Research on Secondary Arc for UHV

Transmission Lines
Xiang Song, Wen Jun, Zhang Hui-yuan
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
North China Electric Power University
Beijing, China
E-mail: xsdexter@126.com
Xiao Xiang-ning
Key Laboratory of Power System Protection and Dynamic
Security Monitoring and Control (North China Electric
Power University)
Ministry of Education
Beijing 102206 China
E-mail: xxnylp@public.bta.net.cn
AbstractA dynamic mathematical modelJohns arc model
which could be used to simulate the dynamic secondary arc in the
process of single-phase auto-reclosure after transient single-phase
faults is presented and actualized in PSCAD/EMTDC. This
model is used in the digital faults simulations of the first Ultra
high voltage (UHV) transmission line of 1000kv class in
Chinathe Jindongnan-Jingmen UHV single circuit
transmission project under construction, the outcomes and
influences of several known important factors, such as wind,
manner of shunt compensation and other meteorological and
geographical factors including temperature, humility, altitude
and so on are discussed. According to the discussion, the
preconcert reclosure interval of 1s is proved to be proper.
Keywords-UHV transmission line; single-phase auto-reclosure;
dynamic arc model; secondary arc; secondary arc current (SAC);
arc extinction duration.
I. INTRDUCTION
he faults on UHV transmission line are the studying hot
points for the academic and engineer circles. Ninety
percent of these faults are single-phase grounding ones,
and most of them are transient according to the statistics of the
faults records
[1]
. Therefore, single-phase auto-reclosure has a
widespread application as a method to improve the stability
and reliability of the transmission lines. However, the success
rate of the auto-reclosure in UHV systems is reduced in case
of larger phase-to-phase capacitance and inductance-coupling
as the consequences of higher voltage class and longer
transmission distances. So the improvement of the success rate
of single-phase auto-reclosure has become an important aspect
of insurance of the system stability and security as well as an
important technical issue of the application of UHV
transmission system
[2]
. As principal precondition of reclosure
that the faults must be removed before reclosure operation, so
to fix the extinction duration of secondary arc has the very
importance. The key to fix that duration is an accurate model
of the secondary arcs.
A simulation for the first UHV transmission project in
ChinaJindongnan-Jingmen transmission line (1000kV,
3000MW) under construction has been made on the basis of
Johns arc model according to the comparison among the major
arc models. On the basis of the simulations the issues of
coordination of the extinction of secondary arc and the action
of single-phase auto-reclosure are discussed.
II. RESEARCH SITUATION
The arc on the faults point caused by the phase-to-phase
capacitance and inductance-coupling of the two energized
phases after the first operation of the breaks of the fault phase
is called secondary arc and its current secondary arc current
(SAC) which is the vectored superposition of the capacitance
component and inductance component
[3]
. The extinction of the
secondary arc can be explained by the conservation of energy
in the arc gap which considers the energy balance among the
arc and the transmission line and the surrounding environment
as the chief reasons of the arc extinction
[4]
. And the condition
of arc extinction can be present as the energy dissipation is
more than energy injection in the arc column. The arc
temperature dropping down with the increasing of the energy
dissipation, and the arc resistance increasing in the meanwhile,
which caused the final extinction of the secondary arc.
An engineering explanation is also presented to the arc
extinction which ascribed it to the arc elongation caused by
the air-flow and electromotive force generated by the
interaction between the current of the arc and the energized
phases. When the arc length is keeping on increasing, the
potential per unit length reducing relatively, and the arc
extinguishes when it reaches to a threshold value called
maintain potential
[1]
.
In the researches in early time, arc was crudely equivalent
to a zero-resistance or a constant one, which may brought
large deviation into the calculation and simulation.
In 1931, C. Warrington presented Warrington formula to
formulate the Volt-Ampere characteristics based on the
researches of the data from real faults, and several
improvements had been presented after then
[5, 6]
. Warrington
formula could formulate the relation among arc resistance, arc
current and arc length crudely, namely larger arc current with
smaller arc resistance and longer arc with larger arc resistance.
But this model is usually used in the case of low-accuracy
calculation because of the deviation and unfavorable
extinction characteristic caused by the crude approximation
[6]
.
T
This research was supported by 111 project (B08013).
978-1-4244-2487-0/09/$25.00 2009 Crown
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In 30s and 40s of 20
th
century, two different
approximations were presented by A. M. Cassie and W.
Elenbaas relatively based on the theory of the conservation of
arc energy which is known as CassieMayr formula
[7,8]
and
ElenbaasHeller formula
[9]
. As the basis of current researches
on plasma arc, these formulas could formulate the arc process
with favorable accuracy in mathematics, but it difficult to be
applied into engineering simulation because of the scarcity of
many crucial parameters and its complicated calculation.
In 1976, A. T. Johns presented an engineering dynamical
arc model on the basis of the theory of the conservation of arc
energy and the analysis and summary of the faults date
[10-12]
.
This model is widely accepted and used in engineering
simulation of SAC because of its advantages on accurate
approximation, simple calculation, precise outcome and
accessible parameters.
III. JOHNS ARC MODEL
A. Introduction
Johns arc model is a dynamic arc model based on energy
conservation, namely, the arc resistance changes with the
energy afflux
[10]
. According to the energy conservation,
dq dt e i p = 1
Where, dq/dt is the variance ratio of energy in the arc
column per unit length; ` is the power afflux of the arc per
unit length where e is the electric field strength in the arc
column and i is the arc current; p is the energy loss of the arc
per unit length.
Set ( ) ( )
x x x
T g dq P dg = , (1) could be transformed
into
( )
x x x x
dg dt G g T = 2
Where g is the arc conductance, G is steady arc
conductance.
Equation (2) can be used on the simulation of primal arc
and secondary arc.
Set
( )
p p p
G i V l = ,
p p p
T I l =
Where V
p
is the steady voltage gradient, I
p
is the peak
value of steady primary arc, when the current value is in the
range of 1.4~24kA, V
p
approaches to 15V/cm, l
p
is the arc
length, =2.8`!0

, when the formula is used on the

simulation of primal arc;
Set [ ] ( )
s s s r
G i V L t =
1.4
( )
s s s r
T I L t =
Where V
s
is the steady voltage gradient of secondary arc, I
s
is the peak value of steady primary arc, when the current value
is in the range of 1~55A, V
s
can be obtained from
formula
0.4
75
s s
V I

= , L
s
is the dynamic arc length can be
obtained from (3)
0
1 ( 0.1 )
( )
10 ( 0.1 )
r
s r
r r
t s
L t L
t t s

=

>

3
Where t
r
is the arc lasting duration, L
0
is the initial length
of the arc, =2.`!0
!.+
when the formula is used on the
simulation of secondary arc
[10,12]
.
i
s
-the transient value of SAC, can be calculated by (4)
s s s
i u g = 4
Where u
s
is the transient potential drop of the arc column.
B. Simulation and Verification
Johns model is used in the simulation of 750kV
Vinnitsa-Dnieper transmission system, and a comparison
among the outcomes and measuring data in [13] is made in
order to verify the accuracy of this model.
The structure of the system is shown in Fig. 1, where L
1
, L
2
,
L
3
are the shunt reactors of 300Mvar, L
N1
, L
N2
are the neutral
reactors of 300. Other line parameters are given in [13].
A
B
C
1
L
2
L
3
L
2 N
L
1 N
L
Vinnitsa Dnieper
417km
Figure 1. Diagram of Vinnitsa-Dnieper transmission line
Three typical cases as follow are simulated,
1) L
3
is absent, and L
1
, L
2
are grounded directly;
2) L
3
is absent, L
1
is grounded directly, and L
2
through
L
N2
;
3) L
3
is absent, and L
1
, L
2
are grounded through L
N1
, L
N2
relatively.
Comparisons between simulation and measuring are
shown in Fig. 2 and TABLE I.
The data of simulation and measuring are mainly
coincided according to TABLE I. Some differences of the
waveform between simulation and measuring are presented in
(2) and (3). These differences are due to the different direct
components induced from the shunt reactors when the line
breakers act in different time points.
TABLE I. COMPARI SIONS OF SI MULATION AND MEASURING
Case 1 2 3
ED (s)
simulation 0.14 0.28 0.67
measuring 0.13 0.26 0.63
SAC (A)
simulation 3 26 49
measuring 5.3 27.5 49.4
SAC=RMS value of SAC;
ED=extinction duration of secondary arc.
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Figure 2. Comparison between simulation and record of SAC
IV. SIMULATIONS OF ARC MODEL IN UHVSYSTEM
A. Calculate Conditions
The equivalent circuit of Jindongnan-Jingmen transmission
system is shown in Fig.3, Jindongnan-Nanyang and
Nanyang-Jingmen are 1000kV transmission lines of the length
of 350-365km and 282-291km relatively; Jindongnan is
connected with Huabei 500kV system and Jingmen with
Huazhong 500kV system. Shunt reactors which grounded
through neutral reactors are installed on both sides of
Jindongnan-Nanyang and Nanyang-Jingmen transmission
lines. All above are shown in Fig. 3. Other line parameters are
given in [14].
B. Simulation and Calculation
Simulations have been made to the Jindongnan-Nanyang
and Nanyang-Jingmen transmission lines relatively; faults
points locate on the head, the middle and the end of each
phase. The outcomes are shown in TABLE II.
Such conclusions could be drawn out from the comparison
above that the RMS value and the extinction duration of the
secondary arc have a trend of reduction as the increasing of
the faults distance to the head of each phase. It is different to
the general recognition of the trend of the SAC which reduces
from the head to the middle and increases from the middle to
end, namely, the SAC has a minimum value in the middle of
the line. It could be explained as follow that the SAC is the
vector sum rather than the algebraic sum of the inductance
component and the capacitance component, which brings
about the different trend of the SAC along the line in the lines
of different parameters.
Figure 3. Equivalent circuit of Jindongnan-Jingmen transmission system
TABLE II. SIMULATION OUTCOMES OF JINGDONGNAN-JINGMEN TRANSMISSION LINE
J-N N-J
phase
Distance
(km)
SACA EDs
Distance
(km)
SACA EDs
A
20 31.6 0.79 20 27.7 0.52
170 24.3 0.72 160 21.5 0.44
320 18.8 0.52 270 18.9 0.43
B
20 31.9 0.8 20 25.8 0.45
170 25.6 0.71 160 21.2 0.46
320 20.0 0.51 270 19.1 0.38
C
20 31.1 0.79 20 27.0 0.52
170 23.5 0.73 160 24.6 0.46
320 19.4 0.52 270 19.2 0.43
J-N=Jindongnan-Nanyang transmission line;
N-J=Nanyang-Jingmen transmission line
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V. THE INFLUENCES TO EXTINCTION DURATION
A. Influence of Faults Location
Simulations have been done in phase A of
Jindongnan-Nanyang and Nanyang -Jingmen transmission
system and the faults distance changes with a unit length of
50km from the head to the end in the precondition of other
situations above unvaried. The outcomes are shown in TABLE
III and Fig. 4.
Such a conclusion could be drawn out from TABLE III and
Fig.6 that the value of SAC and extinction duration of the
secondary arc have a trend of reduction on both transmission
lines of J-N and NJ as the distance to the head increasing.
TABLE III. SACS AND EDS WITH DIFFERENT FAULTS LOCATIONS
Distance (km) 20 70 120 170 220 270 320
SAC (A)
J-N 31.6 29.0 27.2 24.3 22.5 21.2 18.8
N-J 27.7 25.6 23.0 21.5 20.4 18.9
ED (s)
J-N 0.79 0.77 0.73 0.72 0.66 0.57 0.52
N-J 0.52 0.48 0.47 0.44 0.43 0.43
0

!0
!
?0
?
30
3
?0 0 !?0 !0 ??0 ?0 3?0
D`:tuulm)
S
^
C

0
0.!
0.?
0.3
0.+
0.
0.b
0.
0.8
0.9
?0 0 !?0 !0 ??0 ?0 3?0
D`:tuu lm)
l
D

:
)
Figure 4. SACs and EDs with different faults locations
B. Influence of Initial Arc-Length
Simulations have been done to the same faults on the head
of phase A, and the initial arc-length changes in the range of
600cm~1400cm in the precondition of other situations above
unvaried. The outcomes are shown in TABLE IV and Fig. 5.
Such conclusions could be drawn out from TABLE IV and
Fig. 5 that both of SAC and ED have a same trend of
reduction with the increasing of the initial arc-length which is
in accordance with the practical situation.
TABLE IV. SACS AND EDS WITH DIFFERENT INITI AL
ARC- LENGTHS
Initial arc-length (cm) 600 800 1000 1200 1400
SAC (A) 33.7 31.5 30.1 28.8 29.1
ED (s) 1.09 0.89 0.75 0.67 0.58
?b
?
?8
?9
30
3!
3?
33
3+
3
b00 800 !000 !?00 !+00
Tu`t`u' u'u_thm)
S
^
C

^
)
0
0.?
0.+
0.b
0.8
!
!.?
! ? 3 +
Tut`u' u'u_thm)
l
D

:
)
Figure 5. SACs and EDs with different initial arc-length
C. Influences of Wind
Wind is recognized as one of the most important factors
which influence the extinction of secondary arc. Its generally
recognized that the arc extinguished more rapidly in winds of
larger velocity
[3]
. However, the practical situation is that
influence of wind is not only decided by its velocity but also
by its direction. Because that most of the arcs ground through
towers and insulator stings, when arc flashover though
suspension insulator stings, wind blows the arc horizontally
which elongates the arc and accelerates its extinction, but
when stain ones, wind blows the arc longitudinally which
prevents the elongation of the arc and retard the extinction of
the arc or even make it unable
[15]
, as shown in Fig. 6.
1
1
2
2
Figure 6. The influence of wind direction
So the influence of wind is a synthesis of the influences of
?b
?
?8
?9
30
3!
3?
33
3+
3
b00 800 !000 !?00 !+00
Tu`t`u' u'u_thm)
S
^
C

^
)
0
0.?
0.+
0.b
0.8
!
!.?
! ? 3 +
Tut`u' u'u_thm)
l
D

:
)
0

!0
!
?0
?
30
3
?0 0 !?0 !0 ??0 ?0 3?0
D`:tuulm)
S
^
C

0
0.!
0.?
0.3
0.+
0.
0.b
0.
0.8
0.9
?0 0 !?0 !0 ??0 ?0 3?0
D`:tuu lm)
l
D

:
)
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wind velocity, wind direction and form of insulator stings.
Such conclusions could be drawn out from the discussion
above
[15]
.
1) Wind is an advantage of arc extinction in the situation
of the application of suspension insulator stings. In
that case, wind with larger velocity leads to shorter
extinction duration;
2) Wind is a disadvantage of arc extinction in the
situation of the application of strain insulator stings. In
that case, wind with larger velocity may leads to
longer extinction duration or even the situation of
un-extinguishable.
D. Influence of Other Factors
There are obvious influences to the extinction of SAC
from those environmental factors such as environmental
humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, altitude,
magnetic field and so on. These conclusions below could be
drawn out on the basis of the theory of the plasma arc and the
researches and investigations of the practical arc processes.
High temperature and humidity are the disadvantages of
the extinction of secondary arc, scilicet, humid summer
climate or atmosphere of fog is detrimental to the extinction of
secondary arc;
1) Areas of suspended particulates, industrial estates,
areas of seashore and areas of chemical rain are
detrimental to the extinction of secondary arc;
2) The probability of the occurrences of arc faults in
areas of high altitude is lower than areas of low
altitude, and the average extinction duration is shorter
in the areas of high altitude too.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
According to the discussion above, such conclusions can
be drawn out:
1) The method of grounding the shunt reactors through
neutral reactor could inhibit the secondary arc
effectively. The SAC reaches it minimum value when
phase-to-phase capacitance is compensated completely.
The effect of compensation of the measure of which
grounding the shunt reactors of both ends of the line
through the neutral reactors is better than the measure
that grounding the shunt reactor of one end through
the neutral reactor and the other end directly.
2) The extinction of the secondary arc is a complex of
many factors. System and line parameters,
compensate-situation, and meteorological and
geographical conditions are the effective factors of the
arc extinction which caused the complicated
phenomena of secondary arc. And the velocity and
direction of wind is the most factor of influence
among the meteorological ones, of which the effect on
the extinction of arc is partly determined by the form
of the insulator stings applied.
3) All the extinction durations of the simulation
outcomes of Jindongnan-Jingmen transmission system
are less than 1s, so to adjust the reclosure-duration of
the single-phase auto-reclosure to 1s is suitable for
engineering practice.
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