Documentation By

S.THIRUMAL
thirualeee@gmail.com

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Introduction
With ever increasing the power demand now we are gone the step up voltage
of 800kV and above level in AC system 500kV and above in DC system same kind we
are committed to ensure the land demand. Due to this system and requirements we are
shifted to the Gas Insulated Substation.

AIS H-GIS GIS

5696 3776 882
AREA
(100%) (66%) (15%)
227840 151040 12348
VOLUME
(100%) (66%) (5%)

In GIS parts are protected from deterioration of exposure atmospheric air,

moisture, pollution ect. And as such longer life more reliable and less maintenance In
current power industry nowadays, High Voltage Apparatus with gas (SF6) insulation is
the main player. Nearly all new main intake substations are using Gas Insulated
Switchgears (GIS). It seems that a lot of people in the industry tends to think that GIS is
better than liquid insulated switchgears. There are some who feels that liquid insulated
switchgears are already obsolete and GIS is the way of the future. I have asked some of
my colleague on which is the better insulation between SF6 and oil. Not suprisingly all of
them says SF6 has better insulation capability than oil. However this is not true. In the
previous post in Gas Insulation, Paschen's Law states that the breakdown voltage is the
function of pressure multiply by distance of gap (Vs=f(p x d). ). We know that liquid is
denser than gas which means that liquid has more pressure. When we relate this with
Paschen's Law, it is proven that liquid acts as a far better insulation than gas. Liquid also
quench the arc faster than gas and has the capability to dissipate the heat better than gas
The picture below shows the movement of electron from cathode to anode in two
different types of insulation. In gas insulation medium, the distance between molecules of
the gas is wide apart so electron can move easily. So avalanche can easily occur which in
turn will create insulation breakdown. However in liquid insulation medium, the

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configuration of molecules is very near and the number of molecules are much higher
than in gas insulation medium. This means that liquid is much denser than gas and leave
a little space for electron to move.

The concept is as same as when you are speeding on a highway like a Mat Rempit. If
there are a lot of cars on the highway, you cannot ride your motorcycle very fast. But if
there are only two or three cars on the highway, then you can speed like the highway is
owned by your father. A word of advice, please ride and drive carefully.

FIG-Electron movement in gas insulation FIG-2 Electron movement in

Liquid insulation
Inductive instrument transformers for metering and protection

For measurement and protection purposes inductive, single

phase current and voltage transformers are used, sometimes also
three phase modern current and voltage sensors. In general voltage
transformers are located in a single enclosure, separated from the
residual part of the bay with a barrier insulator. The current
transformer is normally integrated in the circuit breaker. Alternatively,
a solution in a separate enclosure can be selected. The primary sided
insulation is provided by SF6-gas for both, current and voltage
transformers. The terminals of the secondary windings are interfaced
to the substation via a terminal box consisting of a multiple bushing
disk and terminal blocks.
Inductive current transformers

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 The current transformer is designed as a low voltage
transformer. The available transformation ratios, apparent output
power, accuracy classes, etc. of the transformers correspond to the
normal requirements of modern protection and measurement
technology. Current transformers are of toroidal core type. Depending
on the protection concept they can be arranged in front of or behind
the circuit breaker’s interrupting unit. Usually current transformers are
integrated into the flanges of the circuit breaker enclosure. Depending
on the apparent output power different separate enclosures with large
and small flange connections are available as well.

Inductive voltage transformer

Besides the standardized versions, the voltage transformer
portfolio contains variants with Ferro-resonance damping as well as
voltage transformers with an integrated isolation device. In the latter
case a motor operated isolation device and a manually operated
isolation device are available. Voltage transformers with integrated
isolation devices are usually applied, when a cable test with a high DC
voltage on the feeder side is performed and the voltage transformer
was connected to the feeder sided cable. On the secondary side of the
voltage transformer, measurement windings and an open delta
winding for earth fault detection can be provided.

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 The voltage transformer contains side by side windings. The
layers loaded with high voltage are insulated from each other by a
plastic film. The intermediate spaces are impregnated in a special
process with SF6-gas.

Gas Insulated Transformer

Introduction
Since gas insulated transformer does not need the conservator, the height of
transformer room can be reduced. In addition, its non-flammability and non tank-
explosion characteristics can remove the fire fighting equipment from transformer room.
As a result, gas insulated transformer, gas insulated shunt reactor and GIS control panels
can be installed in the same room. With such arrangement, a fully SF6 gas insulated
substation can be recognized

Specifications and Ratings

Rising demand for electric power in large cities has encouraged large-scale substations to
be tucked away underground in overpopulated urban areas, leading to strong demand for
incombustible and non-explosive, large-capacity gas insulated transformers from the
view point of accident prevention and compactness of equipment. In line with this
requirement, several types of large-capacity gas insulated transformer have been
developed.
The gas-forced cooling type was considered to be available for up to approximately
60MVA, while all other gas insulated transformer with higher ratings are liquid cooled.
But the liquid cooling type has the disadvantage of a complex structure for liquid cooling.
Thus, TOSHIBA began development of gas forced cooling type gas insulated
transformer, making best use of accumulated experience, latest analyzing technique and
the results of innovative research activities. As a result, TOSHIBA has delivered 275kV-
300MVA gas cooled and gas insulated transformer, of which its structure is as simple as
the oil immersed type and is the largest capacity gas insulated transformer in the world.

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Realization of gas insulated transformer
Since heat capacity of SF6 gas is much smaller than that of insulating oil, the following
measures are taken into account.
1. Raise the SF6 gas pressure to 0.5MPa
2. Produce as large flow as possible by optimizing the layout of gas ducts in the windings
3. Develop high capacity gas blower with high reliability
4. Apply highly thermal-resistant insulating materials to raise the limit of winding
temperature rises

Internal structure of gas insulated transformer

ADVANTAGE OF GAS INSULATED TRANSFORMER

1. Non-flammability
Gas insulated transformers, using incombustible SF6 gas as a insulation and cooling
medium, enable to remove a fire fighting equipment from transformer room.

2. Tank-explosion Prevention
Pressure tank enables to withstand the pressure rise in case of internal fault.

3. Compactness
By directly coupling with gas-insulated switchgear, substation space can be minimized as
the result of compact facilities.

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4. Easy installation
Oil or liquid purifying process is not necessary in case of gas insulated transformer.

5. Easy inspection and maintenance work

Only SF6 gas pressure shall be basically monitored during periodically inspection.

6. Environmentally Friendly
The use of SF6 gas abolishes the risk of oil leakage.

Circuit breaker module

The central element of the gas-insulated switchgear is the three-pole
circuit breaker module enclosure
Comprising the following two main components:
• Interrupter unit
• Spring-stored energy operating mechanism
(single pole or common drive)
The design of the interrupter unit and of the operating mechanism is
based on proven and in most cases identical designs, which have often
been applied for outdoor switchgear installations.

Operating mechanism

The spring-stored energy operating mechanism provides the

force for opening and closing the circuit breaker. It is installed in
compact corrosion free aluminum housing. The closing spring and the
opening spring are arranged so as to ensure good visibility in the
operating mechanism block. The entire operating mechanism unit is
completely isolated from the SF6 gas compartments. Antifriction
bearings and a maintenance free charging mechanism ensure decades
of reliable operation. Proven design principles of Siemens circuit
breakers are used, such as vibration-isolated latches and load free

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decoupling of the charging mechanism. The operating mechanism
offers the following advantages:
 Defined switching position which is securely maintained even if
the auxiliary power supply fails
 Tripping is possible irrespective of the status of the closing
spring
 High number of mechanical operations Low number of
mechanical parts Compact design.

Interrupter unit

The interrupter unit used in the circuit breaker for arc-quenching

operates on the self-compression principle. Owing to the low amount of
drive energy
required, the mechanical forces involved are minimal. This has a
positive effect on the stressing of both the circuit breaker and the
enclosure. The same
interrupter unit is used for single pole and common drive.

The current path

In the case of a self-compression circuit breaker, the current path

is formed by the contact support
(1), the base (6), and the moving contact cylinder (5). In the closed
condition, the operating current flows through the main contact (3). An
arcing
contact (4) is connected in parallel to the main contact.

Interruption of operating current

During the breaking operation, the main contact (3) opens first
and the current commutates on the arcing contact (4), which is still
closed. This avoids erosion of the main contact. As the breaking opera

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tion progresses, an arc develops between the contacts (4).
Simultaneously, the contact cylinder (5) moves into the base (6) and
compresses the remaining arc-quenching gas. The compressed arc
quenching gas flows through the contact cylinder (5) into the contact
gap and extinguishes the arc.

Interruption of fault current

If the short circuit current is high, the arc-quenching gas at the
arcing contact is heated considerably by the arc’s energy. This leads to
a pressure rise in the contact cylinder. Consequently, the energy
required for producing the arc-quenching pressure does not have to be
supplied by the operating mechanism. As the switching operation
progresses, the fixed arcing contact releases the outflow from the
nozzle (2). The gas now flows out of the contact cylinder and through
the nozzle, thus extinguishing the arc.

Arc-quenching principle
1. Contact support
2. Nozzle
3. Main contact
4. Arcing contact
5. Contact cylinder
6. Base

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High-speed Earthing switch
The high-speed Earthing switch used is of the so-called “pin-
type”. In this type of switch, the Earthing pin at earth potential is
pushed into the tulip-shaped fixed contact. The earthing switch is
equipped with a spring-operated mechanism, charged by an electric
motor.

Control and monitoring – consistent and flexible control and protection

Proven switchgear control

All the elements required for control and monitoring are

accommodated in a decentralized arrangement in the high-voltage

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switching devices. The switching device control systems are factory-
tested and the Switchgear is usually supplied with bay-internal cabling
all the way to the integrated local control cubicle. This minimizes the
time required for commissioning and reduces the possibilities of error.
By default, the control and monitoring system is implemented with
electromechanical components. Alter natively, digital intelligent control
and protection systems including comprehensive diagnostics and
monitoring functions are available. More detailed information on
condition of the substation state permits condition-based maintenance.
This consequently reduces life cycle costs even further

Gas monitoring

Each bay is divided into functionally distinct gas compartments

(circuit breaker, disconnector, voltage transformer, etc.). The gas
compartments are constantly observed by means of density monitors
with integrated indicators; any deviations are indicated as soon as they
arrive at the defined response threshold. The optionally available
monitoring system includes sensors that allow remote monitoring and
Trend forecasts for each gas compartment.

Flexible and reliable protection in bay and substation control

Control and feeder protection are generally accommodated in

the local control cubicle, which is itself integrated in the operating
panel of the switchgear bay. This substantially reduces the amount of
time and space required for commissioning. Alternatively, a version of
the local control cubicle for installation separate from the switchgear is
available. Thus, different requirements with respect to the
arrangement of the control and protection components are easy to
meet. The cabling between the separately installed local control
cubicle and the high-voltage switching devices is effected via coded

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plugs, which minimizes both the effort involved and the risk of cabling
errors. Of course we can supply high-voltage switchgear with any
customary bay and substation control equipment upon request.
We provide uniform systems to meet your individual
requirements.
Neutral interfaces in the switchgear control allow interfacing
 Conventional control systems with contactor interlocking and
control panel
 digital control and protection comprising user friendly bay
controllers and substation automation with PC operator station
(HMI)
 Intelligent, uniformly networked digital control and protection
systems with supplementary monitoring and telediagnostics
functions.

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