Medium

Voltage

SC
Medium Voltage (HV)
First Principles & Application

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 1
 Medium
Seminar Content Voltage

Basic Concept: The basic configuration of MV

switchgear

CT’s & VT’s: The key functions of current and

voltage transformers

MV Installations:Different types of consumer installations

Protection Req: TLF, IDMT and the use of blocking signals

TX Protection: Different transformer protection

requirements

Intelligent Swgr:Switchgear with control, monitoring &

protection from one device

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 2
 Medium
TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Voltage

Function: To isolate, control and protect electrical Networks

The term “switchgear” is a generic one. It is applied to

apparatus with mechanical contacts with their
associated measurement, protection and control
devices

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 3
 Medium
TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Voltage

DISCONNECTOR

Carry load and fault current

CANNOT make or break fault current

Disconnectors provide, in the open position, an isolating

distance which permits safe working on part of the network
and must be padlockable

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 4
 TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Medium
Voltage

SWITCH

Make, break and carry load current

Make and carry fault current
CANNOT break fault current

Switches are used to reconfigure the electrical system

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 5
 TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Medium
Voltage

CIRCUIT BREAKER

Make, break and carry load current

Make, break and carry fault current

Circuit breakers are used to disconnect the affected part

of the system when a fault occurs

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 6
 TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Medium
Voltage

EARTHING SWITCH

Make and carry fault current

CANNOT break load or fault current

Earthing switches provide a means of discharging the

inherent capacitance of cables and lines and need to be
padlockable

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 7
 TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Medium
Voltage

SWITCH FUSE (FUSE SWITCHES)

Make, break and carry load current

Make, break and carry fault current

Fuse switches are used to protect MV/LV transformers

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 8
 TYPES OF MV SWITCHGEAR Medium
Voltage

WITHDRAWABLE CIRCUIT BREAKER

Make, break and carry load current

Make, break and carry fault current

When the circuit breaker truck is in the withdrawn

position, it provides the isolating distance
(disconnector function)

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 9
 Switchgear Configurations Medium
Voltage

AUTO RECLOSER

O/C
Ground Mounted O/C Pole Mounted
E/F
E/F
A/R
A/R

O/H Line

Function: Provide protection against O/H line

transient faults caused by lightning strikes.

Configuration: Circuit breaker with O/C & E/F protection and relay
logic to provide multiple reclosing attempts.

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 10
 CIRCUIT EARTHING METHODS Medium
Voltage

FIXED PATTERN SWITCHGEAR

3 position 3 position separate interlocked

switch circuit breaker earth switch

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 11
 CIRCUIT EARTHING METHODS Medium
Voltage

WITHDRAWABLE SWITCHGEAR

via separate via withdrawable

interlocked switch circuit breaker truck

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 12
 Medium
Switchgear Arrangements Voltage

RING MAIN UNITS

O/C
E/F

Function: Control and protect MV/LV Transformers

Configuration: 2 ring switches and a transformer fuse-switch
or circuit breaker in the same tank

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 13
 Switchgear Arrangements Medium
Voltage

METERING UNITS

kwh
Non Extensible
Bus Section
kWh
Metering

Function: Provide instrumentation Transformers for

Tariff Metering

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 14
 Switchgear Arrangements Medium
Voltage

METERING UNITS

kWh
Kwh Kwh

Function: Typical arrangement for Primary Intake

switchboards

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 15
 Medium
Switchgear Arrangements Voltage

WITHDRAWABLE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANELS

Busbars Relay
Cabinet
Circuit Breaker
Truck

Cable CT’s

box

Main application: Primary substations

Heavy industry

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 16
 Medium
Switchgear Arrangements Voltage

WITHDRAWABLE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANELS

Withdrawability is required for

Busbars Relay maintenance and isolation
Cabinet Circuit Breaker
Truck

Cable CT’s

box

Main application: Primary substations

Heavy industry

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 17
 Medium
Switchgear Arrangements Voltage

WITHDRAWABLE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANELS

Circuit breaker lowered into

Busbars Relay circuit earth possition
Cabinet

Cable CT’s

box

Main application: Primary substations

Heavy industry

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 18
 Medium
Switchgear Arrangements Voltage

WITHDRAWABLE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANELS

Busbars Relay
Cabinet

Cable CT’s
Once inserted in the lower
box position and closed the circuit
is earthed

Main application: Primary substations

Heavy industry

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 19
 Medium
Voltage

CURRENT TRANSFORMERS
(CTs)

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 20
 Medium
CURRENT TRANSFORMERS (CTs) Voltage

Function
Produce an accurate image of current flowing in primary
system - reduced to a level suitable for measurement
and protection equipment
Insulate measurement and protection equipment from the
power circuits

Types :
Electromagnetic current transformers
Linear current transformers e.g. Rogowski Coils

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 21
 Medium
Voltage

CT CONSTRUCTION

Bar Primary Wound Primary

May be difficult to obtain sufficient

output with desired accuracy at low Used for low ratio CTs
primary current ratings

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 22
 CT REQUIREMENTS Medium
Voltage

Metering Applications
Accurate measurements between 5% and 120%
rated current
Desirable to limit CT output to protect connected
instruments

Protection Applications
Accuracy requirements less stringent than for
metering
Require much greater range of operation to cater for
fault conditions

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 23
 CT SPECIFICATIONS Medium
Voltage

Old standard : BS 3938

New standards : BS 7626 / IEC 185

Define:
general requirements for all CTs
additional requirements for metering CTs
additional requirements for protection CTs

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 24
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CTs Medium
Voltage

Rated Primary Current

Standard values :
10 - 12.5 - 15 - 20 - 25 - 30 - 40 - 50 - 60 - 75
amperes
and their decimal multiples (preferred values are
underlined)

Choice of rated primary current :

primary rating must be greater than normal load
current so
that CT thermal rating is not exceeded.

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 25
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CTs Medium
Voltage

Rated Secondary Current

Standard values : 1A - 2A - 5A

preferred value is 5A

Choice of rated secondary current :

5A is commonly used
1A may be advantageous if wiring route length is
greater than 30m

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 26
 REQUIREMENTS FOR METERING CTs Medium
Voltage

Accuracy class requirements

for typical applications :

Application Class

laboratory measurements 0.2

tariff metering 0.5

energy management system 1.0

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 27
 REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTECTION CTs Medium
Voltage

Class P Specification (BS 3938, BS7626, IEC185)

5VA Rated Burden

Accuracy Class: 5P or 10P

5P
defines limits of error (P = protection)

Accuracy Limit Factor (ALF):

10 multiple of rated current up to which stated
accuracy class is maintained
Standard values : 5 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 30

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 28
 REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTECTION CTs Medium
Voltage

Class X Specification (BS 3938 only)

CT is specified in terms of:

rated primary current
turns ratio
kneepoint voltage
maximum magnetising current at kneepoint voltage
maximum secondary winding resistance

Turns ratio error must not exceed +/- 0.25%

Class X CTs are traditionally used with differential type

protections

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 29
 DUAL PURPOSE CTs Medium
Voltage

Modern numerical protection and control units can

provide both protection and instrumentation

Single CT is used for both functions should have both

protection and metering classification

Can be difficult to achieve satisfactory classifications

due to conflicting requirements problem accentuated
when high measurement accuracy with high ALF for
protection is required

Must balance this against savings in cost and space by

using single CT

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 30
 Medium
Voltage

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMERS
(VTs)

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 31
 VOLTAGE TRANSFORMERS (VTs) Medium
Voltage

Function:
Produce an accurate image of the primary system
voltage reduced to a level suitable for connected
measurement and protection equipment
insulate measurement and protection equipment from
the power circuits

Specifications:
BS 3941, IEC 186

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 32
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VTs Medium
Voltage

Rated Primary Voltage

System voltage e.g. 11000V, 6600V, 3300V

Rated Secondary Voltage

100 - 110 - 120V phase-phase
57.7 - 63.5 - 69.3V phase-neutral

Rated Output
10 - 15 - 25 - 30 - 50 - 75 - 100 - 150 - 200VA

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 33
 VT CONNECTIONS Medium
Voltage

“V” Connection

2 single-phase VTs connected

phase-phase

Applications :

• metering
• directional overcurrent
• under / over voltage
• under / over frequency

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 34
 VT CONNECTIONS Medium
Voltage

3-phase, 3-limb VT

Applications :
• metering
• directional overcurrent
• under / over voltage
• under / over frequency

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 35
 VT CONNECTIONS Medium
Voltage

3-phase, 5-limb VT or
3 single-phase VTs

Applications :
• metering
• directional overcurrent
• under / over voltage
• under / over frequency
• directional earth fault
• neutral voltage displacement

SC
Medium Voltage Network Solutions 36