History of vacuum circuit breakers and recent developments in Japan

Vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) have been developed and widely applied in Japan to meet the requirements of increasing energy consumption and also in national security of various areas. As a result, for example, a 168 kV two break porcelain type and a 100 kA one break VCB have already appeared in the Japanese market and they are currently being exported to world-wide markets. VCBs interrupt currents in vacuum, and this means they do not exhaust dissolved gases which are sometimes harmful to the human body or cause effects on the environment. Therefore, by its nature, the recycling of materials and safety to the human body have been realized, and also no global warming effects would be expected. Energy is extremely essential and important in human daily life, and many types of circuit breakers play important roles in electrical power transmission and distribution systems to maintain the systems reliability and safety by switching the systems under several conditions. Since vacuum circuit breakers possess a lot of advantages such as high current interrupting capabilities, small size, and low cost, they will be used much more in the future, and at this moment, we believe it is very worthy to discuss and consider thoroughly future trends of VCBs. In this paper, the results of the developments in Japan will be reviewed, the reflection of the results will be stated, and the subjects of engineering in the 21st century will be discussed. These will include recycling, safeguards to the human body and the fireless nature of VCBs; and it will be demonstrated that the developmental works of VCBs are being wonderfully explored in Japan now and in the future.     

Partial discharge diagnostics for gas insulated substations

A defect such as a free metallic particle or stress-raising edge on an electrode could lead to breakdown in a gas insulated substation (GIS), but may be detected by the partial discharges it generates. Of the various detection means available, most success has been achieved with either acoustic transducers to detect sound waves from the discharge, or electrical couplers to pick up the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) signals generated inside the GIS chambers. All new GIS in the UK are fitted with internal couplers for UHF monitoring, and two examples of continuous monitoring schemes on 400 kV GIS at nuclear power stations are described. Further developments, which are already well advanced, include specifying and measuring the coupler characteristics, making use of expert systems to interpret the UHF discharge data, and extending the monitoring system to include the performance of circuit breakers and other equipment     

取消500kV线路断路器合闸电阻的研究

提出了取消线路断路器合闸电阻的两个判据;自编程序对12个500kV系统(简单网)进行了大量数值计算,发现线路绝缘故障率、MOA吸收能量均与系统第一串联谐振角频率(标幺值)有关;同时还研究了断路器合闸相位角分布规律、MOA的额定电压、线路绝缘水平等因素的影响。     

Development of a high-speed current limiter for a 6 kV distribution system and evaluation of its effectiveness

We have developed a high-speed fault current limiting equipment for a 6 kV distribution system. The main components of this equipment are a high-speed vacuum switch (VCB) and gate turn-off thyristors (GTO) connected in parallel, and a current limiting impedance with low linear resistance in parallel with the switch. The usual load current is carried by the VCB. In case of a power system fault, the fault current is commutated to and interrupted by the GTO on opening the VCB. Tests confirm that the equipment can interrupt an estimated short-circuit current of 13 kA_rms by limiting to less than 3.5 kAp. The interrupt time was less than 2 ms. This response is about 100 times faster than that of conventional mechanical circuit breakers. The fast interruption current limiter can protect distribution systems within a few ms of a severe short circuit fault occurrence. The primary operational benefit of this equipment is the reduction of instantaneous voltage drop at the bus or on sound lines and of current stress on power system equipment during a power failure. © 1998 Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 125(3): 11–21, 1998     

Development of improved methods for type testing present day mediumvoltage circuit breakers for outdoor service

Type testing for fault currents for medium-voltage circuit breakers rated at 15 kV to 72.5 kV is addressed. The ANSI designation of a new class of definite-purpose circuit breakers capable of switching transformer secondary faults and the introduction of the requirement for short-line-fault tests for breakers rated 72.5 kV and below have increased the difficulty of performing type tests in a testing laboratory. It is concluded that synthetic testing using the parallel current injection circuit is described in ANSI C37.081 provides the best available method for proving these complex requirements for medium-voltage circuit breakers     

500 kV SF6 GIS at Itaipu hydro-station-acquisition,follow-up and initial operation

The 500 kV SF₆ gas insulated substation (GIS) at the Itaipu hydroelectric station, located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, comprises 52 circuit breakers. The first portion, including 14 circuit breakers and associated equipment has been erected, tested and placed into operation. The authors describe the installation, review reasons for the selection of GIS, provide statistics on test results, and discuss problems encountered and solutions adopted. They also suggest some conceptual modifications     

重复雷击和操作冲击时单相GIB的金属微粒运动形态

Transient over voltages due to lightning and switching surges cause steep build-up of voltage on transmission lines and other electrical apparatus,like circuit breakers,transformers,insulators etc.Therefore it is necessary for the GIS also to withstand such voltages without breakdown of Insulation.The system has to be tested under these conditions.Usually the GIS system operates on power frequency.Lightning Impulse Voltage of 1050 kV and Switching Impulse Voltage of 750 kV superimposed on Power frequency voltages of 75 kV,100 kV and 132 kV are applied to Single Phase Gas Insulated Busduct and the maximum movement of Aluminum,Copper and Silver particles is determined.The movement patterns are also determined with and without Monte Carlo Simulation for movement of particle in axial and radial directions.The results show that there is a sudden jump in the movement at the application of impulse on sine wave.This is because of high magnitude voltage of 1050 kV during 1.2/50 μs.Similar movement patterns of reduced maximum movement is observed for Switching Impulse superimposed on sine wave.The results are presented and analyzed.     

DC Fault Clearing Characteristics of a Bulk Power VSC HVDC Transmission System using DC Circuit Breakers

Development of wind power generation resources is considered in Japan. However, long‐distance transmission lines are necessary to utilize the wind power because most of the wind power resources are distant from load centers. A voltage source converter based high voltage dc transmission (VSC HVDC) system is an option to realize their effective use. A VSC HVDC system equipped with dc circuit breakers has been considered to clear the dc line faults promptly. However, the fault clearing characteristics by the dc circuit breakers have not been analyzed very well for the system with the long distance overhead transmission line. This paper focuses on a fault clearing in the VSC HVDC system with long‐distance overhead line by the dc circuit breaker using a new fault detection method. A 2.4‐GW bipolar VSC HVDC system with 600‐km overhead transmission line is modeled and its operation performance is verified by computer simulations. The simulation results demonstrate the detailed fault clearing characteristics with the long transmission line. Moreover, specifications required for the dc circuit breakers are considered in terms of operation delay, peak current, and absorbed energy.     

System aspects of 1100 kV AC transmission technologies in Japan

This paper describes the system aspects of 1100 kV AC transmission technologies with the UHV transmission project in Japan. For realization of technical and economical optimization throughout the design of the transmission line and the substation, solutions for network problems and insulation coordination specific to UHV AC transmission systems were studied in Japan. They include fast multiphase reclosing systems by HSGS (High Speed Grounding Switch) and overvoltage control by the application of surge arresters and circuit breakers with closing/opening resistors. These sophisticated technologies provide highly reliable and economical 1100 kV substations and transmission lines. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

高压交流真空断路器开断直流电路的试验

以人工过零法进行了用ZN3—10/600—150型、ZN4—10/1000—200型和ZN—10/1000—300型高压交流真空断路器单个灭弧室成功地开断8、11和15.5kA直流电流,以及用两台ZN4—10/1000—200型断路器灭弧室两串三并开断直流电路,最高开断参数达25.8kA、26.7kV的试验。对具有纵向磁场的ZNN—10型(暂)真空断路器,在固定开断电路参数的条件下,进行了单个灭弧室连续开断直流电路的试验,为50kA、30kV高压直流断路器的建造奠定了试验基础。     

分频输电系统中真空断路器的开断性能

风能作为可再生的绿色能源,将成为以分布式发电为特征的智能电网的重要组成部分.然而现有电力系统抗风电扰动能力差是影响风电产业发展的关键性制约.采用分频输电技术可解决上述风电并网问题,而分频输电会造成断路器开断短路电流时有较长的燃弧时间,从而引起断路器的开断能力降低.笔者综述了分频输电对真空断路器开断能力的影响.Slade...     

特高压系统中的短路电流直流分量与零点漂移

结合1000 kV特高压试验示范工程及规划的中国特高压电网,研究了交流1100 kV断路器瞬态问题中的短路电流直流分量衰减时间常数及交流电流过零点的漂移现象,在此基础上提出了我国交流1100 kV特高压断路器的工作条件建议,如特髙压断路器试验的短路电流直流分量衰减的时间常数等。     

Development and design of DC‐GIS

In order to realize a reliable, compact, and economical converter station for HVDC transmission, applications of gas insulated switchgear (GIS) for dc transmission lines are considered. The characteristics of dc gas insulation differ from those of ac. The behavior of metallic particles left in the enclosure is one of the largest differences. The accumulation of electrical charges on solid insulators is another essential factor in designing a DC‐GIS. Also, degradation of metal oxide arrester blocks under dc stress must be deliberated. Based on the fundamental studies, we developed the components of ± 500‐kV DC‐GIS. Electrical and mechanical performances of these components have been tested and proven to be satisfactory. Finally these components have been assembled into a full DC‐GIS and subjected to a long‐term voltage endurance test. In this paper, the design philosophy of ± 500‐kV DC‐GIS, details of the components, and the test results are described. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 129(2): 51–61, 1999     

相控真空断路器的最佳燃弧区间研究

最佳燃弧区间的确定是相控真空断路器应用于短路电流开断时必须解决的问题之一。针对真空断路器弧后介质强度恢复过程的2个主要阶段:鞘层发展阶段和金属蒸气衰减阶段,分别建立了数学模型,提出了采用特征参数来表征它在2个不同阶段的开断能力。仿真分析了燃弧时间对这些特征参数即开断能力的影响,从而得到了最佳燃弧区间。通过对比10 kV和35 kV系统用真空断路器最佳燃弧区间的试验研究结果,证明了仿真分析的有效性。     

New technological trends in high-voltage power circuit breakers

This article introduces a comprehensive survey on new trends in high-voltage (HV) power circuit breakers (CBs) technology. Applying the new puffer and the self-blast technologies, the ratings of SF₆ CBs have reached upto 1,100 kV, 80 kA, and 50 GVA, which is the world's largest gas insulated switchgear (GIS), with independent pole operation and utilizing the advantages of external composite insulators. Several new vacuum arc control technologies are discussed. New generations of controlled intelligent switching devices that implement new power electronic actuating devices are introduced. Finally, superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) are introduced. SFCLs have two main properties: current limitation capability and ultra high-speed operation. SFCLS could be a key technology for future power systems engineering     

取消330kV系统断路器合闸电阻的研究

结合西北３３０ｋＶ电网的实际，本文详细分析了取消３３０ｋＶ断路器合闸电阻后的系统合闸、重合闸过电压及ＭＯＡ吸收能量，得出了大部分３３０ｋＶ线路可以取消断路器合闸电阻的结论。在线路两侧加装ＭＯＡ的情况下，更多的线路可取消断路器和合闸电阻。     

Methods for estimation of the vacuum status in vacuum circuitbreakers

In this paper several methods are described for the estimation of the pressure inside vacuum interrupters which have been in operation for many years. The methods are applicable without demounting the interrupters and use only electrical measuring techniques. According to these methods the vacuum circuit breakers are subjected to synthetic circuits, switch-off limited currents, either 10 A dc or 300 A ac. With the 10 A dc method the height of arc voltage spikes are measured and represented in a histogram. The shape of the histogram is discriminative for pressures below or above 10^-2 Pa. Switching tests with currents of 200 to 400 A ac in inductive and capacitive circuits also showed different behavior for internal pressures below or above 10^-1 Pa. A three phase 200 A test device with a 10 kV recovery voltage, fed from a standard 380 V supply, showed similar results     

多端直流输电系统直流侧故障的控制保护策略

在多端直流输电系统中使用直流断路器有利于故障的快速切除,但目前直流断路器的制造工艺尚不成熟,难以在工程中推广应用。文中在直流输电系统直流侧采用常规交流断路器作为直流断路器的替代方案,提出了一种针对多端直流输电系统直流侧故障的控制保护策略。利用PSCAD/EMTDC软件建立了±800kV双极四端直流输电系统仿真模型,并进行了仿真。仿真结果表明,基于常规交流断路器的多端直流输电系统控制保护策略能够实现系统故障后的快速恢复,较好地满足功率输送要求,有效提高所连交流系统的稳定性。     

中压真空断路器的模糊—证据理论在线状态评估模型

中压真空断路器在线状态评估是实施状态维修的基础。笔者提出一种中压真空断路器的模糊-DS证据理论在线状态评估模型,在分析真空断路器构造和常见故障基础上建立评估指标体系;依据模糊隶属度函数原理确定断路器各指标证据的基本信任分配;运用DS证据理论中的规则合成原理融合各指标证据,采用改进的Levre合成规则弥补DS规则合成存在的缺陷;然后基于置信度准则决策规则给出断路器的状态评估结论。实例证明该模型是正确和有效的。     

500 kV断路器投切空载线路操作过电压的数据分析

介绍了华东电网某次启动调试中的500 kV空载线路投切试验,对两台断路器投切空载线路的过电压数据进行了分析和处理,以验证断路器的性能和电网绝缘配合设计的合理性。