Insulation Level and Clearances for 230 kV Air

Insulated Substation
T. Thanasaksiri
Department of Electrical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Chiang Mai University
Thailand 50200
tthana@ee.eng.cmu.ac.th

Abstract-This paper analyzes the insulation level and air In order to get the BIL, the crest voltage at any equipment
clearances of 230 kV air insulated substation. In order to get the are required. By applying simplified calculation method taken
BIL, the crest voltage at any equipment are required. By from IEEE Std. 1313.2 and 1427 compared with digital
applying simplified calculation method taken from IEEE Std. simulation, EMTP-ATP [7]. The effect of elevation from sea
1313.2-1999 and IEEE Std. 1427-2006 compared with digital level as well as the switching surge have been considered.
simulation. The simulations have been implemented using
TABLE I
simplified models via EMTP-ATP. The BIL required and BIL STANDARDS INSULATION LEVELS
selected from simplified calculation may give the insulation level Maximum Standard Rated Short Standard Rated
not in the range, so the digital simulation would be the better System Duration Power Lightning Impulse
Standard
Voltage Frequency Withstand Withstand Voltage
choice. The effect of elevation from sea level as well as the
(kVrms) Voltage (kVrms) (kVpeak)
switching surge have been considered for insulation levels and 275 650
clearances. 325 750
360 825
IEEE 242 395 900
I. INTRODUCTION 480 975
1050
The insulation levels or withstand voltages, BIL (basic (275) (650)
lightning impulse insulation level) and BSL (basic switching (325) (750)
impulse insulation level) for equipment are classified by IEEE IEC 245 360 850
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and IEC 395 950
460 1050
(International Electrotechnical Commission). The IEEE
standards involve for insulation coordination are IEEE Std.
1313.1 [1], 1313.2 [2], C62.82.1 (revision of 1313.1) [3] and II. CALCULATIONS AND SYSTEM MODELING
1427 [4]. The IEC standards involve for insulation
coordination are IEC 60071-1 [5] and 60071-2 [6]. The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the BIL
IEEE standard, for equipment in Class I (15 kV to 242 kV), which originated from the crest voltages obtained from digital
the standard insulation withstand level include low frequency, simulation using EMTP-ATP and simplified calculations by
short duration withstand voltage and BIL. For equipment in applying equations from IEEE Std. 1313.2 and IEEE Std. 1427. Both
Class II (>242 kV), the standard insulation withstand level standards applied the similar equations and procedures for calculating
include BIL and BSL. IEC standard, for equipment in Range I the insulation levels and clearances [2], [4] which differ from the
(1 kV to 245 kV), the standard insulation withstand level procedures in IEC 60071-2 [6].
include low frequency, short duration withstand voltage and The circuit for simplified calculation and for digital
BIL. For equipment in Range II (>245 kV), the standard simulation is shown in Fig. 1 which represented two 230 kV
insulation withstand level include BIL and BSL. lines (Line 1 and Line 2). The overhead transmission line
This paper analyzes the insulation level and air clearances parameters for BIL and BSL calculations as shown in Table II
of 230 kV air insulated substation. The standard insulation and Table III respectively. Although for system voltage not
levels for equipment in Class I (IEEE) or Range I (IEC) of the greater than 242 kV (IEEE) or 245 kV (IEC), the clearances
system voltage being considered are shown in Table I. The are mainly based on lightning surge but switching surge is
insulation levels, BIL may be differ in the number but the involved and would affect insulation level as well. To
minimum of 650 kVpeak and maximum of 1050 kVpeak are the calculate the phase to ground clearance based on switching
same for both standards. The insulation levels, short duration surge, the BSL required must be determined [4]. The
power frequency withstand voltage are quite the same except calculations and system modeling using digital simulation are
480 kVrms for IEEE and 460 kVrms for IEC. as follow.

978-1-4799-2993-1/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE

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 5m 13 m 10 m 3m where
Ks = corona constant.
Transformer dm = distance to flashover point.
EB3 230/69 kV
EB1 EJ
The crest voltage of incoming surge is 1.2 times the CFO [2],
ET which give the voltage to be 1560 kV. The ramp type 12 has
Line 2 2m J been used for EMTP-ATP simulation for 4000 and 2000
EB2 10 m ED kV/µs as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig.3 respectively.
Surge
arrester 1.6

EB6 EB4 [MV]

6m 1.3

1.0
Line 1
EB5 0.7

Fig 1. Typical 230/69 kV double line substation 0.4

TABLE II 0.1
DATA FOR BIL CALCULATIONS
-0.2
Data description Values 0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5
Line surge impedance 488 Ω (f ile y rs200CT2nFLine1.pl4; x-v ar t) v :SRC

Line span length 250 m Fig. 2. Incoming surge of 4000 kV/µs for EMTP-ATP simulation
CFO 1300 kV
Number of lines connected to the bus 2 1.6
Number of conductors/phase 2 [MV]

MTBF 100 years 1.3

BFR (Back flash rate) 2 FO/100 km/yr

1.0
Ks 1000
0.7
TABLE III
DATA FOR BSL CALCULATIONS 0.4

Data description Values

0.1
Maximum system voltage 245 kV
Transmission line phase to ground withstandvoltage, V3 2.50 pu -0.2
Transmission line phase to phase withstand voltage, V30 2.80 pu 0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5
(f ile y rs100CT2nFLine1.pl4; x-v ar t) v :SRC
Switching surge flashover rate (SSFOR) 1/100
Fig. 3. Incoming surge of 2000 kV/µs for EMTP-ATP simulation
σf/CFO 0.07
σfp/CFO0 0.035
Gap factor 0.3 B. Surge Arrester Model
α 0.5 MOV type 92 [8], [9] has been used for EMTP-ATP
KL 0.67 simulation. Surge arrester V-I characteristics of 140 kV
MCOV as shown on Fig. 4.
A. Incoming Surge Model
For simplified calculation [2], [4], the distance to flashover
600
is calculated using equation given in (1).
400
1 (1)
dm = 200
Voltage (kV)

n × MTBF × BFR
0

where -200
MTBF = mean time between failure, years.
BFR = back flash rate, number of flashover/100 km/yr. -400

n = number of lines connected to the bus. -600

-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Current (kA)
The surge steepness for transformer and other equipment Fig. 4. Surge arrester V-I characteristics for EMTP-ATP simulation.
can be calculated using equation (2) which are 4000 and 2000
kV/µs respectively.

Ks (2)
S=
dm

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C. Transformer Model arrester current for incoming surge of 4000 kV/µs which originated
Transformers are modeled by surge capacitances, which on line 2. The crest voltages obtained from EMTP-ATP simulation
vary between 1 nF–6 nF, with 2 nF being an average value [2], are also summarized in Table IV-VII.
[8], [9], [10]. In this work, surge capacitances of 2, 3, 4 and 6
nF have been applied. 700
[kV]
550

D. Bus, Breaker and Line Models

400
The equipment besides transformer such as bus, breaker
and line in substation have been represented using distributed 250

parameter (Clarke) model [2], [8]. 100

-50
III. RESULTS
-200
0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5
IEEE Std. 1313.2 [2] purposed the procedure for simplified (f ile y rs100CT2nFLine1.pl4; x-v ar t) v :EB4 v :EB5 v :EB6

calculation and digital simulation for two line station by dividing the Fig. 5. Crest voltage from simulation at disconnecting switches and breaker
on line 1 for 100 years surge, surge on line 1.
system into two parts. The first part, transformer and adjacent
equipment with both lines in service which can be represented by 600
considering the incoming surge of 4000 kV/µs or 200 years surge. [kV]
500
The second part, other equipment not on transformer bus which can
400
be represented by considering the incoming surge of 2000 kV/µs or
300
100 years surge.
200

E. Crest Voltage from Simplified Calculation 100

The procedure for calculation the crest voltage which leading to 0

BIL and BSL including phase to ground and phase to phase -100

clearances have been taken form IEEE Std. 1313.2 and IEEE Std. -200
1427. The crest voltages at any point within substation obtained from 0 1 2
(f ile y rs100CT2nFLine2.pl4; x-v ar t) v :EB1 v :EB2 v :EB3
3 4 [us] 5

simplified calculation are summarized in Table IV-VII. The Fig. 6. Crest voltage from simulation at disconnecting switches and breaker
calculation including digital simulation start with equation (1), (2) on line 2 for 100 years surge, surge on line 2.
and the crest voltage for simplified calculation at transformer, surge
600
arrester, junction point, breakers, disconnecting switches and bus [kV]
500
insulator can be calculated [2], [4].
For incoming surge on line 1, line entrance equipments 400

(disconnecting switches and breaker) on line 1 (EB6, EB5, EB4) will 300

receive surge directly and get higher voltage than line entrance 200

equipments on line 2 (EB3, EB2). Certainly for incoming surge on 100

line 2, line entrance equipments on line 2 will get higher voltage than 0
line entrance equipments on line 1 as shown in Table IV and Table V -100
(Eb1, Eb2, Eb3, Eb4, Eb5, Eb6). Because of the voltage calculation from
-200
the bus junction point (EB1), junction point (EJ), surge arrester (ED) 0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5
(f ile y rs200CT2nFLine1.pl4; x-v ar t) v :EJ v :ET v :EA v :EB1
through transformer (ET) depends on the V-I characteristics of surge Fig. 7. Crest voltage from simulation at junction point, surge arrester and
arrester so these locations will receive the same crest voltage (Eb1, Ej, transformer for 200 years surge, surge on line 1.
Ed, Et) as shown in Table VI and Table VII.
600
F. Crest Voltage from Digital Simulation [kV]

Fig. 5 shows the crest voltage of disconnecting switches and 500

circuit breaker on line 1 for incoming surge of 2000 kV/µs (100 years 400

surge) which originated on line 1. Fig. 6 shows the crest voltage of 300

disconnecting switches and circuit breaker on line 2 for incoming 200

surge of 2000 kV/µs which originated on line 2. Fig. 7 shows the 100
crest voltage at the junction point, surge arrester and transformer for 0
incoming surge of 4000 kV/µs (200 years surge) which originated on
-100
line 1. Fig. 8 shows the crest voltage at the junction point, surge
-200
arrester and transformer for incoming surge of 4000 kV/µs which 0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5
(f ile y rs200CT2nFLine2.pl4; x-v ar t) v :EJ v :ET v :EA v :EB1
originated on line 2. Fig. 9 shows the arrester current for incoming
Fig. 8. Crest voltage from simulation at junction point, surge arrester and
surge of 4000 kV/µs which originated on line 1. Fig. 10 shows the transformer for 200 years surge, surge on line 2.

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 7000 TABLE VII
[A]
6000
COMPARISON OF CREST VOLTAGES AND CURRENT FOR SURGE ON LINE 2, 200
YEAR SURGE
5000 Voltage (kV) and Simplified CT from EMTP-ATP simulation
Current (kA) calculation 2 nF 3 nF 4 nF 6 nF
4000
Et 558 613 596 529 499
3000 Ej 462 482 464 449 424
2000
Ed 341 398 400 401 400
Eb1 726 532 473 499 455
1000 IA 7 6.6 7.1 7.2 7
0
0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5
(f ile y rs200CT2nFLine1.pl4; x-v ar t) c:EA - G. BIL Calculations
Fig. 9. Arrester current from simulation for 200 years surge, surge on line 1. To calculate the BIL, the crest voltages from simplified
calculation and EMTP-ATP simulation with the transformer
8000
[A] surge capacitances of 2 nF has been selected [2], [10]. To
7000
cover for the 2000 m elevation above sea level, the external
6000 insulation will have a higher BIL than the internal insulation
5000 [2], [4] by applying equation given in (3), the required BIL at
4000 elevation A above sea level can be calculated. The required
3000
BIL at sea level and at 2000 m elevation are summarized in
2000
Table VIII-XI.
1000
BIL (3)
0 BILδ = ⎛ A ⎞
0 1 2 3 4 [us] 5 ⎜− ⎟
⎝ 8.6 ⎠
(f ile y rs200CT2nFLine2.pl4; x-v ar t) c:EA -
e
Fig. 10. Arrester current from simulation for 200 years surge, surge on line 2.

For 100 and 200 years surge, both for incoming surge on where
line 1 and line 2, increasing transformer surge capacitances (2, BIL = the required BIL at sea level, kV.
3, 4 and 6 nF) will reduce the crest voltages as shown in Table A= elevation above sea level, m.
IV-VII.
TABLE VIII
SELECTION OF BILS CORRESPOND TO SIMPLIFIED CALCULATION BASED ON
TABLE IV
IEEE INSULATION LEVEL
COMPARISON OF CREST VOLTAGES FOR SURGE ON LINE 1, 100 YEAR SURGE
Required BIL
Voltage Simplified CT from EMTP-ATP simulation Crest
(kV) Standard Selected
(kV) calculation 2 nF 3 nF 4 nF 6 nF Equipment voltage
Sea 2000 BIL (kV) BIL (kV)
Eb4 679 626 533 443 429 (kV)
level m
Eb5 931 725 603 509 473 Transformer 558 586 586 650/650 650
Eb6 995 733 621 544 512 Transformer
Eb1 543 553 518 455 450 bushing
Eb2 543 553 518 455 450 -internal 558 586 586 650/650 650
Eb3 543 553 518 455 450 -external 558 486 615 550/650 650
Circuit breaker 931 809 1024 825/1050 1050
TABLE V Disconnecting
COMPARISON OF CREST VOLTAGES FOR SURGE ON LINE 2, 100 YEAR SURGE 931 809 1024 825/1050 1050
switch
Voltage Simplified CT from EMTP-ATP simulation Bus insulators 995 865 1095 900/- -
(kV) calculation 2 nF 3 nF 4 nF 6 nF
Eb4 543 578 505 455 450 TABLE IX
Eb5 543 578 505 455 450 SELECTION OF BILS CORRESPOND TO SIMPLIFIED CALCULATION BASED ON
Eb6 543 578 505 455 450 IEC INSULATION LEVEL
Eb1 543 578 505 455 450 Required BIL
Eb2 715 655 528 443 432 Crest
(kV) Standard Selected
Eb3 784 667 538 441 431 Equipment voltage
Sea 2000 BIL (kV) BIL (kV)
(kV)
level m
TABLE VI Transformer 558 586 586 650/650 650
COMPARISON OF CREST VOLTAGES AND CURRENT FOR SURGE ON LINE 1, 200 Transformer
YEAR SURGE bushing
Voltage (kV) and Simplified CT from EMTP-ATP simulation -internal 558 586 586 650/650 650
Current (kA) calculation 2 nF 3 nF 4 nF 6 nF -external 558 486 615 550/650 650
Et 558 590 567 527 503 Circuit breaker 931 809 1024 850/1050 1050
Ej 462 474 461 442 432 Disconnecting
931 809 1024 850/1050 1050
Ed 341 395 399 401 400 switch
Eb1 726 547 485 446 427 Bus insulators 995 865 1095 950/- -
IA 7 6.1 6.8 7.1 7.1

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 The standard BIL as shown in the Table VIII-XI are considered ground clearance by 10%. The phase to ground and phase to
from the set of the list of standard rated impulse withstand voltages phase clearances are shown in Table XII.
both IEEE [1], [3] and IEC [5]. For examples, the standard BIL From the Table XII based on BIL at 2000 m elevation from
550/650 of external bushing of transformer from simplified sea level. To follow the IEEE Std. 1313.2 the minimum
calculation as shown in the Table VIII means the standard BIL of clearance should be 1.21 m (IEEE and IEC insulation levels)
550 kV can cover insulation at the sea level but at the 2000 m above both for phase to ground and phase to phase. To follow the
sea level, the insulation level should be 650 kV. IEEE Std. 1427 the minimum clearance which referred to
The standard BIL in Table VIII-XI have been compared with the IEEE insulation level should be 1.57 m phase to ground and
standard insulation levels in Table I which bring to the selected BIL. 1.73 m phase to phase. To follow the IEEE Std. 1427 the
The standard BIL as well as the selected BIL at the elevation of 2000 minimum clearance which referred to IEC insulation level
m from the simplified calculation for bus insulators are not in the should be 1.62 m phase to ground and 1.78 m phase to phase.
range of Table I, both for IEEE and IEC as shown in the Table VIII
and IX. The BIL selected which is coming from the EMTP-ATP TABLE XII
PHASE TO GROUND AND PHASE TO PHASE CLEARANCES BASED ON BIL
simulation give all the insulation levels in the range as shown in
Phase to ground Phase to phase
Table X and XI, both for IEEE and IEC and have been justified. The Standard
clearance (m) clearance (m)
selected BIL from Table X and XI will lead to the phase to ground IEEE IEC IEEE IEC
and phase to phase clearances calculations. insulation insulation insulation insulation
level level level level
TABLE X IEEE Std.1313.2 1.21 1.21 1.21 1.21
SELECTION OF BILS CORRESPOND TO EMTP-ATP SIMULATION BASED ON IEEE Std.1427 1.57 1.62 1.73 1.78
IEEE INSULATION LEVEL
Required BIL H. Clearances Based on Switching Surge
Crest
(kV) Standard Selected
Equipment voltage As mentioned before, to calculate the phase to ground
Sea 2000 BIL (kV) BIL (kV)
(kV) clearance based on switching surge, the required BSL must be
level m
Transformer 613 644 644 650/650 750 determined. The required data for BSL calculations are given
Transformer in Table III and the procedure for calculation of the required
bushing BSL from IEEE Std. 1427 have been applied. To calculate the
-internal 613 644 644 650/650 750
-external 613 533 675 550/750 750
phase to ground clearance, the solution requires an iterative
Circuit breaker 725 630 798 650/825 825 process [4]. The required BSL and clearances are shown in
Disconnecting Table XIII.
725 630 798 650/825 825
switch From the Table XIII which based on BSL, the minimum
Bus insulators 733 637 806 650/825 825 clearance at sea level should be 1.32 m phase to ground and
1.54 m phase to phase. The minimum clearance at 2000 m
TABLE XI
SELECTION OF BILS CORRESPOND TO EMTP-ATP SIMULATION BASED ON elevation from sea level should be 1.67 m phase to ground and
IEC INSULATION LEVEL 1.97 m phase to phase.
Required BIL
Crest
(kV) Standard Selected TABLE XIII
Equipment voltage
Sea 2000 BIL (kV) BIL (kV) PHASE TO GROUND AND PHASE TO PHASE CLEARANCES BASED ON BSL
(kV)
level m Phase to Phase to
Transformer 613 644 644 650/650 750 ground phase
Calculations
Transformer Sea 2000 Sea 2000
bushing level m level m
-internal 613 644 644 650/650 750 Required BSL (kV) 569 730 707 871
-external 613 533 675 550/750 750 Clearance (m) 1.32 1.67 1.54 1.97
Circuit breaker 725 630 798 650/850 850
Disconnecting
725 630 798 650/850 850
switch IV. CONCLUSIONS
Bus insulators 733 637 806 650/850 850
The insulation level, BIL and air clearances of 230 kV air
Based on BIL, to calculate phase to ground and phase to insulated substation have been analyzed. By applying
phase clearances follow the IEEE Std. 1313.2, the highest simplified calculation method taken from IEEE Std. 1313.2
crest voltage in the substation from Table X and XI is 733 kV, and IEEE Std. 1427 compared with digital simulation, EMTP-
and therefore, the required clearance (phase-ground and ATP. The BIL required and BIL selected from simplified
phase-phase clearances are equal) is calculated by using a calculation may give the insulation level not in the range, so to
gradient of 605 kV/m [2]. To calculate phase to ground and get the crest voltage for selected BIL calculation, the digital
phase to phase clearances follow the IEEE Std. 1427, the simulation would be the better choice. The elevation from sea
selected BIL in the substation from Table X is 825 kV and level will affect the insulation level need, increasing the
from Table XI is 850 kV. The required phase to ground elevation will need more BIL. The switching surge are also
clearance is calculated by using a gradient of 526 kV/m [4] considered in the form of required BSL in order to cover for
and the phase to phase clearance is greater than the phase to clearances based on switching surge.

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 From the system being studies based on BIL; to follow the
IEEE Std. 1313.2, the minimum clearance at 2000 m elevation
from sea level should be 1.21 m both for phase to ground and
phase to phase; to follow the IEEE Std. 1427 the minimum
clearance which referred to IEEE insulation level should be
1.57 m phase to ground and 1.73 m phase to phase. To follow
the IEEE Std. 1427 the minimum clearance which referred to
IEC insulation level should be 1.62 m phase to ground and
1.78 m phase to phase.
The minimum clearance based on BSL at 2000 m elevation
from sea level should be 1.67 m phase to ground and 1.97 m
phase to phase. To cover both BIL and BSL, the minimum
clearances at 2000 m elevation from sea level are 1.67 m
phase to ground and 1.97 m phase to phase.

REFERENCES

[1] IEEE Std. 1313.1-1996, IEEE Standard for Insulation Coordination-

Definitions, Principles, and Rules.

[2] IEEE Std. 1313.2-1999, IEEE Guide for Application of Insulation

Coordination.

[3] IEEE Std. C62.82.1-2010, IEEE Standard for Insulation Coordination-

Definitions, Principles, and Rules.

[4] IEEE Std. 1427-2006, IEEE Guide for Recommended Electrical

Clearances and Insulation Levels in Air-Insulated Electrical Power
Substations.

[5] IEC 60071-1, 2006, Insulation Coordination-Part 1 : Definitions,

Principles, and Rules.

[6] IEC 60071-2, 1996, Insulation Coordination-Part 2 : Application guide.

[7] Hans Kristian HØidalen, ATPDraw version 5.9p3 for Windows

9x/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, 2014.

[8] IEEE Modeling and Analysis of System Transients Working Group,

“Modeling Guidelines for Fast Front Transients,” IEEE Transactions on
Power Delivery, Vol. 11, No. 1, January, 1996, pp. 493-506.

[9] Andrew R. Hileman, Insulation Coordination for Power Systems,

Marcel Dekker, 1999.

[10] Juan A. Martinez-Velasco, Power System Transients, CRC Press, 2010.

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