International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2002

A Basic Study on Switching Overvoltage Reduction by Means of a Multiple

Resistors Circuit Breaker
A. Ametani N. Inoue M. Yogo N. Mori N. Nagaoka
Doshisha University

1. Introduction
A switching overvoltage due to a circuit breaker
operation has been one of dominant factors to determine the
insulation level of a substation equipment. Thus, reduction
of the overvoltage is a significant subject to reduce the
insulation level and to optimize insulation co-ordination of
the substation and a transmission line. A circuit breaker
with a closing and opening resistor is widely adopted to
reduce the switching overvoltage. The reduction is, in
general, expected to be 2.0pu or less, although it can be
farther reduced in theory by adopting a resistance same as
the surge impedance of the transmission line. The limit
comes from the thermal capacity of the resistor during fault
current interruption.
The paper proposes a circuit breaker with multiple
resistors. As is clear from a parallel resistance circuit, each
resistance of the parallel ones is greater than the total
resistance of the parallel circuit. Thus, an optimum
resistance to reduce the switching overvoltage is easily
achieved by a parallel combination of the resistors, and at
the same time a thermal requirement of the resistors is
reduced because of the greater resistance and less insertion
time to a circuit. The principle of the multiple resistor
circuit breaker follows an ideal circuit breaker of which the
resistance starts from infinite and ends up zero, similar to a
semiconductor circuit breaker.
The paper caries out switching surge simulations on
transmission lines from 77kV to 1100kV with various line
length both for closing and fault clearing surges by using
EMTP simulations[1]. Based on the simulation results,
various conditions of multiple resistors and switching
instance are investigated to reduce the switching
overvoltages to a desired level, and the effectiveness of the
proposed circuit breaker is discussed.

coefficient 1 seen form the CB to the line in the following

equation[2].
( 1)
V1 = 1 E , 1 = 2Z 0 (RCB + Z 0 )
Fig. 3 shows a V1 -RCB characteristic for the closing
surge.
Fig. 2(b) illustrates an equivalent circuit of a fault
clearing surge. The voltage V2 is evaluated by using the
refraction coefficient 2 seen from the line to the CB.
( 2)
V2 = 2 E , 2 = 2RCB (RCB + Z 0 )
A dotted line in Fig. 3 is a V2 -RCB characteristic.
Assuming that the same resistance is used both for the
closing and fault clearing surges, the optimum value of the
resistance is given by :
( 3)
RCB = Z0
2.2Mulitple Resistors Circuit Breaker-MCB
Fig. 4 illustrates a circuit breaker with multiple
resistors(MCB). Switch S1 is closed at t=t 1 to insert
resistor R1 in the circuit. Next, switch S2 is closed at t=t 2

2. Multiple Resistors Circuit Breaker

2.1 Conventional circuit breaker with a single resistor
Fig. 1 illustrates a circuit breaker(CB) with a single
resistor(SCB). The principle of overvoltage reduction by
the SCB is explained in an equivalent circuit of the SCB
and a transmission line of the surge impedance Z0 shown in
Fig. 2. In the case of a closing surge, an optimum value of
RCB is determined by voltage V1 at the sending end of the
line to be 1pu when switch is closed at t=t 1 as shown in Fig.
2(a). The voltage V1 is evaluated by using the refraction

881

RCB

S1
line

S2

source

Fig. 1 CB with single resistor

RCB

V1
Z0
1

(a) Closing surge

RCB

V2

Z0

(b) Clearing surge

Fig. 2 Determinant of an optimum resistance RCB
switching overvoltage[pu]

Abstract: This paper proposes a circuit breaker with multiple

resistors. The proposed circuit breaker can reduce a closing
overvoltage to be less than 1.3pu. Also, the circuit breaker is
able to reduce a fault clearing overvoltage with much smaller
thermal capacity of the resistors in comparison with that of a
conventional circuit breaker with a single resistor. Furthermore,
the proposed circuit breaker can reduce a reclosing overvoltage
easily to less than 1.3pu.

clearing

1.5
1

closing

0.5
0

4
6
RCB /Z0
Fig. 3 Switching overvoltage-RCB characteristic

International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2002

0
1

(b) SCB (RCB =500)

surge voltage[pu]

1
0
0

time[ms]

(c) MCB (R1 =2k, R2 =700)

Fig. 5 Closing surge on a single-phase line
(Z0 =500, x=60km)

2.3 Basic investigation of the effect of the MCB

Fig.5 shows EMTP simulation results of a closing
surge on a single-phase transmission line with an infinite
bus which produces the severest overvoltage[3]. In the
case of no resistor, the closing surge overvoltage is 2pu as
observed in Fig. 5(a) corresponding to a traveling wave
theory as is well-known[2].
In the SCB case, the
overvoltage generated at the instance of inserting resistor
RCB=500 is less than 1pu, but it reaches 2pu at the
instance of short-circuiting RCB as observed in Fig. 5(b).
On the contrary, the maximum voltage in the case of the
proposed MCB is only about 1.3pu as in Fig. 5(c).
3. Effect of MCB
The reduction effect of switching overvoltages by
means of the proposed MCB is investigated in comparison
with a conventional circuit breaker with a single
resistor(SCB), and an optimum condition of the multiple
resistors is discussed based on EMTP simulations.
3.1 EMTP simulations
Fig. 6 illustrates a model system of switching surge
simulations by the EMTP[1]. A typical configuration of a
twin-circuit transmission line is shown in Fig. 7 for various
transmission voltages. The line length x and the source

CB

cct. 1

phase a

cct. 2
x
eb

CB

cct. 1
phase b
cct. 2

ec

CB

cct. 1

phase c

cct. 2
Fig. 6 A model system

GW1

GW2
22.4m
PWa

13.5m
11.8m
11.8m

PWb
PWc

15.9m
16.7m
17.5m

50cm
PWc
PWb
PWa

55.0m

(a) 500kV
GW1

GW2
20.8m
PWa

10.2m

R2

12.7m

line

12.7m

PWb
PWc

19.0m
19.9m
20.8m

50cm
PWc
PWb
PWa

27.2m

Rn

S0

(b) 1100kV

Fig. 4 CB with multiple resistors-MCB

Fig. 7 Various line configuration

882

F
XF

R1

ea

S2

time[ms]

( 6)

S1

For example, assume the first resistance R1 =5Z 0 in the

case of double resistors. Then, eq. (5) gives the following
result.
1 R1 + 1 R2 = 1 Z 0 with R1 = 5Z 0

Sn

(a) NO resistor

= 1 Z0

source

time[ms]

( 5)

R2 = 5Z 0 4

where t 1 <t 2 < < t n < t 0 .

Considering the condition of the optimum value of the
SCB in eq. (3), the following equation gives an optimum
condition of RCB in eq. (4).
i =1

(4)

1 R

n
t = tn : Sn closed, RCB = 1 Ri
i =1

t = t0 : main switch S0 c losed, RCB = 0

3
surge voltage[pu]

t = t2 : S2 closed, RCB = (1 R1 + 1 R2 )1

3
surge voltage[pu]

with resistor R2 . Then, the total resistance RCB is given as

the parallel resistance of R1 and R2 . The following gives
the switching sequence and the total resistance RCB.
t = t1 : S1 closed, R CB = R1

International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2002

Table 1 Cases investigated

3.2 Closing surge overvoltage

It has been known that a closing overvoltage is
severest when a CB is closed at the peak of a phase voltage.
For example, in the case of a three-phase line with the
source voltage of eq. (7) with f=50Hz,
line length [km]
phase a closed at the positive peak :
source inductance [mH]
ta=0 (a=t=0)
phase c closed at the negative peak :
(9)
tc2.78ms (c=/3)
3-phase closing sequence
phase b closed at the positive peak :
tb5.56ms (b =2/3)
Also, the three-phase closing sequence of all the
phases at the positive (or negative) peak produces a severe
CB resistor Ri
overvoltage. Above the three-phase closing condition,
closing sequence of a CB :
three are a number of parameters such as the switching
t i-t i-1 [ms]
sequence and the values of resistors in eq. (4) for a CB in
inductance L are changed as a parameter in the EMTP one phase. The CB conditions are summarized in Table 1.
Fig. 8 shows an example of EMTP simulation results
simulations. Cases investigated are summarized in Table 1.
for
the
maximum closing overvoltage versus CB conditions.
The source voltage is given as a symmetrical three-phase
It
the
figure,
the horizontal axis of the case number means :
cosin wave.
1)
3-phase
closing
: 1, 3, 5=simultaneous 3-phase closing at
ea (t ) = E cos(t ) ,
sequence
t=0
( 7)
eb (t ) = E cos(t 2 3) ,
2, 4, 6=closing sequence in eq.(9)
2) type of CB 1, 2 : CB with no closing resistor (NCB)
ec (t ) = E cos(t 4 3)
3, 4 : CB with a single resistor
where E=1pu, f=50, 60Hz
RCB=500 (SCB)
The transmission line is represented by Dommels line
4,
6
:
CB
with double resistors
model, i.e. a distributed line with constant attenuation,
R
=2k,
R2 =750 (MCB)
1
velocity, surge impedance and transformation matrix
The
simultaneous
closing
overvoltage (case1) is far
evaluated by the EMTP subroutine Line Constants at a
fixed frequency which is given as a dominant transient smaller than the overvoltage (case2) generated by the
closing sequence in eq. (9). It is clear in the figure that the
frequency ft of the line defined in the following form[2].
overvoltage is the highest in the case of the CB with no
open-circuited line : ft =1/4
resistor, and tends to decrease as the number of CB resistors
( 8)
short-circuited line : ft =1/2
increases. It should be noted that the overvoltages are
where =x/v : one travel time along the line
reduced by the MCB always less than about 1.3pu, which
x : line length, v : propagation velocity
corresponds to the theoretical value of a temporary AC
There exists a frequency-dependent line model called
overvoltage generated on a sound phase during a single line
Martis model. The Marti model, however, can not deal
to ground fault[4, 5], while some of the overvoltages reach
with the frequency-dependent transformation matrix, which
1.5pu in the SCB case.
Considering technical and
is quite heavy in an untransposed vertical twin-circuit line
economical disadvantages of the MCB with multiple
shown in Fig. 7[2]. Thus, the accuracy of the Marti model
is not guaranteed in such the line case.
transmission line

77kV
500kV, Fig. 7(a)
1100kV, Fig. 7(b)
30, 60, 100, 150
0 : infinite bus
50, 100
simultaneous
a =b=c
sequential
a =0, c =/3, b=2/3
sequential
a =0, b=2/3, c =4/3,
10k, 5k, 2k, 750, 500
2, 5, 10

2.5

2.5
overvoltage[pu]

overvoltage[pu]

1.5
1

0.5
0

2
1.5
1
0.5

3
4
case No.

3
4
case No.

phase a
phase b
phase c
(a) 500kV line with x=100km
(b) 1100kV line with x=150km
Fig. 8 Maximum closing overvoltage at the receiving vs CB condition

883

International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2002

resistors, it can be said that the MCB with double resistors

is the best among the cases investigated in the paper.

2
voltage[pu]

3.3 Fault clearing surge

Based on the investigation in the previous section, the
MCB only with double resistors (R1 =2k, R2 =750,
ti -ti-1 =5ms) is investigated in this section.
Fig. 9 shows EMTP simulation results of surge
voltages in a series of :
1) phase a to ground fault
: -8 <t<T1 10ms
2) fault clearing by CB
: t=T1
3) fault (arc) distinction
: T1 <t<T2
4) CB reclosing
: t=T2 40ms
The simulation is on the 1100kV line in Fig. 7(b) with
the length x=150km and the source inductance L=50mH,
and the fault initiates at the center of the phase a (xF =75km).
Fig. 9(a) is the case of a CB with no resistor, (b) SCB
(RCB=750) and (c) MCB. Table 2 summarizes the
maximum fault clearing overvoltage in each case and the
thermal requirement of the CB resistors. The overvoltage
1.35pu in the case of the no resistor CB is reduced to
1.15pu by the MCB.
Furthermore, the thermal
requirement of the resistors of the MCB becomes much
smaller than that of the SCB.

case
no resistor
SCB
MCB

-1

20

40
60
time[ms]

node F
2.168
1.138
-1.123

80

100

80

100

80

100

(a) CB with no resistor

voltage[pu]

2
1
0
-1
-2
0

20

40
60
time[ms]
(b) SCB

voltage[pu]

2
1
0
-1
-2
0

20

40
60
time[ms]

(C) MCB
Fig. 9 Simulation results of fault clearing and reclosing surges at the fault
position on phase a of cct. 2

5. References
[1] W. Scott-Meyer : ATP Rule Book, B.P.A., Portland, April 1982.
[2] A. Ametani : Distributed-Parameter Line Theory, Corona Pub. Co.,
Tokyo, Feb. 1990.
[3] CIGRE WG13-05 : The calculation of switching surges, Electra,
No.32, 1974 and No.62, 1979.
[4] Electrical Engineering Handbook, IEE of Japan, Tokyo.
[5] JEC-102-1994 : High voltage testing method, IEE of Japan, 1994.

Table 2 Maximum fault clearing overvoltage and thermal requirement of CB resistor

phase a [pu]
phase b [pu]
phase c[pu]
node F
node R
node F
node R
node F
node R
-1.354
1.0
-1.137
1.099
1.127
1.117
-1.388
-1.388
1.073
1.099
-1.390
1.153
-1.155
1.147
1.073
1.021
1.131
1.155

phase a [pu]
case
no resistor
SCB
MCB

-2

3.4 Reclosing surge

Table 3 shows the maximum overvoltage of a reclosing
surge of which the waveform is given in Fig. 9. It should
be clear in the table and the figure the effectiveness of the
MCB to reduce the reclosing overvoltage.
4. Conclusions
Based on EMTP simulations of switching surges, the
following observation has been made for the proposed
multiple resistors circuit breaker.
1) Two resistors are sufficient as multiple resistors to reduce
switching overvoltages due to closing and fault cleaning.
2) With the total resistance of parallel resistors being nearly
equal to a line surge impedance, the switching overvoltages
are reduced to about 1.3pu or less both for
closing(reclosing) and fault clearing.
3) The thermal requirement of the resistors in the proposed
circuit breaker can be greatly reduced in comparison with
that in a conventional single resistor circuit breaker.
A further investigation is required for technical
feasibility and cost performance in comparison with a
conventional circuit breaker and with a phase-controlled
circuit breaker.

Table 3 Reclosing overvoltage

phase b [pu]
node R
node F
node R
2.294
-1.376
1.385
1.140
1.115
1.169
-1.147
-1.061
-1.072

884

thermal
[MJ]
?
12.7
8.4

phase c [pu]
node F
-1.655
1.057
-1.029

node R
1.432
-1.050
1.033