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Abstract - Transients phenomena originating from long time constants. During HV shunt reactor energizing,
switching of high voltage shunt reactor with solidly mechanical vibrations and buzzing of transformers were
earthed neutral are considered. Two reactors (100 observed. At shunt reactors with solidly grounded neutral,
MVAr and 150 MVAr) were compared on the basis of unsymmetrical currents cause zero-sequence current flow
results obtained from calculations of the transients. which can activate zero-sequence current relays.
The unsymmetrical phase inrush currents during a Current asymmetry becomes smaller if the circuit
shunt reactor energizing and overvoltages provoked by breaker closes near the maximal value of the power
current chopping and reignition of electrical arc are frequency voltage. On the other hand this causes switching
analyzed. Successful synchronous switching can reduce overvoltages. Dielectric stress of reactor insulation caused
the mechanical and electromagnetic stresses endured by the very steep overvoltages originated from circuit
during normal switching operations. breaker contact gap prestrike immediately before closing is
similar to that caused by the reignition after reactor de-
Keywords: Shunt reactor, Switching operations, Inrush energizing with voltage across the circuit-breaker
currents, Chopping Overvoltages, Recovery voltage, interrupter of 1 p.u. However, it is impossible to obtain
Reignition, Controled switching. reduction of inrush currents and stresses originated from
the overvoltages during switching operations at the same
I. INTRODUCTION time. It remains on the user to find the most acceptable
solution.
High voltage shunt reactors switching belongs to the A high voltage shunt reactor with the associated
normal system operations that can be performed several equipment is planned to be installed in the 400 kV
times a day. switchyard, as shown in the simplified single-line diagram,
Because of the shunt reactor technical characteristics Fig. 1., while in Fig. 2. the corresponding computer model
and their special purpose, its current is mainly inductive scheme is presented.
and can be referred to as a small inductive current. It is The inrush currents at energizing of 100 MVAr and 150
considerably smaller (10 or 20 times) than nominal MVAr HV shunt reactors have been observed for two
currents of today most commonly used SF6 circuit cases: switching at a random small value and near the peak
breakers, and even up to 200 times smaller than the value of the phase voltage.
expected short-circuit currents. Parameters for the reactor with rated power 100 MVAr
The preliminary analysis of the switching operation with were L = 5.093 H/phase, C = 2 nF/phase and for the
the first 400 kV shunt reactor designed for the Croatian reactor with rated power 150 MVAr, L=3.395 H/phase, C
transmission system is conducted. A high voltage reactor is = 2.6 nF/phase. The high voltage 400 kV circuit breaker
relatively frequently switched: during the periods of the consists of two breaking chambers. Across each a potential
system operations with low loads it is energized and with grading capacitor of C = 500 pF is connected.
the rise of load it is de-energized again. Shunt reactors Inrush currents can be expressed in the p.u., where 1 p.u.
switching operations result in electromagnetic transients equals I Max, which obtains following values, depending on
and some mechanical effects. At closing, high, the HV shunt reactor size:
unsymmetrical currents with long time constant can occur. - 100 MVAr, I Max = I n 2 = 205 A (1)
During opening, interruption of small inductive currents
(current chopping) will cause overvoltages. Reignition - 150 MVAr, I Max = I n 2 = 307 A (2)
between the circuit-breaker contact gap can lead to very
steep overvoltages that represents a special problem.
The above mentioned transient phenomena are the
main concern of this paper.
dg 1 i2
= ( s − g) (3)
dt Θ(g ) P( g )
A. Chopping Overvoltages
3000,00
where N is an integer number of half cycles, Tzero is half
cycle duration calculated immediately before synchronous
2500,00
Ud = f (t a) delay calculation, Tarc is an arcing time and Topen is a
2000,00
mechanical opening time. The calculation is performed for
each phase separately, taking into account initial values
1500,00 measured at site at the circuit breaker commissioning and
Ur (100 M V A r) values measured immediately before delay calculation.
1000,00
Similar considerations are valid for the shunt reactor
close operation.
500,00 Ur (150 M V A r)
In accordance with the study case circuit breaker
0,00
experimental record [2], the longest arcing time at which
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
t (m s)
reignition still occurred was Ta min ≈ 7.5 ms. Consequently,
the synchronous switching controller shall be set in a way
to enable circuit breaker contact separation at the time
Fig .7. Dielectric recovery charact. for the cold gas instant tseparate = 8 ms prior to the natural current zero
crossing (Tarc = 8 ms), when reignition occurrence is
In the same figure, recovery voltage (Ur) characteristics improbable.
as a function of arc duration, i.e. chopping number λ (in Assuming the power frequency equals 50 Hz and initial
the range 5 ms < Ta < 14 ms), for both study case shunt parameters for the study case circuit breaker: Topen = 25
reactors (100 MVAr and 150 MVAr) are shown. It can be ms; Tarc = 8 ms, a simplified calculation gives the
seen that the probability of reignition is inversely synchronous trip delay: Ty = 7 ms.
proportional to the arcing time Ta and shunt reactor rated Chopping number for Tarc = 8 ms equals to
power. λmax = 12.36×104 A/√F. The magnitude of the suppression
For the study case circuit breaker, chopping number λ, peak overvoltage for worse case (shunt reactor 100 MVAr)
based on the experimental records in accordance with IEC will be approximately equal to:
61233, can be approximated by the equation:
− switching transients are inversly proportional to the [3] IEC1233 - Technical Report Type 2: "High-Voltage
shunt reactor rated power; Alternating Current Circuit-Breaker- Inductive Load
− chopping overvoltages at de-energizing, without Switching", First Edition, 1994.
reignition, never exceeded the insulation switching
impulse withstand voltage (1050 kV, 250/2500 µs), [4] S.A.Morais, “Considerations on the Specification of
since MO surge arresters provide low voltage level; Circuit-Breakers Intended to Interrupt Small Inductive
Currents”, Electra, No. 147, April 1993, pp. 45-69.
− dependant on contact separation instant with respect to
the natural current zero crossing, after current [5] Z.Ma, C.A.Bliss, A.R.Penfold, A.W.Harris,
chopping, the reignition voltages that developed had S.B.Tennakoon, "An Investigation of Transient
lower peak value than insulation lightning impulse Overvoltage Generation when Switching High Voltage
withstand voltage (1425 kV, 1.2/50 µs); Shunt Reactors by SF6 Circuit Breaker", IEEE
− calculated reignition transients steepnesses were Transaction on Power Delivery, vol.13, No.2, April
bigger or close to recommended values (eq. 9&11) 1998.
and represent danger for reactor insulation;
− surge arresters have practically no influence on [6] A.Miliša, K.Meštrović, “Breaking capacity of HV
overvoltage steepness; SF6 circuit breaker at back to back switching”,
− shunt reactor energizing may produce either Proceedings of the 1st Croatian CIGRÉ committee
mechanical stress (inrush current) or dielectric stress session, October 1993, Zagreb.
(prestrike);
[7] CIGRÉ WG 13.07, “Controlled switching of HVAC
− since frequent exposure of shunt reactor insulation to circuit breakers – guide for application lines,
transients, especially steep reignition overvoltages reactors, capacitors, transformers (1st and 2nd Part)”,
accelerates aging and wearing, means for their Electra, No’s. 183, April 1999, pp. 43-73 and 185,
limitation are recommended; August 1999, pp. 37-57.