CAD INVESTIGATION OF VOLTAGE POTENTIAL AND ELECTRICAL FIELD

DISTRIBUTION ON 36 kV LOAD BREAK SWITCH

C. Cavallaro, S. Musumeci, F. Chimento and C. Santonocito

University of Catania, Italy

ABSTRACT

The paper deals with the investigation of the electrical field distribution on an actual 36 kV gas insulated three phase
load break switch application by a CAD analysis. The proposed medium voltage switch characteristics and applications
are described. In particular the switchgear characteristics and its performances are focused. An accurate static analysis
of the electrical field distribution in both the switchgear and the stainless steel tank will be carried out by several
simulations on a suitable model through a finite element method (FEM). The numerical analysis is applied with two and
three dimensional dedicated software tools. The simulation results allow the correct design of the distances for both the
fixed and the rotating electrical contacts. The information on the electrical field distribution allows the correct fitting of
the distances of the electrical contact and the pressure value of the insulation gas (SF6) injected in both the switchgear
and the stainless steel tank.

Keywords: Load Break Switch, Switchgear, FEM, Electrical Field, Three Phase Line Distribution.

1 INTRODUCTION and its specific field of application. Furthermore several

In medium voltage electrical energy network
distribution several kind of switches are necessary for
the electrical isolation of the different components
which are commonly utilized. Load Break Switches
(LBS) are used to interrupt the flow of the current in
electrical circuits in every load condition. In these
applications the switching operation under load are
critical and the LBS needs an accurate design in order to
fit the electrical insulation for both the high voltage and
the large load current involved [1,2]. In the paper an
actual three phase LBS gas insulated device for medium
voltage application devoted to extra-European market is
presented and evaluated. The operative voltage is fixed
to 36 kV while the nominal switching current is in the
range between 400-630 A. The issues related to the
optimization of the geometry characteristics and the
correct design of the distances for both the fixed and the
rotating electrical contact of the switch, are investigated.
The LBS is analysed and optimized by an analysis
realized through an accurate modelling of the main
components of the switch. A critical problem
encountered has been to understand how the geometry
affects the electrical field of the environment in which
the contacts operate. The static electrical field
distribution evaluation allows to understand where the
high electrical fields overcome the dielectric strength
and consequently allows the correct design of the
distances and the geometry of the switchgear and of the
electrical contact. The SF6 insulated switchgear and the
stainless steel tank are investigated by a finite element
modellization realized by a suitable commercial
software. In the paper an initial description is presented
of the actual 36 kV load break switch to be developed
simulation results achieved by means of a dedicated
software (two and three dimensional CAD tool) have
been carried out in order to give accurate information on
the electrical field distribution and the interaction of the
electrical field and the geometry of the electrical contact
in the switchgear.
2 LOAD BREAK SWITCH DESCRIPTIONS
The units equipped with the evaluated three phase break
switch have up to 36 kV of rated voltage while the rated
current is up to 630 A. The rated short time current is
limited to 16 kA. The electrical box and the three
dimensional view of the LBS are depicted in the Figures
1a and 1b.
Another important feature implemented is related to
internal arc fault withstand. The LBS applications are
related to the protection of electrical network system
and power transformers [3]. The main characteristics of
the evaluated LBS are summarized in the Table 1. The
LBS employs SF6 gas in order to improve the insulation
of both the fixed part and the rotating parts. The choice
of the SF6 gas is related to the best performances in
comparison with the air. This kind of gas is not
flammable and non-toxic, it's a good insulator (being an
electronegative gas) and it has a good thermal
transmission coefficient that allows a better cooling of
the electrical pole during the switching phases with a
breakdown voltage of about 3 times than air. Electrical
strength of SF6 is about 80 kV/cm while the dielectric
constant has a value of 1.0021 at 20°C. The variation of
these values with the frequency is negligible, and
furthermore a rise in pressure to 20 bar leads to an

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increase of about 6 % of the above mentioned value. Several experimental tests with SF6 have been carried
The switchgear applied on the 36 kV investigated LBS out in order to obtain the minimum distances between
is a natural evolution of a 24 kV one with reduced the electrical pole of the switchgear and stainless steel
electrical contact enclosed in the switchgear of each tank without breakdown voltage stress. The
phase, as shown in the Figure 1c. experimental tests show that the minimum allowed
In the 24 kV case the removable switch part has three distances between the different metal parts are about
stable positions: open, close and ground connected. In 70mm with a SF6 pressure of 0.5 bar. The material of
the case of 36 kV the presence of the ground pole inside the enclosure has to be considered in the insulation
of the switchgear is dangerous because the increase of study of the design of the LBS.
electrical field leads to possible discharge in both the The choice has been oriented on Trogamid® because it
removable part and the fixed part of the switch. For this has good dielectric properties as well as mechanical
reason the ground connection is realized by a suitable characteristics (26 kV/mm of electrical strength and
earthing switch localized outside of the switchgear as relative dielectric constant equal to 3). Furthermore the
shown in the Figure 1c. transparent enclosure obtained with this material allows
The switch operation can be realized through a manual easy inspection during the operative condition tests.
control by a suitable device that acts on the switching
part of the LBS or through a remote control.
The 3D view of the three phase LBS with the picture of
the prototype is shown in the Figure 2. In the Figure the
mechanical and electrical connection of the three
switchgear used are visible and the transparent
enclosure in Trogamid® is focused.
In Figure 3 the simplified geometry of the LSB used in
the first CAD analysis is reported.
The switchgear, as above described, is filled with an
insulation gas (SF6) in order to obtain an electrical
strength over 2-3 times greater compared with air [4].

Table 1: Load break switch characteristics.

Short time
Rated Rated Short-circuit
voltage current
current
current
Figure 2 Three dimensional views of the LBS and
(1sec) photo of the experimental prototype.
36 kV 400-630 A 16 kA 40 kA
Rated
Rated Rated Rated no-
relative filled
closed- mainly load
pressure for
loop active transformer
SF6 load
breaking breaking breaking
break switch
current current current
at 20°C
400-630 A 400-630 A 10 A 0.8 bar

Figure 3 Switchgear geometry of the LBS.

3 ELECTRICAL FIELD DISTRIBUTION

ANALYSIS BY CAD SOFTWARE TOOLS

The analysis of the electrical field is related mainly to

Figure 1 a) Electrical unit, b) LBS 3-D view
c) Electrical contact description in the
switchgear for 24 kV and 36 kV LBS.
one of the switchgears and its interaction with the
stainless steel tank. The electrical field distribution has
been carried out through a finite element method
(FEM). With this approach it is possible to define the
correct analysis and the design of the geometric

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dimensions and the distances for both the fixed and the
removable electrical contacts on the switch. The FEM
needs an accurate model of the switchgear geometry and
dielectric properties of the involved materials. The
geometries of the switchgear and of the stainless steel
tank have been carried out by a suitable CAD software
tool in accordance to the shape depicted in the Figure 3.
The numerical analysis investigation has been carried
out by means of a dedicated CAD software tool. The
used software is COMSOL Multhipysics® for the
investigation in two and three dimensional view [5].
The following steps have been considered in order to
describe the way to implement the geometry to
investigate:
• description of the assigned geometry and generation
of the mesh;
• introduction of the properties of the material that
realize the different parts of the switchgear and both
the fixed and rotating parts of the LBS;
• boundary conditions assignment.
As above described the first step in order to obtain the
computation domain for the assigned geometry is the
construction of the mesh. In the Figure 4 the building
mesh is related to a two dimensional analysis. The
stainless steel tank is in accordance to the picture shown
in the Figure 3. The choice of the density distribution of
the mesh has been carried out in order to optimize the
computational process as trade-off between
computational speed and detailed calculation. The mesh
is much more detailed in the area where the electric
field has a forecast of strong variation and high
intensity.
In order to define the static distribution of the electrical
field same information about the boundary conditions
must be set. In the studied cases the fixed contact are
defined for the computational analysis through the
Dirichlet conditions. In the moving contact we assigned
a constant and unknown value of the potential through
floating boundary conditions.
4 SIMULATION RESULTS
Several two and three dimensional simulation runs have
been carried out with CAD dedicated software in order
to analyse the static electrical field distribution in both
the switchgear relative, at first, to one line phase and the
stainless steel tank. The simulation runs have been
carried out in several operative conditions reported in
the following tests setting:
1) 36 kV with stainless steel tank connected to ground:
a. lower electrical contact to ground;
b. upper electrical contact to ground;
2) 70 kV with stainless steel tank connected to ground:
a. lower electrical contact to ground;
b. upper electrical contact to ground;
3) 80 kV with stainless steel tank floating:
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a. lower electrical contact to ground;
b. upper electrical contact to ground;
4) 170 kV with stainless steel tank connected to
ground:
a. lower electrical contact to ground;
b. upper electrical contact to ground;
5) 190 kV with stainless steel tank floating:
a. lower electrical contact to ground;
b. upper electrical contact to ground.
The first test is related to the steady state operative
conditions with the maximum electrical potential
(VMAX) between the fixed pole given by:
2 ⋅ Vl
VMAX = = 29.4kV
3
Where Vl is the line to line voltage equal to 36 kV. This
voltage potential is applied before (a) in the upper
electrical contact and after (b) to the second one in order
to simulate the exchange of the electrical potential on
the electrical pole. In the other tests the maximum
voltage potential application is related to several
impulse tests according to the standard of test for AC
High-Voltage circuit breakers.
The simulations runs, later on reported, show the
equipotential colour-shaded plot at nominal operative
switching conditions (36 kV). These simulation results
allow to emphasize both the electric field concentration
areas and the direction of the field.
Figure 4 Two dimensional building mesh realized by
FEM analysis.
Furthermore the colour-shaded plots of the electric field
distribution have been carried out.
The colour-shaded plots give accurate information on
the intensity of the electrical field. With this numerical
analysis approach the point of critical voltage stress is
recognized and a correct design of the geometry may be
carried out.
4.1 Two dimensional simulation results
The simulation runs in two dimensions regard the
investigation of the electric field distribution on the
switchgear of one line phase and the stainless steel tank.
Furthermore the potential distribution has been
considered. The simulation result of the potential potential is applied to the one fixed contact with the
distribution with the upper contact with voltage other fixed contact connected to the ground. The
potential is depicted in the Figure 5. The simulation potential distribution is reported in Figure 8 and Figure
results show a symmetry of effect in the case b) where 9 while the electrical field distribution is plotted in
the voltage potential is applied on the lower fixed Figure 10.
electrical contact.
The next simulation runs reported are related to Table 2: Maximum value of the electrical field
maximum voltage potential applications relative to an distribution.
impulse voltage tests with the stainless steel tank Maximum
Stainless Electrical
floating. The maximum voltage applied on the fixed Test
steel tank contact
electrical
contact is 190 kV with stainless steel tank floating as conditions field
connections connection
imposed in the last test conditions. The simulation [kV/mm]
results of the electrical potential distributions regard the 36 kV line Upper to the
voltage: voltage, lower 5.47
case of test with lower electrical contact connected to 29.4 kV to ground
ground (Figure 6). max ground
Lower to the
The maximum values of the electrical field in every test voltage
voltage, upper 4.48
condition are reported in the Table 2. potential
to ground
applied
Upper to the
voltage, lower 13.0
70 kV max
to ground
voltage ground
Lower to the
pulse test
voltage, upper 10.7
to ground
Upper to the
voltage, lower 9.00
80 kV max
to ground
voltage floating
Lower to the
pulse test
voltage, upper 8.50
to ground
Upper to the
170 kV voltage, lower 31.6
max to ground
ground
voltage Lower to the
pulse test voltage, upper 25.9
Figure 5 Equipotential colour-shaded plot in the to ground
Upper to the
case of 36 kV. 190 kV voltage, lower 21.4
max to ground
floating
voltage Lower to the
pulse test voltage, upper 20.2
to ground

Further simulation runs have been carried out in the

case of study of the stainless steel tank with inside three
switchgears. The solid three-dimensional geometry is
reported in the Figure 11. The mesh distribution is
shown in Figure 12. The electrical potential is reported
in the Figure 13 and the electrical field distribution is
shown in the Figure 14.

Figure 6 The equipotential zone in the case of 190

kV voltage potential applied to upper
electrical contact.

4.2 Three dimensional simulation results

The three dimensional analyses have been carried out
taking into account a simplified structure composed by
one switchgear as shown in Figure 7. The simplified
solid view is obtained by dedicated tools as
AUTOCAD® and SOLIDWORKS®. The case of study
presented is related to a 36 kV nominal voltage. The Figure 7 Three dimensional view of switchgear.

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 Figure 11 Three dimensional view of stainless steel
Figure 8 Three dimensional equipotential colour- tank with inside three switchgear.
shaded.

Figure 12 Mesh distribution in the three

dimensional view of the electrical
Figure 9 Three dimensional equipotential system analyzed.
layer-section.

Figure 13 Three dimensional equipotential colour-

Figure 10 Three dimensional electrical field shaded plot in the case of 36 kV.
distribution colour-shaded.

kV SF6 insulated load break switch is presented. The

5 CONCLUSIONS static field distribution has been evaluated by two and
three dimensional FEM simulation runs. The electric
In the proposed paper an accurate CAD analysis of a 36 field distribution acknowledge allows a correct design

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of the geometry and distances of the both the fixed and
the rotating electrical contacts joint with the geometry
of switchgear.
Figure 14 Three dimensional electrical field
distribution colour-shaded plot in the
case of 36 kV
6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper has been supported by M.A.P. (Ministero per
le Attività Produttive), I.C.E. (Istituto per il Commercio
Estero), C.R.U.I. (Conferenza dei Rettori delle
Università Italiane), and M.I.U.R. (Italian Ministry of
Research).
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7 REFERENCES
1. IEEE C37.013-1997: IEEE Standard for AC High-
Voltage Generator Circuit Breakers Rated on a
Symmetrical Current Basis.
2. IEC 60694: International Standard IEC 60694
Edition 2.1 2001-05 Common specifications for
high-voltage switchgears and control gear standards.
3. A.R.A. Pikkert, G.C. Schoonenberg, P.R. Voulon,
“Upgrading of compact load break switches to a
circuit breaker function”, Electricity Distribution,
2001, Part 1, Volume 1, Contributions on CIRED,
16th International Conference and Exhibition on
(IEE Conf. Publ No. 482), pp 18-21, June 2001.
4. L. Niemeyer, L. Ullrich, L. Wiegart, “The
mechanism of leader breakdown in electronegative
gases”, IEEE Transaction on Electrical Insulation,
Vol. 24, No. 2, pp 309-324, 1989.
5. C. Cavallaro, S. Musumeci, A. Raciti, C.
Santonocito “CAD Analysis on Electrical Field of
Load Break Switch Suitable for Medium Voltage
Applications” IEEE SPEEDAM 06, pp 1299-1305,
23-26 May 2006, Taormina, Italy.
AUTHOR'S ADDRESS
The first author can be contacted at:
DIEES, University of Catania
Viale A. Doria, 6 – 95125 - Catania, Italy
email: ccavalla@diees.unict.it