IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-100, No.

4, April 1981 1729

ANALYSIS OF SINGLE PHASE SWITCHING FIELD TESTS ON THE AEP 765 KV SYSTEM
B. R. SHPERLING, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE . A. J. FAKHERI, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE . C. H. SHIH, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE . B. J. WARE, MEMBER, IEEE

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER SERVICE CORPORATION

2 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004

Abstract - Single phase switching compensation schemes for untransposed

transmission lines were tested during staged fault tests on a 243 km 765 kV line.
A large range Of single phase switching parameters was simulated during the
tests by intentional variations of the secondary arc current and the recovery
AB ~~A
voltage on the opened phase. In 27 single phase switching tests the 60 Hz
component of the secondary arc currert Was varied from 8 A rms to 80 A rms. The XNSg
3 NS43 XN51 N54 N51 NS4
rate of rise of the withstand voltage for a'simulated 765 kV air gap was obtained.
The harmonic content of the secondary arc current was analyzed. NEUTRAL SWITCH SCHEME
INTRODUCTION
Single phase switching has become an ircreasingly more viable approach A B A B C B C
to the operation of EHV system's in recent years. Indeed, single phase reclosing,
if successful, represents a significant step in improving system pefformance and R1 S2 AS3 R1S2 A3 R5 So
is an attractive, economical means of obtaining acceptable transient stability
with fewer lines. Single phase reclosing, following a phase to ground fault, has
the additional benefits of reducing the torsional impact on turbine-generator
shafts and, also, of reducing switching overvoltages.
The success of a single phase switching operation depends on a number REACTOR SWITCH SCHEME
of parameters such as secondary arc current, recovery voltage across the arc Fig. 1 Switched reactor bank with neutral switches (NS) and high side
path, arc location, and meteorological conditions. Starting with 400 kV lines, reactor switches (RS) and their positions for different phase to
special compensation schemes became necessary to limit the secondary arc ground faults.
current and recovery voltage to ensure suctessful high speed single phase
reclosing. Various compensation schemes based on the use of additional re- The neutral switching scheme was designed to be u.sed exclusively for
actors connected between line reactor neutrals and ground were proposed and single phase switching purposes. When a single phase to ground fault occurs,
analyzed. The' applicability of a compensation schemfie suggested for transposed operation of the appropriate pair of switches shown. in Figure 1 ensures the
EHV linesl-3 was demonstrated by staged fault tests on a 500 kV line4. The required compensation. During all other system conditions the neutral switches
performance of compensation schemes for untransposed lines 5,6 was analyzed are ciosed.
and their effectiveness was confirmed by recent staged fault tests on the AEP
765 kV system. The test results represent the main subject of this paper. System reactive control requirements may dictate the presence of high
Throughout the tests, large intentional variations of arc and post-arc parameters, side reactor switches. In this case it is natural to use them also, if necessary,
namely, the secondary arc current and recovery voltage, simulated a large range for single phase switching compensation. If a single phase to ground fault occurs
of system parameters. This variation provided an opportunity to obtain more when the reactor switches are closed, one of the switches opens for outer phase
general results which can be applied to other systems. faults and all switches stay closed for middle phase fauits. If a fault occurs
while the shunt reactors are de-energized, two switches have to close for outer
TEST DESCRIPTION phase faults and all three have to close for middle phase faults.

The single phase to ground faults followed by a single phase tripping and
high speed retlosing were the first full scale staged fault tests of this type on
the AEP 765 kV network. The tests represented the first trial for the switched,
or modified, reactor compensation scheme which minimizes the secondbry arc
currentand recovery voltage on untransposed EHV lines5,6.
Compensatibn Schemes
Two switched four legged reactor compensation schemes presented in
Figure 1 were tested: one with neutral or low side switches (NS) and the other
using high side reactor switches (RS). By inspection, one can see that both
schemes result in the same interphase as well as faulted phase to ground
equivalent impedances and, therefore, correspond to identical single phase
switching compensation parameters for a given line.
System Parameters
A simplified one linre diagram of the 243 km Kammer-Marysville 765 kV
untransposed transmission line used for the tests is shown in Figure 2. The
line, with 300 MVAr shunt reactor banks at, each end, had a compensation factor
of 0.86. The source strength behind the Kammer 765 kV bus was 20,000 MVA
and behind the Marysville 765 kV bus was 16,000 MVA. Two cycle air blast
circuit breakers were used for single phase switching operations. The positions
of all circuit breakers at both stations during the tests are shown in Figure 2.
FORT MARTIN
MARYSVILLE

300VA

80 SM 642-9 A paper recommended and approved by the

IEEE Transmission & Distribution Comnittee of the
IEEE Power Engineering Society for presentation at
the IEEE PES Summer Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Fig. 2 One line diagram of the test line
July 13-18, 1980. Manuscript submitted February 6, 3- breakers used for single phase switching operations
1980; made available for printing April 22, 1980. e. closed breaker
[1- opened breaker
© 1981 IEEE
1730
The line shunt reactor banks, namely, the simple four legged reactor bank
atMarysville end of the line and the switched four legged reactor bank at Kammer
end are shown in Figure 3. The neutral switch scheme was tested with the high
side reactor switch RS on phase A in a closed position. When the scheme was
tested as a high side reactor switch scheme, the neutral switches NS1 and NS4
were kept open and NS2 and NS3 were kept closed. In this series of test, the
faults were applied only to phases B and C.
Neutral reactor impedances of 300 Ohms at Marysville and 800 Ohms at
Kammer (Figure 3) are the optimum values for this line as shown in our previous
paper5. These optimum neutral reactances result in 60 Hz component of the
secondary arc current less than 20 A rms for any fault location on the line and
pre-fault power flow less than or equal to surge impedance loading. Taps on both
neutral reactors allow a gradual increase of the secondary arc current and
recovery voltage with the decrease of neutral reactances. When both neutral
reactors are taken out of the scheme and shunt reactor neutrals are grounded
the calculated 60 Hz component of the secondary arc current reaches 80 A rms
and steady state value of the recovery voltage equals about 1.5 p.u.
Morysville Kammer
A B C A B C
RS
NS NS
NS4
SA1
400"
f SA5
a b
Fig. 3 Simple (a) and switched (b) reactor banks at Marysville and
Kammer stations
NS - neutral switch
RS - reactor switch
SA - arrester
Special metal oxide surge arresters7 were installed, as shown in Figure 3,
to protect the shunt reactor neutrals. Arresters SA and SAI at Marysville and
Kammer correspondingly were designed to limit overvoltages due to single phase
switching as well as other operations. Two outer phase neutral arresters (SA2)
were also installed at Kammer to protect the shunt reactors in the event of
neutral switch malfunction.
Neutral and Reactor Switches
Conventional vacuum switches rated at 230 kV rms, 600 A rms were used
as neutral switches at Kammer. Switch opening and closing times were 1.5 and
5.5 cycles, respectively.
Two prototypes of a 765 kV reactor switch were used in the reactor switch
scheme tests. The switches were installed in series with phase A line reactor
at Kammer and were tested in turn. Resistors of 7000 Ohms were employed for
opening and closing operations in both switches. Total switch opening time
from the fault initiation moment to the final opening, was about 4 cycles.
Fault Application Technique
A special structure (Figure 4) was built at Marysville station to apply
phase to ground faults. A 765 kV test bus was erected adjacent to the station
main bus. A ground bus assembly simulating a cross-arm of a 765 kV tower, was
constructed above the 765 kV test bus with 4.2 m clearance. The faults were
initiated by a stainless steel piano wire 0.8 mm in diameter. At one end the wire
was attached to the ground bus. The other end of this wire was connected to a
fiberglass insulating rod shown in Figure 4 in a vertical position at the right
pole. A spring loaded mechanism was utilized to start the rod movement and the
average linear speed of its swinging end was about 2 m/sec.
Monitoring
A high fidelity optically isolated measurement system8.9 specially
designed for the tests was employed at both stations. Magnetic tapes were used
torecord phaseto ground and reactor neutral voltages,primary fault and secondary
rig. 4 tautt appuicUTiOn srrucrur.
arc currents, and currents through neutral arresters and switches. Electronic
limiters were used to prevent overdriving of the monitoring channels for the
secondary arc current and recovery voltage.
TEST RESULTS
A total of 27 single phase to ground faults was applied to the line at the
Marysville end, 10 on phase A, 9 on phase B, and 8 on phase C. Neutral switches
were used in 21 tests and high side reactor switches were used in the remaining
6 tests. The average wind velocity did not exceed 7 m/sec during the tests.
The prefault powerflow-along the line was 950 MW for two tests and 200 MW
for one test. The line was generally lightly loaded during the spring time when
thetests were performed so that the impact of outages on the system was minimal.
Nevertheless, to further reduce system disturbances, the majority of the faults
was applied with the line opened at Marysville. The symmetrical fault current
was 2.7 kA rms for this condition and about 9 kA rms when the line was under
load conditions.
The timing of single phase switching operations did not vary significantly
from one test to another. Line breakers cleared the faulted phase in about 2.5
cycles and reclosed in 29-30 cycles after fault initiation. The proper pair of
neutral switches operated with a slight delay with respect to the line breakers.
This delay did not exceed 1.25 cycles for switch openings and 3 cycles for
switch closings. High side reactor switches opened in about 1.5 cycles after
breaker openings and reclosed slightly before the breaker reclosings. The bus
voltages at both stations prior to each test were practically at the nominal value.
The current and voltage values throughout the paper are given either in A
rms and kV rms or A and kV (peak values) respectively.
Secondary Arc Current
The calculated 60 Hz secondary arc current value is an acknowledged
characteristic of a single phase switching compensation schemel0.At the same
time the actual secondary arc current has a complicated wave shape which
changes from one fault to another and practically cannot be characterized by one
or two parameters. To illustrate this, Fig. 5 shows the secondary arc in two
similar tests which correspond to the same calculated 60 Hz component of 35 A
with only slightly different initial conditions. Thus, in the tests A and B the
fault was initiated respectively at 100 and 60 degree angles of the sinusoidal
phase voltage. This resulted in slightly different breaker opening times. In
addition, neutral switches NS2 and NS4 (the faults occurred on phase C) opened
in 20 msec after line clearing in test A and in 10 msec in test B.
Analyzing the typical secondary arc current wave shapes (Fig. 5) one can
notice two strongly pronounced parts in the transient process. The first part,
which can be observed during the first 15-20 msec after the breaker opening
represents a transient process due to an abrupt change of the large fault currents
through the operating circuit breakers and the arc path. The frequency spectrum
and time constants of this transient process are mainly defined by line and
reactor parameters. It is worthwhile to note that the predominant harmonic of
the described process is the 300 Hz component which corresponds to the lowest
natural frequency of the test line shorted at one end. The current through the
fault path during this period is relatively large in comparison with calculated
values for the 60 Hz component of secondary arc current. Thus, the secondary
 1731
Table I Harmonic content of the quasi steady state secondary arc current
Calculations Measurements
Test IA I, A 13/11 15/Il
A AO 113 108 .43 .15
Bo 71 69 .48 .19
CO 71 67 .38 .13
Do 62 62 .38 .17

To clarify the influence of the arc resistance on the magnitude of the

B In these tests a faulted phase was solidly grounded at Marysville station and
tI
Fig. 5 Secondary arc current wave shapes.
Fault initiation angles equal 100 degrees (A)
harmonics in the secondary arc current a number of special tests was performed.
two other phases were energized from one or both terminals. The tests showed
that the secondary arc current wave shapes were sensitive to arc resistance
parameters and line boundary conditions. This is illustrated by the secondary
arc current oscillograms presented in Fig. 6 and their quantitative analysis
summarized in Table 2. The calculated 60 Hz secondary arc current component
for all of the tests in Fig. 6 is constant and equal to 113 A. Power flow along
the two healthy phases in test A2 was small and did not practically affect the
secondary arc current value.

A A
and 60 degrees (B). Faults on an outer phase. 195A
Neutral reactors of 400 Ohms at
Kammer and 300 Ohms at Marysville.
to - breaker opening
A0 0-
.z v- __j %- __j %.- --.O

te - arc extinction

arc current reached 720 A and 840 A in tests A and B respectively (Fig. 5) while
the 60 Hz calculated current value is 35 A as mentioned above.
170A
The secondary arc current decreases rapidly during the first part of the
transient process. The second part of the secondary arc current is determined Al A
v
A A A AI
by the compensation scheme parameters but still contains the initial dc offset of
the fault current whose magnitude depends on the fault initiation angle. The dc
offset diminishes with a 20-30 msec time constant. This means that even at the
end of the first part of the transient process, about 5060 msec after fault
initiation, the dc offset component may still be comparable with the 60 Hz value
of the secondary arc current. This affects, in turn, the moment of the first zero
crossing of the secondary arc current during the second part of the transient
process. For example, in test B the initial dc offset was greater than in test A A2 130A 0../ 'O.,

(Fig. 5) and led to a slightly longer (about 1.5 cycles), arc burning time before %0"" "10-
the arc first attempted to extinguish. In both tests the arc extinguished in about
40 msec after breaker opening. At the same time it is interesting to notice that
in test A the first arc interruption attempt took place practically immediately
after the end of the first part of the transient process. This attempt was un-
successful and led to a single arc restrike after which the arc existed for about
10 msec. In test B the first current zero crossing resulted in the final arc IIOA
interruption. Summing up the description of the tests given in Fig. 5, it is im- A3 .ff W-
c2S24
portant to underline that despite the fact that the 60 Hz component of the sec-
m

ondary arc current affects implicitly the actual secondary arc current wave shape,
the latter is also dependent on theinitial conditions as wellas the arc parameters.
Fig. 6 Secondary arc current in compensation scheme corresponding to
a

Four unsuccessful single phase switching tests with reclosing times of the 60 Hz component equal to 113 A. Fault on the middle phase.
30 cycles were utilized to analyze the quasi steady state wave shapes of the AO intermittent arc, line energized from Kammer
-

secondary arc current. Calculated 60 Hz secondary arc current values (11) in
these tests were 45 A rms, 50 A rms (two tests) and 80 A rms. A typical sec-
ondary arc current wave shape for these tests is presented by oscillogram AO
in Fig. 6. In all of the unsuccessful single phase switching tests the arc had an
intermittent character, resulting in futile attempts to extinguish at each zero
crossing of the current.
Sharp nonlinearity of the equivalent arc resistance facilitated the presence
of the third harmonic (13) in the secondary arc current. Harmonic content of the
quasi steady state current wave shapes is given in Table 1. This Table shows
that the magnitude of 13 is equal to about 40 percent of 11, at least in a limited
current range. The results presented in the Table also indicate that the measured
60 Hz component of the secondary arc current in the four tests under discussion
agrees closely with the corresponding calculated values. In addition, the 300 Hz
component (15) was also found present in the secondary arc current wave shape
and was approximately equal to 15 percent of 11. Higher order harmonics were
practically absent in the secondary arc current wave shape.
Al faulted phase solidly grounded, line energized from Kammer.
-
A2 - faulted phase solidly grounded, line energized from both stations
A3 - faulted phase solidly grounded, line energized from Marysville
Currents 11, 13 and 15 in Table 2 are as before, the fundamental or 60 Hz,
third and fifth harmonic components. Magnitudes of other harmonics in the sec-
ondary arc current in this series of tests were insignificant and did not exceed
5 percent of 11. The third and fifth harmonics of the secondary arc current, in
contrast to the 60 Hz component,were very much dependent on the test conditions.
Thus, tests AO and A 1 which differ one from another only by arc parameters,
show that the arc resistance suppresses the fifth harmonic (15) to 17 A from 67 A.
At the same time, the intermittent character of the secondary arc with a change of
arc resistance from tens of ohms to practical infinity during each half-cycle
results in a wave shape with a strongly pronounced third harmonic. In the tests
A1, A2 and A3 (Fig. 6) with zero arc resistance, the third harmonic does not
exceed 10 percent of 11.
1732
Table 2 Harmonics content of the secondary arc current
Test Line Calcu- Measurements
According Type of Arc Energized IA 1s/1 |
13l | 151
lations 131
to Fig.6 at I,A 1'
Ao intermittent Kammer 108 .43 .16
A1 solidly Kammer 108 .10 .62 ENS
grounded
113
A2 solidly Kammer and 108 .05 .27
grounded Marysvi lle
A3 solidly Marysville 108 .07 .16
grounded 15 A

The magnitude of the fifth harmonic (15) in the tests with zero arc resistance
is mainly a function of the nonlinear characteristics of reactors and transformers,
the line parameters and bus voltages. Thus, the magnitude of the secondary arc
current 15 was only 17 A in test A3 when the line was energized from Marysville,
29 A in test A2 with the line energized from both ends, and 67 A in test A1
when the line was energized from Kammer.
ERS _
Unlike the quasi steady state secondary arc current, the harmonic content 155A

of the secondary current with a solidly grounded phase varies with a change of
single phase switching compensation parameters. This can be illustrated by a
comparison of the secondary arc currents presented in Figs. 6 and 7. The cal-
culated 60 Hz component of the secondary arc current in the tests shown in Fig. 7
is equal to 53 A. The harmonic analysis of the tests E1-E3 with a solidly
grounded phase is presented in Table 3. It is interesting to note that in the test
E1 when the line was energized from Kammer, the second and fourth harmonics
reach noticeable magnitudes in addition to greater relative values of the third IOA
and fifth harmonics in comparison to the tests analyzed in Table 2. Also, as E I / - A A AA AA
before, all of the harmonics diminished significantly when.the line was energized ?OvA
VAv A
from Marysville station. At the same time, the absolute values of the secondary
arc current harmonics may be quite different for different 60 Hz components.
For example, the currents 13 and 15 were equal to 11 A and 67 A, respectively, 70A { s / { '
in test A1 compared to 13 of 25 A and 15 of 44 A in test El.

Table 3 Harmonics content of the secondary arc current

Test Line Ca Icu- Measurements
According Type of Arc Ener¶ized lations
to Fig. 1 A A 12/1 13/11 14/11
__
_
___
15/I1 Fig. 7 Secondary arc current in a compensation scheme corresponding to
ENS,ERS intermittent Kammer the 60 Hz component equal to 53 A. Fault on the middle phase. Neutral
reactors. of 400 Ohms at Kammer and 150 Ohms at Marysville.
E1 solidly Kammer 49 .11 .52 .18 .90 E,NSERS - intermittent arc, line energized from Kammer, neutral switch
grounded 53 (NS) or high side reactor switch (RS) operations
E2 solidly Kammer and 49 -- .09 - - .28 line energized from Kammer
El -- faulted phase solidly grounded, line
grounded Marysville E2 faulted phase solidly grounded, energized from both stations
3 - faulted phase solidly grounded, line energized from Marysville
E33________ grouned
solidly Marysville 49 .10 . .32
I _
I I__ Time scale is constant for all oscillograms. Current scale for tests
ENS and ERS is twice larger than for tests E1-E3.
The secondary arc in the single phase switching tests ENS and ERS extin-
guished in less than 60 msec. Comparison of the secondary arc currents in these Table 4 Secondary arc current in the single phase switching tests
two tests and tests E1, E2and E3 gives additional evidence that the correlation,
if any, between the actual secondary arc current and that for a solidly grounded Secondary Arc Current, < 15 15- 30 30- 45 > 45
phase, is very weak. Tests ENS and ERS corresponding to neutral switch and A rms
high side reactor switch operations also illustrate practical equivalency of
both schemes. Number of Tests 8 9 6 4
The secondary arc current oscillograms in the tests with 950 MW pre-test
power flow are presented in Fig.8. The neutral reactances of 800 Ohms at Kammer
and 150 Ohms at Marysville in these tests correspond to calculated 60 Hz sec- test, with a 38 A rms current, the arc extinguished in 160 msec after the circuit
ondary arc current of 14 A rms for the outer phase fault (test F) and 24 A rms for breaker cleared the faulted phase. The secondary arc current oscillogramsfor
the middle phase fault (test G). Fault initiation angles which were equal to 85 some of these tests are shown in Figs. 5, 7 and B. In spite of the relatively large
degrees in test F and 70 degrees in test G, together with the difference in the range (8 A rms to 40 A rms) of secondary arc current associated with successful
60 Hz secondary arc current, resulted in slightly different current wave shapes single phase reclosings, the arc extinction time was practically independent of
but about the same short arc extinction time. The spikes in the secondary arc the current magnitude. In four tests with the 60 Hz component of the secondary
current wave shape in test G reflected a 765 kV arrester operation at the Gavin arc current larger than 45 A rms, the arc did not extinguish in 30 cycles and
station, 200 km from Marysville. single phase reclosings were unsuccessful.
The tests are summarized in Table 4 accordingly to the calculated 60 Hz Recovery Voltage
component of secondary arc current.
After each arc interruption attempt, the recovery voltage on the opened
The 22 out of 23 tests, where the calculated 60 Hz secondary arc current phase of a shunt reactor compensated transmission line builds up in a transient
was less than 40 A rms, the arc lasted not longer than 60 msec. In the other beating process. Both the rate of rise and the steady state value of the recovery

A-720A
30.5 msec
G voltage which in the discussed case does not exceed 50 msec.At the same time,
V. v_ 830 s
Fig. 8 Secondary arc currents for outer (F) and middle (G) phase faults
with 950 MW pre-test power flow along the line.
to - breaker opening
te - arc extinction
voltage depend mainly on line and reactor parameters and, therefore, on the
transmission line compensation factor. Parameters such as fault initiation angle
and primary fault and secondary arc burning times do not affect the recovery
voltage to a significant extent.Thus, for example, Fig. 9 shows the peak voltages
in each half cycle versus time from the moment of arc extinction in two similar
tests with neutral reactors of 400 Ohms at Kammer and 150 Ohms at Marysville
and corresponding to the same 60 Hz secondary arc current of 53 A. Despite the
fact that the arc extinction time in these two tests was quite different (60 msec
and 160 msec) the rate of rise of recovery voltage, as it can be seen in Fig. 9,
was practically the same. The independence of the rate of rise of recovery
voltage from the secondary arc burning time, and its explicit dependence on
transmission line and reactor parameters, makes the rate of rise of this voltage
a very important and practical parameter in predicting the success of single
phase switching operations.
The optimization procedure for determining the neutral reactances for
minimum values of the 60 Hz component of secondary arc current also ensures
relatively small values of the rate of rise of the recovery voltage. This fact is
based on a simple physical consideration. One, and probably the most important,
requirement to minimize the 60 Hz secondary arc current is a large equivalent
phase to phase impedance. The greater this impedance is in comparison with the
equivalent phase to ground impedance, the lesser the phase to ground or recovery
voltage will be after arc extinction. This reasoning was corroborated by calcu-
lations not only in respect to the recovery voltage, but also to the rate of rise
of this voltage. Thus, for example, the test data for various neutral reactors
resulted in an empirical dependency described by kr [kV/msec] =0.2 1 [A rms]
where kr is the average rate of rise of the recovery voltage and I is the 60 Hz
component of the secondary arc current. Deviations of the experimental points
with respect to this dependency did not exceed 10 percent in the majority of the
1733
1/
0
I
10
I
20
I
30
I
40
t_msecI
Fig. 9 Rate of rise of the recovery voltage. Fault on the middle phase.
Neutral reactors of 400 Ohms at Kammer and 150 Ohms at Marysville.
60 Hz component of the secondary arc current equals 53 A.
Arc extinction time
*- 60 msec
o - 160 msec
tests (24 out of 27) and 20 percent in the rest of the tests. It is clear that this
voltage-current dependency is valid only for the initial part of the recovery
the presence of strong correlation between the rate of rise of recovery voltage
and the secondary arc current magnitude represents a quantitative characteristic
of the compensation scheme.
Secondary arc interruptions and restrikes which took place in about a third
of the tests represent a unique opportunity to analyze and determine the rate of
rise of the withstand voltage (V ) of the air gap which was ionized by the fault
and secondary arcs. One such rest is shown in Fig. 10 where the 60 Hz sec-
ondary arc current was 70 A and single phase reclosing was unsuccessful. The
arc restrikes which occurred during the tests are summarized in Fig. 11. In this
figure, the restrike voltages are presented as a function of the time from a sec-
ondary arc current interruption to the following arc restrike. Figure 11 also
includes peak values of the recovery voltages which approached but did not
reach corresponding flashover levels of the test air gap.
ItI
Fig. 10 Recovery voltage (V,) and secondary arc current (IS). Fault on
the middle phase. The neutral reactor of 400 Ohms at Kammer.
60 Hz component of the secondary arc current equals 70 A.
ta arc interruption
- arc restrike
The average air gap withstand voltage dependence on time drawn in Fig. 11
can be approximately expressed as Vg [kV] = 10 t [msec] for the first 50 msec
after arc extinction. The importance of the determined air gap withstand voltage
capability as a function of time is evident. Since the rate of rise of recovery
voltage on the open phase is easily calculable, the air gap withstand voltage
 1734
0 10 20 30 40 msec
Fig. 11 Rate of rise of the withstand voltage for an air gap with 4.2m
clearance after secondary arc interruptions.
e - flashover voltage
o - withstand voltage
dependency on time can be used to predict the success of single phase switching
operations.lt should be notedthatthe dependency discussed above wasdetermined
for compensated lines where the voltage buildup after arc extinction is relatively
slow. For lines without shunt reactors and, therefore, with fast rates of rise of
recovery voltage, more information is needed to determine the withstand strength
during the first few milliseconds after arc interruption.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Staged fault tests demonstrated the applicability of high speed single
phase reclosing on EHV transmission lines. Both reactor switching schemes,
with neutral switches and high side reactor switches, were effective in reducing
secondary arc current and recovery voltage.
2. The rate of rise of the withstand voltage across the arc path after
secondary arc interruption was determined for a simulated 765 kV air gap with
4.2 m clearance. The withstand voltage reached 425 kV in 45 msec and its
dependency on time can be used in conjunction with the rate of rise of recovery
voltage for analyzing the application of various single phase switching com-
pensation schemes.
3. Single phase reclosing was successful in 23 tests where the secondary
arc current was less than 40 A rms and the recovery voltage did not exceed the
air gap withstand capability. The secondary arc extinction time in these tests
did not exceed 160 msec and was independent of the secondary arc current value.
4. Single phase reclosing was unsuccessful in 4 tests where the secondary
arc current was greater than 45 A rms and the recovery voltage exceeded the air
gap withstand capability.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to numerous colleagues within the AEP Service
Corporation who contributed to this project. The field tests were performed with
the permission and support of the Ohio Power Company.
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closing in EHV System", CIGRE, Report 31-09, 1974.
 1735
T. H. Lee (The New Brunswick Electric Power Commission, B. R. Shperling, A. J. Fakheri, C. H. Shih, and B. J. Ware: We would
Fredericton, N.B., Canada): The authors have demonstrated the effec- like to thank Mr. Lee for his interesting addition to the paper.
tiveness of the four-leg switched reactor scheme to control the secon- Regarding Mr. Lee's first question, it is important to underline that
dary arc current due to single-pole switching in a series of field tests. all 230kV and 345kV transmission lines in his -company (including the
Even though the secondary arc current and the recovery voltage are not 317 km line he referred to in the discussion) do not require and
the only problem one faces for using SPS, the authors' results confirm therefore do not have shunt reactor compensation. At the same time in
our operating experience. NBEPC'currently has 510 km of 230 kV and' single phase switching the rate of rise of the recovery voltage on the
837 km of 345 kV (including neighbouring interties) transmission. All open phase after arc interruption depends significantly on line compen-
are equipped with SPS without compensation. The longest is a'317 km, sation. Thus, the rate of rise of the recovery voltage is much faster on
345 kV line with four in-span transpositions (using polymer insulators) uncompensated lines in comparison with the lines equipped with shunt
at the guyed portal suspension tower (see Fig. 2). The two end terminals reactors. This in its turn, results in longer arc extinction time on un-
are equipped with SPS and the middle of this line is tapped with a compensated lines if, of course, other single phase switching parameters
345/138 kV transformer through only one breaker on the transformer are kept similar.
side. This breaker is currently operated three pole (see Fig.' 1).' TNA Accordingly to numerous laboratory and field test results the upper
studies show that' the above line has secondary arc current in the range boundary for arc extinction time dependency on secondary arc current
of 21.7 to 40A rms and recovery voltage of 52 kV to 94 kV peak. We set for'uncompensated lines can be estimated as t(msec) = .0251 (A rms),
dead-time'at 41.5 cycles instead of approximately-27 cycles used by the where I is calculated value of the secondary arc current.1O01 Using this
authors and have experienced three SPS operations in the last 16 mon- approximation for the secondary arc current varying from 21.7 A rms
ths without having any unsuccessful reclosings. to 40 A rms, the corresponding upper limit of the arc extinction time
The transposition is not only for reducing the secondary arc current, changes from 32 to 60 cycles. The lower limit of arc extinction time does
but also to avoid system steady state unbalance under some system not depend appreciably on the secondary arc current and equals ap-
operation conditions. We do understand that the authors' compensa- proximately 0.1 sec (6 cycles) for the current range mentioned above.
tion scheme is not' conceived as an alternative to line transposition for Therefore, the dead time of 41.5 cycles chosen by NBEPC for their
SPS (discussion of authors' reference 5). We, however, have some con- 345kV 317 km line looks reasonable since it practically insures arc ex-
cern about steady state motor operation with possible unbalance caused tinction for the secondary arc currents less than 30 A rms but for greater
by un-transposed EHV long transmission,'especially in the long term currents may lead to some probability of unsuccessful single phase
system expansion aspect. The incremental cost of our transposition at reclosings due to long arc burning time.
the guyed portal suspension tower scheme is almrost negligible (approx- With regard to Mr. Lee's second question, we would like to point out
imately $15,000 material per transposition). that line transposition requirements in a EHV system depend on a varie-
The authors' comments on the preceding two subjects will be sincere- ty of factors and may vary from one system to another. We agree that if
ly appreciated. transmission line asymmetry causes significant current imbalance
resulting, for example, in over heating of motor or generator windings,
line transposition is one of possible'measures to reduce the imbalance.
AEP has approximately 1400 miles of 765kV and 3600 miles of 345
kV untransposed transmission lines. The negative sequence current dur-
4SO MVA (0,V4F) ing steady state motor operations is about 3 percent in AEP system.
345//3S/34.s rV Io op.
/4 op. Thus, the effects of the untransposed transmission lines on the motor
Eli 3 op.
3
TO operations are not significant. It should be pointed out, however, that
the transmission line imbalance is mitigated at 765kV by connection of
CX~~~~ S
X7 fG, --- -
/ 60 -
-11 the spare reactors to proper phases'and at other voltage levels by con-
ColtESoA' S'4L/SfBUA'Y OASLOw ventional transformer connections.
COM) (A)
()
(a) ~~~~~A)(B) (c) Manuscript received September 23, 1980.
,LQ (4) CC) (a) (A) CC) (a)
.1sAosE Rq w%E REULDSE
I4
OfAI 3#
IIr T
OPEpG
f t
FAULT tO/

0 40 4S 6.S 48.0 5S. 0 (M9ANUL)

-rIME IAt RI (NVO JII sCAILE)

Fig. 1 345 kV 3 TERMINAL SINGLE POLE SWITCHING SCHEME

1/VSuj1AT0

HIql It
..
",. ,-/

2'~~~oJ
-soI I

Fig. 2 345 kV IN-SPAN TRANSPOSITION AT GUYED PORTAL TOWER

Manuscript received August 12, 1980.