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Application of line surge arresters (LSAs) is known to be a cost-
effective means to improve performance of electricity supply
networks. Nonetheless, in spite of their vital role in reducing
lightning related outages and their help in overcoming poor
grounding conditions, most utilities and transmission system
operators (TSOs) consider application of LSAs only when
conventional methods have not succeeded. In this regard, LSAs
are often considered remedial or maintenance tools instead of as
devices that can be proactively applied during the design stage of
transmission lines. In fact, apart from their important role in
lightning protection of overhead lines, LSAs offer several added
benefits such as enhanced safety as well as control over switching
surges that allow optimized structures and reduced required
clearances. Their application also offers advantages in line
uprating and compaction as well as during live-line work. This
edited 2019 contribution to INMR by Siemens Energy presents
knowledge, experience, and innovations in achieving compact,
cost-efficient and lightning-proof transmission lines
LSAs, and especially the EGLA type, therefore have still untapped potential to
lower costs of line construction and operation.
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a. Switching Surge Control
Switching overvoltages are typically associated with high speed reclosing on EHV
transmission lines and reducing surge factors helps lower clearances and optimize
transmission line design. Strategically placed, LSAs have been used in place of
closing resistors and/or special switching schemes to control switching
overvoltages along such lines. Moreover, unlike the case for lightning protection
where arresters are installed on consecutive structures, arresters that control
switching surges are needed only at specific locations along a line, usually installed
on all phases. These LSAs along the line typically require one energy class less
than needed for arresters installed at line ends in substations and are typically used
at system voltages of 245 kV and above. Transient simulations should be
performed to determine the amount of energy they must absorb.
These days, with the increasing number of compact or uprated line designs, this
LSA application is no longer reserved only for EHV. Moreover, even though
EGLAs are the most suitable LSA type for many overhead line applications,
NGLAs are preferred to control switching overvoltages. In IEC 60099-8, the
external gap of the EGLA is designed and tested to withstand switching transients.
However, since tolerances in gap adjustment are narrow, it is challenging to define
EGLA spark gap distance to withstand power-frequency wet and guarantee
operation in case of switching impulse wet. Moreover, only a few arresters at
selected locations are required for switching control. Therefore, NGLAs are the
better choice in such applications to avoid need to verify insulation coordination
for just several units. Fig. 1a shows an example of such an NGLA application that
reduced switching surge factor from 2.2 (red curve) to 1.8 (blue curve) and helped
one utility make existing clearances acceptable. Fig. 1b shows live installation of
NGLAs during this project.
Fig. 1a: Switching surge factor improvement.
Fig. 1b:
Live installation for switching control.
b. Line Uprating & Compaction
There is growing demand among utilities and line designers for compact as well as
uprated lines. While significant improvements have been realized in composite
insulator technology, the concept has still not reached its final phase since line
arresters are not always being considered to reduce clearances and decrease arcing
distances. Given the growing need to build discrete aesthetic structures and, with
development of composite line post and long rod insulators, compact lines have
become a more realistic alternative to standard line designs. Unfortunately, even
though LSAs can help optimize line compaction, most designers still do not apply
this technology.
Line uprating involves increasing operating voltage and current carrying capacity
of lines while retaining existing structures. However, conductor bundles as well as
cross-arms and insulators strings typically must be re-designed during such
modifications. This where LSAs become a highly cost-effective option to convert
existing lines to higher voltages without need to change clearances, even though
the insulators and hardware may need to be changed depending on RIV/corona
stress performance requirements.
Line arresters help control overvoltage stresses on line insulation during both
uprating and compaction projects since lightning impulse withstand level of the
insulators can be reduced to the protection level of the EGLA. In this regard, the
lightning impulse sparkover voltage of the EGLA gap must be lower than or equal
to the lightning impulse withstand voltage of the insulator string. The EGLA’s
protection level is then the maximum residual voltage when lightning overvoltage
initiates a flashover on the EGLA. Once tests have been performed to verify the
insulation coordination between the EGLA spark gap and the insulator assembly,
flashover will occur only on the EGLA. Moreover, the EGLA’s series varistor unit
(SVU) is capable of extinguishing the arc without need for operation of the line
breaker.
During EGLA operation, the follow current that must be extinguished by the SVU
is limited to 2 – 3A with duration of 5 to 10 milliseconds. As when improving
lightning performance, due diligence starts with investigating grounding quality as
well as configuration of shield wires. Conventional methods are often costly and
ineffective and engineers have increasingly come to recognize the advantages of
applying EGLAs, given their compact design and high reliability. French utilities,
for example, adopted EGLAs for safety concerns as well as improved lightning
performance. Results over a 20-year period have proven positive with respect to
long-term reliability, reduction in outages and improved safety. Moreover, there is
added potential to also use LSAs to mitigate risk of gas pipeline failure from
lightning strike and to protect IT facilities from electromagnetic disturbances due
to insulator flashovers.
This means that fewer MOVs are required compared to an NGLA design where
Ur represents temporary overvoltage (TOV) with prior duty. Fig. 7 compares the
Voltage-Current characteristics of a 192 kV rated NGLA and EGLA and shows
that the EGLA’s protection level always has lower residual voltages. Additional
hardware such as supports and counterweights might be required for certain retrofit
applications of EGLAs if existing insulator strings do not allow easy installation.
In the case of new transmission lines, however, ‘smart’ integration of EGLAs from
the start makes this solution compact and highly cost-effective since need for
additional retrofit hardware is eliminated. EGLAs are specifically designed to
improve lightning performance whereas NGLAs are an easy solution to cope with
station class arresters that are not optimized. In most cases, NGLAs require a
clamping system to the conductor, a ground lead disconnector and grading rings.
d. Installation
The weight of a complete EGLA solution is typically lighter than for an NGLA.
The SVU can also be pre-assembled on the ground on insulator strings (or directly
on towers) to simplify installation, which generally does not require helicopters or
cranes as typically needed for NGLA installation. Proximity to the insulator
simplifies final EGLA configuration and guarantees proper installation. A range of
options exists for live installation in the case of retrofitting existing lines. Pre-
assembly of the complete set (EGLA + insulator + hardware) can even be prepared
by the supplier to optimize lifting and mounting time while also reducing risk of
missing components.
e. Maintenance / Operation
Basically, no maintenance is required for EGLAs and failure rate is extremely low.
If properly designed and installed, these can be considered as reliable as the
standard components in insulators strings. Moreover, no specific monitoring is
required apart from the regular overhead line inspections already being performed
and which allow failed SVUs to be easily identified visually. One of the keys to
performance is that the EGLA design must be rigid and stable, with no moving
parts accepted. By contrast, the ground lead and mechanical stress under vibration
and galloping reduce the reliability of NGLAs. High EGLA resistance to vibration
and mechanical stress from seismic activity can also be demonstrated.
Furthermore, failure of the SVU does not influence continuous operation of the
line due to the gap that isolates it from the system. This means there is no
immediate need for replacement. In addition, EGLAs cannot fail due to line faults
and the gap is dimensioned to withstand both power frequency and switching
overvoltages.
References
[1] J. Woodworth: “Lowering Losses on Transmission Lines Using Arresters”, CEATI’s
6th Annual Grounding & Lightning Workshop, Niagara Falls, October 2014.
[2] J. Woodworth: “The Externally Gapped Line Arrester – A Design and Application”
and “Guide for Condition Assessment of Lightning Arresters installed on Transmission
Lines”, CEATI’s 8th Annual Grounding & Lightning Conference, Arlington, USA,
November 2016.
[3] J. Woodworth: “Benefits Justify More Use of Transmission Line Arresters”,
INMR.com
[4] U. Bauch: “Line Arresters – Live Insurance Of The Grid – Trends & Developments”,
INMR World Congress, Munich, October 2015.
[5] P. Bunov, L. Klingbeil, D. Udovcic and D. Biswas: “Externally Gapped Line
Arresters – First experience with the new IEC 60099-8 standard and Line study analysis”,
IEEE Power & Energy society transmission and distribution conference and exposition,
Orlando, Florida, USA, May 2012.
[6] P. Bunov, L. Klingbeil, B. Goßler and L. Montaz: “Design and Testing of a 225-kV
Externally Gapped Line Arrester for installation under live conditions”, CIGRE C4
International Colloquium on Lightning & Power Systems, Lyon, May 2014.
[7] R. Göhler, L. Klingbeil, M. Schubert: “Surge Arrester design and testing experiences
according to the new IEC 60099-4”, CIGRÉ International Technical Colloquium, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, September 2007.
[8] L. Klingbeil, Z. Baus, S. Nikolovski, I. Ivankovic: “Case Study for Application of
Transmission Line Arresters at Croatian 400kV Line along the Adriatic Coast
Mountains”, CIGRÉ Colloquium on Application of Line Surge Arresters in Power
Distribution and Transmission Systems, Cavtat, May 2008.
[9] CIGRE 440 – Working Group C4.301: “Use of Surge Arresters for Lightning
Protection of Transmission Lines”, December 2010.
[10] F. Bologna and C. Engelbrecht: “Mitigating Transmission Line Arrester Lead
Stresses”, INMR World Conference, Munich, October 2015.
[11] V. Hinrichsen: “Overview of Recent Technological Developments for HV Line and
Station Arresters & Future Tendencies, INMR World Conference on Insulators, Arresters
and Bushings, Rio de Janeiro, May 2007
[12] S. Page: “A Comparison of Commercial Lightning Software”, CEATI’s 8th Annual
Grounding & Lightning Conference, Arlington, USA, November 2016.
[13] KEPCO: “Seminar for Transmission Line Arrester”
[14] Mitigating Ground Potential Rise on Towers & Improving Electricity Quality Using
Line Arresters, Frederic Maciela, INMR
[15] CIGRE B2 TF 007, “Interaction of vibration dampers with surge arresters,” October,
2016.
[16] Private discussion with EPRI.
[17] 10 YEARS OF FIELD EXPERIENCE WITH EGLA TYPE LINE ARRESTERS AT
THE COMISION FEDERAL DE ELECTRICIDAD (CFE), INMR 2018, M.I J. Gerardo
Montoya Tena
[18] Arrester Technology Improves Transmission Line Performance: Experience in
Malaysia, INMR 2017, Iryani Mohamed Rawi