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Basic features of new 145 kV metal-enclosed, SF6 gas-insulated switchgear

D. GORENC K. FLEGAR
KONČAR-High Voltage Switchgear KONČAR-High Voltage Switchgear
Croatia Croatia

V. MARENIĆ M. LONČAR
KONČAR-High Voltage Switchgear KONČAR-Electrical Engineering Institute
Croatia Croatia

SUMMARY

Metal-enclosed, SF6 gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) occupy only 5% of the area compared to
air-insulated switchgear (AIS) for the same circuit diagram and therefore show economic
feasibility in the densely populated and industrial areas.
The new switchgear type K8D.6-N for 145 kV is designed as a three-pole enclosed
switchgear with casted aluminium alloy enclosures in various configurations. The design of
the switchgear is modular, using standardized modules assembled together according to
customer requirements. Rated current of the bay is up to 3150 A and a short-time withstand
current is 40 kA, 3s. A typical feeder bay has double busbar system and single cable
termination compartment. A significant reduction in size and weight is achieved compared to
the previous generation of GIS. The main component of the bay is vertically placed circuit-
breaker. Inside circuit-breaker there are breaking chambers with a current transformer
integrated in the same housing. The breaking chamber of the circuit-breaker is auto-puffer
type that uses arc thermal energy for breaking the short-circuit currents. The circuit-breaker is
equipped with motor wound, spring operating mechanism. Disconnector and earthing switch
are integrated in a three-position device with common drive shaft. Three-position device can
be used in the busbar disconnector/earthing switch, in the angular-action
disconnector/earthing switch or in the linear-action disconnector/earthing switch. High-speed
earthing switch and angular-action disconnector/earthing switch are located in the same
gastight section. Voltage transformer and cable termination compartment are designed as
separate modules.
Circuit-breaker and high-speed earthing switch are successfully type tested in DNV GL High
Power Laboratory, Arnhem, Netherlands, according to IEC standard 62271-100 and 62271-
102 respectively. Other components are type tested in national laboratories, according to
relevant IEC standards.

KEYWORDS

Gas-insulated, metal-enclosed, switchgear, SF6, GIS, circuit-breaker, disconnector, earthing

switch, three-position device, high-speed earthing switch

dalibor.gorenc@koncar-eva.hr
1. Introduction
KONČAR – High Voltage Switchgear has decades of tradition in manufacturing high-
voltage equipment. Based on experience gained from many years of manufacturing and recent
development experience gained from AIS circuit-breaker, the design of the new metal-
enclosed SF6 gas-insulated switchgear with designation K8D.6-N for 145 kV was realized in
cooperation with KONČAR - Electrical Engineering Institute. The switchgear is designed and
tested in accordance with [1] and [2]. Each switchgear unit consist of several gas-filled
sections, the actual arrangement depends on operational requirements. A typical line feeder
bay with double busbar system and single cable termination compartment is shown in Fig. 1.
The main component of the bay is circuit-breaker. Inside circuit-breaker there are three, one
for each phase, breaking chambers vertically positioned along with a current transformer
integrated in the same gastight section. Busbars are located within the housing of the three-
position device thus forming a combined busbar disconnector/earthing switch. Combined
angular-action disconnector/earthing switch and high-speed earthing switch share the same
gas section. High-voltage cables as well as overhead lines can be connected to the switchgear.
In the case of overhead line connection, the outdoor bushings are mounted on a special
"spreader assembly" in order to maintain the correct clearances in air.

QZ1,QZ2 - Combined busbar Q8 - High-speed earthing switch

disconnector/earthing switch
Q0 - Circuit-breaker T5 - Voltage transformer
T1 - Current transformer Z1 - Cable termination compartment
QZ9 - Combined angular-action
disconnector/earthing switch

Fig.1 Cross-section through a typical K8D.6-N feeder bay and a single-line diagram
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Various modules of the switchgear are separated by gastight and arc-proof bushing plates.
In this way, a fault will affect only a very limited part of the switchgear unit. All other rigid
insulation is made of composite tubes in vacuum technology.
Each gas-filled section is fitted with a rupture diaphragm to prevent the pressure build up to
an unduly high level in the case of internal arc. The filter material is installed in each section,
its size matched to the particular capacity. Circuit-breaker unit is equipped with a filter
material to absorb moisture and degradation products of SF6 gas from electric arc thus
ensuring long-term good dielectric properties of the gas and the ability to arc quenching.
The gas monitoring system is realized through the density monitors. For optimum electric
field distribution, the joints and contacts of the conductors are provided with metal screens.
The control and signal circuits of each switchgear unit are connected to the various operating
mechanisms by plug-in devices.
Overall dimensions of a typical double-busbar, cable termination feeder bay are
900x2950x4150 mm, and weight is 4500 kg. Compared to the previous generation of GIS,
bay width is reduced from 1400 mm to 900 mm and the weight of the bay is reduced twice.
Typical switchgear feeder bay is fully assembled, tested and delivered to site as complete
transport unit prefilled with SF6 at 0.15 MPa.

Fig. 2 Comparison between new and old GIS for the same single-line diagram

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2. Circuit-breaker unit
SF6-insulated, metal-enclosed circuit-breaker unit of type K8D.6-N is shown in Fig. 3
and Fig. 4. It is three-pole encapsulated where three breaking chambers are actuated by
common motor charged, spring operating mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Operating mechanism
is provided with fast opening and closing triggers that allow significantly shorter opening and
closing times compared to the previous generation of GIS. Rated breaking current of the
circuit-breaker is 40 kA, and rated making current 104 kA, peak value. The circuit-breaker
unit forms a hermetically sealed gas compartment. The filter material attached to cover
removes from the SF6 both moisture and the gaseous decomposition products which arise
during operation. In the cover there is also a bursting plate, which is protected with a cap from
the outside. This weak breaking spot protects the circuit breaker against excessive increase of
gas pressure.
The breaking chamber of the circuit-breaker is auto-puffer type. For small load current
interruption, gas flow is produced by piston in a compression volume. For high short-circuit
current interruption, high pressure in heating volume is produced mainly by the ablation of
nozzle material (teflon) due to the electric arc and partially by heating the SF6 gas.
The breaking chamber has been developed on the basis of AIS circuit-breaker for 123 kV in
cooperation with Energobos, Sarajevo. Based on the results of development tests and previous
type tests on the AIS circuit-breaker and the results of software application HV CB
Simulation [3], the criteria for successful short-circuit current interruption are established.
The final design of breaking chamber for GIS circuit-breaker was then optimized using
HVCB Simulation software and prepared for type tests. Making and breaking tests of the
circuit-breaker have been carried out in accordance with [4]. Circuit-breaker behaved as
predicted by simulation.

Fig. 3 Circuit-breaker unit

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 Legend

1 Circuit-breaker enclosure
2 Current transformer
3 Bursting plate
4 Bushing plate
5 Spring operating mechanism
6 Post insulator
7 Breaking chamber
8 Switching rod
9. Crankcase
10 Cover

Fig. 4 Cross-section through the circuit-breaker unit

Fig. 5 Motor charged spring operating mechanism

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3. Combined busbar disconnector with earthing switch

The combined busbar disconnector with earthing switch (Fig. 6) is three-pole

encapsulated and designed as three-position device with common drive shaft. This ensures
that the functions of isolating and earthing are mechanically blocked. Each compartment
accommodates the three bus conductors of one system, the feeder connections and the
disconnector/earthing switch contact pins.
The bus conductors are made of aluminum and held by gas-tight bushing plates. The coupling
contacts are provided in order to prevent mechanical stress due to expansion or contraction
and easy installation of busbars between adjacent bays. The cover is fitted with a filter, a
rupture diaphragm and a service connection. Motor drive mechanism controls the
disconnector and earthing switch. Typical closing and opening time of disconnector and
earthing switch is about 1 s. Disconnector can be equipped with standard contacts as well as
bus transfer contacts for the commutation of load current from one bus system to another,
according to [5].

Legend

1, 4 Fixed contacts
2, 3 Contact pins
5 Bus conductor
6 Bushing plate
7 Housing
8 Coupling contact
9 Cover

Fig. 6 Combined busbar disconnector/earthing switch

4. Combined angular-action disconnector with earthing switch

The combined angular-action disconnector/earthing switch (Fig. 7) can be installed at
various points of a bay and may serve as an outgoing disconnector and earthing switch, for
example. In the case when it is used as an outgoing disconnector and earthing switch, within
the same housing, fixed contacts of high-speed earthing switch are located. An assembly
cover fitted at the side or on the high-speed earthing switch can be provided with a filter, a
service connection and, if necessary, with a rupture diaphragm.

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Legend

1 Angular-action disconnector/earthing switch housing

2 Fixed contact of HSES
3 Contact pin of HSES
4 Short-circuit plate
5 Cover
6 HSES housing
7 Post insulator

Fig. 7 Combined angular-action disconnector/earthing switch and high-speed earthing switch

5. High-speed earthing switch (HSES)

Contact pins of high-speed earthing switch are located in the separate housing but share
the same gas space with angular-action disconnector/earthing switch (Fig. 7). All three
contact pins are linked together and are operated jointly. Motor charged spring operating
mechanism actuates a contact pins via a drive shaft and lever and enables short closing and
opening times. For the short-circuit making test the drive was provided with latching device
and a trigger to ensure stable closing times. Motor charging time is about 8 s.
Current transfer between the contact pins and the earthed current carrying rods is achieved by
the spring type contacts. High-speed earthing switch has making capacity of 40 kA for class
E1 and the possibility of switching inductively and capacitively induced currents according to
[5].

6. Instrument transformers and cable termination compartment

Inductive current transformer is three-pole encapsulated and is usually an integral part
of the circuit-breaker. If it is needed, a current transformer can be made as a separate module.
Inductive voltage transformer is three-pole encapsulated, designed as a separate module. It
can be equipped with a manually operated disconnector, which serves to separate the voltage
transformer from the rest of the bay during the high-voltage tests.
Cable termination compartment has three-pole shielded housing and is a structural element of
the bay for the connection of high-voltage cables according to [6].
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7. Type testing
Making and breaking tests of the circuit-breaker were successfully performed in High Power
Laboratory, KEMA, Netherland according to [2]. The following tests were carried out:
- Terminal fault test with 10%, 30%, 60% and 100% of rated short-circuit current.
- Short line fault test with 75% and 90% of the rated short circuit current.
- Double earth fault test
- Out of phase test
- Short time withstand current and peak withstand current test
- Capacitive current switching tests
- Shunt reactor current switching test
Short-circuit making test of high-speed earthing switch was also performed in KEMA
Laboratory. All other type tests of the entire bay or subassemblies were conducted in national
laboratories, including dielectric tests, short time withstand and peak current tests as well as
temperature-rise tests.

Fig. 8 Dielectric type test of the complete bay

Fig. 9 Short-circuit making and breaking test of the circuit-breaker

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8. Conclusions

The paper describes the basic features of new three-pole, metal-enclosed, SF6 gas-
insulated switchgear 145 kV for indoor use. The focus is on the integration of multiple
switching devices into a single housing or in a single gastight section to achieve higher
compactness. New breaking chamber for GIS circuit-breaker was developed based on
previous experience with AIS circuit-breaker for 123 kV. Compared to the previous
generation of GIS, a significant reduction in size and weight has led to a significant reduction
in production costs. The required number of drive mechanisms per bay is also reduced thus
decreasing the number of moving parts and ensure higher switchgear reliability.
The quality of the new GIS is confirmed by type tests performed in the well-known KEMA
laboratory and in the national laboratories according to the relevant IEC standards. The first
switchgear for commercial use will be delivered in 2016.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] IEC 62271-1: 2007 „High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 1: Common
specifications“.
[2] IEC 62271-203: 2011 „High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 203: Gas-
insulated metal-enclosed switchgear for rated voltages above 52 kV“.
[3] „User Manual HVCB Simulation“, Energobos, Sarajevo 2015.
[4] IEC 62271-100: 2008 „High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 100: Alternating
current circuit-breakers“.
[5] IEC 62271-102: 2001 „High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 102: Alternating
current disconnectors and earthing switches“.
[6] IEC 62271 – 209: 2007 „High-voltage switchgear and controlgear – Part 209: Cable
connections for gas-insulated metal-enclosed switchgear for rated voltages above 52 kV
– Fluid filled and dry-type cable-terminations”.