417

Case Study of Ferroresonance in 33 kV Distribution network

of PEA Thailand
Kesinee Laohacharoensombat Sermchai Jaruwattanadilok
Kamphol Tuitemwong Choowong Wattanasakpubal
Kritsada Kleebmek

Provincial Electricity Authority

200 Ngam Wong Wan rd., Ladyaw, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
Email address : kesinee.lac@pea.or.th

ABSTRACT
Single-phase switching
This paper presents a study of the ferroresonance A A
phenomena occurring on 33 kV PEA (Provincial
B
Electricity Authority) distribution network in Satun B A
province. The installations of 1000 kVA and 500 kVA C
C
delta-wye transformers, 300 meters underground
CCS CCS CCS B C
cable and capacitor in the low side of the
transformers cause the overvoltage while there are
single-phase or two phase switching events. The
result of overvoltage damages surge arresters that (a) (b)
are installed at the both transformers and the Figure 2 – Diagram to simplified ferroresonance
connection point between Partial Insulated circuit
Conductor (PIC) and underground cable in several
times. The analysis is made by ATP-EMTP simulation
compare with experimental events. The purposed
2. THE EXPERIMENTAL SIDE
solutions of this problem are determined on the
The experimental side is a grindstone mill which is
simulation and field test result.
PEA’s 33 kV customer. Through 33 kV distribution
system, the millstone has 2 transformers (1000 kVA
1. INTRODUCTION and 500 kVA) for grindstone motor; however, there
is no load on both transformers in the present. The
Ferroresonance, is a complex electrical phenomena distribution line to the millstone consist of 185 mm2
which may cause overvoltages and overcurrent with PIC, 95 mm2 PIC and 50 mm2 underground cable;
high levels of harmonic distortion. Ferroresonance moreover, there are five fuse cut out switches at every
can occur in a distribution system where single-phase connection line as shown in figure 3.
switching by fuse cut out was perform and unloaded 20.8 km 10 m 640 m 300 m 640 m 100 m
transformers were connected [1]. SW1 SW2 SW3
33 kV
Ferroresonance usually refers to a series
resonance between capacitance and iron core which is PIC 185 PIC 95 PIC 95
CT, PT,
Underground
cable
PIC 95
SW4 SW5

nonlinear inductor [1-5] as shown in figure 1. Meter

1000 kVA 500 kVA

L
Figure 1 : Basic circuit of
series resonance under
Figure 3: Single Line Diagram of the experimental
V C condition ZL = 1 / ZC side.
ferroresonance occurred.
In PEA practical, energization procedure is
When inductive and capacitive reactance of a usually switched from source to load and so is de-
circuit are nearly equal, the relation between voltage energization procedure from load to source. Anyway,
and current is depend not only on frequency but also if there is no load at both transformers, the switching
on a number of other factors such as the system is done at SW1, SW2 and SW3. Unfortunately, surge
voltage magnitude, initial magnetic flux condition of arresters fail every time especially at SW2, SW3 and
transformer iron core, the total loss in the SW5 position including the damage of a meter at
ferroresonance circuit and the point on wave of initial SW1 too.
switching [3].
In PEA distribution system, the energization by
fuse cut out which is single-phase switching is
susceptible to cause ferroresonance phenomena [1-5]
as shown in figure 2.

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0-7803-8560-8/04/$20.00©2004IEEE
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3. COMPARING BETWEEN
SIMULATION AND FIELD TEST
In order to investigate the characteristic of the event
which happened in this circuit and find the solution
for this problem. The computer simulation with ATP-
EMTP and field test have been used to analyze in no-
load state as follow :
Case 1 The effect on ferroresonance
Case2 The solution of ferroresonance overvoltage
The field test measurement is done by installation Figure 4 : Voltage at primary side of 500 kVA when
of single-phase potential transformers at every phase B at SW1 is energized.
switching positions to divide voltage for the
disturbance analyzer which are recorded all data. 3.1.2. De-energization

3.1. The effect of ferroresonance The single-phase De-energization at SW1 is

considered in this case as 3.1.1 .
The purpose of this case is to consider the effect on Table 2 : Voltage at primary side of 500 kVA
ferroresonance that illustrate the occurring of between simulation and experiment results of de-
overvoltage due to the effect of 1,000 kVA and 500 energized at SW1 (C,A,B)
kVA transformers connection. Unfortunately, 1000
kVA transformer was damage before testing. So the Voltage Peak (pu.)
experiment can only be done in case of 500 kVA No. Simulation Case Simulation Experiment
transformer connection.
B A C B A C
3.1.1. Energization Connect both 1,000
Single-phase switch at SW1 is energized which is the 1 kVA and 500 kVA 0.9992.0802.069 * * *
critical switching case. Three states of the transformer transformer
connection are considered as follow: 1000 kVA
2 1.0011.9882.068 * * *
1. connect both 1,000 kVA and 500 kVA transformer
transformer 500 kVA
3 1.0061.9882.0681.0422.1942.255
2. connect only 1,000 kVA transformer transformer
3. connect only 500 kVA transformer * The experiment could not be done because 1,000
Table 1 : Voltage at primary side of 500 kVA kVA transformer was out of service.
between simulation and experiment results of
energized at SW1 (B,A,C)
Voltage Peak (pu.)
No. Simulation Case Simulation Experiment
B A C B A C
Connect both 1,000
1 kVA and 500 kVA 0.9972.0722.066 * * *
transformer
1000 kVA
2 0.9981.0001.000 * * *
transformer
500 kVA Figure 5 : Voltage at primary side of 500 kVA when
3 0.9991.0001.0001.0362.2462.237
transformer phase C at SW1 is de-energized
* The experiment could not be done because 1,000 The results of experiment illustrate that
kVA transformer was out of service. ferroresonance can occur when circuit is de-energized
In ATP-EMTP simulation result, single-phase in every cases. The experiment also show
energization at SW1 illustrate ferroresonance ferroresonance overvoltage which damage surge
overvoltage when 1,000 kVA and 500 kVA arrester at phase C of 500 kVA transformer.
transformers are connected. However, the experience
shown : although only 500 kVA transformer
connection in the system, the ferroresonance
overvoltage can occur. Voltage of the experiment in
case 500 kV transformer connection is shown in
Figure 4.
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Figure 10 : Voltage at the primary side of 500 kVA,

when phase A at SW5 is energized after phase C.

Figure 6 : Current through surge arrester at primary Figure 7 : Voltage at the primary side of 500 kVA,
side of 500 kVA when surge arrester phase C was when phase A at SW5 is energize.
damaged.
3.2.2. De-energization
a)
3.2. The solution of ferroresonance of this study
De-energization method is considered to avoid
In this case, many solutions are examined for ferroresonance phenomena. The single-phase
preventing the damage from ferroresonance switching method is switched from C, A then B. The
overvoltage phenomenon. The study concern about three phase switching method is done by three
the step of single-phase switching for fuse cut out. operators to switch three sets of fuse cut out
simultaneously.
3.2.1. Energization
Table 4 : Voltage at primary side of 500 between
The energization method is considered to avoid simulation and experiment results of de-energized.
ferroresonance phenomena. The single-phase Voltage Peak
switching method is switched from B, A then C. The
three phase switching method is done by three No Simulation Case Simulation Experience
operators to switch three sets of fuse cut out B A C B A C
simultaneously. 1 single phase
Table 3 : Voltage at primary side of 500 between switching at 1.006 1.988 2.068 1.042 2.194 2.255
simulation and experiment results of energized. SW1
2 single phase
Voltage Peak switching at 0.994 0.993 0.992 1.048 1.471 1.560
No Simulation SW5
Simulation Experience
case 3 3 phase
B A C B A C switching at 0.995 0.995 0.995 1.021 1.021 1.021
1 single phase SW1
switching at 0.994 1.389 1.401 1.042 2.194 2.255 4 3 phase
SW1 switching at 0.994 0.994 0.994 1.009 1.009 1.009
2 single phase SW5
switching at 0.995 0.994 0.976 1.045 1.474 1.603
SW5
3 3 phase
switching at 0.993 0.993 0.993 1.021 1.021 1.021
SW1
4 3 phase
switching at 0.995 0.995 0.995 1.052 1.052 1.052
SW5
The experiment illustrates that single-phase
energization at SW5 still cause the ferroresonance
overvoltage but the magnitude and duration of
overvoltage is lower and shorter than single-phase
energization at SW1. However three phase energizing
will not occur overvoltage. Figure 12 : Voltage at the primary side of 500 kVA,
when phase A at SW5 is de-energized (after C).
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The simulation result illustrates that single-phase
de-energization at SW5 will not cause the
overvoltage meanwhile the experiment result shows
that overvoltage still occur. But the magnitude and
duration of overvoltage is lower and shorter than de-
energization at SW1. In case of three phase
switching, the result of simulation is consistent to the
result of experiment and ferroresonance overvoltage
will not occur.
Figure 13 : Voltage at the primary side of 500 kVA,
when three phase de-energizing at SW5.
4. DISCUSSION AND MITIGATION
TECHNIQUE
This paper discusses on the events of the surge
arresters damaged by single-phase energizing and
de-energizing at SW1 to SW5 that may be caused by
(1) asymetrical fault in the system and (2) human
operation for system maintenance. Simulation and
experimentation are used to analyze these problems.
Simulation results are different to the experiment
results in some cases. The reason of the difference are
(1) the lack of transformer excitation data and
underground cable configuration and (2) the effect of
magnetizing core saturation from potential
transformer usage for voltage divider.
The results indicate that the ferroresonance
overvoltage phenomena can occur in this system
because of the parameters in circuit which consist of
the capacitance of 300-meter underground cable , non
linear characteristic of 1000 kVA and 500 kVA
transformer. Moreover, the major cause of
ferroresonance phenomena is unbalanced switching. The
ferroresonance overvoltage will be 1.4 - 2.25 p.u.. The
effect of this overvoltage is the cause of the damage
on surge arresters. However, the phenomena will not
occur when three phase switching is operated.
The magnitude and period of single-phase
energization or de-energization are high and long
enough to damage surge arresters which connected
line to ground. The solutions of this problem will be
considered in two situations.
- The controllable switching: The example of
this case is the human operation for system
maintenance. The ferroresonance overvoltage will
occur when single-phase switching is done.
- The uncontrollable switching: The single-
phase fault in the system that interrupted fuse cut out
is one of examples for this case. The ferroresonance
will occur when there is no load of the transformers.
The recommended solutions to avoid the damages
from ferroresonance overvoltage are as follow:
1. Three phase switching : The alteration fuse cut
out (single-phase protection equipment) to be a
recloser (three phase protection equipment) is
recommended as in this paper. However recloser is
very expensive (8,900 USD/unit) compares with the
acceptable damage of surge arresters (66
USD/phase). The decision is depend on reliability of
the system.
2. Switching at load : The experiment results
illustrate that energizing or de-energizing at load
(SW5) can reduce the effect of ferroresonance
overvoltage.
PEA and Chulalongkorn university have been
developing the auxiliary equipment that can de-
energize all three phase high voltage switch
simultaneously. It will solve the problem in case of
ferroresonanace overvoltage.
5. CONCLUSION
This paper presents a case study of PEA’s 33 kV
system which some damages of this system
equipments indicate that the ferroresonance occur.
The results of the simulation and the experience
illustrate that ferroresonance overvoltage will occur
while single-phase switching happen to the system.
This phenomena is the result of combination of the
system components which consists of 300-meter
underground cable, 1000 kVA and 500 kVA
transformer. The appropriate solution for this system
is (1) three phase switching and (2) energize and de-
energize at the end load.
6. REFERENCE
[1] P. Harnboonyanon and P. Fuangfoo, “ Effect
of low voltage capacitor bank to
ferroresonance on distribution system” CEPSI
2000, 13th – Manila, Philippines.
[2] S. Lam Du, T. Tran-Quoc, H. Vo-V.-Huy, K.
Nguyen-Boi, Q. Nguyen, “Overvoltages on
Distribution Systems” IEEE ,1998
[3] Surya Santoso, Roger C. Dugan, Thomas E.
Grebe and Peter Nedwick, “Modeling
Ferroresonance Phenomena in an Underground
Distribution System”
[4] S. Buakhong, P.Fuangfoo, W. Plueksawan and
K. Laohacharoensombat, “Investigation of
Ferroresonant Overvoltage in Transformer
(33/12 kV) when Switching Short Underground
Cable at Primary Side”, CEPSI 2002, 14th –
Fukuoka, Japan.