Out-of-Phase High-Voltage Switching
AN AIEE C O M M I T T E E REPORT
T H E I N I T I A L O B J E C T I V E of this A I E E Joint Sub­
committee was to collect information on the frequency
and severity of out-of-phase high-voltage switching
operations and then to decide if further action was justified.
It was felt that the Committeemembers, through their
business and committee affiliations, would be in a position
to give a reasonably representative picture o f high-voltage
out-of-phase switching troubles; therefore, as a first step
a questionnaire was sent out to the Committee members
on June 15, 1948. It was hoped that sufficient material
could be obtained this way and that the industry in general
could be spared another questionnaire.
T h e replies indicated relatively few difficulties. G e n ­
eral conditions considered were: out-of-phase closing,
out-of-phase opening, and out-of-phase reclosing.
T h e total number of cases of out-of-phase switching
actually reported are eight, four of them from one c o m ­
pany, although it is known that more cases have occurred.
In every case reported the circuit breaker cleared the
fault even if it was damaged. Damage has been reported
to interrupting-element parts and to a contact-bridging
resistor. In most cases the damage has not been serious
enough to prevent return to service.
T h e information received from the Committee members
includes not only the experience within their own c o m ­
panies but also the knowledge gained from discussions with
others and review of pertinent papers, such as ' T o w e r
System Stability Requirements Determined by A-C Cal­
culating Board Study, and Operating Performance Proved
b y Staged Fault Tests." 1
Therefore, it is felt that the
survey represents a large proportion of the industry.
There is no doubt that high-voltage out-of-phase switch­
ing presents a definite problem, but the indications are
that in many cases a solution has been found.
T h e only generally applicable remedy would be to use
circuit breakers adequate and guaranteed to perform at
twice normal voltage under all conditions. This would
obviously increase circuit-breaker size and cost.
T h e impression gained from the survey is that the cost
o f the damage on the surveyed systems is much less than
the cost of using circuit breakers adequate for twice normal
voltage. It does not appear appropriate to have general
circuit-breaker applications bear the burden of increased
circuit-breaker size and cost, but there may be cases where
the use of a higher voltage circuit breaker would be justified.
A n investigation of the type made by this Committee is
obliged to consider the over-all picture, and there would
be cases in disagreement with the general conclusion.
W h e n the manufacturer sells a circuit breaker, the user
Essentially full text of the final report of the AIEE Joint Subcommittee on "Out-of-
Phase High-Voltage Switching." Members of the committee were: K. J. Falck,
Ckaimam; R. M . Fenill, G. D. Floyd, I. W. Gross, E. L. Harder, M. H. Hobbs, C. B.
Kelley, Cart Loweriaon, H. V. Nye, and B. W. Wyman.
60 Out-of-Phase High-Voltage Switching
receives not only a piece of equipment but guaranteed
performance. Generally it is recognized that there is
some margin of safety in performance; different for
different circuit breakers and for different conditions. If
it is necessary to utilize some or all of this margin it would
obviously be the user's privilege and responsibility to d o so.
Because of the wide variety of circuit breakers and operat­
ing conditions, the manufacturers could not b e expected
to furnish generally applicable information but may be
consulted in each individual case. Attention is called to
the present trend to use circuit breakers with lower basic
impulse insulation levels on effectively grounded systems,
and the possibility that this method of reducing circuit-
breaker costs may in some cases conflict with the desire to
obtain a margin for out-of-phase switching.
Another promising method o f attack is the judicious
application of high-speed relaying, preferably in con­
junction with 3- or 5-cycle circuit breakers. This means
a complete investigation of each individual case and is
very likely to give the desired results, but such investigations
are outside the scope of this Committee.
Cases reporting the closing of a circuit breaker with the
two sides out-of-phase indicate that more vigilance in
operation and a closer check of synchronizing equipment
would eliminate some of the problems.
System design and operating setup may be arranged
to minimize the probability and effect of out-of-phase
troubles. One system is built in such a manner that it
can be automatically or manually separated at one point
by a predetermined group of switching operations. A plug
board is constantly arranged to trip any desired group of
circuit breakers in the event of instability. By constantly
supervising this board the load dispatcher can be sure that
when a separation is made he will have as nearly as possible
an equitable distribution of load and generation. T h e
general trend in system growth and interconnections is
gradually increasing system stability and reducing the
causes of out-of-phase switching trouble.
A generally applicable solution cannot be justified
economically on the basis of the information obtained by
this Committee. Each individual case requires a thorough
and special investigation to find the most satisfactory
economical solution. This is beyond the scope of this
Committee, but in addition to the general suggestions in
this report the circuit-breaker manufacturers are urged
to continue their efforts to find economically applicable
means of increasing the chances of circuit breakers per­
forming satisfactorily under abnormal system conditions.
REFERENCE
1. Power System Stability Requirements Determined by A-C Calculating Board Study,
and Operating Performance Proved by Staged Fault Tests, W. A. Morgan, Byron
Evans. Internadonai Conference on I>arge Electric High-Tcnsion Systems (Paris,
France), July 1948.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING