Project Tittle

GAS INSULATED SUBSTATIONS (GIS)

ECE 589
Insulation Coordination in High Voltage Electric Power
Systems

Student’s Name : MOHAMMED RADHI IKHMAIT AL-JASIM

Student Number: 203720098

Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Kevork Mardikyan

2020-2021

1
 Abstract

This project shows the gas insulated substations (GIS), the usage of it, and
the advantages and disadvantages of it against conventional substations.

This project gives a definition about GIS, and mention in a briefly the
characteristics of SF6 gas, the advantages and disadvantages of GIS are
showed, the GIS requirements, components and applications are
mentioned, in addition to the economics of the GIS.

In addition to the test methods of GIS and an explanation of their types in

detail .

2
 1- INTRODUCTION
A gas-insulated substation (GIS) uses a superior dielectric gas, SF6, at moderate pressure for phase-to phase
and phase-to-ground insulation. The high voltage conductors, circuit breaker interrupters,
switches, current transformers, and voltage transformers are in SF6 gas inside grounded metal enclosures.
The atmospheric air insulation used in a conventional, air-insulated substation (AIS) requires meters of
air insulation to do what SF6 can do in centimeters. GIS can therefore be smaller than AIS by up to a
factor of 10. A GIS is mostly used where space is expensive or not available. In a GIS the active parts are
protected from the deterioration from exposure to atmospheric air, moisture, contamination, etc. As a
result, GIS is more reliable and requires less maintenance than AIS. Operation of 800 kV equipment has proved
successful since the end of 1979. Prototype testing of 1100 kV through 1600 kV substation equipment proved
the feasibility of this equipment at the next generation of voltage levels.
The basic principle of gas-insulated equipment is that the high-voltage current carrying parts are within a metal
enclosure and are held in a concentric configuration by cast epoxy spacer insulators. The space between the
conductor and the enclosure is filled with sulfur hexafluoride gas under moderate pressure. Gas insulated
substation mainly used for a power transmission system or a substation system, of which outgoing bus-bar is
shortened to reduce consumption of the outgoing bus-bar. Gas insulated substation comprising a circuit
breaker, disconnecting switches, a ground switch, external equipment having an outgoing portion to be
connected to the above equipment, and an outgoing bus-bar vertically inclined to the outgoing portion of the
external equipment, the Figure 1 describes that mentioned above.

1 → Circuit breaker.
2 → Disconnector (Isolator).
3 → Ground switches.
4 → Bus-bar.
5 → Transformer.
8 → Outgoing bus-bar for electrically connecting the gas insulated
substation with bus-bar.
9 → Outgoing portion of the transformer being arranged in
accor-dance with extending
direction of outgoing bus-bar.

Figure 1
GIS model

Medium-voltage up to 170 kV equipment is available in three phases in one enclosure; for higher voltages, it is
generally in a single-phase enclosure arrangement. The equipment can be installed indoors or outdoors. In
purely indoor construction, all the equipment is completely enclosed within a structure, protected from the
weather. Measures are taken to ensure that the failure of a piece of equipment does not spread and involve
other units. Reinforced concrete fire- and explosion-resistant walls or barriers are installed between major
pieces of equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and regulators.

3
 2- Characteristics of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Gas
The dielectric medium is the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, which became commercially available in 1947. SF6
has been used as an insulating medium in electronic devices, power apparatus, and HVDC converter stations.
Its excellent properties make it ideally suited both as an insulating and as an arc-quenching agent. SF6 gas is
colorless, odorless, chemically inert, nontoxic, nonflammable, and noncorrosive. Its dielectric strength is greatly
superior to that of air, and it is close to 100 times as effective as air in quenching an electric arc.

Pure SF6 is heavier than air, which causes it to settle in low areas, thus diluting oxygen in air. It is therefore
necessary to learn proper safety rules before entering any area where pockets of SF6 could accumulate.
Although the gas is self-restoring, during its exposure to an electric arc it will yield decomposition by-products.
In the presence of moisture, which is especially the case in failed and ruptured equipment, these by-products
will hydrolyze, and all resulting reaction products must be considered hazardous. The level of gas pressure at
which the equipment will operate to meet specified ratings is a function of the relationship between diameters
of the conductor and the enclosure (the size of the gap), and the temperature at which the equipment will
operate. At the higher pressures, the gas would liquefy at higher temperatures, as indicated in Figure 2.
Stability comes from the symmetrical arrangement of the six fluorine atoms around the central sulfur atom.
And this stability is just what makes the gas useful in electric equipment, the construction of SF6 is shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3
Arrangement of SF6 molecules

Figure 2
Pressure temperature characteristics of SF6

SF6 production process

SF6 is formed by a chemical reaction between molten sulfur and fluorine. Fluorine is obtained by the
electrolysis of hydrofluoric acid (HF). The only industrial process currently in use is the synthesis of sulfur
hexafluoride by allowing fluorine obtained by electrolysis to react with sulfur according to the exothermic
reaction: [ S + 3F2 →SF6 + 262Kcal ].

4
Use of SF6 : Since the early 1960s, SF6 has been successfully used by the power electric industry for HV
transmission and MV distribution equipment. Typical equipment used are gas insulated substations, ring main
units, circuit breakers, transformers and cables.

Use in Electrical Equipment

For electrical equipment SF6 offers, like no other gas, excellent electric insulation and arcquenching properties.
No other gas can allow today’s switchgear to reach high voltage levels with current switching capabilities.

3- GIS Advantages And Disadvantages

As mentioned previously there are two types of insulated substation:

1. Air insulated substation.
2. Gas insulated substation.
The atmospheric air insulation used in a conventional, air-insulated substation (AIS) requires meters of air
insulation to do what SF6 can do in centimeters, the insulation distances determine the main sizes of the classic
distribution substation, For a long time, the development in substation construction concentrated simply in
combining existing devices to obtain the arrangement more adequate for exploitation and supply security. On the
other hand, the increasing needs to convey electric energy, at higher voltages, towards the regions with grand
population density and the industrial centres, causes great difficulties due to the size of the involved installations,
official prescriptions and the town-planning requirements complicate the construction. GIS can therefore be
smaller than AIS by up to a factor of 10. A GIS is mostly used where space is expensive or not available. In a
GIS the active parts are protected from the deterioration from exposure to atmospheric air, moisture,
contamination, etc. As a result, GIS is more reliable and requires less maintenance than AIS.

GIS Advantages :
1. Reduced required space: The space occupied by SF6 installation is only about 8% to 10 % of that a
conventional outdoor substation. High cost is partly compensated by saving in cost of space. A typical
(420/525) kV SF6 GIS requires only 920m2 site area against 30000 m2 for a conventional air insulated
substation
2. Reliable: The complete enclosure of all live parts guards against any impairment of the insulation system.
3. Reduced erection and assembly times: The principle of building block construction reduces the installation
time to a few weeks. Each conventional substation requires several months for installation. In SF6
substations, The time-consuming is highly cost for galvanized steel structures and it is eliminated. Heavy
foundations for galvanized steel structures, equipment support structures ...etc are also eliminated. The
results are economy and reduced project execution time. Modules are factory assembled, tested and
dispatched with nominal SF6 gas. Site erection time is reduced to final assembly of modules.
4. The installations are dielectrically and totally tested in-site (unlike conventional substations).
5. Reduced maintenance and consequently, lower costs.
6. The safety is increased: As the enclosures are at earth potential there is no possibility of accidental contact
by service personnel to live parts.
7. From 30 kV to 500 kV they might result cheaper than conventional units. High flexibility and application
versatility provide unique, and economic overall concepts.
8. Up to 170 kV, tripolar design is used (three phases in the same casing). For upper voltages, each phase is
separately insulated, enclosed and compartmentalized.

5
9. Provide a protection against the pollution. The external moisture. Atmospheric Pollution, snow, dust … etc.
have little influence on SF6 insulated substation. Due to the troubles caused by pollution in insulators, the
tendency is to build indoors installations. However, the cost is increasing in construction.
Hence, to solve this problem, smaller installations are needed, which
should also comply the following requirements:
1. They shall be insensible to climatic influences.
2. They can be raised outdoors, inside a building or underground.
3. They require reduced maintenance.
4. They are silent.
5. They should not generate radio-electric disturbances.
6. They shall not imply danger for the nearby populated zones.

GIS Disadvantages:
1. Excessive damage in case of internal fault. Long outage periods as the repair
of damaged part at site may be difficult.
2. Requirement of cleanliness is very stringent. Dust or moisture can cause
internal flashovers.
3. Such substations are generally indoor, so they need a separate building. This is
generally not required for conventional outdoor substations.
4. Procurement of gas and supply of gas to site is problematic, adequate stock of
gas must be maintained.
5. Project needs almost total imports including SF6 Gas. Spares conventional
substation is totally indigenous up to 400 kV.

4- Gas Insulated Substation Tests

1- Construction Visual Inspections

These tasks generally include:
1. Check all bonding and grounding conductors are installed, connected, and tight.
2. Check the condition of the gas valves for normal operations.
3. Inspect the appearance and condition of the primary GIS, for example, damaged paint, construction
scraps, tight structure support connections, viewport covers, and so on.
4. Cleanliness of the circuit breaker cabinet, disconnect and ground switches, and marshaling and local
control cabinets.
5. Equipment labeling including nameplates and device identification plates.
6. Overall job site appearance and cleanliness.
7. Condition of safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and eyewashes.
2- Control Cable
Typically control cable tests are in two categories. First, the insulation integrity is tested using a 1000
volt source (Megger), which may be manual or motorized. The owner or manufacturer should be
consulted for a site-specific procedure; however, the objective is to confirm that individual conductors
are insulated from each other and the cable shield, if one is present. The cable jacket integrity is also
tested. The objective is to detect missing or damaged insulation. Successful tests should show high
resistive readings. The second category is a point-to-point continuity test to verify that the conductors
are landed on the correct terminals. Installation personnel isolate the connections using slide links and
then verify, using sound powered phones, buzzers, or similar equipment, that the connection is correct.

6
3- Bus Gas Leak Checks Once the various GIS compartments have been processed and gas-filled, a second
leak check may be recommended by the manufacturers, particularly for long bus runs. Each flange is
covered by plastic and sealed with duct tape. A small stone is placed in the bottom of the plastic “bag.”
This plastic “enclosure” remains for 12 to 24 hours. An SF6 detection device is then inserted into the
bag. If there are gas leaks, as SF6 is heavier than air, it will settle to the bottom of the plastic bag and
activate the detector.
4- Gas Density Monitor and Local Alarm Tests
This test involves keeping the gas density monitor wired but isolated electrically with open terminal
block slide links or a similar switch mechanism, before mechanically isolating the density switch using
appropriate valves. Bleed a small amount of gas off and using an ohmmeter at the terminal block,
observe and record the alarm point. Two-way radio or a similar communication may be required for
large installations. In a similar manner slowly introduce some gas and as the pressure rises, observe the
density switch reset point. The test purpose is to verify the final wiring and actual alarm points.
5- Primary Circuit Resistance
Generally this test requires a 100 A DC μΩ meter with independent voltage and current sources. Tests
are conducted on an assembled GIS section as specified by the manufacturer, isolating the circuit using
a ground switch and removing its grounding strap. The various GIS switches in the test circuit are
configured to meet the measurement requirements, and with the current lead connected to the
“floating” ground strap and the μΩ meter voltage lead connected to the ground switch enclosure, 100
A are injected into the circuit. The readings obtained are compared to engineering calculations, which
may include a tolerance specification. An acceptable field measurement agrees with the engineered
calculation.
6- SF6 Gas Quality Tests
Once the gas compartments are processed and filled to the correct pressure/density, gas purity tests
are conducted .These tests require a small amount of gas and identify the level of moisture present and
the purity of the SF6. For new GIS equipment installations acceptable values are moisture levels in the
150 ppm to 300 ppm range and gas purity in the 99.5% range. Some manufacturers decrease the
acceptable parameters in older or reprocessed gas to 500 ppm moisture with a gas purity of 98%.
These values should be recorded for maintenance baseline use when gas quality measurements are
made in the future.
7- Circuit Breaker Tests
Caution: before proceeding with any breaker operations tests, any closing or tripping prevention pins
or lock devices should be identified. Depending on the test, the pins or lock devices may or may not be
required. The breaker operating pressures should also be verified to confirm and the circuit breaker is
at full operating levels.
a. Mechanism Stroke, Wipe Measurement These tests are generally performed at the factory
and verified in the field to ensure that shipping or the installation procedure has not damaged
the breaker mechanism or caused it to deviate from acceptable tolerance levels.
b. Open/Close Operation Including Antipumping This test will confirm whether the circuit breaker
properly opens and closes. One manual test is performed and then the necessary open and
close operations at the operating control voltage, as identified in the specification, for example,
open and close “X” times in a specified time. The objective is to observe whether the lights and
indicators work properly and the owner’s specification requirements are met.
c. Travel and Timing Test These tests are to confirm the dynamic operating performance of the
breaker by measuring the operating times on a per pole basis and identifying any discrepancies
or deviations with the phases. Manufacturers will typically provide the timing range and the
maximum phase discrepancy limit. Any readings outside the manufacturer’s stated values
should be investigated and adjustments made as necessary.
d. Low Gas Tripping and Block Close Operations This test is on the circuit breaker gas system to
prove whether gas leakage detection (multiple alarm levels) is operational and the control
limits, for example, serious loss of gas, will block close and prevent the breaker operation.

7
8- Ground and Disconnect Switch and Circuit Breaker Interlock Tests
GIS equipment is generally provided with interlocks to prevent incorrect operations; for example, most
disconnects are not designed for load break operation and similarly ground switches cannot be closed
without interconnected circuit breakers and disconnects open. The manufacturer’s interlock logic
diagram should be reviewed to verify the various open and close combinations and confirm that
incorrect operations are blocked. These interlock schemes should also be checked for correct
integration into the owner’s protection and switching logic.
9- High Voltage Bus and Equipment Conditioning Tests
Before the GIS installations are placed in service, a high voltage conditioning test is performed with
momentary voltages in excess of the equipment rated line-to-ground voltages. The objectives of the
test are: to identify any abnormalities in the bus (loose hardware, tools, cleaning material inadvertently
left in the bus) that could compromise the internal electrical clearances, identify excessive moisture
levels and move conductive and semi-conductive materials to low stress areas or particle traps to
prevent insulation flashovers. The test voltage levels and time durations vary between manufacturers
and are based upon the equipment voltage class, but for illustration purposes on a 362 kV class, 1050
BIL installation the test levels.
10- Instrument Transformer Tests
Current and voltage transformer tests include polarity, ratio, and current transformer saturation
curves. These tests require voltage and current injection and are equivalent to testing conducted on
similar air insulated equipment. The results are compared to the manufacturer’s published data.

5- GIS Requirements
The following requirement are important to satisfy, the requirement of GIS can be summarized as :

1. Conductors which conduct the main circuit current and transfer power these are of copper or
aluminum tubes.
2. Conductors need insulation above grounded enclosures, conductors also need phase to phase
insulation, in SF6 GIS these insulation requirements are met by cast resin insulators and SF6 gas
insulation.
3. Gas filled modules have nonmagnetic enclosures, enclosures are of aluminum alloy or stainless steel,
a adjacent modules are joined by means of multi-bolts tightened on flanges.
4. Various circuit components in main circuit are: CB, Isolator, Earthling switches for conductors, CTs,
VTs, cable-ends, Bushing-ends and Bus Bars, each of these main components has its own gas -filled
metal enclosed module.
5. Gas filling, monitoring system.
6. Auxiliary low voltage DC and low voltage AC supply system, control, protection and Monitoring
systems.
7. The bus-bars are conducting bars to which various incoming and outgoing bays are connected. In SF6
GIS the bus-bars are laid longitudinally in GIS hall. The bays are connected to bus-bars crosswise, bus-
bars are either with a three-phase enclosure or single phase enclosure.
6- GIS Components
The GIS is usually installed on a monolithic concrete pad or the floor of a building. It is most often
rigidly attached by bolting and/or welding the GIS support frames to embedded steel plates or beams.
The compact manufacturing and the highly developed wiring technique allow the free determination of
the site, and ensure the independence regarding climatic conditions. The gas-insulated substations
utilize the same switchgear of conventional substations, but with design and characteristics slightly
different, the whole station is integrated inside a grounded aluminium enclosure filled with SF6, which
ensures the insulation to ground.

8
 The gas insulated substation comprises the following components:
a. Circuit breakers.
b.Current transformers and voltage transformers.
c. Disconnectors or isolators.
d.Bus-bars, double bus-bar feeder.
e. Cable feeder.
f. Auxiliary bus-bar feeder.
shows another layout of GIS components in Figure 4

Figure 4 GIS main components

7- GIS Applications
Some possible applications of this very high voltage metal-enclosed stations:
1. Main distribution stations inside cities.
2. Main distribution stations for important customers.
3. Main distribution stations in zones with pollution, salt, or risk of explosion.
4. Main distribution stations with special characteristics (underground stations, shelters of reinforced
concrete, etc.).
5. Classic installation expansion, in case of reduced space.
6. Mobile transformation station.
8- Economics of GIS
The equipment cost of GIS is naturally higher than that of AIS due to the grounded metal enclosure, the
provision of an local control cabinet, and the high degree of factory assembly. A GIS is less expensive to
install than an AIS. The site development costs for a GIS will be much lower than for an AIS because of
the much smaller area required for the GIS. The site development advantage of GIS increases as the
system voltage increases because high voltage AIS take very large areas because of the long insulating
distances in atmospheric air. Cost comparisons in the early days of GIS projected that, on a total
installed cost basis, GIS costs would equal AIS costs at 345 kV. For higher voltages, GIS was expected to
cost less than AIS. However, the cost of AIS has been reduced significantly by technical and
manufacturing advances (especially for circuit breakers) over the last 30 years, but GIS equipment has
not shown any cost reduction until very recently. Therefore, although GIS has been a well-established
technology for a long time, with a proven high reliability and almost no need for maintenance, it is
presently perceived as costing too much and is only applicable in special cases where space is the most
important factor.

9
 9- Conclusion
A gas-insulated substation (GIS) uses a superior dielectric gas, SF6, at moderate pressure for phase-
tophase and phase-to-ground insulation. The high voltage conductors, circuit breaker interrupters,
switches, current transformers, and voltage transformers are in SF6 gas inside grounded metal enclosures.
The atmospheric air insulation used in a conventional, air-insulated substation (AIS) requires meters of air
insulation to do what SF6 can do in centimeters. GIS can therefore be smaller than AIS by up to a factor of
10. A GIS is mostly used where space is expensive or not available. In a GIS the active parts are protected
from the deterioration from exposure to atmospheric air, moisture, contamination, etc. As a result, GIS is
more reliable and requires less maintenance than AIS.. It generally consists components of :
1. Bus bars
2. Circuit Breakers
3. Disconnecting switches
4. Earthing switches
5. Current transformers
6. Voltage transformers
7. Cable and boxes
8. Gas supply and gas monitoring equipment
9. Densimeters and
10. Local control
Gas insulated Substations have found a broad range applications in power systems over the last three
decades because of their high reliability Easy maintenance, small ground space requirements… etc.
Although GIS has been in operation in several years, some of the problems are needful attention. These
problems include VFTO during switching operations or earth faults and transient enclosure voltages and
particle contamination. Because of the entire equipment being enclosed in enclosures, filled with
pressurized SF6 gas, installation is not subject to environmental pollutions, as experienced along coastal
areas or certain types of industries. There are some possible applications of this very high voltage
metal-enclosed stations:
1. Main distribution stations inside cities.
2. Main distribution stations for important customers.
3. Main distribution stations in zones with pollution, salt, or risk of explosion.
4. Main distribution stations with special characteristics (underground stations, shelters of
reinforced concrete, etc.).
5. Classic installation expansion, in case of reduced space.
6. Mobile transformation station.

References
[1] J. D. McDonald, Electric power substations engineering. 2004.

[2] H. Koch, Gas Insulated Substations, vol. 9781118570. 2014.

[3] Y. Samir, Y. Omran, M. K. H. Al-nsirat, and T. I. A. Al-maith, “Faculty of Engineering Technology G As I

Nsulated S Ubstation " Gis " Faculty of Engineering Technology G As I Nsulated S Ubstation " Gis ",”
2009.

[4] Universitas Sumatera Utara, “Gas Insulated Switchgear ( Gis ),” vol. 6, pp. 4–14, 2014.

10