Application Guide For High Voltage Switches

DocuSign Envelope ID: 016FEBE6-BBC2-4CFD-878D-6158A761CC1B
Oncor Proprietary Information
TRANSMISSION STANDARDS
530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

INITIAL RELEASE DATE: February 5, 2019
LAST REVISION DATE: July 17, 2019
LAST REVIEW DATE: February 5, 2019
1.0 Summary
1.1 The purpose of this document is to provide the capabilities and limitations of vertical break,
center break gang operated switches, manually operated ground switches and high-speed
ground switches.
1.2 This document shall be referenced by Transmission Engineering and Transmission

Planning when determining appropriate switches in a station.
1.3 Reference Documents
1.3.1 IEEE Standard Requirements for AC High-Voltage Air Switches Rated Above
1000V, IEEE Standard C37.30.1-2011
1.4 Associated Documents
1.4.1 Oncor Transmission Standard 530-300, Air Switch Motor Operators
1.4.2 Oncor Transmission Standard 530-301, Air Switches
2.0 Definitions
2.1 Vertical Break Switch shall mean: one in which the travel of the blade is in a plane
perpendicular to the plane of the mounting base. The blade in the closed position is parallel
to the mounting base.
2.2 Center Break Switch shall mean: one in which the travel of the blade is in a plane parallel to
the base of the switch and that opens in the center at only one point.
2.3 Grounding Switch shall mean: a mechanical switching device by means of which a circuit or
piece of apparatus may be electrically connected to ground
2.4 Loop Split shall mean: A switch configuration that interrupts current to the load from either
source of energy. There must be at least 2 energy sources in the loop.
Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 1 of 24


2.5 Load Drop shall mean: A switch configuration that drops the load from the transmission
system.
3.0 General
Capabilities and Limitations of different switches (See Section 4.0)

Application Matrix for different Types of Interrupters (See Section 5.0)
Preferred High Voltage Sectionalizing Switch Selections (See Section 6.0)
One Line Examples (See Section 7.0)
4.0 Sectionalizing Switches
4.1 Capabilities and Limitations
Capabilities and Limitations
Switch Capability Limitation
Vertical Break Can use any interrupter type Max voltage rating of 138 kV
Can only be used as a Loop
Splitting (LS), Line Drop (LD),
or Air Switch (AS)
Center Break Max voltage rating of 345 kV
345 kV rated switches may
require a manually operated
ground switch


4.2 Application Matrix for Different Types of Interrupters
Application Matrix for Interrupters

Interrupter Capability
Interrupter
Description 69 kV 138 kV
Basic sectionalizing
Air Switch (AS) Can drop up to 9 miles Can drop up to 5 miles
switch
switch with a vacuum
bottle interrupter or Can drop up to 9 miles Can drop up to 5 miles
equivalent device.
After opening the
Loop Split (LS) device there is voltage
on both sides of the
Can split load current Can split load current
switch. The voltage
equal to rating of the equal to the rating of
can be estimated to be
switch, a max of the switch, a max of
10% of the rated line
2000 A 3200 A
to ground voltage
switch with a “buggy
whip” interrupter or
equivalent device. Can drop up to 30 Can drop up to 15
Line Drop (LD)
Only used in cases miles miles with whip
where clearance is an
issue or on wooden
poles
Can drop up to 30 Can drop up to 15

miles miles
switch with both a Can split load current Can split load current
Line Drop / Loop Split “buggy whip” and equal to the rating of equal to the rating of
(LDS) vacuum bottle the switch, a max of the switch, a max of
interrupter or 2000 A 2000 A
equivalent device
Can split up to 100 Can split up to 200
MW of load MW of load
Basic sectionalizing Can drop more than Can drop more than
switch with six vacuum 300 miles 300 miles
bottle interrupters (2
per phase), or a device
with similar capability.
Load Break (LDB) After opening the Can split load current Can split load current
switch, there is voltage equal to the rating of equal to the rating of
on one side of the the switch, max of the switch, a max of
switch and no voltage 2000 A 3200 A
on the other side of the
switch


4.3 Preferred High Voltage Sectionalizing Switch Selections
Preferred High Voltage Sectionalizing Switch Selections

Mileage From Next Isolating Device
Voltage
69 kV 138 kV
Class
Required
Greater
TRV Rating Up to 9 9 – 22 Up to 5 Greater than
than 22 5 – 15 miles
Across miles miles miles 15 miles
miles
Switch
Loop Line Drop / Load Line Drop /
Loop Load Break
30 kV Split Loop Split Break Loop Split
Split (LS) (LDB)
(LS) (LDS) (LDB) (LDS)
Loop Load Break
30-50 kV Split Loop Split Break Loop Split
Split (LS) (LDB)
Greater than Loop Load Break
Split Loop Split Break Loop Split
50 kV Split (LS) (LDB)
Loop Split switches shall be installed to sectionalize the current flow between
two transformers inside the same substation.
The sectionalizing switches attached on the substation dead-end structure, shall

Notes: be Line Drop/Loop Split (LDS) or Load Break (LDB), since they are looking down
the line, away from the substation.
TRV: Voltage across the terminals of the switch after circuit interruption.


5.0 Ground Switches
5.1 All 345 kV transmission lines will have ground switches installed at both ends of the line in
the remote end stations
5.2 The following configurations could require a different ground switch installation application
5.2.1 345 kV stations where all lines are rated for 3200 A or less
5.2.2 345 kV stations where one or more lines are rated for 5000 A and the 5000 A lines
are less than 40 miles in length
5.2.3 345 kV stations where one or more lines are rated for 5000 A and one or more of
the 5000 A lines are 40 miles in length or longer
5.2.3.1 Will not have a 5000 A double circuit line coming into a single bus on ring
bus configuration
5.2.4 District personnel shall be consulted when finalizing the location of ground
switches. This is required because each district has a unique ground switch
switching procedure. The procedure is dependent on the location of the ground
switch.
5.2.5 Transmission Grid Operations (TGO) shall be notified as some district procedures
require operation of at least one (1) breaker before operating the ground switch.
5.3 High Speed Ground Switch
5.3.1 The application of a high speed ground switch shall be determined by System
Protection and only used on a case by case basis.
6.0 Motor Operator
Motor Operator Requirements

Voltage Class Operating Time Torque
10,000 / 20,000
69 kV 4 – 6 seconds inch-pounds
10,000 / 20,000
20,000
Note: Breaker disconnects do not use a motor operator. Breaker
disconnects are to be manually operated.


7.0 One Line Examples
7.1 Through Flow
7.1.1 2000 A, up to 15 miles at 138 kV, up to 22 miles at 69 kV
7.1.2 2000 A or 3200 A, more than 15 miles at 138 kV, more than 22 miles at 69 kV
7.2 Point of Interconnect (POI) or Point of Delivery (POD)




7.3 Double Tap


8.0 Ground Switch One Line Examples
Refer back to section 5.0 for ground switch application requirements.
8.1 345 kV, 3200 A or less
8.1.1 Breaker and a Half Configuration – Two Rungs or Less


8.1.2 Breaker and a Half Configuration – Three Rungs or More: Two Existing Rungs
and a new Third Rung
Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 10 of


8.1.3 Breaker and a Half Configuration – Three Rungs or More


8.1.4 Ring Bus Configurations

8.1.4.1 Four Breaker Configuration
Note: Ring Bus configuration has air switch with ground switch on line side.


8.1.4.2 Six Breaker Configuration
Note: Ring Bus configuration has air switch with ground switch on line side


8.2 5000 A, Lines less than 40 miles at 345 kV
8.2.1 Breaker and a Half Configuration - Two Rungs or More
Note: Additional rungs will not change the locations of the ground switches. All switches
shall be center break switches mounted on standard switch structures. Vertical break
switches shall not be used due to strain on A-frame structures.


8.2.2 Ring Bus Configurations

8.2.2.1 Four Breaker Ring Bus
Note: All switches shall be center break switches mounted on standard switch structures.
Vertical break switches shall not be used due to strain on A-frame structures.


8.2.2.2 Six Breaker Ring Bus
Note:
All switches shall be center break switches mounted on standard switch structures. Vertical
break switches shall not be used due to strain on A-frame structures.


8.3 5000 A, Lines more than 40 miles at 345 kV
8.3.1 Breaker and a Half Configuration - Two Rungs or More
Note 1: Additional rungs will not change the location of the ground switches. All switches
shall be center break switches mounted on standard switch structures. Vertical break
switches shall not be used due to strain on A-frame structures.
Note 2: For a double circuit line, only one station shall have this configuration. The second
station shall have the configuration in section 8.2.1. See section 8.3.2 for an example


8.3.2 Station Connections Configuration - 5000 A, Line more than 40 miles at 345
kV
Note 1: For a double circuit line, where the line length is greater than 40 miles, only one station shall
have the ground switch configuration of station A. The station at the end of the line shall have the
ground switch configuration of station B.
Note 2: Refer back to section 5.2.4 and section 5.2.5 for additional information.


9.0 Pictures
9.1 Vertical Break with LDB Interrupter
9.2 Center Break with LD Interrupter


9.3 Vertical Break with LDS Interrupter
9.4 Vertical Break with LS Interrupter


9.5 Center Break with LS Interrupter
9.6 Center Break Air Switch
9.7 345 kV Center Break Air Switch


9.8 69 kV High Speed Ground Switch


9.9 345 kV Switch with Ground Switch


Document History
Change
Changes
Request Summary of Changes
Made by
Number
Redrew one line examples to clearly show ground switch locations.
Added a note regarding ground switch locations at two separate 5000 A,
345 kV stations connected by a double line of over 40 miles in length.
Added a one line example of the double circuit 5000A, 345 kV station
Warner Gibson
connection configurations. Added note regarding consulting operations
regarding location of ground switches.
Date Signature Name Title Department
Manager Transmission
7/31/2019 | 3: 0:15 AM PDT Bao Pham II, Transmission Transmission Engineering
Engineering
9/11/2019 | 1 :35:23 PM CDT Transmission

Matt Morrison Transmission Standards
Standards Manager
Change Request Changes

Summary of Changes
Number Made by
Warner Gibson,
L-00263 Initial Release
Jorge Salinas
Date Signature Name Title
Manager Transmission II, Transmission

Bao Pham Engineering
Transmission Standards Manager

Matt Morrison

Application Guide For High Voltage Switches

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Application Guide For High Voltage Switches

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DocuSign Envelope ID: 016FEBE6-BBC2-4CFD-878D-6158A761CC1B

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

1.2 This document shall be referenced by Transmission Engineering and Transmission

1.3 Reference Documents

1.4 Associated Documents

1.4.1 Oncor Transmission Standard 530-300, Air Switch Motor Operators

1.4.2 Oncor Transmission Standard 530-301, Air Switches

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 1 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

Capabilities and Limitations of different switches (See Section 4.0)

4.0 Sectionalizing Switches

4.1 Capabilities and Limitations

Capabilities and Limitations

Switch Capability Limitation

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 2 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

4.2 Application Matrix for Different Types of Interrupters

Application Matrix for Interrupters

Can drop up to 30 Can drop up to 15

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 3 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

4.3 Preferred High Voltage Sectionalizing Switch Selections

Preferred High Voltage Sectionalizing Switch Selections

The sectionalizing switches attached on the substation dead-end structure, shall

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 4 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

5.0 Ground Switches

5.3 High Speed Ground Switch

6.0 Motor Operator

Motor Operator Requirements

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 5 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

7.0 One Line Examples

7.1 Through Flow

7.1.1 2000 A, up to 15 miles at 138 kV, up to 22 miles at 69 kV

7.2 Point of Interconnect (POI) or Point of Delivery (POD)

7.2.1 2000 A, up to 15 miles at 138 kV, up to 22 miles at 69 kV

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 6 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 7 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

7.3 Double Tap

7.3.1 2000 A, up to 15 miles at 138 kV, up to 22 miles at 69 kV

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 8 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

8.0 Ground Switch One Line Examples

Refer back to section 5.0 for ground switch application requirements.

8.1 345 kV, 3200 A or less

8.1.1 Breaker and a Half Configuration – Two Rungs or Less

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 9 of 24

Oncor Proprietary Information

530-309 Application Guide for High Voltage Switches

Oncor Proprietary Information 530-309 Page 10 of