Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

VFT Study for EHV-GIS Substation

Amit Kumar and Mahesh K. Mishra, Member, IEEE


attenuation. However due to geometrical structure of GIS and

the enclosure material, skin losses are usually neglected [3].
Very fast electromagnetic transients caused by switching
operations in gas insulated substations (GIS) cannot be
calculated if conventional techniques of modeling and
simulations are used. Choice and adjustments of the most
suitable models as well as determinations of their limitations
in digital simulations of very fast transients in GIS are very
important. Results obtained from very extensive field tests as
well as from digital simulations for different types of GIS
have been used for development of more accurate models for
GIS components and GIS as whole. A comparison between
field test and calculation results enables development of a
model which takes into account the most decisive physical
phenomena inherent to the very fast transients in the GIS.
Modeling can be divided into different parts which as a whole
make the complete system [2] - [6]. Equivalent circuits of
various GIS components have been given in Table I. Busbar
can be modeled as the lossless distributed parameter
transmission line with an impedance of 95 . Spacer can be
represented by a capacitance of value exceeding 20 pF. For
elbows a capacitor of value 6 pF can be used. The modeling of
closed switch and disconnector can be done using distributed
parameter lines with surge impedance of 42 has been used.
Open disconnector is represented by a capacitor of value 4 pF.
Bushing has been modeled using a short transmission line in
series with a capacitor. The surge impedance of the line is 126
and capacitor has been taken of any value greater than 10
pF. A fixed resistance in series with a variable resistance
represents the modeling of spark resistance. Capacitive
voltage transformer is represented by a capacitor. Aerial line
is modeled using the surge impedance of line.

Abstract One of the primary requirements in the planning and

design of the power system is reliability. The major cause of power
system interruption is due to insulation failure resulting from over
voltages in the power system. The objective of this paper is to
simulate an EHV-GIS substation and to study what is effect of the
generated VFT (very fast transient) in EHV-GIS system. The
system has been modeled and simulated using PSCAD 4.2.1.

I. INTRODUCTION
Gas insulated substations (GIS) have found an increasingly
wide range of application during the last three decades
because of their remarkable advantages over their
conventional counterparts. These advantages include
compactness, freedom from environmental influences, high
reliability and minimum maintenance, excellent protection
against atmospheric over voltages and flexibility in choice of
arrangement and for future expansion. The development of
GIS technology has made it competitive and, in many cases,
preferable in techno- economic comparison with the open-air
type substation. In spite of these merits, GIS has its unique
problems, among which is the susceptibility of the insulation
system under very fast transients (VFT) caused by
disconnector operation [1].
For accurate and reliable study of the transients it is essential
to replicate the system corresponding to frequency range in
which transients occur. Very fast transients belong to highest
frequency range. This means that the model used should be
suitable for the frequencies 100 kHz to 50 MHz [2]. Main
subject of very fast transients are effects in Gas insulated
substations (GIS). Modeling and effects of GIS are therefore
main subjects of this paper. This paper summarizes the results
obtained with the help of computer simulation.

III. SIMULATION STUDY OF EHV-GIS SUBSTATION

For the purpose of modeling and simulation a 420KV GIS has
been taken. It consists of one incoming line feeder bay and
one outgoing feeder with transformer. Block diagram of this
system is shown in Fig.1. The system used consists of a
double bus bar with sectionalizers. According to their internal
design all parts of GIS has been represented thoroughly by
line sections with the corresponding surge impedance and
traveling time and by lumped capacitance for spacers and
additional capacitance caused by shielding devices [5]. The
behavior of the spark in the disconnect switch during closing
operation is represented by a fixed resistance of Rf =0.5 ohm
in series with an exponentially decreasing resistance R=R0e-t/T,
R0 = 1012 and T=1 ns resulting in a time duration of voltage
breakdown of about 10 ns. After the successful modeling of
the GIS substations voltages are measured at different points
as Em1 to Em5. Em1 shows the voltage stress at connection

II. MODELLING OF EHV-GIS SUBSTATION

The quality of the simulation depends on the quality of the
model of each individual GIS component. In order to achieve
reasonable results even for longer time periods of some microseconds or for very complex GIS structures highly accurate
models for each of the internal equipment and also for
components connected to the GIS are necessary. Due to
traveling wave nature of VFT, modeling of GIS components
make use of electrical equivalent circuits composed of lumped
elements and distributed parameters lines. At very high
frequencies, the skin losses can produce a noticeable

Amit Kumar (e-mail: amitthakur13@gmail.com) and Mahesk K.
Mishra (e-mail: mahesh@ee.iitm.ac.in) are with the department of Electrical
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.

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Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

inside the transformer between bushing and transformer

winding. Em2 shows the high frequency oscillations at the
GIS side of transformer bushing. Em3 shows the voltage
oscillations at the end of busbar ss2. Em4 shows the voltage at
oscillations at busbar ss1 and Em5 shows the voltage
oscillations in the transformer feeder at the end of closed
disconnector. This system has been modeled using the
electromagnetic transient program PSCAD 4.2.1 and will be
used for the further study. The actual simulated system has
been given in Appendix A.

Em2, Em3, Em4, and Em5. These points have been shown in
appendix B.
Incoming Line
Gas to ai r
Bushing

DS
TABLE I
EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT OF GIS COMPONENTS

Component

Equivalent
circuit

Notes

Spacer

Loss free distributed

parameter transmission line
of Z=95 ohm
C > 20 pF

Elbows

C= 6pF

Bus bar

DS- Disconnector
CB-Circuit Breaker

CB

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

Surge arrester
Closed switch

Short transmission line with

surge impedance = 42 ohm

Open switch

n= no. of breaking
chambers
Short transmission line with
surge impedance = 42 ohm
Capacitor with C=4 pF

Closed
Disconnector
Open
Disconnector
Disconnector
during sparking
Bushing(capaciti
ve type)

r=r(t) ; R=0.5 ohm, c=1F

Bushing
filled)

C >10pF , Zs = 126 ohm

(gas

BusbarSS1

BusbarSS2

n =number of equivalent
shields

Current
transformer

Can be represented by a
surge impedance only ,
sometimes negligible

Capacitive
voltage
transformer

Value depends on the CVT

used

CB

Earth connection
Aerial line

DS

r =surge impedance

DS
IV. RESULTS
Simulation results of the VFT studies have been taken in three
different cases. The time step for simulation is 0.01ms In case
1, normal lengths of the system given in appendix A have
been used, In case 2, the length of busbar has been changed to
the double of the given length and In case 3, lengths of the
disconnector and bushing have been changed.

Load

Transformer

Gas to oil
Bushing

Fig. 1. Block diagram of the system used for the simulation

Case 1: There are five points at which VFT over voltages have
been measured. These VFT Over voltages are given by Em1,

14

Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

Fig. 2 (a). VFT over voltage Em1

Fig. 4 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em3

Fig. 2 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em1

Fig. 5 (a). VFT over voltage Em4

Fig. 3 (a). VFT Over voltage Em2

Fig. 5 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em4

Fig. 3 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em2

Fig. 6 (a). VFT over voltage Em5

Fig. 4 (a). VFT over voltage Em3

Fig. 6 (b). Enlarged version of the VFT over voltage Em5

15

Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

420

The voltage stress Em1 measured at the connection inside the

transformer between bushing and the transformer winding is
shown in Fig. 2 (a) and (b). The voltage stress Em2 which
represents the high frequency oscillations at the GIS side of
transformer bushing is shown in Fig. 3 (a) and (b). The
voltage stress Em3 measured at the end of switched busbar
can be seen in Fig. 4 (a) and (b). The voltage stress Em4
measured at the switched busbar is shown in Fig. 5 (a) and
(b). The voltage stress Em5 measured at the disconnector end
of the system is shown in Fig. 6 (a) and (b). The transient
frequency of the very fast transients measured is 1 MHz at
each location in this case. Results obtained in this case are
given in Table II.

Transient
frequency
1

PU values

Em1

VFT
MagnitudE
610

Em2
Em3

600
650

1
1

1.43
1.55

420

Em4

450

1.07

420

Em5

600

1.43

VFTO

420
420

TABLE III
VALUES OF THE VFTO AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN GIS SYSTEM FOR
CHANGED BUSBAR LENGTH
Transient
PU values
Base
VFTO
VFT
frequency
value
MagnitudE
420
Em1
564
1
1.34
560
735

1
1.6

1.33
1.75

420

Em4

481

1.4

1.15

420

Em5

600

1.43

1.43

From the results obtained in all the cases we can observe that
in case 1 where the length of the lines and components are
taken as given in appendix A, the values of the VFT over
voltages measured at different locations are Em1, Em2, Em3,
Em4 and Em5. The voltage stress measured at all of these
locations is less than 2 pu which means the system is protected
from the damage caused by the VFT over voltage. In this case
the transient frequency is 1 MHz at each of the measuring
location. In case 2, where the length of GIS busbar has been
changed, the magnitude is decreased for Em1 and Em2 but
frequency remains unchanged. There is no change in the VFT
magnitude Em5 and transient frequency at the disconnector
end. But at the busbar ends the magnitude and transient have
increased in this case. In case 3, where the lengths of
disconnector and busing have been changed, the VFT
magnitudes are almost same as in case 1. There has not been
any change in the transient frequency at any of the location in
this case. In case 2 and case 3 also the VFT magnitudes are
less than 2 pu at each location, so system is protected from
any kind of damage due to generation of the VFT. From these
3 cases we can conclude that change in the lengths of
disconnector and bushing does not affect the VFT magnitude
and transient frequency, but the change in busbar length
affects the VFT magnitude and transient frequency. So busbar
is the critical component in VFT study for EHV-GIS
substation. From the results we can also see that the obtained
are very consistent, so this model can also be used for the
VFT study in any GIS system.

Case 2: In this case the length of the busbar has been changed
to double of the given length and GIS components have same
values as discussed. The results obtained in this case are given
in Table III.

Em2
Em3

V. CONCLUSIONS

1.45

420
420

600

From the Table IV, we observe that with the change in

disconnector and bushing length there has not been any major
change in magnitudes at transformer end. The VFT
magnitudes Em1 and Em2 are almost same as in case 1. The
VFT magnitudes at busbars Em3 and Em4 are also almost
same. From the above results we can also observe that has not
been any change in transient frequency at any of these five
points.

TABLE II
VALUES OF THE VFTO AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN GIS
Base
value
420

Em5

From Table III we can see that when the lengths of busbars
have been doubled, the VFT magnitudes and transient
frequencies, Em3 and Em4 have gone up, while at the
transformer end the VFT magnitudes Em1 and Em2 have
come down. There is no change observed in transient
frequencies at these points.

APPENDIX A
A. 1- Details of simulation data for transformer feeder
Branch
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
7-9
9-10
10-11
11-12
12-13
13-14
13-15

Case 3: In this case the lengths of disconnector and bushing

have been changed, while other components have same
lengths as discussed. The results obtained in this case are
given in Table IV.
TABLE IV
VALUES OF THE VFTO AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN GIS SYSTEM FOR
CHANGED DISCONNECTOR AND BUSHING LENGTHS
Base
VFTO
VFT
Transient
PU values
Frequency
value
MagnitudE
420
Em1
617
1
1.47
420
Em2
594
1
1.41
420
Em3
622
1
1.48
420
Em4
454
1
1.08

16

Length
1.28
0.75
-0.30
0.45
0.45
0.15
0.75
0.15
0.30
1.10
1.15
1.20
0.75

Z ()
95
42
-42
95
95
42
42
42
42
95
95
95
42

C (pF)
--4
------------

Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008

15-16
16-17
17-18
18-19
19-20
20-21
21-22
22-23
23-24
24-25
8-25
17-26
26-27
27-28
28-29
29-30
30-31
31-32
32-33
31-34
34-35*
2-E
5-E
6-E
8-E
11-E
13-E
17-E
22-E
23-E
24-E
25-E
26-E
27-E
28-E
29-E
30-E
31-E
33-E
34-E

-0.30
0.65
0.40
1.10
0.30
0.70
1.10
1.15
0.70
2.30
0.80
0.90
0.80
0.90
1.50
0.80
0.60
0.60
11
2.30
--------------------

-42
95
42
42
95
95
66
66
95
95
95
72
95
95
95
95
95
25
25
126
--------------------

11-E

4
--------------------10
14
10
10
24
10
10
10
32
32
32
10
10
16
10
10
10
10
14

Length
1.8
2.7
5.6
0.90
0.85
0.15
0.20
1.80
7.4
1.8
--------

Z ()
157
157
157
157
104
104
104
157
157
157
--------

--

12

A. 3- Details of simulation data for transformer feeder

Branc
Length
Z ()
C (pF)
h
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
7-9
9-10
10-11
11-12
12-13
13-14
13-15
15-16*
16-17
17-18
18-19
19-20
20-21
21-22
22-23
23-24
24-25
8-25
17-26
26-27
27-28
28-29
27-30
30-31
31-32
32-33**
2-E
5-E
6-E
8-E
11-E
17-E
21-E
22-E
23-E
24-E
25-E
26-E
27-E
28-E
29-E
30-E
31-E

(*) special bushing arrangement

A. 2- Details of simulation data for busbar
Branch
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
7-9
9-10
10-11
1-E
2-E
3-E
4-E
8-E
9-E
10-E

--

C(pF)
----------12
3
3
3
3
3
3

1.20
0.75
0.15
0.30
0.45
0.45
0.15
0.75
-0.30
1.10
1.15
1.20
0.75
-0.30
0.65
0.40
1.10
0.30
0.70
1.10
1.15
0.70
2.30
0.80
0.90
0.60
0.60
4
0.15
0.1.5
4.9
------------------

95
42
42
42
95
95
42
42
-42
95
95
95
42
-42
95
42
42
95
95
66
66
95
95
95
72
95
25
95
95
95
95
------------------

--------4
-----4
------------------10
14
10
10
24
10
10
10
32
32
32
10
10
10
10
16
16

(*) by-pass disconnector switch

(**) special bushing arrangement
NoteThese values given in appendix A are used in
simulation purpose for different sections of the circuit.

17

Fifteenth National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), IIT Bombay, December 2008


APPENDIX B
Actual simulated model


Fig.7. Simulated Circuit
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485-490, September 1994.
[2] IEEE TF on Very Fast Transients (D. Povh, Chairman), "Modeling and
analysis guidelines for very fast transients," IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery,
vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 2028-2035, October 1996.
[3] Hirohiko Yatsuzuka, Manabu Takamoto, Masaharu Matsuyama, New
550-kV Gas-insulated Switchgear, Hitachi Review vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 285289,1999.
[4] ABB-Insulation Co-ordination Maharani bag, New Delhi, 2007.
[6] Z. Haznadar, S. Cariimamovid, R. Mahmutdehajid, More accurate
modeling of gas insulated substation components in digital simulations of
Very fast transients, Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 7 no. 1, pp. 434441, January 1992.
[7] M. Mohan Rao, M. Joy Thomas, and B. P. Singh, Frequency
characteristics of very fast transient currents in a 245 KV GIS, IEEE
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