Jasmin Smajic, Roman Obrist, Martin Regg, Thomas Franz

Modeling, Simulation, and Experimental Verification

of Fast- and Very Fast Electromagnetic Transients
University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland (HSR)
Institute of Energy Technology (IET)
Oberseestrasse 10, CH-8640 Rapperswil, Switzerland
jasmin.smajic@hsr.ch

University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

Outline
n Introduction
n Electromagnetic transients in power system components
n HF modeling and simulation of power and distribution transformers
n Lightning impulse (LI) overvoltages and fast transients
n HF modeling and simulation of gas insulated switchgears
n Very fast transients
n Conclusions

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Introduction
n Electromagnetic transients in power system components [1]:
n Origin: sudden change in the steady state values of voltages or currents (lightning
stroke, system malfunction, normal operation switching operation, switching
operation to clear a fault, etc).
n Duration, i.e. frequency range:
n LI-overvoltages: according to the IEC standard 1.2s/50s (<1MHz).
n Fast transients: as an example in a combination of a transformer, vacuum
CB, and cable with the rise time around 0.1s (or even shorter) (<10MHz)
n Very fast transients: for example in GIS with the rise time of around 5ns
(<100MHz)

[1] J.P. Bickford, A.G. Heaton, Transient Overvoltages on Power Systems,

IEE Proceedings, Vol. 133, No. 4, 1986.
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Introduction
n LI- and fast transients in power and distribution transformers [2]
n HF transformer modeling and simulation
n Experimental verification of the results
n Very fast transients in gas insulated switchgears (GIS) [3]
n Full-Maxwell modeling and simulation of VFTs in GIS
n Mitigation of VFTs in GIS
n Experimental verification of the results
[2] J. Smajic, T. Steinmetz, M. Regg, Z. Tanasic, R. Obrist, J. Tepper, B. Weber, M. Carlen,
Simulation and Measurement of Lightning-impulse Voltage Distributions Over Transformer Windings, IEEE
Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 50, No. 2, Article#: 7013604, February 2014.
[3] J. Smajic, A. Shoory, S. Burow, W. Holaus, U. Riechert, S. Tenbohlen,
Simulation Based Design of HF Resonators for Damping Very Fast Transients in GIS, IEEE Transactions on
Power Delivery, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 2528-2533, December 2014.
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LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

1.2s / 50s impulse:

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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

1.2s / 50s impulse:

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=/ ()

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Accurate Full-Maxwell Approach
Boundary initial value problem (BIVP):

(1/)+0/+00/(/)=0, (,,)3
=0, (,,)2
(1/)0//()=20/(0), (,,)
2

=0, =0, (,,)3

J. Smajic et al., Transient Full-Maxwell Computation of Slow Processes, in Scientific

Computing in Electrical Engineering (SCEE 2010), Mathematics in Industry, Vol. 16, Part
2, pp. 87-95, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2012.
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LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Accurate Full-Maxwell Approach
Vector Finite Element Method (FEM) is required for this analysis.

Linear vector tetrahedral element:

(,,,)= (,,)()

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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Accurate Full-Maxwell Approach

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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Accurate Full-Maxwell Approach

J. Smajic et al., Transient Full-Maxwell Computation of Slow Processes, in Scientific

Computing in Electrical Engineering (SCEE 2010), Mathematics in Industry, Vol. 16, Part
2, pp. 87-95, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2012.
10
University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Accurate Full-Maxwell Approach

J. Smajic et al., Transient Full-Maxwell Computation of Slow Processes, in Scientific

Computing in Electrical Engineering (SCEE 2010), Mathematics in Industry, Vol. 16, Part
2, pp. 87-95, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2012.
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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Novel Approach: Winding Modeling in Its Full Complexity
A 4-turn winding model as an example:

[2] J. Smajic, T. Steinmetz, M. Regg, Z. Tanasic, R. Obrist, J. Tepper, B. Weber, M. Carlen,

Simulation and Measurement of Lightning-impulse Voltage Distributions Over Transformer Windings, IEEE
Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 50, No. 2, Article#: 7013604, February 2014.
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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Novel Approach: Winding Modeling in Its Full Complexity
Structure of the equation system:

C-matrix (left) and L-matrix in logarithmic scale:

[2] J. Smajic, T. Steinmetz, M. Regg, Z. Tanasic, R. Obrist, J. Tepper, B. Weber, M. Carlen,

Simulation and Measurement of Lightning-impulse Voltage Distributions Over Transformer Windings, IEEE
Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 50, No. 2, Article#: 7013604, February 2014.
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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Example: dry-type 1600kVA VCC transformer.

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LI- and Fast Transients in Power and Distribution Transformers

Example: dry-type 1600kVA VCC transformer.

E-field

Voltage distribution

[2] J. Smajic, T. Steinmetz, M. Regg, Z. Tanasic, R. Obrist, J. Tepper, B. Weber, M. Carlen,

Simulation and Measurement of Lightning-impulse Voltage Distributions Over Transformer Windings, IEEE
Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 50, No. 2, Article#: 7013604, February 2014.
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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

1100kV AC Jingman Substation in China

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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

Contact separation
Moving contact

Fixed contact
1

Shaft

0.8
0.6

Voltage is high
enough to
ignite a spark

0.4

Circuit
breakers
side

0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1

Insulator

Transformers
side

Additional
shield

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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

Floating potential conductor

Network voltage

0.06

Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

Weak form of the BIVP:

() r

r
r
r
r 0 r r r

A
A
Ni 0 t 0 r t + 0 t dV Ni Z PORT t n n A
( )

PORT
r r r
n n E0 dS

r
r
1
A N i dV +

r 2 0
N
i

Z PORT
PORT

dS =

Linear system of equations:

[T ]

2 { A}
t

(t ) + ([ R] [Q])

{ A}
t

(t ) + [ S ]{ A} (t ) = { f } (t )

[4] J. Smajic, W. Holaus, J. Kostovic, U. Riechert, 3D Full-Maxwell Simulations of Very Fast Transients in GIS,
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 1154-1517, May 2011.
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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

[4] J. Smajic, W. Holaus, J. Kostovic, U. Riechert, 3D Full-Maxwell Simulations of Very Fast Transients in GIS,
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 1154-1517, May 2011.
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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

[4] J. Smajic, W. Holaus, J. Kostovic, U. Riechert, 3D Full-Maxwell Simulations of Very Fast Transients in GIS,
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 1154-1517, May 2011.
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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

[4] J. Smajic, W. Holaus, J. Kostovic, U. Riechert, 3D Full-Maxwell Simulations of Very Fast Transients in GIS,
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 1154-1517, May 2011.
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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

HF resonator:

J. Smajic, W. Holaus, M. Seeger, F. Greuter, A. Iordanidis, U. Riechert, Conductor Arrangement for Reducing
Impact of Very Fast Transients, European Patent Office, Application/Patent No. 11174464.5 1231, Date of
filing: 19.07.2011.
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Very Fast Transients in Gas Insulated Switchgears

Experimental verification:

[3] J. Smajic, A. Shoory, S. Burow, W. Holaus, U. Riechert, S. Tenbohlen,

Simulation Based Design of HF Resonators for Damping Very Fast Transients in GIS, IEEE Transactions on
Power Delivery, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 2528-2533, December 2014.
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University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

Conclusions (Transformers)
The suggested method is mathematically well founded, stable, accurate and
efficient.
Due to its generality the presented method can be used in case of very complex
windings (transformers for 36-pulse rectifiers, for example).
The disagreement between the simulations and measurements in terms of both
the oscillation frequencies and the voltage peaks stays below 20%.
Considering the complexity of the analysis this accuracy is sufficient for the daily
design.

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Conclusions (GIS)
Full-Maxwell 3-D simulation of the VFTs in GIS are feasible.
The results of the 3-D VFT simulations improve our understanding of the
phenomenon.
The presented simulations reveal critical places of the given GIS design.
The 3-D time-domain VFT simulations enable parameter studies and design
optimization.
Simulation based resonator design was confirmed by experiments.
Efficiency of the resonator at damping the VFTs was confirmed by
measurements.

All simulation models are wrong, but some are useful!

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