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Increasing Capacity to Central Tokyo

T&D World Magazine

Hiroyuki Nakajima, Tokyo Electric Power Co.


Wed, 2014-10-01 15:10

Since the 1970s, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has been extending its extra-highextra
voltage (EHV) transmission network in the center of Tokyo, Japan, to supply the
increasing power demand. From the inner and outer circle of bulk power transmission
systems that surround
und Tokyo, many of the 275
275-kV and some of the 500--kV power cable
circuits are installed in the citys metropolitan areas. The majority of the EHV
substations in these areas are located in the basement of buildings to maintain
environmental harmony with the adjacent streets.
The practice of installing underground substations also is a business decision providing
an effective use of the citys land. It minimizes the long
long-term
term loss of tenant income to the
property owners that would occur if the substation was sited at ground level.
Alternatively, there are instances within the city where a redevelopment project leads to
the need to replace an existing underground substation with a larger
larger-capacity
capacity substation
to supply the increased demand for power.
In the construction
ruction of an underground substation in dense urban areas, the most
important consideration is disaster prevention. Another consideration is decreasing the
floor-to-ceiling
ceiling height of the underground substation, which can reduce the total cost of
construction
on significantly. In these situations, the installation of large-capacity
large
gasinsulated transformers (GITs) in underground substations is a key factor. Apart from
the reduction in total construction costs, underground substations with GITs are
designed to provide a reliable level of disaster prevention and a stable electric power
supply to the city.

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Features and Advantages

The large-capacity GITs are designed with high gas pressures (0.53 MPa-g [77 psi-g]) to
improve the insulation and cooling capacity. However, GITs with a capacity not
exceeding 100 MVA use comparatively low gas pressures (0.12 MPa-g [17 psi-g]).
The GITs core and winding consist of a simple structure similar to that used in
conventional oil-immersed transformers. The core and winding are cooled and insulated
by high-pressure SF6 gas. Taken from the lower side of the tank, the gas cools the core
and winding, is collected in the upper part of the tank and is returned to the radiator
and cooled. The transformer has a disc-type winding, and the internal gas flows in a
zigzag line by the gas stop collar. An excellent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film,
which is relatively heat-proof when compared with the insulating paper, is applied to the
stranded winding insulation.

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Large-capacity GITs have several advantages:


Only nonflammable materials are used; hence, there is no need for special firefighting
facilities in the substation.
GITs have excellent non-explosive performance. In the event of an internal failure, the
design and structure enclosing the compressible gas are superior to that used in the
design of oil-immersed transformers. Therefore, nonflammable and non-explosive
characteristics make GITs the safest large transformers.
Unlike oil-immersed transformers, GITs are a conservator-free structure, reducing the
overall height of the transformers. In practice, this results in a 2-m to 2.5-m (6.5-ft to
8.2-ft) reduction in the height of the transformer chambers. Also, it is not necessary to
install an oil basin or bung under the transformer. In addition to reducing the
substation construction costs because of the lower height and smaller area required for
the transformer chambers, there is no potential hazard from oil spills.
GITs can be installed together with gas-insulated switchgear in the same room because
similar SF6 gas pressures are used in these components. This can provide high
compactness and flexibility in the design layout of the substation.
Gas-insulated on-load tap changers (OLTCs) with vacuum interrupters are used on
GITs. This also contributes to the nonflammable characteristic of GITs and makes
maintenance work easy. Moreover, the installation of large GITs in suburban areas with
mountainous districts and in environmental protection areas has removed the anxiety of
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oil spills. Substations equipped with GITs have been positioned to supply railway and
private organizations.

TEPCOs Experience
TEPCO has been installing large-capacity GITs and gas-insulated reactors for
underground EHV substations in the Tokyo metropolitan area since 1989. TEPCOs
operational experience associated with GITs now totals 172 years, based on the number
of GITs and days in service, without a major failure.
In the construction of underground substations, the large-capacity GIT is an
indispensable technology combining safety and compactness while significantly
reducing the cost of constructing a substation. Because of all the advantages GITs
provide, they are regarded as a key component of underground substations in central
Tokyo. TEPCO is now constructing a large number of underground substations with
GITs.

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Future Outlook

GITs are planned for renewal projects in urban area locations where aging transformers
at EHV substations are being replaced. The large-capacity shunt reactor with capacities
ranging from 150 MVAR to 200 MVAR can be manufactured using the same technology.
Therefore, nonflammable, nonexplosive and compact gas-insulated substations are
realized by a combination of gas-insulated components.
As a result, the reliable power supply now installed in the city center of Tokyo city is
secured. Gas-insulated technology can be used for uprating voltage and capacity projects
because the development of GITs will continue to be lighter and more compact
compared with existing designs of oil-immersed transformers.
TEPCO is technically supporting the plan and practice to install underground
substations equipped with GITs. This decision is based on the utilitys operational
experience of these units and the benefits offered in terms of compactness, inherent
safety and cost savings attributable to the reduced cost of construction and
maintenance.

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Hiroyuki Nakajima (Nakajima.H@tepco.co.jp) is deputy manager of the substation engineering group in


the transmission department of Tokyo Electric Power Co. in Japan. He joined the utility in 1995 and was
previously engaged in work related to engineering and the development of substation equipment.
Nakajima holds BSEE and MSEE degrees from Ibaraki University.

Mentioned in this article:


TEPCO | www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html

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