IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 12, No.

1, January 1997 219

Voltage Escalation and Reignition Behavior of Vacuum Generator

Circuit Breakers During Load Shedding

Mietek T. Gliiikowslti and hdoises R. Gutierrez Dieter Brauii

Electric Power Engineering Department ABB High Voltage Techiiologies Ltd.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Dept. AGV-3, P.O. Box 8546
Troy, NY 12180-3590 CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland

Keywords
Modeling Generator Circuit Breakers, Transient
Response, Escalation Voltages, Circuit Breaker Reig-
nition, Circuit Breaker Restrike, Vacuum Circuit
Breakers, Load Shedding, Electromagnetic Transient
Program
Abstract
This paper focuses on multiple reignitions and volt-
age escalation that may occur during load shedding
when vacuum circuit-breakers are used as generator
circuit-breakers. The probability of multiple reigni-
tions and voltage escalation is proportional to the arc
angle and is very small. However, repeated reignitions
and voltage escalation may be observed in vacuum
switching devices after opening operations due to their
ability to interrupt high frequency currents. The trans-
former side capacitance and the magnitude of the load
shedding play a significant role in developing repeated
reignitions and voltage escalation when vacuum circuit
breakers are used as generator circuit breakers. Of par-
ticular concern is the case when a protective capacitor
is connected to the system side of the circuit breaker.
Although this capacitor reduces the magnitude of the
Dansient Recovery Voltage, it decreases the transient
frequencies and increases the reignition current that
flows through the vacuum circuit breaker after a volt-
age breakdown. In all the cases under study, the reig-
nition/escalation problems are more severe with the
protective capacitor connected to the system for rela-
tive low load shedding at short arc angles.
96 SM 402-8 PWRD A paper recommended and approved by the IEEE
Switchgear Committee of the IEEE Power Engineering Society for teract by interchanging energy in the form of multiple
-
presentation at the 1996 IEEWPES Summer Meeting, July 28 August reignitions that may lead to severe voltage escalation
1, 1996, in Denver, Colorado. Manuscript submitted December 12, [l] Therefore the question if and under what condi-
I995: macle availablefor printing ~ p n 1 2 31996.
, tions multiple reignitions and voltage escalation can
This paper reports on many simulated conditions ana-
lyzed by using the Electromagnetic Transient Program
(EMTP). Ten generators in the range of 50 through
300 MVA have been considered.
1 Introduction
The stresses imposed on generator circuit breakers,
i.e. on circuit breakers installed between a generator
and its associated step-up transformer, exceed by a
considerable degree those imposed on general purpose
medium voltage circuit breakers [3] [ll].One peculiar-
ity of generator circuit breakers is that the switching of
load currents-irrespective of the load power factor-
gives rise to a transient recovery voltage corresponding
to the transient recovery voltage of a low power factor
circuit [5] [9].
In the past, mainly air-blast and magnetic air cir-
cuit breakers have been used as generator circuit
breakers. In the 1980's the first generator circuit
breakers using SF6 gas as arc-extinguishing medium
were introduced into the market. Considerable ser-
vice experience is available for these types of circuit
breakers which proves the suitability of these arc-
extinguishing principles for generator circuit breaker
application.
Recently, vacuum circuit breakers have also been
used as generator circuit breakers, especially for gen-
erators with ratings below 100 MW [7]. It is well
known that during low power factor switching, e.g.
during the switching of stalled motors or during re-
actor switching, vacuum interrupters and the associ-
ated power system, under certain conditions, may in-

0885-8977/97/$10.000 1996 IEEE

220
occur during load current switching, i.e. during load
shedding, is of great importance when vacuum circuit
breakers are to be used a s generator circuit bieakers.
When vacuum circuit breakers are used as genera-
tor circuit breakers, the successive trapping of inag-
netic energy stored in the generatoi winding and
the i n te i act ion w 1t 11 the generator and step-U 1) t 1 ans-
formel capacitances may result i n the developmeilt of
a sequeiice of escalating voltage suiges This voltage
escalation depends on the characteristics of the power
plant equipment and the properties of the vacuum cir-
cuit breaker. Several scenarios can be analyzed by
varying the vacuum switch characteristics and the gen-
erator and step-up transformer ratings. Additionally,
protective capacitors (used for limiting the amplitude
of surges transferred through the step-up transform-
ers and/or for limiting the rate-of-rise of the transient
recovery voltage in case of a system-source fault) may
be considered and generator busbar parameters can
be taken into account to assess potential voltage es-
calation and reignition problems associated with load
current interruptions.
This paper focuses on the modeling and simula-
tion of escalation voltages and reignition behavior
of vacuum circuit-breakers when used as generator
circuit breakers. The approach followed makes use
of the Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP)
to model both the circuit breaker and its associated
power system [8].
The vacuum switching device is represented by two
characteristics:
1. The Breakdown Voltage (BV) strength and
2. the high frequency current clearing capability or
Derivative of the Current (DI/DT) characteristic.
The vacuum generator circuit breaker is modelled
in EMTP by using TACS (Transient Analysis of Con-
trol Systems). The power system is modelled at the
level of complexity limited only by the EMTP capa-
bility. The main effort has been concentrated on the
circuit breaker model and only simplified EMTP mod-
els are used for other power system components. The
parameters were chosen to simulate the most severe
reignition/escalation behavior of the vacuum genera-
tor circuit breaker.
The scope of this paper covers the analysis of the
vacuum genelator circuit breaker reignition behav-
ior of nine representative medium voltage vacuum
switches (three BV and three DI/DT characteristics)
and the associated power system components corre-
sponding to generator ratings in the range between 50
MVA and 300 MVA
Figure 1. Single-Phase EMTP Model Circuit for tlic
Load Shedding Study.
2 Vacuum Circuit-Breaker Model
Figure 1 shows the equivalent single phase circuit
that represents the vacuum generator circuit-breaker
and its switching environment. The vacuum genera-
tor circuit breaker model is connected between nodes
V H Iand VLOand includes an additional RC branch
to represent the open contact gap stray capacitance.
The vacuum generator circuit breaker is represented
by an EMTP switch (type 13) controlled by TACS
routines [8]. The power system model includes a volt-
age source for the generator, an isolated phase busbar
model (T-equivalent circuit), a step-up transformer
with or without protective capacitor, and an infinite
bus (power system) on the high voltage side of the
step-up transformer.
The vacuum generator circuit breaker character-
istics are modelled by two linear equations: The
Breakdown Voltage (BV) strength and high frequency
Derivative of the Current (DI/DT) clearing capability.
These equations have the form:
+
BV = A A ( T I M E X - T O P E N ) BB (I)
D I / D T = C c ( T I M E X - T O P E N )+ D D (2)
Where TIMEX represents the actual time (inter-
nal EMTP variable), TOPEN represents the vacuum
generator circuit breaker opening time, A A and Cc
represent the slope, and BB and DL)represent the
intercepts of the two functions. These linear relation-
ships (equations 1 and 2) ale found to be representa-
tive of medium voltage va,cuurn switchgear during the
first millimeter of contact separation [I] [a].
Tables 1 and 2 show three typical BV and DI/DT
characteristics. Combining these vacuum generator
ciicuit breaker characteristicS leads to nine direrent
types. Due to the random nature of the arc angle
(AA), which is the time between the contact separa-
tion and the following current zero, three ranges of arc
angle values have been investigated 0-10psec , 10-50
@sec, and 50-100psec The arc angle is usually se-
 22 1

Table 1: Breakdown Voltage Strength of the Vacuum

Generator Circuit Breaker. Arc Angle Escalation Voltage Reignitions Mode
(psec.) (Kv) (psec.) (No.)

High 10 -5.1263 4900.4 10 B

50 -6.5091 4925.7 11 B
100 -5.2000 4873.2 0 A

Table 2: DI/DT Clearing Capability of the Vacuum

Generator Circuit Breaker. Arc Angle Escalation Voltage Reignitions Mode
1 I
DI/DTType Cc(A/s2) I D D ( A / s )
I I
1 (psec.) (Kv) I
I
(psec.) (No.)

High 10 -6.5818 4986.0 27 B

Medium 50 -7.0545 4988.7 13 B
100 -5.1636 4887.3 0 A

lected closer to the highest value of the range under
consideration.
The generator voltage source is represented by a
sub-transient voltage behind a sub-transient induc-
tance in series with a small resistance estimated ac-
cording to an appropriate X/R ratio. This sub-
transient voltage is calculated by taking into account
the first-pole-to-clear factor [3] [ll]. The power sys-
tem load has been set equal to the generator rated
current at unity power factor. Additionally, the gen-
erator model includes a shunt capacitance in parallel
with a damping resistor. The damping resistor is dis-
cussed in section 4.
The generator busbar model is a lumped circuit pa-
rameter model. It should be noted here that the gen-
erator busbar have been assumed to be of the isolated
phase bus type. Two identical T circuits at each cir-
cuit breaker sides represent the lumped bus model.
The lumped model was chosen instead of the dis-
tributed model because the lumped model gave higher
escalation voltages and higher number of reignitions
in the preliminary simulations as it is seen by compar-
ing tables 3 and 4. On the physical basis the lumped
parameter model is valid as long as the greatest fre-
quency of interest has a period at least ten times larger
than the travel time of the largest element in the model
[12]. The circuit parameters of the Isolated Phase Bus-
bar (IPB) are calculated by a support program (Cable
Constants) available in EMTP [SI. It is assumed that
busbars have a length of 20 m at each circuit breaker
side for generator ratings less than 100 MVA. For gen-
erator ratings between 100 and 300 MVA, a length of
50 m is assumed.
Table 3 shows the responses of the vacuum gener-
ator circuit breaker model at different arc angles for
a distributed parameter isolated phase busbar model.
A 50 MVA generator, at full load current, high BV
and high DI/DT circuit breaker characteristics with-
out protective capacitor have been considered. Mode
terminations A or B refer to successful or unsuccessful
opening at the end of the reignition sequence, respec-
tively. In mode termination A, the gap successfully re-
covers after a series of restrikes. In mode termination
B, the gap fails to interrupt after the last reignition,
terminating high frequency current clearings. In this
case, the final interruption is accomplished at the next
power frequency current zero [l].
Table 4 shows the responses under similar condi-
tions as those indicated for Table 3 but a lumped pa-
rameter isolated phase busbar model ( T model) is used
instead. Both bus models (distributed and lumped)
practically agree at the arc angle of 100 psec. Addi-
tionally, at lower arc angles the T bus model (Lumped
Parameters Cable Model) gives more severe responses
with higher escalation voltages and higher number
of reignitions. Consequently, the T bus model was
adopted as the worst case scenario.
The transformer model consists of an inductance in
series with a resistance estimated by an appropriate
X/R ratio. The current through the transformer in-
ductance has been set to the generator rated current
[3] [ll].Additionally, the transformer model includes
a shunt capacitance in pardlel with a damping resis-
tor, in the low voltage side. This damping resistor
is discussed in section 4. Protective capacitors may
optionally be connected a t the low voltage terminal
of the transformer. Table 5 shows the inductances
and shunt capacitances corresponding to each genera-
222

4 High Frequency Ransieiits i n Vac-

Table 5 Inductaiices and Shunt Capacitaiices for tiie
uum Circuit 13 reakers
Gen Gen erat 01 Thmforiner When a geiieialoi ciicuit bieakei interrupts the
MVA/kV L , ( ~ n l i )I C, (nF) L f (mh) G, (lm current, a iecoveiy vnllagc IS developed between its
terminds Tliis iccovei y voltage can be t,hought a
50/105 1053 216 0 0 819 G.2 composcd of A pouw frequency iecovciy voltage 01
73/10:, 0 782 251 0 0 4G1 5.0 steady s t n t c ~ecoveiyvoltage plus L: ti ansieiit, iecoveiy
87/138 0755 21G 0 0 589 6.0 voltage (TRV) Tlie niagiiitude of the power fiequency
1191138 0627 371 0 0463 8.0 recoveiy voltage, & \vel1 as its phase relationship to
143111 5 0.537 328 3 0 309 8.0 the load cuiient, IS independent of the load phase an-
169115 0 0.539 426 0 0450 8.0 gle. Moieovei, the interrupted load current lags ap-
200/180 0.GGG 3570 0473 8.0 proximately the powei fiequency recovery voltage by
228/15.5 0 761 450.0 0428 8.6 90’ 151 191 In this sense, load shedding is always a low
259115.8 0610 230.0 0417 24.0 power factor switching operation.
The transient recovery voltage (TRV) exhibits two
main frequencies produced by the source and system
side LC parameters The source side TRV frequency is
mainly determined by the generator sub-transient in-
ductance and shunt capacitance ( L , and Cg). T h e sys-
tem side TRV frequency depends on the transformer
inductance and shunt capacitance (Lt and C t ) as in-
I 1 dicated 111 the equivalent circuit (Figure 1) [GI [lo].
R shunt These two TRV frequencies are usually of the order of
TACS 20 to 25 kHz on the generator side and of the order of
Figure 2: Vacuum Circuit Breaker EMTP Model. 50 to 80 kHz on the traiisformer side. However, they
may become almost equal when protective capacitors
are connected at transformer terminals [9]
tor and its associated step-up transformer for the rat- When the TRY is equal or greater than the Break-
ings considered in the range from 50 to 300 MVA. down Voltage (BV) of the circuit breaker, reignition
occurs. Several current components through the vac-
3 Implementation of the Vacuum uum generator circuit breaker contribute to the total
reignition current (Figure 1)
Circuit-Breaker Model in EMTP
1. The outer loop contribution at power frequency
Figure 2 shows the EMTP model of the vacuum
of the voltage sources.
switch for escalationlreignition studies. The vacuum
generator circuit breaker is modelled by a n EMTP 2. The discharge of shunt capacitances of the gener-
switch controlled by the TACS variable called FLAG. ator and step-up transformer, including t h e pro-
When FLAG is less or equal to zero the circuit breaker tective capacitor, if any.
opens; otherwise, it is closed. The TACS variables V
and I represent the voltage across the circuit breaker 3. The discharge of the station busbar capacitances.
contacts and the through current, respectively.
4. The discharge of the capacitor associated with the
The simultaneous conditions for opening the switch circuit breaker contact gap
(interruption simulation) are: the actual time should
be greater than TOPEN, the switch is actually closed, The power frequency reignition current is low at
the current is not higher than a current drop level the beginning of the reignition sequence (just after
( 1 ~ =
1 2.4)
~ and the derivative of the current at 60 Hz current zero) For Mode termination B, the
the current zero crossing must not be higher than the power frequency reignition current takes over the high
DI/DT clearing capability frequency current at the end of the sequence 121.
The simultaneous conditions for closing the switch A substantial reignition current contribution is pro-
(reignition simulation) are the circuit breaker volt- vided by the discharge of the generator and trans-
age across its contacts is not less than the breakdown former shunt Capacitances (C, and C,)through the
voltage ( B V ) diid the switch is alieady open circuit bi raker This reignition cui lent (typically of
 223

Table 6: ComDarison of Series and Parallel DamDine. Table 7: Summary of Critical Responses Calculated
Damping Escalation Voltage Reignitions Mode from E Tp. -
. , , I . (fisec.)
, (I<v) . (No.)
. . Load CP Esc.
t -% nF I<v BV DI/DT
Series -3.9460 4857.8 1 B
Parallel -6.5818 4986.0 27 B 100 100 26.0 H L
40 100 94.5 M L
20 100 66.2 M M
100-700 kHz) is increased if protective capacitors are 20 100 60.7 M M-L
connected to the system side of the vacuum genera- 20 300 53.5 M L
tor circuit breaker. The damping resistors, R, and 20 100 68.7 M M-L
Rt, associated with C, and Ct have been set to a 200 20 100 71.3 M M-L
value that limits the TRV to 1.5 times the steady state 228 20 100 84.5 M L
maximum recovery voltage [4]-[6].On the other hand, 20 100 60.4 M L
the same resistors have to provide lower damping fac-
tors for the high frequency reignition current which
is typically less damped than the TRV. One method the system side of the circuit breaker. For the 73
of solving this is to connect the generator and trans- MVA generator with 100 n F protective capacitor, for
former shunt capacitances (C,and Ct) in parallel with instance, there is no escalation/reignition problems
damping resistors (Rgpand Rt,), as shown in Figure 1. when 20 % of the rated load (15 MVA) is interrupted.
These parallel resistors provide the necessary damping However, escalation/reignition problems exist at 40 %
to limit the TRV and provide a lower damping at reig- load switching.
nition frequencies. If series resistors were chosen, the Definite rule of thumb for avoiding reignitions can
damping at high reignition frequencies would be too not be given because many factors are involved in the
high. escalation/reignition phenomenon. However, the mag-
Table 6 shows the responses of series and paral- nitude of the switched load and the capacitance on
lel damping resistors for a vacuum generator circuit the system side of the circuit breaker play a signif-
breaker model, with high BV and high DI/DT char- icant role. For the 143 MVA generator there is no
acteristics, and arc angle of 10 psec., for a generator voltage problem for 20 % load (29 MVA) switching,
of 50 MVA, at full load, without protective capacitor. even if a protective capacitor of 100 nF is connected
The high damping introduced by series resistances re- to the low voltage side of the step-up transformer.
duces multiple reignition currents through the circuit For higher protective capacitor values (300 nF) esca-
breaker. lation/reignition problems appear, as it is shown in
The discharge currents associated with the busbar Table No. 7.
capacitances and circuit breaker contact gap capaci- Figure 3 shows sample waveforms of the circuit
tance also influence the reignition behavior of the cir- breaker current (top trace) and voltage (bottom trace)
cuit breaker although their frequencies are very high. for the 200 MVA generator with protective capacitor
(100 nF) on the system side of the circuit breaker. The
5 Results of Simulations current is chopped to zero at approximately 4228 psec.
This paper presents the responses of the reignition The arc angle is in the range of 0 to 10 psec., the load
behavior of vacuum circuit-breakers when modelled in current is about 20 %, and the maximum escalation
EMTP for several generator ratings. On an average, voltage is only 1.15 kV.
108 cases per generator rating have been examined Figure 4 shows the escalation voltage as a function
with and without protective capacitors for different of the BV characteristics and DI/DT high frequency
loads, and different vacuum generator circuit breaker clearing capability of the vacuum circuit breaker
characteristics. Ten generators have been chosen in model for the 50 MVA generator with 100 nF pro-
the range from 50 to 300 MVA. tective capacitor when 100 % of the load is shed. The
Table No. 7 shows some of the critical vacuum gen- escalation voltage is highest for the BV characteristics
erator circuit breaker (VGCB) model responses (worst between 15 and 25 kV/ms (middle range).
cases). The escalation/reignition problem is most se- Figure 5 shows the escalation voltage as a function
vere when the load switched is in the range from 17 of the protective capacitor when 20 % of the rated load
to 52 MVA with a protective capacitor connected on is shed at an arc angle of 10 psec. for the 143 and 200
224

MVA geneiators and a vacuum circuit bleakel model

with medium BV and low DI/DT chaiacteristics Fig-

:::
30
ures G and 7 show the escalation voltage responses for
tlie 200 MVA generator and a vacuum ciicuit bIeal\er
iiiodel w i t h medium BV and low DI/DT cliaiacteiis-
tics Flgure 6 shows tlie escalatioil voltage as a func- W
0
tion of the aic angle when GO % of the iated load
loo0 dl/dl -1000 0 slopeof BV4 0
IS switched and a 100 nF piotective capacitoi IS col]-
iiected Figuie 7 shows tlie escalation voltage as a
function of the load current being switched at an arc
angle of 10 psec , and a protective capacltoi of 100 nF
is connected to the system side of the circuit bleakel Figure 4: Maximum Escalation Voltage for the 50
Figure 8 shows the escalation voltage as a fuiic- MVA Generator as a Function of the Vacuum Circuit
tion of the breakdown voltage strength ( A A paiame- Breaker Model Characteristics.
ter, also called k-factor El]) with low DI/DT clearing
80 1
capability for the 200 MVA generator The arc angle
is 10 psec., the load switched is 20 % of the rating,
and a 100 n F protective capacitor is connected to the
system side of the step-up transformer The escalation
voltages are more severe for medium range of k-factors
PI 121.
6 Conclusions
0 200 400 600
This paper assesses the possible overvoltages that Cp in nF
can develop across the vacuum generator circuit
Figure 5: Escalation Voltage vs. Protective Capacitor.
breaker during load shedding. The vacuum circuit
breaker is known for its excellent recovery rate after
current zero and for its ability to interrupt high fre-
quency reignition currents. Some combinations of vac-
uum circuit breaker characteristics (BV,DI/DT), load
current, and power plant equipment parameters may
lead to reignition/escalation problems. Experience in-
dicates that the reignitions are extremely rare events,
at worst they may occur 3.6 % of the time (arc angles
0-100 psec.) for 60 Hz, 3$ systems.
As a summary of this paper the -following conclu-
sions can be drawn: Arc angle in us

Figure 6: Escalation Voltage VS. Arc 4ngle.

Figure 3 EMTP Current and Voltage Responses for

0'
0
* k
0.5 1
Load Current in pu
the 200 MVA Generator in the Vicinity of the Power
Figure 7 Escalation Voltage vs Loau Lurrent
Frequency Current Zero

-1
2 age Escalation in Vacuum Switching Operations
w“
r“.t
20
0
0 YOrk
k-factor in V/us
Figure 8: Escalation Voltage vs. Breakdown Voltage
Strength.
1. Under certain conditions the escalation of volt-
age across the vacuum generator circuit breaker is
possible when it is used for load shedding. In the
worst case, high overvoltages may be generated
~
which can be harmful to power plant equipment.
The probability of reignitions/escalation is small
and is proportional to the critical arc angle.
2. Higher escalation voltages are more likely to occur
if the vacuum generator circuit breaker exhibits
medium range BV characteristics. On the other
hand, the influence of the DI/DT characteristics
on the escalation voltages is less pronounced.
3. Escalation voltages are higher at short arc an-
gles. Consequently, the vacuum generator circuit
breaker control may be modified to avoid short
arc angles (0-100 pec.).
4. Reignition/escalation problems are more severe
at shedding low loads for higher MVA ratings.
5. Escalation may occur when the system side ca-
pacitance is comparable with the generator side
capacitance. Particularly, when protective ca-
pacitors are connected on the system side of
the vacuum generator circuit breaker, reigni-
tion/escalation problems could become more se-
vere. The effect of the protective capacitor is one
of detuning (lowering) the reignition frequency
and increasing the magnitude of the reignition
current.
6. In any case the carrying out of EMTP simulations
is strongly recommended for any specific vacuum
generator circuit breaker application in order to
determine a possible reignition/escalation prob-
lem.
225
References
Greenwood, A.N., and Glinkowski, M.T.,“ Volt-
”IEEE Ib-ansactions on Power Dehuery Volume
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Deuzces for Short Gaps , Ph D Thesis, December
1989, Rensselaei Polyteclinic Institutc, Tioy, New
IEEE Standard C37.013-1993, IEEE Standard
for AC High- Voltage Generator Circuit Breakers
Rated on a Symmetrical Current Basis.
Thuries E., Pham, V.D., Vadaszi, J., and Bor-
gonovo, J., “ Generator Circuit-Breaker Transient
Recovery Voltage in Most Severe Short-Circuit
Conditions,” Electra, No.113, pp. 43-50, 1987.
Thuries E., Pham, V.D., Vadaszi, J., and Bor-
gonovo, J., ‘‘ Generator Circuit-Breaker Dansient
Recovery Voltage under Load Current and Out-
of-Phase Conditions,” Electra, No.126, pp. 55-133,
1989.
Greenwood, A.N., Electrical Transient in Power
Systems, (book), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY,
1991.
Greenwood, A.N., Vacuum Switchgear, (book),
IEE Power Series 18, The Institution of Electrical
Engineers, London, United Kingdom, 1994.
K.U. Leuven, EMTP Center, “Alternative Tran-
sients Program Rule Book,” July, 1987.
Vadaszi, J.E., “ Load Current Interruption
with Generator Breakers and Generator Load
Switches,” Brown Boveri Rev. 68, 1981 ( 8 / 9 ) , pp.
316-325.
[lo] Greenwood, A.N., Kurtz, D.R., and Sofianek,
J.C.,“A Guide to the Application of Vacuum Cir-
cuit Breakers,” IEEE Winter Power Meeting, New
York, N,Y.,1971. Paper 71 TP 68-PWR.
(111 RUOSS, E.M., and Kolarik, P.L.,“A New
IEEE/ANSI Standard for Generator Circuit
Breakers ” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery
Volume 10, No.2, pp. 811-816, April 1995.
[12]Degeneff, R.C., Vakilian, M., Gutierrez, M.R.,
Soderberg, P., McKenny, P.J., Girgis, R.S., Schnei-
der, J.M., and Provanzano, J.H., “Modeling Power
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CIGRE paper 12-304, August, 1992.
Mietek T Glinkowski (S185-M’85-S’86-M’87)was born
in Czestochowa, Poland on December 29. 1956 He re-
ceived the M S degree i n communication engineering
from Poznan Polytechnic, Poznan, Poland, in 1980,
226

and the M.E. degree in Electric Power Engineering

from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, in
1985 and his P1i.D. in Electric Power Engineering
in 1989. He was a Fulbright Scholar in 1984-1985.
He is currently an Assistant Professor at Rensselaer.
His area of interest includes power system protection,
n~athematicalmodeling of power system components,
electrical transients in power systems, and switchgear.
He has been working o n several industry-sponsored
projects concerning operation, design and analysis of
power equipment. He co-authored one boolc and wrote
number of technical papers. Prof. Glinkowslci also
teaches Power Engineering F’undamentals, Power Sys-
tem Analysis and Dynamic Systems classes at Rensse-
laer. He is a member of the IEEE Power Engineering
Society active in the Switchgear and PSRC Commit-
tees, member of CIGRE and registered professional
engineer (PE) in New York.

Moises R. Gutierrez (S’88,M194) received the

BS degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the
Centroamerican University of Nicaragua in 1969, and
a ME and D.Eng. at RPI in 1988 and 1993, respec-
tively. He was an instructor of Electrical and Mechan-
ical Engineering at Centroamerican University, Head
of the Engineering Department and General Director
of Engineering Projects of the Nicaraguan Institute of
Energy. Currently, he is working as a research asso-
ciate at RPI and as a senior engineer of Utility System
Technologies, Inc.

Dieter Braun graduated as Electrical Engineer

from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich,
Switzerland, in 1975. He then joined the study group
of the Medium Voltage Apparatus Department of
Brown, Boveri & Cie, Ltd., in Baden. Since 1993
he is with the High Current Systems Division of
ABB High Voltage Technologies Ltd., Zurich, where
he is involved in application studies for high current
swit chgear .