Development of SF6 Gas‐Insulated Disconnecting Switch with Spiral Electrodes Using Motor Operating Mechanism

Gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) requires reliability and economic efficiency. Circuit breakers, disconnecting switches (DS), and earthing switches have been designed to be more compact. DS requires performance in terms of insulation and current interruption. The bus‐transfer current is the highest among all current interruption requirements for the DS. To develop an alternating current DS driven at a lower speed, it is necessary to reduce the electrode damage. This paper describes the fundamental characteristics of current interruption in a magnetically driven arc using a spiral electrode. Since the arc is rotated by magnetically driven force, the arcing time in the spiral electrode is shortened to about one‐third compared with that of a plain breaker electrode. The DS using a magnetically driven arc was confirmed to comply with the bus‐transfer current switching requirements in the JEC standard. Moreover, a physical model of the magnetic driven arc was constructed, and the behavior of the arc was evaluated quantitatively. As a result, performance of current interruption could be predicted. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 179(3): 31–39, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21147     

Development of 72‐kV high‐pressure air‐insulated GIS with vacuum circuit breaker

SF₆ gas has excellent dielectric strength and interruption performance. For these reasons, it has been widely used for gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS). However, use of SF₆ gas has become regulated under agreements set at the 1997 COP3. Thus, investigation and development for GIS with a lower amount of SF₆ gas are being carried out worldwide. Presently, SF₆‐free GIS has been commercialized for the 24‐kV class. Air or N₂ gas is used as the insulation gas for this GIS. On the other hand, SF₆‐free GIS has not been commercialized for the 72‐kV‐class GIS. The dielectric strengths of air and N₂ gas are approximately one‐third that of SF₆ gas. To enhance the insulation performance of air and N₂ we have investigated a hybrid gas insulation system which has the combined features of providing an insulation coating and suitable insulation gas. We have developed the world's first 72‐kV SF₆‐free GIS. This paper deals with key technologies for SF₆‐free GIS, such as the hybrid insulation structure, a bellows for the high‐pressure vacuum circuit breaker, a newly designed disconnector and spacer, and prevention of particle levitation. Test results of the 72‐kV high‐pressure air‐insulated GIS with the vacuum circuit breaker are described. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(4): 13–23, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20451     

Development of insulation technology in compact SF6 gas‐filled bushings: Development of compact 800‐kV SF6 gas‐filled bushings

Efforts of designers of gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) are currently focused on such features as smaller installation area and economical efficiency. Circuit breakers (CB), disconnecting switches (DS), and earthing switches (ES) have been redesigned in more compact configurations. Compactness and light‐weight requirements are applied also to bushings used in GIS. GIS bushings can be divided in three general types: capacitor, gas‐filled, and molded bushings. Requirements of the light weight and the economical efficiency of gas‐filled bushings can be satisfied by improvements in insulation technology. Size reduction can be effectively achieved by moderation of the electric field strength on the outside surface of the hollow insulator in the area of the inner grounded electrode tip. We devised a new inner grounded electrode structure consisting of a cylindrical electrode and a ring electrode supported by column electrodes. This paper describes the effect of reduction of the maximum value of electric field strength on the outside surface of the hollow insulator by a new type of grounded electrode. Then, improvement of insulation performance for electrodes with insulation coating in SF₆ gas is described as the composite insulation technology. Finally, the efficiency of these insulation technologies is described by the basic insulation test results of a prototype compact 800‐kV SF₆ gas‐filled bushing. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 171(1): 19–27, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience. wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20898     

Re‐ignition surge and high‐frequency arc extinction phenomena at 550‐kV shunt reactor current interruption

At substations connected with transmission lines and cables, shunt reactors are sometimes installed to compensate the capacitive current of these lines and cables. It is known that re‐ignitions occur and high‐frequency currents flow during interruption of the shunt reactor currents by switches. When the high‐frequency currents are interrupted immediately after the re‐ignitions (which is called high‐frequency arc extinction), the result is often repetitive re‐ignitions or voltage escalations that produce dangerous overvoltages. The authors investigated the occurrence of high‐frequency arc extinctions in a 550‐kV one‐break SF₆ gas circuit breaker during interruption of a 550‐kV shunt reactor current. Computations for a real 550‐kV substation gave a minimum frequency of 290 kHz for the high‐frequency current. However, 550‐kV reactor current interruption tests showed that high‐frequency arc extinctions did not occur even when this frequency was lowered to 26 kHz. Since high‐frequency arc extinction is generally likely to occur at lower frequencies, it was concluded that high‐frequency arc extinction will not occur in a 550‐kV one‐break SF₆ gas circuit breaker during interruption of shunt reactor current in real substations. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(2): 18–25, 2001     

Breakdown characteristics of gas‐insulated switchgear for nonstandard lightning impulse waveforms under nonuniform electric field

To improve the insulation specification of gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS), it is necessary to recognize the insulation characteristics of SF₆ gas during actual surges (called nonstandard lightning impulse waveforms) occurring at field substations. The authors observed the insulation characteristics of SF₆ gas gap under various types of nonstandard lightning impulse waveforms and compared them quantitatively with those obtained with standard lightning impulse waveforms. The experimental results were used to derive an evaluation method for real surges, which was applied to typical surges for various UHV and 500‐kV systems. In the preceding study, therefore, only the case of a quasi‐uniform electric field (with a typical range of field utilization factors in the bus of a GIS) was investigated. In the present investigation, the insulation characteristics of an SF₆ gas gap for a nonuniform electric field were observed experimentally and an evaluation method for converting nonstandard lightning impulse waveforms equivalently to the standard lightning impulse waveform was investigated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 177(1): 11–18, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21144     

Mitigation of switching‐induced transient electromagnetic interference on control cable using Ni–Zn ferrite rings over cable sheath in gas‐insulated substations

The transient electromagnetic fields during switching operation in gas‐insulated substations (GISs) have rise times on the order of nanoseconds. These fields leak into the external environment through the discontinuities of gas‐insulated modules and affect the control cables and induce the transient voltage on cables, which results in malfunctioning of the equipment. The amplitudes of the electric and magnetic fields could be a few tens of kilovolts per meter and a few hundred amperes per meter according to layout of GIS, respectively. In this work, the induced voltage in the central conductor of a control cable and the induced current in its sheath, which is parallel to bus duct in a GIS with rated voltage of 230 kV, are calculated. Influence of the sheath material on the induced voltage and the type of its grounding on the induced current are analyzed. Furthermore, the impact of installing ferrite rings over the control cable sheath in mitigating the induced voltage and current is investigated. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improvement of thermal interruption capability in self‐blast interrupting chamber for new 245‐kV 50‐kA GCB

Current zero measurements are performed for 245 kV‐50 kA‐60 Hz short line fault (L90) interruption tests with a self‐blast interrupting chamber (double‐volume system) which has the interrupting capability up to 245 kV‐50 kA‐50 Hz L90. Lower L90 interruption capability is observed for longer arcing time although very high pressure rise is obtained. It may be caused by higher blowing temperature and lower blowing density for longer arcing time. Interruption criteria and an optimization method of the chamber design are discussed to improve L90 interruption capability with it. The new chambers are designed at 245 kV‐50 kA‐60 Hz to improve gas density in thermal volume for long arcing time. 245 kV‐50 kA‐60 Hz L90 interruptions are performed with the new chamber. The suggested optimization method is an efficient tool for the self‐blast interrupting chamber design although study of computing methods is required to calculate arc conductance around current zero as a direct criterion for L90 interruption capability with higher accuracy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 167(1): 9–17, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20743     

Insulation characteristics of CO2 gas for nonstandard lightning impulse oscillations: Evaluation method of nonstandard lightning impulse waveform for CO2 gas insulation

SF₆ gas is widely used in electric power apparatus such as gas‐insulated switchgears (GIS), because of its superior dielectric properties; however, it has been identified as a greenhouse gas at COP3 in 1997, and alternative insulation gases to SF₆ have recently been investigated. One of the candidates is CO₂ gas, which has lower global warming potential (GWP). However, CO₂ gas has a lower withstand voltage level than SF₆ gas; therefore, it is necessary to rationalize the equipment insulation level and reexamine the insulating test voltage for electric power apparatus as low as possible. From our previous investigation, in SF₆ gas insulation system, we obtained that the insulation requirements of the real surges (called nonstandard lightning impulse waveform) are not as severe as those of the standard lightning impulse waveform. This paper describes the evaluation method for real surges, based on insulation characteristics of CO₂ gas gaps. Furthermore, the method was applied to typical field overvoltage waveform in the lightning surge time region for 500‐kV systems and it is obtained that the equivalent peak value of the standard lightning impulse waveform is possibly reduced by 10 to 15%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(3): 1– 9, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20560     

Application and monitoring of SF6 gas‐insulated NGR (neutral grounding resistor) using ceramic resistors

About 15 years have passed since ceramic‐resistor NGRs (Neutral Grounding Resistors) were developed as new materials for power equipment. This paper describes the cumulative numbers of applications of ceramic‐resistor‐type SF₆ gas‐insulated NGRs and the typical construction of the 22‐, 66‐, and 110‐kV NGRs, and also describes monitoring methods for measuring the residual leakage current of the 110‐kV NGR that depend on the neutral unbalance voltage of power transformers, and the use of thermal detection devices for the ceramic resistors of the 66‐kV NGRs. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 137(4): 32–37, 2001     

Insulation technology in dry air and vacuum for a 72‐kV low‐pressure dry‐air insulated switchgear

A new 72‐kV rated low‐pressure dry‐air insulated switchgear applying electromagnetic actuation and a function that supports CBM has been developed. First, the dielectric characteristics in dry air under lightning impulse application were investigated for bare and insulator‐covered electrodes. The dependence of the breakdown electric field strength on the effective area was found in order to apply it to the configuration design of the insulation mold for the vacuum interrupter. In addition, the dependence of the moisture volume on the surface resistance was found in order to decide the moisture volume in the gas pressure tank. Next, a new vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) was designed. To keep the dimensions the same as in the previous 72‐kV SF₆ gas insulated switchgear, the distance between contacts in the vacuum interrupter must be shorter than in the previous switchgear. The voltage withstand capability between electrodes practically designed for the vacuum interrupter was investigated under DC voltage application, in a small capacitive current breaking simulation. The gap configuration, including contacts and slits, was optimized and the distance was shortened by 11% from the previous switchgear. As a result, the new low‐pressure dry‐air insulated switchgear was designed to be comparable in external size to the previous SF₆ gas insulated switchgear. Using dry air as an insulation medium with low pressure makes it possible to reduce the environmental burden. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 175(1): 18–24, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21058     

Consideration of radiated electromagnetic waves from partial discharge based on half‐wave dipole antenna model

Partial discharge (PD) may take place due to residual defects like metallic particles in SF₆ gas‐insulated power apparatus such as GIS. However, the signal of PD occurring in SF₆ gas is very weak and susceptible to external noise in air. Moreover, because of the complicated mechanism of PD, the radiation property of electromagnetic waves from PD has not as yet been clarified. Therefore, it is hard to distinguish the PD signal in SF₆ gas from external noise. From the above points of view, we have been investigating the radiation mechanism of electromagnetic waves from PD. We measured the polarization characteristics of electromagnetic waves radiated from PD in comparison with those of half‐wave dipole antennas. The polarization characteristics of PD were explained by the theory of half‐wave dipole antenna, rather than that of an infinitesimal dipole antenna. Moreover, we compared the power spectrum for PD measured using a biconical antenna with that received from the half‐wave dipole antenna or infinitesimal dipole. It was found that the power spectrum for PD also corresponded to that for the half‐wave dipole antenna with a length of 50 cm. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 126(4): 40–47, 1999     

Problems of the application of N2/SF6 mixtures to gas‐insulated bus

In designing a gas‐insulated bus (GIB) using N₂/SF₆ mixtures, there are many application problems, such as the mixture pressure needed in order to maintain the required dielectric and heat transfer performance. Problems of recycling SF₆ are also essential in applying N₂/SF₆ mixtures. This paper presents the minimum breakdown field strength at lightning impulse and the temperature rise of the conductor and enclosure as measured for N₂/SF₆ mixtures. Considering the dielectric and heat transfer properties, we clarify the problems of application of mixtures to a GIB and discuss the appropriate mixture ratio of SF₆ in designing a GIB comparable to the present dimensions. In addition, the lowest limit of SF₆ content in a liquefied recovering method is theoretically estimated for reference in practical SF₆ recovery from mixtures. It is important for design to consider both breakdown phenomena, including the area effect of electrode, and the heat transfer properties of mixtures. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 137(4): 25–31, 2001     

Optimization on the internal insulation system of gas‐insulated bushing for 1100‐kV GIS based on multiobjective optimization method

In this paper, we first study the voltage and electric field distribution characteristics under the basic lightning impulse level (BIL) of 2400 kV by finite element method (FEM) calculation which are affected by the internal shielding structure of the gas‐insulated bushing for the 1100‐kV gas‐insulated substation (GIS). On this basis, four parameters of the shielding structure are determined to be the decision variables in the optimization process. Four electric field objective functions and four potential objective functions are also proposed. Using a multiobjective optimization method, we then construct an evaluation function with the eight objective functions mentioned above, which are used to evaluate the electric field and potential distribution synthetically. Furthermore, a combination of FEM and the evolution strategy is used to construct the stochastic optimization objective function with the multiobjective evaluation function. The electric field and potential distribution of the gas‐insulated bushing are greatly improved after optimization, and the electric field strength at key spots is effectively reduced. The insulation system of gas‐insulated bushing for 1100‐kV GIS designed by this method has passed type tests and worked well nearly 3 years. So, this optimization provides a constructive method and useful basis for the design of gas‐insulated bushings for 1100‐kV GIS and other electrical equipment. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A study on hybrid insulation composition joint using gas and solid insulator for gas‐insulated power equipment

SF₆ is used as the main insulation gas for gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS), but it has recently become a gas that must be restricted because of its greenhouse effects. To date, we have studied the insulation characteristics of compressed N₂ and CO₂ as possible alternatives for SF₆. We have reported that N₂ or CO₂ must be pressurized to 2.0 MPa when it is used as a substitute for SF₆ at 0.5 MPa. Therefore, we have proposed a hybrid installation composition that uses gas and solid insulators. Because the central conductor of GIS is covered by a solid insulator in this composition, a high‐pressure gas at 2.0 MPa is not needed. However, the joint of the solid insulator becomes a weak point for discharge development. In this paper, we describe an effective configuration for improvement of the withstand voltage based on experiments. The most effective connector was made of resin without an implant electrode and the most effective configuration was one without a solid–solid interface between the solid insulator of the central conductor and the resin connector. In this experiment, the improvement of breakdown electric field of the hybrid composition was 44% or more compared with the case of only gas insulation (conventional method). In addition, further improvement can be expected by optimizing the insulation creepage distance and configuration. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 178(1): 11–20, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21107     

A highly accurate algorithm for SF6 leakage detection

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) is widely used in high‐voltage applications such as gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) because of its excellent arc‐quenching properties. The main drawback of SF₆ is that it is a strong greenhouse gas. Detecting small SF₆ leakages in GIS is very important to protect the environment and to prevent the failure of aged GIS. To detect SF₆ leakage, the gas pressure is measured and compensated by gas temperature. Usually, the temperature of the container surface is measured instead of the actual gas temperature. However, the temperature of the container surface is affected by ohmic heating of the internal components and by ambient temperature changes. These factors lead to a difference in temperature between the container surface and the gas inside the container, causing significant fluctuations in the compensated gas pressure. To remove such fluctuations, we have developed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) transient model that simulates the correlation between the mean gas temperature inside the container and the container's surface temperature. The CFD simulation factors in the load current and ambient temperature to estimate the true temperature of the gas inside the container as accurately as possible. The mean gas temperature inside the container is obtained using CFD simulation and by measuring the surface temperature. The fluctuations in the compensated gas pressure were reduced from 2.4 to 0.48% by using the proposed algorithm based on pressure compensation with the mean gas temperature. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of new‐type outdoor termination using composite insulator with SF6 gas: Commercial use for 77‐kV transmission lines and development for 154‐kV XLPE cable

Recently, composite insulators have been increasingly employed mainly for economic reasons. We have developed a new type of outdoor termination using a composite insulator, which can be installed horizontally on a steel tower in order to reduce the construction cost. In this outdoor termination, SF₆ gas is filled in the composite insulator and a cold shrinkable premolded rubber unit is applied instead of the combined use of a rubber‐molded stress relief cone, epoxy resin insulator and spring unit. The application of the composite insulator, SF₆ gas and cold shrinkable premolded rubber unit reduces the total weight and makes it possible to install the termination horizontally on the tower. The new‐type outdoor termination for 77‐kV XLPE cable has already been applied in commercial use and enabled a reduction of the construction costs for power transmission lines. A 154‐kV new‐type outdoor termination has been developed and its initial electrical tests were successfully completed. This paper describes the design and performance of both 77‐kV and 154‐kV new‐type outdoor termination, and a follow‐up survey of the 77‐kV new termination in a commercial use. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 159(4): 18– 26, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20511     

基于外壳热分布的气体绝缘母线温度计算模型

气体绝缘母线在运行过程中负荷电流和外壳涡流将引起设备发热,其温升特性是表征气体绝缘母线运行状态的重要指标。文中基于传热学原理和热电类比法,将126 kV/2 kA户内型三相共箱式气体绝缘母线内部传热过程等效为一个简单的集总参数热路,考虑导体热容、接触电阻、导体和外壳换热系数以及分别与SF_6气体之间的非线性热阻等因素,提出了气体绝缘母线动态等效热路模型。并设计了三相气体绝缘母线温度测量试验,将模型计算结果与试验结果进行对比分析,验证了气体绝缘母线动态热路模型的准确性和有效性,并通过热路模型得到了外壳与导体的对应温升曲线。     

基于SF6混合气体绝缘性能的设备补气策略研究

随着电力需求的增长和环境保护要求的提高,SF₆气体的使用逐渐受到限制。SF₆混合气体在一定程度上减少了SF₆气体用量,目前已经在电气设备中应用。文中针对SF₆混合气体在220 kV气体绝缘组合电器（GIS）中发生泄漏引起的绝缘变化展开研究,通过改变微量的气压值和混合比,探究混合气体的绝缘性能变化,分析气压、混合比因素对工频击穿电压的影响规律,获取各气压下各比例混合气体的绝缘强度曲线图,从而得到保证设备安全稳定运行的补气策略。研究发现,混合气体击穿电压的变化规律呈现出随着压强和混合比的提高,非线性程度增大的特点,并且得到了设备安全运行的混合比和气压的边界值。文中的研究可以为SF₆/N₂混合气体绝缘设备提供运维规程和技术标准,同时为制定混合气体的检测技术标准奠定基础。     

PD time‐sequential properties of SF6 and SF6 gas mixture including CO2

This paper deals with partial discharge (PD) time‐sequential properties of SF₆/N₂/CO₂ ternary gas mixture as well as SF₆ and SF₆/N₂ gas mixture under AC and positive DC voltage applications. The measurements were carried out by changing the gas pressure up to 0.6 MPa and applied voltage with the N‐shape characteristics of breakdown voltage versus gas pressure for each tested gas considered. We obtained experimental results of the gas pressure dependence of maximum peak value of PD current pulse as well as the relationship between the time interval of PD pulses and the peak value of PD pulse. We discuss the mechanism of increase in breakdown voltage by adding CO₂ into SF₆/N₂ gas mixtures in terms of change of PD type from streamer to leader discharge. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 151(3): 32–40, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20073     

Arc erosion characteristics of Cu-W contact at load current range in SF6 gas

Development of SF₆ gas-insulated switches that have a long service life and are highly reliable at medium voltage ratings require arc erosion of contacts in SF₆ gas to be decreased. The effects of SF₆ gas pressure and magnetic field for arc blow-out on erosion were studied experimentally in detail using sintered Cu-W contacts. The test current, SF₆ pressure and magnetic field were 100 to 400 A, 0.1 to 0.6 MPa and 0 to 50 mT, respectively. The results show that the arc erosion rate increased linearly with the SF₆ pressure. The magnetic field effectively reduced anode erosion (i.e., the application of a mere 50 mT lowered the erosion rate to 1/3 to 1/4). These phenomena may be attributed, respectively, to the increase in evaporation rate according to the shrinkage of arcing spot areas caused SF₆ pressure and a decrease of the evaporation rate correlating to high-speed movement of the arcing spot on the anode by the magnetic field. However, the cathode erosion was insensitive to the magnetic field. The influence of both W grain size and composition ratio, Cu:W, on the erosion rate was also studied. The smaller W grain at Cu content of 50 to 70 wt.% was found to be best for suppression of erosion under the present conditions. Further, the increase of N₂ mixture ratio to SF₆ under constant total gas pressure greatly decreased contact erosion. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 118 (1): 41–51, 1997