AL-BALQA APPLIED UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION "GIS"

SUPERVISOR:
DR. KHALAF AL-ZYOUD

BY:
YOUSEF SAMIR YOUSEF OMRAN
MOHAMMAD KHALAF HUSSAIN AL-NSIRAT
TAREK IBRAHIM ABDUL-RAZZAK AL-MAITH

GRADUATION PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

ELECTRICAL POWER ENGINEERING

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

DEGREE OF BACHELOR SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY

AMMAN-JORDAN

2008/2009
 AL-BALQA APPLIED UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

GAS INSULATED SUBSTATION "GIS"

SUPERVISOR:
DR. KHALAF AL-ZYOUD

BY:
YOUSEF SAMIR YOUSEF OMRAN
MOHAMMAD KHALAF HUSSAIN AL-NSIRAT
TAREK IBRAHIM ABDUL-RAZZAK AL-MAITH

GRADUATION PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

ELECTRICAL POWER ENGINEERING

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

DEGREE OF BACHELOR SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY

AMMAN-JORDAN

2008/2009

ii
 Acknowledgment

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr. Khalaf Al-

Zyoud, our supervisor. His motivation and encouragement kept our going
throughout this project. His patience and support have been invaluable
towards the completion of this work.
Moreover, we dedicate this project to our parents, our brothers, all
of electrical engineers in whole world.

iii
 Abstract
This project shows the gas insulated substations (GIS), the usage of
it, and the advantages and disadvantages of it against conventional
substations.
Chapter one gives a definition about GIS, and mention in a briefly
the characteristics of SF6 gas, the advantages and disadvantages of GIS
are showed, the GIS requirements, components and applications are
mentioned, in addition to the economics of the GIS.
Chapter two gives the characteristics of SF6 gas that relates to the
GIS using, and as insulating and a quenching medium.
Chapter three illustrates the main components of GIS which are
composed of, with main definitions of all switchgear equipments.
Chapter four shows the installation, operation and interlocks,
maintenance and tests of the GIS.
The researchers shall that this project include the main and the
simple concepts about GIS, which will help all electrical substation
engineers.

The researchers:
Yousef Omran
Tarek Al-maith
Mohammed Al-Nsirat

iv
 List of Contents

Acknowledgment ......................................................................................................... iii

Abstract .........................................................................................................................iv
List of Contents..............................................................................................................v
List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................. viii
1. Introduction................................................................................................................2
1.1. Gas insulated substation definition ................................................................2
1.2. Characteristics of Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas ...........................................8
1.3. GIS advantages and disadvantages ..............................................................10
1.3.1. GIS Advantages .................................................................................10
1.3.2. GIS Disadvantages.............................................................................12
1.4. GIS Requirements........................................................................................12
1.5. GIS Components..........................................................................................12
1.6. GIS Applications..........................................................................................15
1.7. Economics of GIS ........................................................................................15
2. Sulfur hexafluoride " SF6" gas .................................................................................16
2.1. SF6 definition ...............................................................................................17
2.2. SF6 production process ................................................................................17
2.3. SF6 chemical properties ...............................................................................18
2.3.1. Arc decomposition products ..............................................................19
2.3.2. Analysis of equipment gas .................................................................20
2.3.3. Impurity sources.................................................................................21
Impurities from handling and in service ............................................21
Impurities in equipment having only an insulating function .............21
Impurities in switching equipment.....................................................21
Impurities from internal arcs..............................................................21
2.4. SF6 physical properties ...............................................................................22
2.4.1. Specific heat......................................................................................23
2.4.2. Thermal conductivity ........................................................................23
2.4.3. Electrical properties ..........................................................................23
2.4.4. Sonic characteristics..........................................................................24
2.5. Environmental effects ...................................................................................24
2.5.1. Impact on the ecosystem....................................................................24
2.5.2. Ozone depletion .................................................................................24
2.5.3. Greenhouse effect ..............................................................................25
2.5.4. Decomposition products ....................................................................25
2.6. Health and safety...........................................................................................25
2.6.1. Necessary precautions with SF6 .........................................................25
Oxygen depletion ...............................................................................25

v
 Mechanical failure .............................................................................26
SF6 Freezing.......................................................................................26
2.6.2. Necessary precautions with used SF6 ................................................26
Electrical discharge decomposition ...................................................26
Thermal decomposition .....................................................................26
2.6.3. Health considerations.........................................................................26
2.7. SF6 Specifications .......................................................................................27
2.7.1. Fields which SF6 are used in..............................................................27
2.7.2. Benefits of using SF6 .........................................................................27
2.7.3. Advantages of SF6 against its alternatives .........................................28
2.8. Use and handling of SF6 in GIS...................................................................28
2.8.1. Filling the equipment with new SF6..................................................28
2.8.2. Leakage of SF6 and gaseous decomposition products from filled
equipment into an indoor environment ........................................................29
2.8.3. Maintenance of SF6 filled equipment ..............................................30
2.8.4. End of life of SF6 filled equipment ..................................................30
2.9. Abnormal situations ....................................................................................31
3. Switchgear equipments ............................................................................................32
3.1. Switchgear definitions ................................................................................33
3.2. Disconnectors and Earthing switches .........................................................37
3.3. Circuit breakers............................................................................................42
3.3.1. Puffer-type breakers...........................................................................42
3.3.2. Self blast technique ............................................................................43
3.4. Instrument transformers ..............................................................................46
3.4.1. Current transformers .........................................................................47
3.4.2. Voltage transformer ..........................................................................48
3.5. Cable connection.........................................................................................49
3.6. Direct Transformer Connections.................................................................50
3.7. Surge Arrester .............................................................................................51
3.8. Control System ...........................................................................................52
3.9. Gas Monitor System ...................................................................................53
3.10. Gas Compartments and Zones ....................................................................54
3.11. Electrical and Physical Arrangement..........................................................55
Single Bus Scheme ................................................................................55
Sectionalized Bus Scheme ....................................................................56
Double Bus, Single Breaker Scheme ....................................................56
Main and Transfer Bus Scheme ............................................................57
Ring Bus Scheme ..................................................................................58
Breaker and a Half Scheme ...................................................................59
3.12. Grounding ...................................................................................................60

vi
4. Instattation, Maintenance and Tests of GIS.............................................................61
4.1. Installation....................................................................................................62
4.2. Operation and Interlocks..............................................................................62
4.3. Maintenance.................................................................................................62
4.4. GIS Tests......................................................................................................63
4.4.1. Inspection after transport ..................................................................63
4.4.2. Measurement of voltage drop ...........................................................63
4.4.3. Check of gas tightness ......................................................................63
4.4.4. Contact resistance test for main circuit.............................................64
4.4.5. SF6 leakage test .................................................................................64
4.4.6. Matching with standards and drawings.............................................65
4.4.7. Insulation test of auxiliary circuits....................................................65
4.4.8. Dew point measurement ...................................................................65
4.4.9. SF6 pressure gauge meter test ...........................................................65
4.4.10. Time testing ....................................................................................66
4.4.11. Instrument transformer test .............................................................68
4.4.12. Insulation resistance test for earthing switch ..................................68
4.4.13. High voltage test for GIS ................................................................68
4.5. Summary of Project ....................................................................................69
4.6. References....................................................................................................71

vii
 List of Abbreviations
AC : Alternating current.
AIS : Air insulated substation.
BB : Bus-bar.
CB : Circuit breaker.
CT : Current transformer.
DC : Direct current.
GIS : Gas insulated substation.
HV : High voltage.
HVDC : High voltage direct current.
IEC : International electrotechnical commission.
IEEE : Institute of electrical and electronics engineer.
IT : Instrument transformer.
LCC : Local control cabinet.
MV : Medium voltage.
ppmv : Parts per million by volume.
rms : Root main square value or effective value.
RMU : Ring main unit.
TLV : Threshold limit value.
VFT : Very fast transient.
VFTO : Very fast transient over voltages.
VT : Voltage transformer.

viii
 Chapter one
Introduction

The main head lines of this chapter are:

Gas insulated substation definition.

Characteristics of Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas.

GIS advantages and disadvantages.

GIS Requirements.

GIS Components.

GIS Applications.

Economics of GIS.

Samra Gas Insulated Substation / Jordan

1
1.1. Gas insulated substation definition
A gas insulated substation (GIS) is a substation that uses a superior dielectric
gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), high-voltage gas-insulated substations have been in
service since the early 1960s. Operation of 800 kV equipment has proved successful
since the end of 1979. Prototype testing of 1100 kV through 1600 kV substation
equipment proved the feasibility of this equipment at the next generation of voltage
levels.
The basic principle of gas-insulated equipment is that the high-voltage current-
carrying parts are within a metal enclosure and are held in a concentric configuration
by cast epoxy spacer insulators. The space between the conductor and the enclosure is
filled with sulfur hexafluoride gas under moderate pressure. Gas insulated substation
mainly used for a power transmission system or a substation system, of which
outgoing bus-bar is shortened to reduce consumption of the outgoing bus-bar. Gas
insulated substation comprising a circuit breaker, disconnecting switches, a ground
switch, external equipment having an outgoing portion to be connected to the above
equipment, and an outgoing bus-bar vertically inclined to the outgoing portion of the
external equipment, the Figure 1.1 describes that mentioned above.

1 → Circuit breaker.
2 → Disconnector (Isolator).
3 → Ground switches.
4 → Bus-bar.
5 → Transformer.
8 → Outgoing bus-bar for electr-
ically connecting the gas insul-
ated substation with bus-bar.
9 → Outgoing portion of the tra-
nsformer being arranged in
accor-dance with extending
direction of outgoing bus-bar.

Figure 1.1
GIS model

2
 Medium-voltage up to 170 kV equipment is available in three phases in one
enclosure; for higher voltages, it is generally in a single-phase enclosure arrangement.
The equipment can be installed indoors or outdoors.
In purely indoor construction, all the equipment is completely enclosed within
a structure, protected from the weather. Measures are taken to ensure that the failure
of a piece of equipment does not spread and involve other units. Reinforced concrete
fire- and explosion-resistant walls or barriers are installed between major pieces of
equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and regulators. Sumps are usually
provided beneath oil-filled equipment and connected to waste lines where they exist.
The sumps should be of ample size to contain all of the oil in the equipment should its
failure result in an oil spill. Control equipment, switchboards, batteries (if any), and
other communication facilities may be located in separate fireproof compartments.
Automatic fire-extinguishing systems may be installed to smother any oil fire
that may ensue; foam, carbon dioxide, a high-pressure fine spray of water, and other
materials may be specified. Ventilation may be by natural circulation of air, or by
means of fans that may operate at peak load periods or when the internal ambient
temperature exceeds a predetermined value.
In general, the rating and capacity of the equipment, particularly transformers
and circuit breakers, may be lower than for similar units installed outdoors. On the
other hand, the units need not provide for inclement weather conditions (e.g.,
bushings may have shorter creepage distances, tanks need not be watertight, etc.).
Provision, in the form of rails, rollers, or other devices, is made to permit the
replacement of the several pieces of equipment. Space around each unit is provided to
permit safe access for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of the unit.
The architecture of the exterior should blend with the surroundings, as should
the associated landscaping, lawns, or other environmental prerequisites. Incoming and
outgoing feeders are installed underground, out of sight. In Outdoor substations have
all of the equipment located outdoors within a securely fenced off area. Here, too,
provisions are made for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the pieces of
equipment. Sumps may be constructed beneath a unit, in the form of dikes or pits
containing coarse gravel or crushed stone, of a sufficient volume to hold possible oil
spillage from the unit. Depending on the availability of land and the spacing between
units, fire walls between major units may be found desirable.
Transformers, circuit breakers, and other outdoor equipment are designed to
operate in all kinds of weather. Tanks are usually hermetically sealed or are equipped
with “breathing” devices; bushings and insulators have creepage paths sufficiently
long to prevent flashover. Control facilities may be located in sealed compartments
either associated with each unit or grouped together in an outdoor-type housing. Small
strip heaters may be required to keep condensation from forming in the
compartments. The location of the outdoor substation may present serious
environmental problems. These include appearance; sometimes extensive and
expensive landscaping is required to conceal the substation partially or entirely from
neighboring observers. Another source of objection may be the sound emanating from
the transformers; sound barriers then have to be erected around those units to deflect

3
or mitigate the sound emissions in a particular direction. Also there is another type of
substations which provide a combination between indoors and outdoors, in the
combined indoor and outdoor arrangement, the major units, usually the transformers
only (with their associated surge arresters), but sometimes circuit breakers also, are
located outdoors, and the remaining equipment is housed in a building of some kind.
The requirements already outlined should be followed in connection with each portion
of the substation. Such substations are located in areas where appearances may not be
a major consideration and some equipment, sometimes concealed by landscaping,
may be found acceptable.
GIS can take a form of that mentioned previously, it can be indoors, outdoors
or combination of both. Above 170 kV, the size of the enclosure for "three-phase
enclosure", GIS becomes too large to be practical. So a "single-phase enclosure"
design is used. There are no established performance differences between three-phase
enclosure and single-phase enclosure GIS. Some manufacturers use the single-phase
enclosure type for all voltage levels. Enclosures today are mostly cast or welded
aluminum, but steel is also used. Steel enclosures are painted inside and outside to
prevent rusting. Aluminum enclosures do not need to be painted, but may be painted
for ease of cleaning and a better appearance. The pressure vessel requirements for GIS
enclosures are set by GIS standards (IEEE Std.; IEC), with the actual design,
manufacture, and test following an established pressure vessel standard of the country
of manufacture. Because of the moderate pressures involved, and the classification of
GIS as electrical equipment, third-party inspection and code stamping of the GIS
enclosures are not required.
Conductors today are mostly aluminum. Copper is sometimes used. It is usual
to silver plate surfaces that transfer current. Bolted joints and sliding electrical
contacts are used to join conductor sections. There are many designs for the sliding
contact element. In general, sliding contacts have many individually sprung copper
contact fingers working in parallel. Usually the contact fingers are silver plated. A
contact lubricant is used to ensure that the sliding contact surfaces do not generate
particles or wear out over time. The sliding conductor contacts make assembly of the
modules easy and also allow for conductor movement to accommodate the differential
thermal expansion of the conductor relative to the enclosure. Sliding contact
assemblies are also used in circuit breakers and switches to transfer current from the
moving contact to the stationary contacts.
Support insulators are made of a highly filled epoxy resin cast very carefully
to prevent formation of voids and/or cracks during curing. Each GIS manufacturer’s
material formulation and insulator shape has been developed to optimize the support
insulator in terms of electric field distribution, mechanical strength, resistance to
surface electric discharges, and convenience of manufacture and assembly. Post, disc,
and cone type support insulators are used. Quality assurance programs for support
insulators include a high voltage power frequency withstand test with sensitive partial
discharge monitoring. Experience has shown that the electric field stress inside the
cast epoxy insulator should be below a certain level to avoid aging of the solid
dielectric material. The electrical stress limit for the cast epoxy support insulator is

4
not a severe design constraint because the dimensions of the GIS are mainly set by the
lightning impulse withstand level and the need for the conductor to have a fairly large
diameter to carry to load current of several thousand amperes. The result is space
between the conductor and enclosure for support insulators having low electrical
stress.
Service life of GIS using the construction described above has been shown by
experience to be more than 30 years. The condition of GIS examined after many years
in service does not indicate any approaching limit in service life. Experience also
shows no need for periodic internal inspection or maintenance.
Inside the enclosure is a dry, inert gas that is itself not subject to aging. There
is no exposure of any of the internal materials to sunlight. The lack of aging has been
found for GIS, whether installed indoors or outdoors. The equipment can be designed
for any bus scheme. Depending on the voltage level, bus scheme, and whether
connecting lines are installed underground or overhead, the land area required for gas-
insulated equipment is 10% for 800 kV to 20% for 145 kV of the space required for
comparable air-insulated equipment. Because of its smaller size and enclosed current-
carrying parts, this equipment is excellently suited for installation where real estate is
at a premium, where the environmental constraints dictate a minimum of visual
exposure, and where the continuity of service may be threatened by airborne
contamination. The various modules of GIS are factory assembled and are filled with
SF6 gas at a pressure of about 3 kg/cm2. Thereafter, they a taken to site for final
assembly. Such substations are compact and can be installed conveniently on any
floor of a multi-storied building or in an underground substation. As the units are
factory assembled, the installation time is substantially reduced. Such installations are
preferred in cosmopolitan cities, industrial townships, etc., where cost of land is very
high and higher cost of SF6 insulated Switchgear (GIS) is justified by saving due to
reduction in floor area requirement.
They are also preferred in heavily polluted areas where dust, chemical fumes
and salt layers can cause frequent flashovers in conventional outdoor air-insulated
substations. Single phase enclosure and three phase enclosure are explained in the
following figures, Figure 1.2 and Figure 1.3 are assigned to single phase enclosure
and three phase enclosure respectively.

5
 Figure 1.2
Single phase enclosure

6
 Figure 1.3
Three Phase enclosure

7
1.2. Characteristics of Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas
The dielectric medium is the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, which became
commercially available in 1947. SF6 has been used as an insulating medium in
electronic devices, power apparatus, and HVDC converter stations. Its excellent
properties make it ideally suited both as an insulating and as an arc-quenching agent.
SF6 gas is colorless, odorless, chemically inert, nontoxic, nonflammable, and non-
corrosive. Its dielectric strength is greatly superior to that of air, and it is close to 100
times as effective as air in quenching an electric arc. These characteristics are
illustrated in Figure 1.4 .

Figure 1.4
a. breakdown voltage as a function of the pd product between two spheres of 5-cm
diameter.
b. breakdown voltage as a function of the pressure for a non-uniform electrical field.

Pure SF6 is heavier than air, which causes it to settle in low areas, thus diluting
oxygen in air. It is therefore necessary to learn proper safety rules before entering any
area where pockets of SF6 could accumulate. Although the gas is self-restoring,
during its exposure to an electric arc it will yield decomposition by-products. In the
presence of moisture, which is especially the case in failed and ruptured equipment,
these by-products will hydrolyze, and all resulting reaction products must be
considered hazardous. The level of gas pressure at which the equipment will operate
to meet specified ratings is a function of the relationship between diameters of the

8
conductor and the enclosure (the size of the gap), and the temperature at which the
equipment will operate. At the higher pressures, the gas would liquefy at higher
temperatures, as indicated in Figure 1.5 . At lower pressures, dielectric strength and
arc-quenching qualities of the gas would be reduced. Therefore, the gas-insulated
equipment operating pressure is usually between 0.35 and 0.52 MPa (50 and 75 lb/in2,
gage).
Environmental effects of SF6 that might be released to the atmosphere from
GIS have been thoroughly studied. SF6 does not affect the earth’s ozone layer, but it is
a strong greenhouse gas. Relative to CO2, it has a global warming potential of 23400
due to its infrared absorption and emission characteristics and very long life in the
atmosphere (half-life is projected to be 3200 years). Fortunately, the concentration of
SF6 in the atmosphere is very low, and with proper handling, leak checking, and
recycling, the contribution of SF6 to anthropogenic global warming due to its use in
electrical equipment can be kept below 0.1%.

Figure 1.5
Pressure temperature characteristics of SF6

9
 The only industrial process currently in use is the synthesis of sulfur
hexafluoride by allowing fluorine obtained by electrolysis to react with sulfur
according to the exothermic reaction:
S + 3F2 → SF6 + 262 kcal -------------------------------- (1.1)
During this reaction, a certain number of other fluorides of sulfur are formed,
such as SF4, SF2, S2F2, S2F10, as well as impurities due to the presence of moisture, air
and the carbon anodes used for the fluorine electrolysis. These byproducts are
removed by various purification process. As mentioned previously at temperatures
above 500°C, SF6 will begin to dissociate. The process of dissociation can be initiated
by exposing SF6 to a flame, electrical sparking, or an electric arc. During this process
the SF6, molecules will be broken down into sulfur and fluorine ions at a temperature
of about 3000°C. It should be recalled that during the interruption process the core of
the arc will reach temperatures well in excess of 10000 Kelvin; however, after the arc
is extinguished and the arc region begins to cool down and when the temperature
drops below approximately l000°C the gas will begin to recombine almost totally, and
only a small fraction will react with other substances.
The live parts and supported on at resin insulators. Some of the insulators are
designed as barriers between neighboring modules such that the gas does not pass
through them. The GIS has gas-monitoring system. The gas density in each
compartment is monitored. If pressure drops slightly, the gas is automatically tapped
up with further gas leakage, the low-pressure alarm is sounded or automatic tripping
or lock-out occurs.

1.3. GIS advantages and disadvantages

As mentioned previously there are two types of insulated substation:
1. Air insulated substation.
2. Gas insulated substation.
The atmospheric air insulation used in a conventional, air-insulated substation
(AIS) requires meters of air insulation to do what SF6 can do in centimeters, the
insulation distances determine the main sizes of the classic distribution substation, For
a long time, the development in substation construction concentrated simply in
combining existing devices to obtain the arrangement more adequate for exploitation
and supply security. On the other hand, the increasing needs to convey electric
energy, at higher voltages, towards the regions with grand population density and the
industrial centres, causes great difficulties due to the size of the involved installations,
official prescriptions and the town-planning requirements complicate the construction.
GIS can therefore be smaller than AIS by up to a factor of 10. A GIS is mostly
used where space is expensive or not available. In a GIS the active parts are protected
from the deterioration from exposure to atmospheric air, moisture, contamination, etc.
As a result, GIS is more reliable and requires less maintenance than AIS.

1.3.1. GIS Advantages

1. Reduced required space:

10
 The space occupied by SF6 installation is only about 8% to 10 % of that
a conventional outdoor substation. High cost is partly compensated by saving
in cost of space. A typical (420/525) kV SF6 GIS requires only 920m2 site
area against 30000 m2 for a conventional air insulated substation.
2. Reliable:
The complete enclosure of all live parts guards against any impairment
of the insulation system.
3. Reduced erection and assembly times:
The principle of building block construction reduces the installation
time to a few weeks. Each conventional substation requires several months for
installation. In SF6 substations, The time-consuming is highly cost for
galvanized steel structures and it is eliminated. Heavy foundations for
galvanized steel structures, equipment support structures ...etc are also
eliminated. The results are economy and reduced project execution time.
Modules are factory assembled, tested and dispatched with nominal SF6 gas.
Site erection time is reduced to final assembly of modules.
4. The installations are dielectrically and totally tested in-site (unlike
conventional substations).
5. Reduced maintenance and consequently, lower costs.
6. The safety is increased:
As the enclosures are at earth potential there is no possibility of
accidental contact by service personnel to live parts.
7. From 30 kV to 500 kV they might result cheaper than conventional units.
High flexibility and application versatility provide unique, and
economic overall concepts.
8. Up to 170 kV, tripolar design is used (three phases in the same casing). For
upper voltages, each phase is separately insulated, enclosed and
compartmentalized.
9. Provide a protection against the pollution.
The external moisture. Atmospheric Pollution, snow, dust … etc. have
little influence on SF6 insulated substation. Due to the troubles caused by
pollution in insulators, the tendency is to build indoors installations. However,
the cost is increasing in construction.
Hence, to solve this problem, smaller installations are needed, which
should also comply the following requirements:
1. They shall be insensible to climatic influences.
2. They can be raised outdoors, inside a building or underground.
3. They require reduced maintenance.
4. They are silent.
5. They should not generate radio-electric disturbances.
6. They shall not imply danger for the nearby populated zones.

11
1.3.2. GIS Disadvantages
1. Excessive damage in case of internal fault. Long outage periods as the repair
of damaged part at site may be difficult.
2. Requirement of cleanliness is very stringent. Dust or moisture can cause
internal flashovers.
3. Such substations are generally indoor, so they need a separate building. This is
generally not required for conventional outdoor substations.
4. Procurement of gas and supply of gas to site is problematic, adequate stock of
gas must be maintained.
5. Project needs almost total imports including SF6 Gas. Spares conventional
substation is totally indigenous up to 400 kV.

1.4. GIS Requirements

The following requirement are important to satisfy, the requirement of GIS
can be summarized as :
1. Conductors which conduct the main circuit current and transfer power
these are of copper or aluminum tubes.
2. Conductors need insulation above grounded enclosures, conductors
also need phase to phase insulation, in SF6 GIS these insulation
requirements are met by cast resin insulators and SF6 gas insulation.
3. Gas filled modules have nonmagnetic enclosures, enclosures are of
aluminum alloy or stainless steel, aadjacent modules are joined by
means of multi-bolts tightened on flanges.
4. Various circuit components in main circuit are: CB, Isolator, Earthing
switches for conductors, CTs, VTs, cable-ends, Bushing-ends and Bus-
Bars, each of these main components has its own gas -filled metal
enclosed module.
5. Gas filling, monitoring system.
6. Auxiliary low voltage DC and low voltage AC supply system, control,
protection and Monitoring systems.
7. The bus-bars are conducting bars to which various incoming and
outgoing bays are connected. In SF6 GIS the bus-bars are laid
longitudinally in GIS hall. The bays are connected to bus-bars cross-
wise, bus-bars are either with a three-phase enclosure or single phase
enclosure.

1.5. GIS Components

The GIS is usually installed on a monolithic concrete pad or the floor of a
building. It is most often rigidly attached by bolting and/or welding the GIS support
frames to embedded steel plates or beams.

12
 The compact manufacturing and the highly developed wiring technique allow
the free determination of the site, and ensure the independence regarding climatic
conditions.
The gas-insulated substations utilize the same switchgear of conventional
substations, but with design and characteristics slightly different, the whole station is
integrated inside a grounded aluminium enclosure filled with SF6, which ensures the
insulation to ground.
The gas insulated substation comprises the following components:

Circuit breakers.

Current transformers and voltage transformers.

Disconnectors or isolators.

Bus-bars, double bus-bar feeder.

Cable feeder.

Auxiliary bus-bar feeder.
Figure 1.6 shows another layout of GIS components.

13
 Figure 1.6
GIS main components
14
1.6. GIS Applications
Some possible applications of this very high voltage metal-enclosed stations:
1. Main distribution stations inside cities.
2. Main distribution stations for important customers.
3. Main distribution stations in zones with pollution, salt, or risk of
explosion.
4. Main distribution stations with special characteristics (underground
stations, shelters of reinforced concrete, etc.).
5. Classic installation expansion, in case of reduced space.
6. Mobile transformation stations.

1.7. Economics of GIS

The equipment cost of GIS is naturally higher than that of AIS due to the
grounded metal enclosure, the provision of an local control cabinet, and the high
degree of factory assembly. A GIS is less expensive to install than an AIS. The site
development costs for a GIS will be much lower than for an AIS because of the much
smaller area required for the GIS. The site development advantage of GIS increases as
the system voltage increases because high voltage AIS take very large areas because
of the long insulating distances in atmospheric air. Cost comparisons in the early days
of GIS projected that, on a total installed cost basis, GIS costs would equal AIS costs
at 345 kV. For higher voltages, GIS was expected to cost less than AIS.
However, the cost of AIS has been reduced significantly by technical and
manufacturing advances (especially for circuit breakers) over the last 30 years, but
GIS equipment has not shown any cost reduction until very recently. Therefore,
although GIS has been a well established technology for a long time, with a proven
high reliability and almost no need for maintenance, it is presently perceived as
costing too much and is only applicable in special cases where space is the most
important factor.

15
 Chapter TWO
Sulfur Hexafluoride "SF6" gas
The main head lines of this chapter are:

SF6 definition.

SF6 production process.

SF6 chemical properties.

SF6 physical properties.

Environmental effects.

Health and safety.

SF6 Specifications.

Use and handling of SF6 in GIS.

Abnormal situations.

SF6 construction

16
2.1. SF6 definition
Sulfur hexafluoride. SF6 is a gas that is used in electrical power equipment. It
is colorless, odorless, non-flammable and chemically stable. This means that at room
temperature it does not react with any other substance. Stability comes from the
symmetrical arrangement of the six fluorine atoms around the central sulfur atom.
And this stability is just what makes the gas useful in electric equipment, the
construction of SF6 is shown in Figure 2.1 .

Figure 2.1
Arrangement of SF6 molecules
SF6 is a very good electrical insulator and can effectively extinguish arcs,
which makes high and medium voltage apparatus filled with SF6 highly popular. SF6
can be found in millions of electric apparatus all over the world.
Pure SF6 is not poisonous. The gas is not dangerous to inhale, provided the
oxygen content is high enough. In principle you can inhale a mixture of 20% oxygen
and 80% SF6 without danger. SF6 is about 6 times heavier than air. That means that it
may collect in cable ducts or at the bottom of tanks. The gas is not dangerous to inhale
but if it does accumulate where people work, there is a risk of suffocation due to the
lack of oxygen.

2.2. SF6 production process

SF6 is formed by a chemical reaction between molten sulfur and fluorine.
Fluorine is obtained by the electrolysis of hydrofluoric acid (HF).
The only industrial process currently in use is the synthesis of sulfur
hexafluoride by allowing fluorine obtained by electrolysis to react with sulfur
according to the exothermic reaction:
S + 3F2 → SF6 + 262 kcal -------------------------------- (2.1)
During this reaction, a certain number of other fluorides of sulfur are formed,
such as SF4, SF2, S2F2, S2F10, as well as impurities due to the presence of moisture, air
and the carbon anodes used for the fluorine electrolysis. These byproducts are
removed by various purification process, SF6 production process is shown in
Figure 2.2.

17
 Despite the fact that the SF6 gas is very stable, it will partly decompose in
association with electric discharges and arcs, for example, in a breaker. Then, gaseous
and solid decomposition products are produced. Normally the level of gaseous
decomposition products is kept low through the use of absorbers built into the
switchgear.
In large concentrations, the decomposition products are corrosive and
poisonous. Therefore, there are established routines for service personnel when
opening SF6 filled equipment for maintenance or scrapping. The solid decomposition
products are mainly metal fluorides in the form of a fine grey powder. The powder
only appears where arcing has occurred, for instance in used circuit breakers. The
powder can be easily taken care of as separate waste.
The decomposition products are reactive, which means that they will
decompose quickly and disappear without any long-term effect on the environment.
Many companies use SF6 solely in hermetically closed systems. That means the gas is
contained for the entire life time of the equipment, there is no need to open the
equipment for servicing and no gas can escape. it undertake scrapping of old
equipment including the handling and recycling of the SF6 gas.

Figure 2.2
SF6 production process

2.3. SF6 chemical properties

SF6 fully satisfies the valency requirements of the sulfur molecule. Its
molecular structure is octahedral with a fluorine molecule at each apex. The six
bonds are covalent which accounts for the exceptional stability of this compound.

SF6 can be heated without decomposition to 500°C in the absence of catalytic
metals.

18

SF6 is non-flammable.

Hydrogen, chlorine and oxygen have no action on it.

SF6 is insoluble in water.

SF6 is not attacked by acids.

2.3.1. Arc decomposition products

In an electric arc, the temperature can reach 15000K and a small
proportion of SF6 is decomposed. The decomposition products are formed in
the presence of:

An electric arc formed by the opening of contacts normally comprising
alloys based on tungsten, copper and nickel, containing residual quantities of
oxygen and hydrogen,

Impurities in the SF6 such as air, CF4 and water vapour,

Insulating components comprising plastic materials based on carbon,
hydrogen and silica.

Other metallic or non-metallic materials from which the equipment is
constructed.
The above explains why the solid and gaseous decomposition products
contain, in addition to fluorine and sulfur, elements such as carbon, silicon,
oxygen, hydrogen, tungsten, copper etc.
The principle gaseous by-products, identified by laboratories which
have worked on this subject, combining gas-phase chromatography with mass
spectroscopy, are:

Hydrofluoric acid HF

Carbon dioxide CO2

Sulfur dioxide SO2

Carbon tetrafluoride CF4

Silicon tetrafluoride SiF4

Thionyl fluoride SOF2

Sulfuryl fluoride SO2F2

Sulfur tetrafluoride SF4

Disulfur decafluoride S2F10
Certain of these by-products can be toxic, but it is very easy to adsorb
most of them using materials such as activated alumina or molecular sieves.
Certain also are formed in extremely minute quantities (S2F10).
If the adsorbent (molecular sieve or activated alumina) is present in the
equipment in sufficient quantity, then the level of corrosion due to SF6
decomposition products (HF in particular) is very slight if not negligible. This
is due to the fact that the adsorbents have a very rapid and effective action
such that the corrosive gases do not have sufficient time to react with other
materials present.

19
2.3.2. Analysis of equipment gas
Numerous aspects can be studied through analysis of the gas and its
decomposition products. Here we will consider only the influence of
adsorbents, specifically a molecular sieve.
Figure 2.3 shows the results of analysis of gas taken from a prototype
pole without any adsorbent.

Figure 2.3
Chromatogram without absorbent

Figure 2.4 shows the results of analysis of gas from an identical pole,
subjected to the same electrical stresses, but with a molecular sieve fitted.

Figure 2.4
Chromatogram with absorbent

Table 2.1 allows the quantities of gaseous decomposition products in

the two cases to be compared. The effectiveness of the adsorbent is clearly
apparent.

Impurity Maximum permitted

CF4 500 ppm weight
O2, N2 500 ppm weight
Water 15 ppm weight
HF 0.3 ppm weight
Hydrolysable fluorides 1.0 ppm weight
expressed as HF
Table 2.1
Maximum permitted impurity levels in new SF6.

20
2.3.3. Impurity sources
The sources of impurities can be classified into:

Impurities from handling and in service
Filling and emptying equipment may lead to the addition of air and
water vapour. Moisture can also be desorbed from internal surfaces of the
equipment and from polymeric parts. Oil from handling equipment (pumps
and compressors) may also be inadvertently introduced to SF6.
Possible impurities: Air, Oil and H2O.

Impurities in equipment having only an insulating function
The essential process is the decomposition of SF6 by partial discharges
(corona and sparking). The immediate products are fragments of SF6, such as
SF5, SF4 and F, that combine with O2 and H2O to form compounds, mainly
HF, SO2, SOF2, SOF4 and SO2F2. Due to low energy of the partial discharges,
the accumulated quantities of these compounds are usually negligible.
Possible impurities: HF, SO2, SOF2, SOF4 and SO2F2.

Impurities in switching equipment
During current interruption, the existence of high temperature arcs
leads to the formation of decomposition products of SF6, vaporized electrode
metal, plastics and impurities. In addition, chemical reactions take place
between the products formed.
Possible impurities: H2O, HF, SO2, SOF2, SOF4, SO2F2,CuF2, SF4, WO3,
CF4, AlF3.
The quantity of these by-products is controlled by the number of
operations, the design of equipment and the use of adsorbers (solid adsorbents).
Switching equipment may also contain particles and metal dust coming
from the rubbing of contacts.
Possible impurities: Metal dusts, particles.

Impurities from internal arcs
The occurrence of an internal arc is extremely rare. The expected
impurities in SF6 in faulted equipment are similar to those normally found in
switching equipment. The difference lies in the quantity of compounds, which
becomes high enough to create a potential toxic risk. In addition, significant
vaporization of metallic material occurs and creates additional reaction
products.
Possible impurities: Air, H2O, HF, SO2, SOF2, SOF4, SO2F2, SF4, CF4, Metal
dusts, particles, AlF3, FeF3 ,WO3, CuF2.

21
2.4. SF6 physical properties
The main physical properties that specifies SF6 gas are shown in Table 2.2:

Density 6.14 kg·m-3

Thermal conductivity 0.0136 W·m-1·K-1
Critical point:

Temperature 45.55 ºC

Density 730 kg·m-3

Pressure 3.78 MPa
Sound velocity 136 m·s-1
Refractive index 1.000783
Formation heat -1221.66 kJ·mol-1
Specific heat 96.6 J·mol-1·K-1
Table 2.2
Physical properties of SF6
Sulfur hexafluoride gas having an equation of state of the Beattie-Bridgeman
type, up to temperature of about 1200 K, behaves as a perfect gas:
P ⋅V 2 = R ⋅T ⋅ (V + b ) − a
where:
P = pressure (Pa).
V = volume (m3·mol-1).
R = ideal gas constant (8.3143 J·mol-1·K-1).
T = absolute temperature (K).
a = 15.78×10-6 (1 - 0.1062×10-3 ·V-1).
b = 0.366×10-3 (1 - 0.1236×10-3 ·V-1).
The variation of pressure with temperature is linear and relatively small in the
range of service temperatures (-25°C to +50°C), Figure 2.5 shows the relationship
between pressure versus temperature.

Figure 2.5
Pressure-Temperature Characteristics of SF6 22
2.4.1. Specific heat
The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise
the temperature by one degree Celsius. The volumetric specific heat of SF6 is
3.7 times that of air. This has important consequences for educing the effects
of heating within electrical equipment.

2.4.2. Thermal conductivity

Thermal conductivity is defined as the property of a material that
indicates its ability to conduct heat .The thermal conductivity of SF6 is below
that of air but its overall heat transfer capability, in particular when convection
is taken into account, is excellent, being similar to that of gases such as
hydrogen and helium and higher than that of air. At high temperatures, the
thermal conductivity curve of SF6 (Figure 2.6) reveals one of the exceptional
qualities of the gas, which allows it to be used for extinguishing arcs by
thermal transport. The peak of the thermal conductivity corresponds to the
dissociation temperature of the SF6 molecule at 2100K to 2500K. The
dissociation process absorbs a considerable amount of heat which is released
when the molecules reform at the periphery of the arc, facilitating a rapid
exchange of heat between the hot and cooler regions.

Figure 2.6
Thermal conductivity of SF6 and N2

2.4.3. Electrical properties

The excellent dielectric properties of SF6 are due to the electronegative
character of its molecule. It has a pronounced tendency to capture free

23
 electrons forming heavy ions with low mobility making the development of
electron avalanches very difficult.
The dielectric strength of SF6 is about 2.5 times higher than that of air
under the same conditions. The advantage of SF6 over nitrogen as a dielectric
is clearly illustrated by the curves of Figure 2.7.

Figure 2.7
a. breakdown voltage as a function of the pd product between two spheres of 5-cm
diameter.
b. breakdown voltage as a function of the pressure for a non-uniform electrical field.

2.4.4. Sonic characteristics

The speed of sound in SF6 is one third of that in air, making SF6 a good
phonic insulator.

2.5. Environmental effects

Human activities have an effect on the environment. The impact of a given
activity depends on its scale and on the materials involved. It is therefore necessary to
consider the possible influence of SF6 on the environment.
2.5.1. Impact on the ecosystem
SF6 is an inert gas. As its solubility in water is very low, it presents no
danger to surface and ground water or the soil. A biological accumulation in

24
 the nutrition cycle does not occur. Therefore, SF6 does not harm the
ecosystem.
2.5.2. Ozone depletion
SF6 does not contribute to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.
2.5.3. Greenhouse effect
SF6 contributes to the greenhouse effect. However, the relative
amounts used are such that its contribution is less than 1 to 1000 in
comparison with other agents. Its effect is very small.
Good handling practices ensuring that a very small impact is
effectively maintained over a long period of time.

2.5.4. Decomposition products

Decomposition products of SF6 are not released into the atmosphere in
significant quantities. At the end of the service life of an item of equipment,
they can be converted into naturally occurring neutral products with no
adverse impact on the local environment.
The use of SF6 in electrical equipment has a negligible impact on the global
environment and ecosystem. However, this will only remain so provided that due
regard is paid by users to the containment and management of SF6 when used in
electrical equipment.

2.6. Health and safety

SF6 is odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is chemically stable at room temperature
and is non-combustible.
In principle, a mixture of 20 % of oxygen and 80 % SF6 can be inhaled without
adverse effect. However, it is generally recommended that the maximum
concentration of SF6 in the working environment should be kept lower than 1000 µl/l.
This is the value accepted for a full time (8 h/day, 5 day/week) work schedule. This is
not related to toxicity, but is an established limit for all non-toxic gases which are not
normally present in the atmosphere.
2.6.1. Necessary precautions with SF6
Several simple precautions should be observed when SF6 gas is
employed. The following are the main areas of importance:

Oxygen depletion
SF6 gas is about 5 times heavier than air and if released in large
quantities into the working environment may accumulate in low-lying
areas. In doing so the air is displaced and consequently the quantity of
available oxygen will fall.
If the oxygen concentration falls below 16 % (according to IEC), a
danger of asphyxiation will exist for any personnel working in these areas.
Particularly sensitive areas are those below ground level, poorly or
not ventilated, such as cable ducts, trenches, inspection pits and drainage
systems.

25
 However, after a period of time and depending upon air movement
and ventilation, the SF6 will become mixed with the working environment
air and its local concentration will fall to acceptable levels.

Mechanical failure
In many applications the pressure of SF6 gas employed is above
atmospheric pressure. This implies that special precautions have to be
taken when handling the equipment, to avoid exposing workers to the risks
associated with mechanical failure of the enclosure walls.

SF6 Freezing
If compressed SF6 is released rapidly, the sudden expansion
reduces its temperature. The gas temperature may fall to well below 0 °C.
A worker accidentally subjected to a jet of gas, during equipment
filling for example, runs a risk of serious freezing burns, if he is not
equipped with protective clothing and eye protection.
2.6.2. Necessary precautions with used SF6
Under certain conditions, the SF6 gas used in electrical equipment can
contain decomposition products with potential toxic properties.
Decomposition can occur in two ways: electrical discharges and
heating.

Electrical discharge decomposition
Any form of electrical sparking in SF6 gas will tend to break the
molecule down into its constituent parts. Following this chemical
breakdown however, the vast majority of the breakdown products
recombine back to SF6.
The presence of oxygen and water vapour (and metal surfaces),
render other reaction paths possible. Some of these paths lead to the
appearance of small quantities of by-products, which may have toxic
properties.

Thermal decomposition
Above about 500 °C SF6 gas begins to break down into its
constituent elements. Such temperatures may result, for example, from
fires, heating elements, cigarette smoking…etc.
The presence of metallic surfaces can enhance this effect through
catalytic reactions.
2.6.3. Health considerations
During normal service, the SF6 gas remains inside the electrical
equipment and the stable toxic decomposition products are trapped by
adsorbents or on the internal surfaces of the enclosure.
SF6 can escape from the electrical equipment in three ways:

Leakage.

Inadequate handling procedures.

Enclosure failure.

26
 A risk to health exists only if a sufficient quantity of the decomposition
products are present in the working environment coupled with the exposure
time.

2.7. SF6 Specifications

2.7.1. Fields which SF6 are used in
SF6 is used as an insulating gas in substations, as an insulating and
cooling medium in transformers and as an insulating and arc quenching
medium in switchgear for high and medium voltage applications. These
are all closed systems which are extremely safe and unlikely to leak.
In electrical power systems, high and medium voltage switchgear is
required to cut off the power in case of a fault, in order to protect people
and equipment. When power is switched, an electric arc strikes between
the circuit breaker contacts. Breakers filled with SF6 are electrically
insulating and effectively control arcing.
Gas insulated substations are mainly found in urban areas where
the need requires them to take up as little room as possible and often
integrate them into buildings. These substations reduce the magnetic field
and remove the electrical field completely. This is a real advantage for
installers, maintenance personnel and people who live in the vicinity of
substations.
SF6 also is used in other ways. Mixed with argon, it can be used in
insulated windows. SF6 is used in the metal industry, for example, when
casting magnesium. Eye surgeons use SF6 as a cooling agent in operations.
SF6 can also be used as a fire extinguishing agent because it is non-
flammable and cooling.
In electrical applications, SF6 is only used in sealed and safe
systems which under normal circumstances do not leak gas.
SF6 is collected and recycled if a piece of equipment or a substation
needs to be opened.
2.7.2. Benefits of using SF6
SF6 provides extremely good electrical insulation and very
effectively quenches electric arcs. These properties of SF6 make it possible
to build electrical equipment and apparatus that are compact, use a small
amount of material, are safe and will last a long time. At normal
atmospheric pressure, SF6 has a dielectric withstand capability that is 2.5
times better than air. Usually the gas is used at 3-5 times atmospheric
pressure and then the dielectric properties are ten times better than for air.
SF6 insulates so well because it is strongly electronegative. This
means that the gas molecules catch free electrons and build heavy negative
ions, which do not move fast. This is effective against the creation of
electron avalanches which may lead to flashovers.

27
 SF6 effectively controls circuit breaker arcs because it has excellent
cooling properties at temperatures (1500-5000 K) at which the arcs
extinguish (the gas uses energy when it dissociates and therefore produces
a cooling effect).
High-voltage switchgear with SF6 is in principle alone on the
market and the volume of medium-voltage switchgear with SF6 is large.
Complete gas insulated substations, GIS or RMU are used where space is
restricted or the environment is severe. They are virtually maintenance-
free. Electrical equipment filled with SF6 has been in use for about 40
years and the service experience is very good.
The above can be summarized as :

SF6 has a very high dielectric withstand capability.

SF6 effectively quenches arcs in circuit breakers.

SF6 apparatus is compact and almost maintenance-free.

SF6 equipment is extremely safe in operation and for users.
2.7.3. Advantages of SF6 against its alternatives
High-voltage circuit breakers filled with SF6 are able to cope with
higher unit voltage than any other technique. Therefore, SF6 circuit
breakers require fewer breaking units in series than air or oil-filled
breakers. SF6 circuit breakers for medium voltage have considerable
advantages compared to the alternatives. SF6 substations can be built as
totally closed systems which provide the highest levels of operational and
user safety.
The designs require only little material; all SF6 apparatus are
compact. Compared with electrical apparatus without SF6, the
environmental impact is low. Especially if you take into consideration
every environmental impact that is, from manufacturing, installation,
operation and maintenance all the way to final scrapping (when scrapping
equipment , all the SF6 is recovered). So SF6 has many important
advantages while currently available alternatives represent a return to older
and inferior technology.
Without SF6, we would have a bigger impact on the environment as
the alternatives require more space, are less safe and affect the
environment more for installers, service personnel and people who live in
the area.
Compared to designs that do not use SF6, the impact on the
environment is low.
Without SF6, we would have a less safe working environment for
installation, operations and service personnel.

2.8. Use and handling of SF6 in GIS

2.8.1. Filling the equipment with new SF6

28
 New SF6 is supplied in cylinders as a liquid. The pressure of SF6
above the liquid is about 22bar gauge. New SF6 should comply with
Table 2.1 which defines limits for impurity concentrations.
New SF6 may be handled outdoors without any special provisions.
When working indoors with new SF6, the following should be considered:

The TLV, which is expressed as a concentration of toxic gases in
the air, normally in parts per million by volume (ppmv), The TLV for
new SF6 is 1000ppmv which means that workers may be exposed to
concentrations up to this level during eight hours per day for five days a
week. The TLV is not based on potential toxicity, rather it is a value
which is assigned to gases which are not already present in the
atmosphere.

Temperatures above 500°C, or the presence of certain metals above
200°C, provoke the decomposition of SF6. At threshold temperatures this
decomposition can be extremely slow. It is therefore advised that there be
no smoking, naked flames, welding (except in a neutral atmosphere) or
other sources of heat that may approach these temperatures, in areas
where SF6 may be present in the atmosphere.

The normal precautions associated with pressurized cylinders of
gas should be exercised. For example, a sudden release of compressed
gas will give rise to low temperatures which can cause rapid freezing.
Workers manipulating equipment where this could occur should wear
thermally insulating gloves.

When equipment is to be filled with new SF6 , manufacturer’s
instructions should be followed in order:
• to be sure that the quality of the SF6 inside the equipment
is adequate.
• to eliminate any risk of over-pressurizing the enclosure
which is being filled. Furthermore leakage of SF6 to the
atmosphere during filling should be avoided.

2.8.2. Leakage of SF6 and gaseous decomposition products

from filled equipment into an indoor environment
The potential toxicity of the atmosphere is calculated using the
concentration of thionyl fluoride SOF2.
Two case studies (one high voltage and one medium voltage) are
presented. In both cases, the following worst case assumptions are made:

the switchgear room is sealed from the external atmosphere, i.e.
there is no ventilation.

the switchgear room contains respectively 7 and 15 circuit
breakers.

the effects of adsorbents in switching enclosures are neglected.

CBs have each interrupted their rated fault current three times.

29

SOF2 is produced at a rate of 3.7×10-3 litres per kJ of arc energy,
(value most frequently cited by the scientific press).
There is hence no health risk associated with normal leakage of
used SF6 from switchgear.

2.8.3. Maintenance of SF6 filled equipment

Certain designs of MV GIS may require maintenance and most
types of HV circuit breakers are designed to be maintained periodically.
Extending a GIS switchboard, both MV and HV, may require the
removal of the SF6.
Many local codes of practice and manufacturer’s
recommendations exist to advise safe working practices under these
circumstances. The following guidelines are common to many of these:

Care should be taken when removing SF6 which may contain
decomposition products. It should not be released in an indoor
environment and should be collected in a storage vessel. Care should be
taken not to breathe SF6 which removed from an item of equipment. If
this possibility cannot be avoided, a respirator should be worn. This
should be fitted with a filter capable of removing the gases described in
"arc decomposition products".

Enclosures should be evacuated such as to remove as much as
possible of the residual SF6. In some cases, flushing enclosures with dry
air or nitrogen is recommended prior to opening them. In any case,
workers should be aware of the presence of residual SF6 when enclosures
are first opened and should wear respirators at that time. Ventilation of
the work area should be adequate to remove rapidly any gas released into
it.

Metal fluoride powders are more chemically active in the presence
of moisture so efforts should be made to keep these in a dry condition
prior to and during their removal. Fine powders can remain suspended in
the air for long periods of time ; where powders are present respirators
fitted with sub-micron range powder filters should be used. Particular
attention should be paid to protecting the eyes.

Components, metal fluoride powders and adsorbents removed from
equipment in service should be packed in sealed containers for
subsequent neutralization.

2.8.4. End of life of SF6 filled equipment

SF6 filled equipment which has been removed from service may
require treatment to neutralize any decomposition products remaining after
the SF6 has been removed.

30
 For environment reasons, SF6 has to be removed and not released to
the atmosphere. The need for neutralization is dependent on the level of
decompositions
Prior to treatment, the SF6 should be removed and stored for
recycling. The equipment should then be treated according to the expected
decomposition level. After treatment, the equipment can be disposed of as
normal waste (respecting local regulations), for example in a landfill site, or
subjected to reclamation processes to recover the metals. Solutions used in the
neutralization process can be disposed of as normal waste.

Low decomposition:
No special action is required.

Medium and high decomposition:
The internal surfaces of gas enclosures should be neutralised using a
solution of lime (calcium hydroxide) prepared by diluting 1 kg of lime in 100
litres of water. The enclosure to be treated should, if possible, be filled with
the lime solution for a period of 8 hours before emptying. If it is subsequently
necessary to work on the enclosure, it should first be rinsed with clean water.
For larger enclosures where filling is impractical, powders should be
removed, using a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suitable filter, for
neutralisation separately. The internal surfaces should then be washed with
the lime solution which should be left in place for at least one hour followed
by rinsing with clean water.

2.9. Abnormal situations

The abnormal situation leading to an uncontrolled release of SF6 gas into the
atmosphere. Such situations, which occur only very infrequently, are:

abnormal leakage, due to a failure of the SF6 enclosure seals to contain the
gas.

internal fault, resulting from uncontrolled arcing inside the SF6 enclosure,
an internal fault can develop when an arc is formed abnormally between
the main conductors of an item of switchgear, or between a main
conductor and an earthed conducting part. Such faults occur very rarely.
Abnormal arcing gives rise to a rapid increase in pressure which can cause
hot gases and other materials to be expelled.

external fire, giving rise to abnormal leakage, fires in outdoor installations
rarely cause problems because of the relative absence of flammable
material in the vicinity of the switchgear. In indoor installations,
particularly in the case of medium voltage consumer substations, there is a
greater risk of fire in the proximity of the switchgear. Research has shown
that fire temperatures rarely exceed 800°C and the temperatures in the
region of SF6 enclosures which are protected by metal cladding, are likely
to be much lower than this. A release of SF6 is very unlikely to be
provoked by a fire; if it should occur, average temperatures are likely to
be too low (because SF6 will be rapidly dissipated by convection to lower
temperature regions) to lead to significant decomposition, which requires
at least 500°C. SF6 is non-flammable and will have an extinguishing
effect.

31
 Chapter Three
Switchgear equipments
The main head lines of this chapter are:

Switchgear definitions.

Disconnectors and Earthing switches.

Circuit breakers.

Instrument transformers.

Cable connection.

Direct Transformer Connections.

Surge Arrester.

Control System.

Gas Monitor System.

Gas Compartments and Zones

Electrical and Physical Arrangement.

Grounding.

CB
CB
CB
CB
CB

Samra 400 kV SF6 circuit breakers

32
3.1. Switchgear definitions
A switchgear is a general term that covering switching devices and their
combination with associated control, measuring, protective and regulating equipment,
also assemblies of such devices and equipment with associated interconnections,
accessories, enclosures and supporting structures, intended in principle for use in
connection with generation, transmission, distribution and conversion of electric
energy, any power system can be represented as a Figure 3.1 .
Gen Gen

Generation
Power plant Step-up
substations transformers

Bus

HV
transmission

Transmission Step-down
substations transformers Transmission

Bus

Subtransmission

Distribution Step-down
substations transformers

Bus

Voltage regulators
Distribution
Primary feeders

Distribution transformers

Secondary mains
Meters Services

Utilization

Consumer's wiring

Figure 3.1
Power system representation

33
 In Figure 3.1 any substations of mentioned previously such as power plant
substations, transmission substations, distribution substations … etc can be AIS or
GIS or combined of both.
A switchgear installation contains all the apparatus and auxiliary equipment
necessary to ensure reliable operation of the installation and a secure supply of
electricity. Three phase a.c. high-voltage switchgear installations with operating
voltages of up to 800 kV are used for distributing electricity in towns and cities,
regions and industrial centers, and also for power transmission. The voltage level
employed is determined by the transmission capacity and the short-circuit capacity of
the power system.
Distribution networks are operated predominantly up to 123 kV. Power
transmission systems and ring mains round urban areas operate with 123, 245 or 420
kV, depending on local conditions. Over very large distances, extra high powers are
also transmitted at 765 kV or by HVDC (high-voltage direct-current) systems.
Switchgear installations can be placed indoors or outdoors. SF6 gas-insulated
switching stations have the important advantage of taking up little space and being
unaffected by pollution and environmental factors.
The main switchgear equipments are:

Disconnectors.

Earthing switches.

Circuit breakers.
These main switchgear equipments are mainly found in each substations, in
GIS substations these equipments are isolated with SF6 gas, these equipments will be
detailed in this chapter.
The main concepts that specify the switchgear equipments can be summarized
as a following:

Disconnectors are mechanical switching devices which provide an isolating
distance in the open position. They are capable to open or close a circuit if
either a negligible current is switched or if there is no significant change in
voltage between the terminals of the poles. Currents can be carried for
specified times under normal operating conditions and under abnormal
conditions (e.g. short circuit). Currents of negligible quantity have values
≤0.5A; examples are capacitive charging currents for bushings, bus-bars,
connections, very short lengths of cable and currents of voltage transformers.

Isolating distances are gaps of specified dielectric strength in gases or liquids
in the open current paths of switching devices. They must comply with special
conditions for the protection of personnel and installations and their existence
must be clearly perceptible when the switching device is open.

Switches are mechanical switching devices, which not only make, carry and
interrupt currents under normal conditions in the network but also must carry
for a specific time and possibly make currents under specified abnormal
conditions in the network (e.g. short circuit).

34

Switch disconnectors are switches which satisfy the requirements for an
isolating distance specified for a disconnector in their open position.

Circuit breakers are mechanical switching devices able to make, carry and
interrupt currents occurring in the circuit under normal conditions, and can
make, carry for a specified time and break currents occurring in the circuit
(e.g. short circuit) under specified abnormal conditions.

Earthing switches are mechanical switching devices for earthing and short-
circuiting circuits. They are capable of carrying currents for a specified time
under abnormal conditions (e.g. short circuit). They are not required to carry
normal operating currents. Earthing switches for transmission networks may
also be required to make, carry and break induced currents (capacitive and
inductive) under normal circuit conditions. Earthing switches with short circuit
making capability shall be able to make the short circuit current.

Fuses are switching devices that open the circuits in which they are installed
by the melting of one or more parts specified and designed for the purpose of
breaking the current when it exceeds a given value for a sufficiently long
period.

Auxiliary switches must be rated for a continuous current of at least 10A and
be capable to break the current of the control circuits. The manufacturer must
provide details. In the absence of such information, they must be capable of
breaking at least 2A at 220V DC at a minimum circuit time constant of 20ms.
The terminals and wiring in auxiliary circuits must be designed for at least
10A continuous current. The auxiliary switches that are actuated in connection
with the main contacts must be directly actuated in both directions.

(Peak) making current: peak value of the first major loop of the current in
one pole of a switching device during the transient period following the
initiation of current during a making operation.

Peak current: peak value of the first major loop of current during the
transient period following initiation.

Breaking current: current in one pole of a switching device at the instant of
initiation of an arc during a breaking process.

Breaking capacity: value of the prospective breaking current that a circuit
breaker or load switch can break at a given voltage under prescribed
conditions for application and performance; e.g. overhead line (charging
current) breaking capacity.

Short-line fault: short circuit on an overhead line at a short but not negligible
distance from the terminals of the circuit breaker.

Out of phase (making or breaking) capacity: making or breaking capacity
for which the specified conditions for use and behavior include the loss or the
lack of synchronism between the parts of an electrical system on either side of
the circuit breaker.

Applied voltage: voltage between the terminals of a circuit breaker pole
immediately before making the current.

35

Recovery voltage: voltage occurring between the terminals of a circuit
breaker pole after interruption of the current.

Opening time: interval of time between application of the auxiliary power to
the opening release of a switching device and the separation of the contacts in
all three poles.

Closing time: interval of time between application of the auxiliary power to
the closing circuit of a switching device and the contact touch in all poles.

Break time: interval of time between the beginning of the opening time of a
switching device and the end of the arcing time.

Make time: interval of time between application of the auxiliary power to the
closing circuit of a switching device and the instant in which the current
begins to flow in the main circuit.

Rated value: value of a characteristic quantity used to define the operating
conditions for which a switching device is designed and built and which must
be verified by the manufacturer.

Rated normal current: the current that the main circuit of a switching device
can continuously carry under specified conditions for use and behavior.

Rated short-time withstand current: current that a switching device in
closed position can carry during a specified short time under prescribed
conditions for use and behavior.

Rated voltage: upper limit of the highest voltage of the network for which a
switching device is rated.

Additional rated values: rated withstand current, rated making current, rated
short-circuit breaking capacity … etc.

Standard value: rated value based on official specifications to be used for
designing a device.

Standardized rated voltages: 3.6; 7.2; 12; 17.5; 24; 36; 52; 72.5; 100; 123;
145; 170; 245; 300; 362; 420; 550; 800 kV.

Standardized rated normal currents: 200; 250; 400; 500; 630; 800; 1000;
1250; 1600; 2000; 2500; 3150; 4000; 5000; 6300A.

Standardized rated short-time currents: 6.3; 8; 10; 12,5; 16; 20; 25; 31,5;
40; 50; 63; 80; 100kA.

Rated insulation level: standardized combination of the rated values for the
lightning impulse withstand voltage, the switching impulse withstand voltage
(if applicable) and the short-time power frequency withstand voltage assigned
to a rated voltage.

Rated short-duration power frequency withstand voltage: rms value of the
sinusoidal AC voltage at operating frequency that the insulation of a device
must withstand under the specified test conditions for 1 minute.

Rated lightning impulse withstand voltage: peak value of the standard
voltage surge 1.2/50µs that the insulation of a device must withstand.

Rated switching impulse withstand voltage: peak value of the unipolar
standard voltage surge 250/2500µs which the insulation of a device with a
rated voltage of 300 kV and above must withstand.

36
3.2. Disconnectors and Earthing switches
Disconnectors are used for galvanic isolation of networks or sections of
switchgear installations. As an independent air-insulated device, they form a visible
isolating distance in their open position. They are suitable for switching small currents
(≤ 0.5A) or also larger currents if the voltage does not change significantly between
the contacts of a disconnector pole during switching (commutation currents).
Disconnectors have a moving contact that opens or closes a gap between
stationary contacts when activated by an insulating operating rod that is itself moved
by a sealed shaft coming through the enclosure wall, the Figure 3.2 shows a
disconnector with its main parts.
The stationary contacts have shields that provide the appropriate electric field
distribution to avoid too high a surface stress. The moving contact velocity is
relatively low compared to a circuit breaker moving contact, and the disconnector can
interrupt only low levels of capacitive current (e.g. disconnecting a section of GIS
bus) or small inductive currents (e.g. transformer magnetizing current).

Figure 3.2
Disconnector for GIS

Disconnectors can carry currents under operating conditions continuously and

under abnormal conditions, such as short circuit, for a specified time (1s, 3s).
More than 10 different designs are in use around the world. The most
important are rotary disconnectors, two-column vertical break disconnectors and
single-column disconnectors. Selection of the disconnector design is primarily guided
by the layout of the installation (structural design) which will describes in the next
chapter, The commercially available disconnector range can cover virtually all
important layout variations in the ranges 72.5 to 800 kV, (rated voltage), 1250 to
4000A (rated current) and 63 to 160kA (rated peak withstand current).
Earthing switches are used for earthing and short-circuiting de-energized
station components. Earthing switches can withstand currents during a specified time

37
(1s, 3s) under abnormal conditions, such as a short circuit, but they are not required to
carry continuous operating currents. In general, earthing switches are combined with
the adjacent disconnectors to form one unit. However, earthing switches can also be
installed separately.
Disconnectors are almost entirely actuated by motor-driven operating
mechanisms, but manual mechanisms are also used for earthing switches. The
operating mechanism is either mounted directly on the base frame of the disconnector
or earthing switch or placed at operator level (1.20 m above ground level). Motor
operated mechanisms may also have an emergency manual actuator in case of failure
of auxiliary power or for adjustments.
The operating mechanism housing has the position indicator switches for
showing the switching position and for control and interlocking, and the motor
operated mechanisms also have contactors for controlling the actuators. The
controllers are designed so that only one switching impulse is necessary to start the
mechanism. They shut down automatically when the end position is reached. In the
event of an emergency manual operation, the control circuit of the motor operated
mechanism is interrupted by a safety contact, making a simultaneous actuation from
the control room impossible. The motor operated mechanisms can also be fitted with
pushbuttons for local control.
The mechanisms of the disconnectors and earthing switches can be interlocked
relative to each other and to the associated circuit-breakers to prevent maloperation.
Motor operated mechanisms have an indicator switch contact for the relevant device
incorporated into the control circuit of the mechanism. Manual and motor operated
mechanisms can also be fitted with a locking solenoid, which prevents manual
switching when there is no power and also breaks the control circuit of the motor
mechanism with a separate auxiliary contact. Mechanical interlocking between
disconnectors and earthing switches is also possible with directly mounted earthing
switches.
The mechanical actuation energy is transmitted from the motor to the actuation
shaft by a spindle gear, which has an increased torque on closing and opening the
main contact point to break ice loads. Disconnectors and earthing switches have an
operating mechanism with centre-point interlocking, which prevents any spontaneous
changes of position under extreme external influences, such as short circuits,
earthquakes or hurricanes. Future generations of mechanisms will be motor-operated
mechanisms with semiconductor controls and electronic indication of switch position.
Slide-in disconnectors are used in gas-insulated substations, capable to break
the capacitive currents that take place during the coupling manoeuvres in the
installation, and to break commutation currents caused by changes in the buses
configuration.
To optimize the operation of the disconnectors in different points of the
distribution station, the active parts are encased separately, reducing to minimum the
number of flanged joints.

38
 Figure 3.3
GIS disconnector
Figure 3.3 shows another type of GIS disconnector, the disconnector consist of
the main contact (6) and the casing of the sliding contact (9), in which interior is
located the coupling of the sliding contact (12), the conductor is connected to both
contacts by sheet contacts, the sliding contact (12) is tripolar operated by the drive
(10), which comprises lever, pitman and insulating rotary bar (8) with motorized
drive. Each disconnector can include one or two earthing switches (4), the receiving
earthing contacts (5) are mounted in the casings of the main and sliding contacts (6,
9), the gas compartment of the disconnector, usually jointed to other parts of the
installation, it is enclosed in the casing (3) and surveyed by means of densimeters (7).
The discharging plate (1) protects the casing against excessive overpressure,
and the absorber (2) keeps the gas dry, Each disconnector has a spyhole (or a hole) to
observe the position of the contacts and allows checking their condition, the
disconnectors shall be opened solely for inspection works, for maintenance or
expansion of the installation, the disconnectors can be mechanically interlocked in the
desired ended position, and locked by means of a padlock or any other locking device,
the interlocking with circuit breakers, other disconnectors or earthing switches is
electric.
There might be variations in the design, linear or angular, according to the
requirements in the installation configuration, Figure 3.4 shows different
possibilities:

39
 1. Casing
2. Insulator
3. Fixed contact
4. Mobile contact
5. Mobile contact casing
6. Fixed contact
7. Insulating rotary bar
8. Drive
9. Earthing switch (optional)

ELK TE ELK TV

ELK TX ELK TW

1. Fixed contact
2. Fixed contact casing
3. Mobile contact
4. Insulating rotary bar
5. Support of the contact
6. Drive
7. Insulator
8. Casing
Figure 3.4
Different designs for disconnectors

The earthing switches can be adapted to diverse components, and according to

the layout and the buyer specifications, can be mounted in any point of the
installation, as maintenance earthing switches or as fast-closing earthing switches.
Locking bolts provided with padlocks or similar devices ensure the locking in
the desired position.
There are three Fundamental earth switches can be used in a GIS substation:

Maintenance Earth Switch (MES).

Portable Maintenance Earth Device (PMED).

Fault Making Earth Switch (FMES).

40
 Maintenance earth switches are an "off load device" which means the device
should not be used during the loads or high current cases, it used:

To discharge any current and provide a safety device.

During planned outages.

Not to be used on live bus-bars.
The maintenance earthing switches endure short-circuit currents in the closed
position, they comprise the casing of the mechanism with sliding contact incorporated
and contact bar by lever and pitman, the switching is either unipolar by hand or
tripolar by motor.
The fast-closing earthing switches are used to ground parts of the installation
under supply normal conditions, their tripolar switching mechanism is capable to
make short-circuit currents.
Fault making earth switches are "load making devices", the speed of operation
is fast typically 6m/s, it:

Used on line side to discharge capacitive/inductive current present on the line.

Capable of making onto a full fault current.

Have limited number of operational life.
Figure 3.5 shows the MES and PMED.

(a)

(b)
Figure 3.5
a. Maintenance earth switch
b. Portable maintenance earth switch

41
3.3. Circuit breakers
High voltage circuit breakers are mechanical switching devices capable of
making, carrying continuously and breaking electrical currents, both under normal
circuit conditions, and for a limited period abnormal circuit conditions, such as in the
event of a short circuit. Circuit breakers are used for switching overhead lines, cable
feeders, transformers, reactor coils and capacitors. They are also used in bus ties in
installations with multiple bus-bars to allow power to be transmitted from one bus-bar
to another.
The following points are important when selecting circuit breakers:

maximum operating voltage on location.

installation height above sea-level.

maximum load current occurring on location.

maximum short-circuit current occurring on location.

network frequency.

duration of short-circuit current.

switching cycle.

special operational and climatic conditions.
High voltage circuit breakers with SF6 gas as the insulation and quenching
medium have been in use throughout the world for more than 30 years. This gas is
particularly suitable as a quenching medium because of its high dielectric strength and
thermal conductivity. Puffer-type breakers are used for high breaking capacity, while
the self-blast technique is used for medium breaking capacity.
3.3.1. Puffer-type breakers
Figure 3.6 shows the design and operation of the interrupting chamber of the
puffer principle. The extinction unit consists of the fixed contact and the moving
contact with the blast cylinder. During the opening movement, the volume of the blast
cylinder is steadily reduced and thereby increases the pressure of the enclosed gas
until the fixed contact and the movable contact separate. The contact separation
causes an arc to be drawn, which further increases the pressure of the SF6 gas in the
blast cylinder. At sufficiently high pressure, the compressed gas is released and blows
the arc, depleting its energy and causing it to be extinguished. The nozzle shape of the
two contacts provides optimum flow and quenching properties.

Figure 3.5
Puffer-type breakers
a) closed position b) beginning of the opening movement
c) arcing contacts separate d) open position
42
 Where : 1 fixed continuous current contact, 2 fixed arcing contact, 3 movable
arcing contact, 4 movable continuous current contact, 5 compression cylinder, 6
compression piston, 7 actuating rod, 8 quenching nozzle .
3.3.2. Self blast technique
Figure 3.6 shows the design and operation of the self-blast interrupting
chamber up to 170 kV, 40 kA.
For small currents, the required extinction pressure is generated by
compressing the gas in volume 5 as with a puffer-type breaker during the opening
movement (Figure 3.6 c). In contrast, for short-circuit currents the energy of the high-
amp arc heats the quenching gas and increases its pressure in the heating volume 6
(Figure 3.6 d). This overpressure does not affect the mechanism in any way. Its
energy only needs to be dimensioned for switching normal operating currents.
Compared to the puffer principle, the self-blast principle only requires about
20% of the actuating energy for the same circuit-breaker performance data. The
operational advantages are the compact mechanisms, low mechanical stresses on the
overall system, low dynamic foundation loads, low noise level and generally
improved reliability.

Figure 3.6
Self blast technique
a) closed position b) open position
c) interruption of small currents d) interruption of short-circuit currents

Where: 1 fixed continuous current contact, 2 fixed arcing contact, 3 movable

arcing contact, 4 movable continuous current contact, 5 compression volume, 6
heating volume, 7 actuating rod, 8 quenching nozzle.
The SF6 gas pressure and the contact distance determine the dielectric strength
inside the chamber. Likewise in conventional installations, the automatic circuit
breakers ensure the break of short-circuit currents. The gas in the breaking chamber is
injected by means of a piston mechanically coupled to the mobile contact, which
compress the gas at a pressure two or three times higher than the supply pressure, in
order to generate the blowing, enlargement and cooling of the arc, and its extinction at
the zero crossing of the current wave. They can be arranged horizontally or vertically
to minimize the size of the substation, the number of chambers depends on the rated
voltage and the breaking capacity of the circuit breaker.

43
 The drive of the circuit breakers can be mechanical using motors or
hydromechanical which consisting of three main parts: hydraulic drive cylinders, a
regulator and a gear box.
Advantages of the motorized operating mechanism:
(1) Minimum number of moving parts, (2) Precise, programmed contact movement,
(3) Continuous and active self-monitoring, (4) Very quiet and wear-free function, (5)
Low and even energy consumption.
Figure 3.7 shows an ABB circuit breaker in horizontal position for 245 kV,
with mechanical drive.

Figure 3.7
ABB circuit breaker with motorized drive
In the pole enclosure (2), the truncated-cone insulator (1) supports the main
fixed contact (5), which is jointed to the expansion casing (3), the other truncated-
cone insulator (1) carries, in its vertical axis, a clamp contact (8) that links the
breaking device to the fixed part of the installation.
This allows, with inspection and revision purposes, to unplug and extract the
active part fixed to the lid by means of two cylindrical insulators (9).
The energy required to generate the extinction flux in the blowing cylinder (7)
and nozzle (6) is conveyed by the gear (14) and the insulating pitman of traction (11),
the densimeter (4) surveys the gas compartment of the pole, protected against
excessive overpressure by a discharging plate (12).
Figure 3.8 shows a circuit breaker in vertical position for 245 kV with hydro-
mechanical drive.
1. Hydromechanical drive
2. SF6
3. Breaking chamber
4. Casing
5. Input feeder connection,
6. Output feeder connection

Figure 3.8
ABB circuit breaker with hydromechanical drive
44
Figure 3.9 shows the name plate of a circuit breaker which used in Samra GIS.

VA TECH Reyrolle

CIRCUIT BREAKER RATING TO IEC 62271-100

TYPE SPD 2
SERIAL NUMBER 4RSPD83
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE 2006
RATED VOLTAGE 420 kV
RATED FREQUENCY 50 Hz
RATED DURATION FOR SHORT CIRCUIT 1s
RATED LIGHTNING IMPULSE WITHSTAND VOLTAGE 1425 kV
RATED SWITCHING IMPULSE WITHSTAND VOLTAGE 1050 kV
RATED NORMAL CURRENT 4000 A
RATED SHORT CIRCUIT BREAKING CURRENT 63 kA
RATED LINE CHARGING BREAKING CURRENT 400 A
RATED OUT OF PHASE BREAKING CURRENT 15.8 kA
FIRST POLE-TO-CLEAR FACTOR 1.3
RATED HYDRAULIC PRESSURE 360 bar.g
RATED SF6 GAS PRESSURE 7.0 bar.g
MINIMUM SF6 GAS PRESSURE 5.9 bar.g
RATED AUXILIARY VOLTAGE
− FOR CONTROL 110 V d.c.
− FOR OPERATING MECHANISM 110 V d.c.
− FOR HEATER 230 V a.c.
MASS PER PHASE 3400 kg
RATED OPERATING SEQUENCE 0-0.3s-CO-3min-CO
DESIGN PRESSURE OF ENCLOSURE 10 bar.g
MASS OF SF6 GAS PER PHASE 200 kg
MAINTENANCE MANUAL IOMS 1035

Figure 3.9
Samra gas insulated CB nameplate

45
3.4. Instrument transformers
Instrument transformers are transformers used to feed measuring instruments,
electricity meters, protection relays and similar equipment.
Their function is to transform high voltages and currents to values that can be
unified or measured safely with low internal losses. With current transformers, the
primary winding carries the load current, while with voltage transformers, the primary
winding is connected to the service voltage. The voltage or the current of the
secondary winding is identical to the value on the primary side in phase and ratio
except for the transformer error. Current transformers operate almost under short-
circuit conditions while voltage transformers operate at no-load. Primary and
secondary sides are nearly always electrically independent and insulated from one
another as required by the service voltage. Above a service voltage of 110 kV,
instrument transformers are frequently manufactured as combined current and voltage
transformers.
Figure 3.10 shows the practical enclosures of CTs and VTs.

Figure 3.10
Samra model of GIS
In modern substation and bay control systems, current and voltage
transformers can be replaced by sensors. They offer the same accuracy as

46
conventional instrument transformers. The output signal, A/D-converted, is processed
by the digital bay control unit.
The main functions of the instrument transformers can be summarized in the
following:

Measuring current and voltage in high voltage transmission lines and
switchgears during normal and fault conditions.

Insulate the control circuits from the network.

Transform the current and voltages to standardized levels for control
equipment as relays and meters, currents are converted to (1A or 5A), and the
voltages are converted to (100V, 110V or 120V).
3.4.1. Current transformers
CTs are inductive ring types installed either inside the GIS enclosure or
outside the GIS enclosure Figure 3.11 shows the CT for GIS.

Figure 3.11
Current transformers for GIS
1 Insulator , 2 Terminal box, 3 Support of core, 4 Casing
5 Cores, 6 Main conductor (primary).

The GIS conductor is the single turn primary for the CT. CTs inside the
enclosure must be shielded from the electric field produced by the high voltage
conductor or high transient voltages can appear on the secondary through capacitive
coupling. For CTs outside the enclosure, the enclosure itself must be provided with an
insulating joint, and enclosure currents shunted around the CT. Both types of
construction are in wide use.
The one-phase current transformers are bushing type, with ring shaped core
and toroidal secondary winding, the cores are externally stick on the metallic
enclosure, outside the SF6 container, separated from the high voltage region by a
cylindrical shield.

47
 The secondary winding is located above the core and connected to the terminal
box, the commutation of the transformation ratio is possible through the secondary
winding, the stresses caused by the inner overpressure of the gas and for the current
circulating through the casing are conveyed by the traction bars.
The maximum number of cores that can be placed inside the casing depends
on the transformation ratio and on the characteristics of the cores.

3.4.2. Voltage transformer

VTs are one-phase (phase-to-ground connection) and can be inductive or
capacitive.. The primary winding is supported on an insulating plastic film immersed
in SF6. The VT should have an electric field shield between the primary and
secondary windings to prevent capacitive coupling of transient voltages. The VT is
usually a sealed unit with a gas barrier insulator. The VT is either easily removable so
the GIS can be high voltage tested without damaging the VT, or the VT is provided
with a disconnect switch or removable link.
Figure 3.12 shows a VT for GIS and its details.

Figure 3.12
VT for GIS

In the Inductive voltage transformer, the active parts are enclosed in a casing
of melted aluminium, The stratified core supports the primary and secondary
windings.

48
 Another illustrations of VT is shown in Figure 3.13.

1. Terminal box
2. Primary winding
3. Secondary
winding
4. Core
5. High voltage
terminal

Figure 3.13
VT for GIS
The insulation among the layers of the primary winding is elaborated with
plastic sheets, and the insulation between the primary winding, covered by a shielding
electrode, and the external casing is SF6.
The voltage transformer is accommodated in an independent gas compartment,
separated from the others by a conical fastening insulator. The high voltage
connection is performed through an interconnection bolt, the opposite extreme of the
primary winding, connected to ground, as well as the extremes of the secondary
windings, are carried in a gas-tight fashion out of the transformer casing, and jointed
to the terminals for the external connections of the connection box.
In the capacitive voltage transformer, the core and the windings are replaced
by a capacitive divider, created between the metallic casing and the conductor. The
capacitive divider is coupled to an operational amplifier that provides the signalling to
the protection and measurement devices.
Figure 3.14 shows the capacitive voltage transformer.

Figure 3.14
Capacitive Voltage Transformer

49
3.5. Cable connection
A cable connecting to a GIS is provided with a cable termination kit that is
installed on the cable to provide a physical barrier between the cable dielectric and the
SF6 gas in the GIS (Figure 3.15). The cable termination kit also provides a suitable
electric field distribution at the end of the cable. Because the cable termination will be
in SF6 gas, the length is short and sheds are not needed. The cable conductor is
connected with bolted or compression connectors to the end plate or cylinder of the
cable termination kit. On the GIS side, a removable link or plug in contact transfers
current from the cable to the GIS conductor. For high voltage testing of the GIS or the
cable, the cable is disconnected from the GIS by removing the conductor link or plug-
in contact. The GIS enclosure around the cable termination usually has an access port.
This port can also be used for attaching a test bushing.

Figure 3.15
Power cable connection

3.6. Direct Transformer Connections

To connect a GIS directly to a transformer, a special SF6 to oil bushing that
mounts on the transformer is used (Figure 3.16). The bushing is connected under oil
on one end to the transformer’s high voltage leads. The other end is SF6 and has a
removable link or sliding contact for connection to the GIS conductor. The bushing
may be an oil paper condenser type or more commonly today, a solid insulation type.
Because leakage of SF6 into the transformer oil must be prevented, most SF6 to oil
bushings have a center section that allows any SF6 leakage to go to the atmosphere

50
rather than into the transformer. For testing, the SF6 end of the bushing is
disconnected from the GIS conductor after gaining access through an opening in the
GIS enclosure. The GIS enclosure of the transformer can also be used for attaching a
test bushing.

Figure 3.16
Direct SF6 bus connection to transformer

3.7. Surge Arrester

Zinc oxide surge arrester elements suitable for immersion in SF6 are supported
by an insulating cylinder inside a GIS enclosure section to make a surge arrester for
overvoltage control (Figure 3.17). Because the GIS conductors are inside in a
grounded metal enclosure, the only way for lightning impulse voltages to enter is
through the connections of the GIS to the rest of the electrical system. Cable and
direct transformer connections are not subject to lightning strikes, so only at SF6 to
air bushing connections is lightning a concern. Air-insulated surge arresters in parallel
with the SF6 to air bushings usually provide adequate protection of the GIS from
lightning impulse voltages at a much lower cost than SF6 insulated arresters.
Switching surges are seldom a concern in GIS because with SF6 insulation the
withstand voltages for switching surges are not much less than the lightning impulse
voltage withstand. In AIS there is a significant decrease in withstand voltage for
switching surges than for lightning impulse because the longer time span of the
switching surge allows time for the discharge to completely bridge the long insulation
distances in air. In the GIS, the short insulation distances can be bridged in the short

51
time span of a lightning impulse so the longer time span of a switching surge does not
significantly decrease the breakdown voltage. Insulation coordination studies usually
show there is no need for surge arresters in a GIS; however, many users specify surge
arresters at transformers and cable connections as the most conservative approach.

Figure 3.17
Surge arrester for GIS.

3.8. Control System

For ease of operation and convenience in wiring the GIS back to the substation
control room, a local control cabinet (LCC) is provided for each circuit breaker
position (Figure 3.18). The control and power wires for all the operating mechanisms,
auxiliary switches, alarms, heaters, CTs, and VTs are brought from the GIS
equipment modules to the LCC using shielded multiconductor control cables. In
addition to providing terminals for all the GIS wiring, the LCC has a mimic diagram
of the part of the GIS being controlled. Associated with the mimic diagram are control
switches and position indicators for the circuit breaker and switches. Annunciation of
alarms is also usually provided in the LCC. Electrical interlocking and some other
control functions can be conveniently implemented in the LCC. Although the LCC is
an extra expense, with no equivalent in the typical AIS, it is so well established and
popular that attempts to eliminate it to reduce cost have not succeeded. The LCC does
have the advantage of providing a very clear division of responsibility between the
GIS manufacturer and user in terms of scope of equipment supply.
Switching and circuit breaker operation in a GIS produces internal surge
voltages with a very fast rise time on the order of nanoseconds and a peak voltage
level of about 2 per unit. These “very fast transient Over voltages” are not a problem
inside the GIS because the duration of this type of surge voltage is very short − much
shorter than the lightning impulse voltage. However, a portion of the VFTO will
emerge from the inside of the GIS at any place where there is a discontinuity of the
metal enclosure - for example, at insulating enclosure joints for external CTs or at the

52
SF6 to air bushings. The resulting “transient ground rise voltage” on the outside of the
enclosure may cause some small sparks across the insulating enclosure joint or to
adjacent grounded parts. These may alarm nearby personnel but are not harmful to a
person because the energy content is very low. However, if these VFT voltages enter
the control wires, they could cause faulty operation of control devices. Solid-state
controls can be particularly affected. The solution is thorough shielding and
grounding of the control wires. For this reason, in a GIS, the control cable shield
should be grounded at both the equipment and the LCC ends using either coaxial
ground bushings or short connections to the cabinet walls at the location where the
control cable first enters the cabinet.

Figure 3.18
Local control cabinet for GIS.

3.9. Gas Monitor System

The insulating and interrupting capability of the SF6 gas depends on the
density of the SF6 gas being at a minimum level established by design tests. The
pressure of the SF6 gas varies with temperature, so a mechanical temperature
compensated pressure switch is used to monitor the equivalent of gas density (Figure
3.19). GIS is filled with SF6 to a density far enough above the minimum density for
full dielectric and interrupting capability so that from 10 to 20% of the SF6 gas can be
lost before the performance of the GIS deteriorates. The density alarms provide a
warning of gas being lost, and can be used to operate the circuit breakers and switches
to put a GIS that is losing gas into a condition selected by the user.

53
 Because it is much easier to measure pressure than density, the gas monitor
system usually has a pressure gage. A chart is provided to convert pressure and
temperature measurements into density. Microprocessor based measurement systems
are available that provide pressure, temperature, density, and even percentage of
proper SF6 content. These can also calculate the rate at which SF6 is being lost.
However, they are significantly more expensive than the mechanical temperature
compensated pressure switches, so they are supplied only when requested by the user.

Figure 3.19
SF6 density monitor for GIS
.

3.10. Gas Compartments and Zones

A GIS is divided by gas barrier insulators into gas compartments for gas
handling purposes. In some cases, the use of a higher gas pressure in the circuit
breaker than is needed for the other devices, requires that the circuit breaker be a
separate gas compartment. Gas handling systems are available to easily process and
store about 1000 kg of SF6 at one time, but the length of time needed to do this is
longer than most GIS users will accept. GIS is therefore divided into relatively small
gas compartments of less than several hundred kg. These small compartments may be
connected with external bypass piping to create a larger gas zone for density
monitoring. The electrical functions of the GIS are all on a three-phase basis, so there
is no electrical reason not to connect the parallel phases of a single-phase enclosure
type of GIS into one gas zone for monitoring. Reasons for not connecting together
many gas compartments into large gas zones include a concern with a fault in one gas

54
compartment causing contamination in adjacent compartments and the greater amount
of SF6 lost before a gas loss alarm. It is also easier to locate a leak if the alarms
correspond to small gas zones, but a larger gas zone will, for the same size leak, give
more time to add SF6 between the first alarm and second alarm. Each GIS
manufacturer has a standard approach to gas compartments and gas zones, but will, of
course, modify the approach to satisfy the concerns of individual GIS users.

3.11. Electrical and Physical Arrangement

For any electrical one-line diagram there are usually several possible physical
arrangements. The shape of the site for the GIS and the nature of connecting lines
and/or cables should be considered, The following arrangement are available for GIS:

Single Bus Scheme:
A single bus configuration consists of one main bus that is energized at all
times and to which all circuits are connected. This arrangement is the simplest,
but provides the least amount of system reliability. Bus faults or failure of circuit
breakers to operate under fault conditions results in complete loss of the
substation, Figure 3.20 shows the arrangement of single bus scheme.

Figure 3.20
Single bus scheme
Advantages of this scheme: Lowest cost, Small land area required, Easily
expandable, Simple in concept and operation, Relatively simple for the
application of protective relaying.
Disadvantages of this scheme: A single bus arrangement has the lowest
reliability; Failure of a circuit breaker or a bus fault causes loss of the entire
substation; Maintenance switching can complicate and disable some of the
protective relay scheme and overall relay coordination.

55

Sectionalized Bus Scheme:
An extension of the single bus configuration is the sectionalized bus
arrangement shown in Figure 3.21. This arrangement is basically two or more
single bus schemes, each tied together with bus sectionalizing breakers. The
sectionalizing breakers may be operated normally open or closed, depending on
system requirements. In this arrangement, a bus fault or breaker failure causes
only the affected bus section to be removed from service and thus eliminates total
substation shutdown. Usually, the fault can be isolated and nonfaulted portions of
the system restored to service easier and faster because of the increased flexibility
of this arrangement.

Figure 3.21
Sectionalized bus scheme

Advantages of this scheme: Flexible operation; Higher reliability than single bus
scheme; Isolation of bus sections for maintenance; Loss of only part of the
substation for a breaker failure or a bus fault.
Disadvantages of this scheme: A sectionalized bus arrangement has a higher
cost than a single bus scheme; Additional circuit breakers are required for
sectionalizing; Sectionalizing may cause interruption of nonfaulted circuits.

Double Bus, Single Breaker Scheme:

Figure 3.22 shows double bus, single breaker scheme.

Figure 3.22
Double Bus, Single Breaker Scheme
56
Advantages of this scheme: Some flexibility with two operating busses; The
ability of either main bus to be isolated for maintenance; Transferring the circuit
readily from one bus to the other by using bus-tie breaker and bus selector
disconnect switches.
Disadvantages of this scheme: One extra breaker required for the bus tie; Four
switches required per circuit; A bus protection scheme that may cause loss of
substation when it operates if all circuits are connected to that bus; High exposure
to bus faults; Line breaker failure taking all circuits connected to that bus out of
service; Bus-tie breaker failure taking the entire substation out of service.

Main and Transfer Bus Scheme:
A main and transfer bus configuration consists of two independent buses, one
of which, the main bus, is normally energized. Under normal operating
conditions, all incoming and outgoing circuits are fed from the main bus through
their associated circuit breakers and switches. If it becomes necessary to remove a
circuit breaker from service for maintenance or repairs, the integrity of circuit
operation can be maintained through use of the bypass and bus tie equipment.
The bypass switch for the circuit breaker to be isolated is closed, the bus tie
breaker and its isolation switches are closed, and the bypassed breaker and its
isolation switches are opened to remove the breaker from service. The circuit is
then protected by the bus tie breaker. Figure 3.23 shows the arrangement of the
main and transfer bus scheme.

Figure 3.23
Main and Transfer scheme
57
Advantages of this scheme: Accommodation of circuit breaker maintenance
while maintaining service and line protection; Reasonable in cost; Fairly small
land area; Easily expandable.
Disadvantages of this scheme: An additional circuit breaker is required for bus
tie; Since the bus tie breaker have to be able to be substituted for any line
breaker its associated relaying may be somewhat complicated; Failure of a
circuit breaker or a bus fault causes loss of the entire substation; Somewhat
complicated switching is required to remove a circuit breaker from service for
maintenance.

Ring Bus Scheme:
A ring bus configuration is an extension of the sectionalized bus arrangement
and is accomplished by interconnecting the two open ends of the buses through
another sectionalizing breaker. This results in a closed loop or ring with each bus
section separated by a circuit breaker. For maximum reliability and operational
flexibility, each section should supply only one circuit, Figure 3.24 shows ring bus
scheme.

Figure 3.24
Ring Bus scheme

Advantages of this scheme: Flexible operation; High reliability ; Isolation of

bus sections and circuit breakers for maintenance without disrupting circuit
operation ; Double feed to each circuit ; No main buses ; Expandable to breaker-
and-a-half configuration ; Economic design.
Disadvantages of this scheme: Ring may be split by faults on two circuits or a
fault during breaker maintenance to leave possibly undesirable circuit
combinations (supply/load) on the remaining bus sections. Some consider this,
however, to be a second contingency factor; Each circuit has to have its own
potential source for relaying; This configuration is usually limited to four circuit
positions, although larger rings are in service, including 10-position ring buses. A

58
6-position ring bus is usually considered as a maximum limit for the number of
terminals in a ring bus; This is a more involved relay scheme since each breaker
has to respond to faults on two circuits; Automatic reclose schemes may be
complex.

Breaker and a Half Scheme:

The breaker-and-a-half configuration consists of two main buses, each
normally energized. Electrically connected between the buses are three circuit
breakers and, between each two breakers, a circuit as diagrammed in Figure 3. In
this arrangement, three circuit breakers are used for two independent circuits;
hence, each circuit shares the common center circuit breaker, so there are one-
and-a-half circuit breakers per circuit.
The breaker-and-a-half configuration provides for circuit breaker maintenance,
since any breaker can be removed from service without interrupting any circuits.
Additionally, faults on either of the main buses cause no circuit interruptions.
Failure of a circuit breaker results in the loss of two circuits if a common breaker
fails and only one circuit if an outside breaker fails.
A typical bus configuration for a breaker-and-a-half arrangement is shown in
Figure 3.25. This is the same basic equipment assemblage as described for the
ring bus scheme. Frequently, substations are initially constructed with a ring bus
arrangement and ultimately expanded into a breaker-and-a-half configuration to
obtain the additional flexibility and reliability required with the additional
circuits. Bay centerline spacing should be carefully planned to permit equipment
maintenance and removal.

Figure 3.25
Breaker and a Half Scheme

59
Advantages of this scheme: Flexible operation ; High reliability ; Can isolate either
main bus for maintenance without disrupting service ; Can isolate any circuit breaker for
maintenance without disrupting service ; Double feed to each circuit ; Bus fault does not
interrupt service to any circuits ; All switching done with circuit breakers.
Disadvantages of this scheme: One-and-a-half breakers are required per circuit ;
Relaying is involved, since the center breaker has to respond to faults of either of its
associated circuits ; Each circuit should have its own potential source for relaying cable
connection module includes the cable termination, disconnect switches, ground switches,
a VT, and surge arresters.

3.12. Grounding
Point grounded to prevent circulating currents from flowing in the enclosures,
today the universal practice is to use “multipoint grounding” even though this leads to
some electrical losses in the enclosures due to circulating currents. The three
enclosures of a single-phase GIS should be bonded to each other at the ends of the
GIS to encourage circulating currents to flow. These circulating enclosure currents act
to cancel the magnetic field that would otherwise exist outside the enclosure due to
the conductor current. Three-phase enclosure GIS does not have circulating currents,
but does have eddy currents in the enclosure, and should also be multipoint grounded.
With multipoint grounding and the resulting many parallel paths for the current from
an internal fault to flow to the substation ground grid, it is easy to keep the touch and
step voltages for a GIS to the safe levels prescribed in IEEE 80.

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 Chapter Four
Installation, Maintenance and tests of
GIS
The main headlines of this chapter are:

Installation.

Operation and Interlocks.

Maintenance.

GIS Tests.

Summary of Project.

Samra GIS Construction

61
4.1. Installation
The GIS is usually installed on a monolithic concrete pad or the floor of a
building. It is most often rigidly attached by bolting and/or welding the GIS
support frames to embedded steel plates or beams. Chemical drill anchors can
also be used. Expansion drill anchors are not recommended because dynamic
loads may loosen expansion anchors when the circuit breaker operates. Large
GIS installations may need bus expansion joints between various sections of the
GIS to adjust to the fit-up in the field and, in some cases, provide for thermal
expansion of the GIS. The GIS modules are shipped in the largest practical
assemblies. At the lower voltage level, two or more circuit breaker positions can
be delivered fully assembled. The physical assembly of the GIS modules to each
other using the bolted flanged enclosure joints and sliding conductor contacts
goes very quickly. More time is used for evacuation of air from gas
compartments that have been opened, filling with SF6 gas, and control system
wiring. The field tests are then done. For a high voltage GIS shipped as many
separate modules, installation and testing takes about two weeks per circuit
breaker position. Lower voltage systems shipped as complete bays, and mostly
factory-wired, can be installed more quickly.

4.2. Operation and Interlocks

Operation of a GIS in terms of providing monitoring, control, and
protection of the power system as a whole is the same as for an AIS except that
internal faults are not self-clearing so reclosing should not be used for faults
internal to the GIS. Special care should be taken for disconnect and ground
switch operation because if these are opened with load current flowing, or closed
into load or fault current, the arcing between the switch moving and stationary
contacts will usually cause a phase-to-phase fault in three-phase enclosure GIS
or to a phase-to-ground fault in single-phase enclosure GIS. The internal fault
will cause severe damage inside the GIS. A GIS switch cannot be as easily or
quickly replaced as an AIS switch. There will also be a pressure rise in the GIS
gas compartment as the arc heats the gas. In extreme cases, the internal arc will
cause a rupture disk to operate or may even cause a burn-through of the
enclosure. The resulting release of hot, decomposed SF6 gas may cause serious
injury to nearby personnel.
For both the sake of the GIS and the safety of personnel, secure interlocks
are provided so that the circuit breaker must be open before an associated
disconnect switch can be opened or closed, and the disconnect switch must be
open before the associated ground switch can be closed or opened.

4.3. Maintenance
Experience has shown that the internal parts of GIS are so well protected
inside the metal enclosure that they do not age and as a result of proper material
selection and lubricants, there is negligible wear of the switch contacts. Only the

62
circuit breaker arcing contacts and the teflon nozzle of the interrupter experience
wear proportional to the number of operations and the level of the load or fault
currents being interrupted. Good contact and nozzle materials combined with the
short interrupting time of modern circuit breakers provide, typically, for
thousands of load current interruption operations and tens of full-rated fault
current interruptions before there is any need for inspection or replacement.
Except for circuit breakers in special use such as at a pumped storage plant, most
circuit breakers will not be operated enough to ever require internal inspection.
So most GIS will not need to be opened for maintenance. The external operating
mechanisms and gas monitor systems should be visually inspected, with the
frequency of inspection determined by experience.

4.4. GIS Tests

All GIS equipments have been tested in factory according to the IEC 517.
The purpose of the tests at site prior to commissioning is:
1. To detect any rare possible damage or anomaly that may occur during
transport.
2. To test the complete GIS installation after final assembly at site.
3. To ensure uninterrupted operation in service.
The tests of GIS are done as follows:
4.4.1. Inspection after transport
Check the GIS for completeness, obvious transport damages etc. well
before commencement of the installation.

4.4.2. Measurement of voltage drop

All contact connections assembled at site are subject to a measurement of
the voltage drop. The measurement of the voltage drop is performed on two
different locations with I ≥ 100 A supplied from a suitable battery or DC
supply source. Both test locations are connected to the test device. The actual
measurement is effective on the connecting lead (not on the connection to the
measuring location).
The resistance is calculated from the following formula:
U
R =
I
Where: R: resistance, U : voltage drop, I : current .

4.4.3. Check of gas tightness

The following components shall be subjected to gas tightness test:

All flange connections assembled at site.

All gas couplings and connections assembled at site.
All other components are tested in the factory prior to delivery.

63
4.4.4. Contact resistance test for main circuit
All switchgear equipments are joined together, after joining action and
before filled it with SF6 gas the contact resistance test should be applied to
be ensure the quality of connecting the components together.
Figure 4.1 shows a feeder which contains the main points through it the
contact resistance test is done.

e
f

DS DS

ES
d

CB

P1

CT
P2
ES
c

DS
VT
DS ES
b

Figure 4.1
Feeder section for GIS

Contact resistance is measured using micro-ohmmeter device, by

connecting the terminals of that device between each two points that
explained in Figure 4.1, then allowing 100A to pass through the terminals,
by knowing the voltage and the current the device is computing the
resistance, this value each time is compared to the contact resistance
measured in factory for the same terminals, and this value of contact
resistance must not exceed 1.2 of the design resistance.

4.4.5. SF6 leakage test

After installation the parts of GIS and ensure the quality of connecting
these parts together, the SF6 is injected in each part according to the rated
pressure, and all parts that form GIS and connecting at site together have to
be covered with plastic cover and ensure the quality of the closing of the
cover, then it left for 24 hours and then make of a small hole at the bottom

64
of the cover, and insert a sensor that sensing the deposition in this hole and
move it in all directions to determine the presence of a gas leakage or not, it
can be done after more than a hole in the plastic cover and detect for gas
leakage in the same way.
If a gas leakage was found in a part or parts of GIS testing of these parts
is repeated, after checked by the contractor or the manufacturer and re-cover
that parts for 24 hours once again and re-detect in the same manner, the gas
leakage must not exceed 1% per year.

4.4.6. Matching with standards and drawings

All drawings and schemes have to be matched with all specifications or
standards and drawings for the GIS and it must be in accordance with
approved standards.

4.4.7. Insulation test of auxiliary circuits

All of auxiliary circuits have been tested with a voltage at 2 kV for one
minute or by using insulation test instrument which practically called
Megger, the insulation resistance has to be greater that 100MΩ.

4.4.8. Dew point measurement

The dew point measurement is performed once the gas compartments
have been filled and pressurized with SF6. In order to allow an equalization
between the residual moisture of the GIS enclosure material and the dry SF6
filling, this measurement should not be carried out immediately after the
filling.
The purpose of this test is to measure dew point of the SF6 gas that
existing within each compartment of the GIS. This test is done at rated
pressure, through it SF6 temperature is measured for each part of GIS in °C.
By knowing internal temperature of the gas and the pressure of the gas the
humidity or the dewiness can be determined for each part of GIS, this test is
done by GIS maintenance department.

4.4.9. SF6 pressure gauge meter test

This test consists of two stages as follows:
a. Calibration of pressure gauge meters.
This calibration is done by connecting the pressure gauge meter which
want it to be tested in parallel with standard one, then the gas is injected at
different pressure values and record the results, with the observation of the
difference between both meters, the readings error must be within
permissible of meter accuracy.
b. Alarms test:

65
 This test is one of the most important tests, in this test the gas is injected
into meter and apply setting points for operation, these points are: High
pressure; Low pressure stage one; Low pressure stage two. Also these
points must be maintained within permissible limits.
Figure 4.2 shows a pressure gauge meter which is used in GIS.

Figure 4.2
Pressure gauge meter for GIS

4.4.10. Time testing

This test is applied for all circuit breakers, disconnectors, and earthing
switches, and it is aims to measure the closing and opening time for all
circuit breakers, disconnects and earthing switches, also to ensure that the
closing and opening time are equal for three phases.
The closing and opening time of circuit breakers are measured at
100% of rated DC voltage, also the closing time at 80% of rated DC
voltage, and the opening time at 60% of rated DC voltage. For
disconnectors and earthing switches The closing and opening time are
measured only at rated DC voltage, this test is done using a device called
Programa which shown in Figure 4.3.

Figure 4.3
Programa device
66
 To proceed the closing and opening time testing for a disconnectors or
circuit breakers, it must be taken a closed path around the equipment which
will be tested, as an example if the circuit breaker shown in Figure 4.4 is
chosen to find the closing and opening time of it, the path (a-b) through the
circuit breaker is taken as a closed path , also through this path the earthing
switches (ES1 and ES2) can be tested in addition to the circuit breaker.

Figure 4.4
Time Testing for a CB

To test the circuit breaker (CB) firstly the ground point at (b) is
isolated with (a) remains connecting to the ground then the device is
connecting as shown in Figure 4.5, also the tester must compare the results
with that obtained in factory.

Figure 4.5
Programa Instrument for Measuring the Time
67
4.4.11. Instrument transformer test
All instrument transformers have a two types of tests, the first is the
type tests which are conducted for a few samples of the IT, while the second
are conducted for all equipments before distribution to utilization.
 400 
VTs here are tested at a voltage V = × 1.5 = 346.41 kV  , for one
 3 
minute for each phase, with grounding the other phases, where 1.5 is the
voltage factor, this value mentioned in the nameplate of the VT.
But CTs are tested at a voltage [V = 80%V N ] , where [V N ] is a testing
voltage at the factory, it must be ensured that the secondary circuits of the
CTs must be shorted and grounded before starting this test.
Type tests include the following tests:

Polarity test: this test aims to determine the polarity of the IT.

Short current time duration test: this test aims to determine
thermal withstand and dynamic withstand of the IT.

Temperature rise test: this test aims to determine the ampacity
of the IT.

Voltage test, this test includes two type of tests:
a. Impulse voltage test, which represents the lighting strikes.
b. Power frequency voltage test, this test elapses one minute with
a applied voltage about (2-5) kV to test the insulation
withstand.

Measurement error test: this test aims to determine the errors in
current readings or phase angle readings or by comparing the
reading of the CT with another substandard.
While the Routine tests include the following tests:

Polarity marking tests.

Overvoltage tests.

Accuracy class test and determination the errors.

4.4.12. Insulation resistance test for earthing switch

This test aims to ensure the quality of insulation of ES, it is done
by inject a voltage at [V = 10 kV ] for one minute to an ES, for each phase
while the other phases are grounded, this test can be done for all ES at the
same time but for each phase alone.

4.4.13. High voltage test for GIS

This test is done by using cascaded resonance instruments at a
voltage [80%V T ] , of the testing voltage and a frequency about
[ 45 − 300] Hz .
The following points should be taken into consideration before
starting the HV testing:

68
 1. Ensure that the pressure of the SF6 gas for all parts of GIS at rated value.
2. All circuit breakers are closed or in ON state.
3. All disconnectors are closed or in ON state.
4. All earthing switches are opened or in OFF state.
5. All secondary circuits of CTs must be shorted and connected to the
ground.
6. All circuit breakers of LCC are opened or in OFF state.
7. Disconnect all cables and power transformers from GIS.
8. The location of testing must be safe and contains tapes and board that
alarm the workers.
9. The insulation test must be done before the HV test and after it.

4.5. Summary of Project

Gas Insulated Substations(GIS) is a compact, multicomponent assembly
enclosed in a ground metallic housing which the primary insulating medium is
compressed sulfur hexaflouride(SF6) gas. It generally consists components of
1. Bus bars
2. Circuit Breakers
3. Disconnecting switches
4. Earthing switches
5. Current transformers
6. Voltage transformers
7. Cable and boxes
8. Gas supply and gas monitoring equipment
9. Densimeters and
10. Local control
Gas insulated Substations have found a broad range applications in power
systems over the last three decades because of their high reliability Easy
maintenance, small ground space requirements… etc. Although GIS has been in
operation in several years, some of the problems are needful attention. These
problems include VFTO during switching operations or earth faults and transient
enclosure voltages and particle contamination.
Because of the entire equipment being enclosed in enclosures, filled with
pressurized SF6 gas, installation is not subject to environmental pollutions, as
experienced along coastal areas or certain types of industries.
Such installations are preferred in cosmopolitan cities, industrial
townships, etc., where cost of land is very high and higher cost of SF6 insulated
switchgear is justified by saving due to reduction in floor area requirement. It is
not necessary that high voltage or extra high voltage switchgear to be installed
out doors. Since most of the construction is modular and the assembly is done in
the works, one site erection time both for supporting structures and switchgear is
greatly reduced.
The demerits of GIS can be summarized as:
1. It requires huge amount of area .

69
 2. Each and every component of substation is exposed to air and pollution.
3. Particularly in coastal area all the insulators are exposed to air and saline
contamination.
4. Frequent flashovers and breakdown occurs.
5. Maintenance cost is more. Installation time is also more.
6. More concrete work is necessary.
Finally, Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) offer high reliability, safety, and
maintenance-free features in a much smaller space compare to conventional
switchgear

70
4.6. References
[1] WAI KAI CHEN, The Electrical Engineering Handbook, 2004.
[2] Jones, D. J., Kopejtkova, D., Kobayashi, S., Molony, T., O'Connell, P., and
Welch, I. M., GIS in service - experience and recommendations, Paper 23-
104 of CIGRE General Meeting, Paris, 1994.
[3] IEEE Guide for Gas-Insulated Substations, IEEE Std. C37.122.1-1993.
[4] IEEE Standard for Gas-Insulated Substations, IEEE Std. C37.122-1993.
[5] IEEE Guide to Specifications for Gas-Insulated, Electric Power Substation
Equipment, IEEE Std. C37.123-1996.
[6] IEC 1634: 1995, IEC technical report: High-voltage switchgear and
controlgear - use and handling of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage
switchgear and controlgear.
[7] Ruraul Utilities Service (RUS),Design Guide for Rural Substations, June
2001.

71