = 21% at 55 MVA

Generators:

 Sn = 75.294 MVA

 Vn = 11.5kV
Xd = 2.26 Xq = 2.06 Td’ = 0.71 Tq’ = 0.71
Xd’ = 0.217 Xq’ = 0.26 Td’’ = 0.04 Tq’’ = 0.04
Xd’’ = 0.155 Xq’’ = 0.19 Ra = 0.001309
The reactances and resistances are given in p.u. while the
values of the time constants are given in seconds. According to
Standard IEC 60034-3, the admissible tolerances can be
around ±15 %, thus all reactances are decreased by that
percentage as a precaution.

We will first analyze the symmetrical current at instant t=0 (i.e.

the moment that short-circuit occurs) on the supply side and then
on the load side of the generator circuit breaker (GCB).

After this, the capability of the circuit breaker to eliminate a

three-phase-earth short-circuit in the two above-mentioned
points will be assessed.
We will first consider a three-phase-earth fault between the GCB
and generator G1. Application of the MVA method allows the
value of the short-circuit symmetrical current to be assessed in
just a few steps.

First, we must make sure that the Vcc_12; Vcc_13; Vcc_23 values are
given according to the same basis. After this, the values of the
short-circuit impedances for each winding can be obtained from
the following relations:

Now let us suppose that the transformer with three windings is

like the one in the equivalent diagram of Figure 4:
 Figure 4 –
Transformer with 3 windings
The MVA method can now be applied to the circuit, as shown in
Figure 5:

Figure 5 –
Layout of the installation
The short-circuit current for a fault between the machine circuit
breaker and generator G1 will be calculated first:
The symmetrical short-circuit current at instant t=0 can be
obtained from this value.

Ik” is the symmetrical short-circuit current value at time t=0. This

value acts as a reference for successive simulation performed
via computer using EMTP (Electromagnetic Transient
Program) software.

It also allows an initial estimation to be made of the size of the

circuit breaker required.

The single-line diagram showing the system-source short-circuit

currents for this particular example is given in figure 6 below.
Current Isff is the symmetrical short-circuit current to which value
Ik” corresponds at time t=0.
 Figure 6
– Trend of short-circuit currents for a system-source fault
The trend of the short-circuit current in the time calculated with
EMTP is illustrated in the graph of figure 7.
Figure 7 – Short-circuit current for a system-source fault
The graph shows that the maximum current peak is:

Ip = 56.70 kA

while the remaining current values at instant t = 45 ms are:

Issf_sym = 21.38 kA
idc% = 53,75%
Note that the value of the symmetrical component is slightly
different from the one observed at instant t=0.

This is due to the contribution from the generator of the

right-hand busbar which, in the absence of a constant
symmetrical component, also changes the total
symmetrical current value, although to a lesser extent.
The next data item to assess is the short-circuit current value in
the case of a generator-source three-phase to earth fault,
considering the symmetrical component at instant t=0 and
-15% tolerance on the reactance as explained previously:

Here again, short-circuit current I”kg acts as the reference

value for the following computer simulation. The single-line
diagram showing the current flow for generator-source faults (Igff)
is given below.
 Figure 8
– Trend of short-circuit currents for a generator-source fault
The graphs in figures 9 and 10 show the short-circuit current
trend for the 90 and 0 degree voltage phase angles,
respectively (also calculated with EMTP).
Figure 9 – Short-circuit current for a generator-source fault, 90°
voltage angle
The graph shows that the maximum value of the current peak is:

Ip = 80 kA
Considering a 45ms instant, the remaining current values are as
follows:

Isym = 22.52 kA
idc% = 118%
Table 1 – ABB’s generator circuit breaker VD4G family
System-source Generator-source breaking Out-of-phase breaking
breakingcapacity [kA] capacity [kA] capacity [kA]
VD4G-50 50 50/37 25
VD4G-40  40 25/25  20
VD4G-25  25  16/16  12.5

This result shows that continued operation can be guaranteed by

a class G1 circuit breaker, as is for example ABB’s breaker
type VD4G-50 (from above table).
Figure 10 – Short-circuit current for a generator-source fault, 0°
voltage angle
Both the graphs in Figures 9 and 10 show the two asymmetry
values that must be considered when choosing the circuit
breaker, as clearly suggested by the new Standard for
generator circuit breakers (IEC/IEEE 62271-37-013 Annex E).
These graphs show that the short-circuit current  has
a  maximum peak value of 80kA and a 22.5 kA  symmetrical
component.

In the case of system-source faults, thus owing to

simultaneous contributions from the grid and generator, the ratio
between peak value and the real symmetrical component the
instant the contacts separate may exceed the value of
2.74 (standardized value for system-source faults, corresponding
to a 133 ms time constant of the direct component).

Checks based on the peak value mentioned above are therefore

necessary when assessing the minimum size that can be
selected.

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The other limit when the MVA method is used for the calculations
is that the symmetrical component of the short-circuit current
is calculated at instant t=0. However, this value could be useful
in the absence of detailed data.

As mentioned previously, the value of the symmetrical

component varies over time since a generator, whose
symmetrical component is not constant during short-circuits, is
involved. This means that it is important to calculate the value
of the total symmetrical component the instant the
contacts separate, which is less than that calculated with the
MVA method, i.e. at t=0, so as to avoid choosing an oversized
circuit breaker.
However, to calculate the circuit breaker precisely, the
exact characteristic parameters of the generator must be known
and the technician who performs the calculation must be fully
familiar with the use of EMTP software.

Faults due to out-of-phase must also be assessed if the

circuit breaker can be closed in the absence  of synchronism
between the grid and the generator itself, e.g. owing to faulty
operation of  the parallelled system.

The fault current that occurs in this case follows the

characteristic trend in Figure 11, which mainly depends on the
inertia of the rotor and relative turbine connected.
Figure 11 – Fault current due to circuit breaker closing in out-of-
phase conditions at 90° phase difference
Although it may not seem so frequent, this type of fault must still
be considered since its effects can be serious. Thus the
capability of a generator circuit breaker to deal with it is of
fundamental importance.
Protection relays for generators
All or only some of the following protection functions can be used
for protecting the generator, depending on the rated power of
the machine and the type of application:

 relay 87 residual current protection of the generator

(sometimes called 87G);
 relay 49 thermal overload protection of stator;
 relay 51 overcurrent protection;
 relay 40 loss of field protection;
 relay 32 reverse power;
 relay 46 negative sequence overcurrent protection;
 relay 21 underimpedance protection (as an alternative to
zero-sequence overcurrent protection with voltage control
when there is a unit transformer);
 relay 50V overcurrent protection with voltage control (as an
alternative to underimpedance protection when there is no
unit transformer);
 relay 27 undervoltage protection;
 relay 59 overvoltage protection;
 relay 81 underfrequency and overfrequency protection;
 relay 24 maximum overflux protection;
 relay 64R rotor ground protection;
 relay 64S stator ground protection (function of the type of
state of the neutral).
There are other protection functions used for high-power
machines, e.g.:

 5 accidental energization;
 37 underpower relay
 49R (51R) rotor overload;
  60 voltage balance relay;
 78 ou of step.
A few typical protection system configurations are illustrated in
Figure 12 as well as an example ABB’s protection relay
type REG630 which is recommended in this case.

Figure 12 – Generator with earthed neutral and isolated neutral

Generator Protection Fundamentals
(VIDEO)
Sources:
1. MV switching devices – Technologies & application by ABB
2. A three-phase generator vacuum circuit breaker based on
vacuum interrupter technology has been established for the
application in generator circuits up to 15 kv-50 KA by Dietmar
GENTSCH and Stephan SCHOFT (ABB)