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Session Twelve:
Fault Reduction Strategy using Neutral Earth Resistor
(NER) Installation
Cheng Lee
Lead Engineer, Peracon
Co-author : Frans Cloete, Peracon
Abstract
Fault level reduction is an ongoing challenge in a growing electrical network.
With generation and network capacity continually being added to the system,
the fault levels in various locations of a distribution network will soon approach
their maximum allowable design level. For electrical power distribution
companies there are a number of business drivers that force the
implementation of fault level reduction schemes.
While the general operation of Neutral Earthing Resistors (NER) for fault level
reduction is well understood, optimisation of the design under various network
configurations to yield maximum benefit requires detailed study. This paper
presents the studies carried out in assessing the impact of Neutral Earthing
Impedances of varying sizes for phase-ground faults on a generic network
with three different configurations:
Delta-Star Transformer configuration;
Star-Star Transformer configuration; and
Bus Tie CB Open (Delta-star Transformer configuration)
The impact of Transient Recovery Overvoltage (TRV) on selected zone
substation configuration resulting from the installation of NERs is also
presented.
1. INTRODUCTION
Fault level reduction is an ongoing task on a growing electrical network. With
increasing generation and network capacity added to the system, the fault
levels in various locations of a distribution network will approach their maximum
allowable design level.
For electrical power distribution companies, there are a number of business
drivers that result in the implementation of fault level reduction schemes. These
business drivers are:
The present 66/22kV systems under studied are solidly earthed (i.e. without
NER installed), which results in higher earth fault currents under fault condition.
With the expanding network, the situation is quickly worsened because the
existing switchgear and other equipment are not rated for the higher fault level.
These are shown graphically and mathematically as follows. Without the NER,
it can be seen that the Ifault will be naturally high.
66kV
22kV
RL
Ifault
Vs
Earth Potential Rise
NER
Re2 (Earth Resistance)
A commonly accepted and cost efficient approach to reduce the single phase to
ground fault level is to install a neutral earthing resistor on the transformer
neutral (as shown below).
66kV
22kV
NER
During the fault, the NER will form part of the positive, negative and zero
sequence circuits, providing a mean to control the Ifault, consequently a higher
NER value will result in a lower fault current. The simplified sequence circuits
for the symmetrical components to represent the unbalance condition under
single phase to ground fault are demonstrated graphically as follows:
I1
Z+
V1
Negative Sequence
Z-
V2
Zero Sequence
Z0
V0
Positive Sequence
I2
I0
I1 = I2 = I0
NER
While the general operation of Neutral Earthing Resistors for fault level
reduction is well understood, optimisation of the design under various network
configurations to yield maximum benefit requires detailed study. The studies
involved assessing the impact of Neutral Earthing Impedances of varying sizes
for phase-ground faults on a generic network with three different
configurations:
2. METHODOLOGY
The modeling and computation associated with fault and Temporary
Overvoltage (TOV) calculation was carried out using the load flow software.
The work associated with Transient Recovery Overvoltage (TRV) was carried
out using ATP software, a widely used EMTP software for the analysis of
electrical transient phenomenon.
The study has been performed by modeling the generic network (see
Figure 4) in the load flow program, and modifying it to reflect the required
transformer configuration and additional bus tie circuit breakers. Load flow
studies were then conducted for each configuration.
The NER fault studies (for the range of NER values) were conducted according
to IEC methodology for phase-ground faults at selected locations. The voltages
and fault currents were recorded and tabulated for various transformer
configurations with the 22kV bus tie CB both open and closed.
From these results, voltage rises on healthy phases for each study were
calculated and graphed at both the 22kV zone substation bus level and at the
415V LV customer level for each transformer configuration. The effects of the
Electrical Safety & Power System Protection Forum
NER on the LV customer level within the generic network were investigated
because the impact on customer voltages is one of the major benefits of neutral
earthed impedance installations.
It should be noted that all voltages specified herein are phase to ground
voltages. When the neutral earthing resistor value is zero, the phase to neutral
voltage is equivalent to the phase to ground voltage, i.e. solidly earthed.
The transient recovery overvoltage (TRV) was separately investigated using
ATP. The TRV results simulated based on the ATP models were compared
with accepted TRV ratings for 24kV circuit breaker specified in the Australian
Standard (AS-62271-100), both in terms of the levels of TRV and the rate of
rise of the recovery voltage.
Figure 1 shows a typical response of the phase voltages following the clearing
of a phase to ground fault.
Typical ATP Output
60
[kV]
40
20
-20
-40
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
v:SECB
0.25
0.30
0.35
[s]
0.40
v:SECC
66kV (Pri)
If
NER
Displaced
Voltage
TOV
Voltage
displacement
resulting from NER
66kV Bus
66kV Bus
NER
22kV Bus
Normally open CB
To LV (415V)
customer
To LV (415)
customer
4.2 Discussions
As illustrated in the diagrams below, the zero-sequence currents will flow in
both primary and secondary circuits in the case of star-star connection. For
delta-star, the zero-sequence currents will flow in the secondary circuit. It was
found that the 66/22kV transformer configurations have more minor and a
secondary impact on fault current mitigation, this outcome is not usually
expected because the configuration of source transformers (66/22kV) does
impact the fault currents. The reason for this minor impact is likely due to the
range of NER values being investigated.
Transformer Connection
Z0
But NERs do cause 22kV voltage rise for networks with bus tie CB closed, for
this reason, many utilities are still maintaining the solidly earthed approach.
Opening bus tie CBs offer a cost-effective means for mitigation of all fault
types. The drawback, though, is voltage depression on feeders connected to
affected bus section due to a weaker system.
On a network with a 8 NER, the phase voltage at the 415V customer level is
very steady at approximately 1.0 pu. This differs from the voltage displacement
observed at the 22kV bus voltage level where there is quite some disparity
between the phase voltages.
The reduced system model is mainly associated with finding suitable equivalent
impedance (or fault level) used to represent the system outside the study area.
The system outside the study area is normally represented by impedance
equivalent to the available short circuit level at a point distant from the
disturbance.
The single line diagrams of the zone substations and fault levels at the relevant
points of the network under study have been provided. To accurately capture
the electromagnetic transient response, all the relevant power system
components were modeled.
As all circuit breakers under investigation operate based on 3 pole operation, it
is appropriate to check both the level of TRV and TOV because while the
faulted phase is experiencing the TRV, the other two healthy phases are
experiencing TOV that could potentially present a risk of re-strike, even though
such risk is minimal.
Additionally, during all simulations, due to the time dependent nature of
transient studies, faults were applied at 0.001 second incremental time intervals
along the sine wave to find the point of worst case (i.e. producing maximum
TRV level) scenario.
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
200
205
210
215
220
10
2.600
2.400
2.200
2.000
1.800
1.600
1.400
1.200
1.000
0.800
0
TOV-NER-PU
TRV-NER-PU
TOV-NER-S2-PU
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constant that depends on the circuit damping and the fundamental frequency
component will remain until the fault is cleared.
Figure 12 NEX = 1
Figure 13 NER = 2
The TRV curve (orange line) in Figure 10 shows that the peak TRV levels occur
with NERs between 2 to 3 for one of the zone substations investigated.
However, this can vary slightly from one zone substation to another because it
is found that the behaviours of TRV are site specific and are dependent on the
transformer impedances, line impedances, and feeder impedances.
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We have assessed all TOV values corresponding to each TRV case simulated
and the results are presented for each zone substation under study. The study
found no TOV levels that are of any significant concern and the cases
investigated are generally in compliance with the Australia Standard.
The TRV results of the EMTP studies conducted for the three separately
located zone substations, identified as Substation A, Substation B and
Substation C are summarised in Table 1.
NEI
Zone
Sub
SA
Solidly Earthed
NEX=1
TRV
peak
value
TRV
peak
value
28.94kV
MLN
31.53kV
LVN
32.55kV
Within
41kv
Limit
27.36kV
31.73kV
32.89kV
NER=2
Within
41kv
Limit
TRV
peak
value
51.68kV
42.85kV
29.50kV
NER=8 (common)
Within
41kv
Limit
TRV
peak
value
21.49kV
24.94kV
26.34kV
Within
41kv
Limit
TOV observed is 1.87pu for Substation A, 1.89pu for Substation B, and 1.79pu for Substation C
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The Australian Standards (AS 62271.100) for 24kV circuit breakers have the
following TRV rating - TRV peak value of 41kV and time of 87s. This is the
standard by which the results within these studies were compared against. The
current set of 22kV bus circuit breakers are rated within the Australian
Standards specifications.
It is observed that all solidly earthed, 1 NEX and 8 NER (common) have
shown that the TRV values measured have response time within the Australian
Standards. Only some of the 2 NER cases have TRV response times (as well
as maximum TRV value) exceeding the Australian Standards.
6. CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this study resulted in the following key observations:
the use of a 8 common NER is favourable because it is evident from
the transient simulation that it provides an effective natural damping to
the high oscillation frequency components of TRV and therefore
presents the lowest TRV level across all the three zone substations
studied. In addition to lower TRV levels, the 8 common NER provides
additional consumer benefits in terms of improved voltage quality and
supply at 415V LV level. Although the temporary overvoltage (TOV)
appears to be higher, it is not considered a threat because the TOV level
is within the circuit breaker TOV rating.
the 1 neutral earthing reactors will neither provide effective limitation of
earth fault current nor provide adequate benefits to quality of supply at
the 415V level. Furthermore, it should be noted that in a zone substation
with capacitor bank installations, neutral earthing reactors could increase
the risk of resonance situations that may be difficult to predict.
The installation of 2 neutral earth reactor will result in high TRV levels
that are above the rating of the existing 24kV circuit breakers. Although
substation Cs TRV levels are considered satisfactory with the existing
zone substation configuration, the future installation of capacitor banks
(2 X 12MVAr) will cause the TRV levels to rise above the acceptable
rating. Therefore, the use of 2 NER is not recommended.
7. REFERENCE
D. Mc Nabb and al., June 2001, 'Transient Design Studies for the
TransMantaro Series-Compensated Transmission System', IPST'01
Proceedings, Rio de Janeiro.
D. Braun and G. Koeppl, 2003, Transient Recovery Voltages During the
Switching Under Out-of Phase Conditions, International Conference on
Power System Transients IPST , New Orleans, USA.
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8. APPENDICES
Definition of Terms
TOV Temporary Overvoltage at Fundamental Frequency
TRV Transient Recovery Overvoltage
NER Neutral Earthing Resistor
NEX Neutral Earthing Reactor
NEI Neutral Earthing Impedance
EMTP Electromagnetic Transient Program
CB Circuit Breaker
LV Low Voltage
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