GAS INSULATED

SWITCHGEAR
Dr. PRADIP CHANDA

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Over view
Components of GIS
Specification of GIS
GIS substation layout
Comparison with conventional substation.
Major players in the sector

OVER VIEW
What happens when a circuit breaker start
opening under electrical fault?
Arc generated between fix and moving contact.
Depending on the available mechanism arc
extinguishing process starts.
Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) occurre at the
instant of arc extinction (current is passing
through zero).
If ionization still persist, conduction starts once
again.

OVER VIEW

OVER VIEW

TRV

TRV frequency is= 1/2LC

L= Short circuit
inductance
C= Supply
capacitance

TRV
During 3-phase
faults, the
recovery voltage
is higher on
the first pole to
clear.
The most severe
TRVs tend to
occur across the
first pole to clear
of a circuit
breaker
interrupting a
three-phase
symmetrical
current at its
terminal and

Why to choose a GIS ??

During the first microseconds after current zero, the TRV
withstand, is function of the energy balance in the arc:
thermal phase of interruption.
Later, the voltage withstand, is function of the dielectric
withstand between contacts: dielectric phase of
interruption.
The breaking operation is successful if the circuit breaker
is able to withstand the TRV and the power frequency
recovery voltage.
Gas circuit breakers, within a few microseconds after
current zero, arc resistance (Rarc) reaches 1 million ohms
in a few microseconds andcurrent stops flowing in the
circuit.

SF6 circuit Breaker - Properties of SF6 gas

Electronegative It has the ability of an atom to attract
and hold electrons. Such gas have high dielectric
strength.SF6 is electronegative .It forms negative
ions ,Negative ions are heavy and immobile so they do
not flow easily .Hence SF6 gas has high dielectric
strength.
Rate of rise of dielectric strength is very high.
Can be liquefied and stored in steel tanks
Dielectric strength increase linearly with pressure.
Gas is inert. Therefore contacts will not get eroded.
Gas is non inflammable , Colorless ,odorless, Non-toxic
Thermally stable up to 55 degrees

Component of a switchgear

Component of GIS

Puffer concept

Operating
Mechanism

Self blast concept

In contrast to the common puffer interrupting unit, the self blast

interrupting unit is equipped with a two-stage blast volume. The
partial volumes are separated from each other by means of a freely
movable non-return flap. In the compression volume, the SF6-gas is
compressed during the switch
off movement. The gas suppresses switching arcs in the range of the
operating currents in the same manner as known from the
conventional puffer interrupting unit. Compression volume and contact

Specification

Gas Insulated Substation:

Introduction:
Compact, multi-component assembly.
Enclosed in a ground metallic housing.
Sulphur Hexaflouride (SF6) gas the primary
insulating medium.
(SF6) gas- superior dielectric properties used at
moderate pressure for phase to phase and phase to
ground insulation
Preferred for voltage ratings of 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 300
kV and 420 kV and above.
Various equipments like Circuit Breakers, Bus-Bars,
Isolators,
Load
Break
Switches,
Current
Transformers,
Voltage
Transformers,
Earthing
Switches, etc. housed in metal enclosed modules
filled with SF6 gas.
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16

GIS Assembly:
ESSENTIAL PARTS OF GIS:
1. Bus bar
2. Circuit Breaker
3. Disconnector (line or bus)
4. Earthing switch (line or bus)
5. Current transformer (feeder / bus)
6. Voltage transformer (feeder/ bus)
7. Feeder Disconnector
8. Feeder Earthing switch
9. Lightning / Surge Arrester
10. Cable termination
11. Control Panel.
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17

GI Vacuum Switchgear

Gas insulated substation

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19

Fig: Gas insulated substation with double bus

arrangement
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20

Advantages :
Occupies very less space (1/10th) compared to
ordinary substations.
Hence, most preferred where area for substation
is small (eg: Cities)
Most reliable compared to Air Insulated
Substations.
Number of outages due to the fault is less
Maintenance Free.
Can be assembled at workshop and modules can
be commissioned in the plant easily.

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21

Main Drawbacks

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High cost compared to conventional

substation(AIS).
Excessive damage in case of internal fault.
Diagnosis of internal fault and rectifying
takes very long time (high outage time).
SF6 gas pressure must be monitored in
each compartment.
Reduction in the pressure of the SF6 gas in
any moduleresultsinflash overand faults.
SF6 causes ozone depletion and global
warming.
22

Way forward for GIS?

10-Sep-12

SF6 gas specifically mentioned in Kyoto

protocol.
Small quantities of SF6 in N2 can improve
dielectric strength drastically.
All of the dielectric strength of SF6, nearly,
can be achieved by adding less than 20%
SF6 into N2.
SF6/N2 mixtures less susceptible to effects
of field non uniformity than pure SF6.
Thus mitigating the effects of particles and
surface protrusions.
23

Future trends:

10-Sep-12

Compact design of switch gear by using

three phase modules.
Use of vacuum circuit breaker cells in the
medium high voltage GIS.
Optimization of GIS design to allow easier
maintenance.
Development of DC GIS for incorporating
into expanding national/international HVDC
systems.
Search for replacement gases for SF6.
The most promising - an 80%/20% N2/SF6
mixture.
Replacement of existing AIS by GIS will
24
accelerate especially near urban centers.

Future trends:
A new fluoroketone-based gas
mixture

Fluoroketone (C5-PFK), carbon dioxide (CO2) and

oxygen (O2) for high-voltage GIS
Fluoroketone (C5-PFK), nitrogen (N2) and oxygen
(O2) for medium-voltage GIS
This fluorinated molecule has a chemical composition that
decomposes under ultraviolet light in the lower atmosphere.
Therefore, the molecules atmospheric lifetime is extremely
short (less than 15 days versus 3,200 years with SF6) and it
decomposes into negligible quantities of CO2 that are not
harmful for the environment.
Molecular model of the fluoroketones
C5F10O

Future trends:

Trend in utilization of SF6 gas

CONCLUSION:

10-Sep-12

GIS necessary for Extra HV & Ultra HV

Some important areas to be studied include:
More conservative design.
Improved gas handling.
Decomposition product management
techniques.
Achieving & maintaining high levels of
availability require more integrated
approach to quality control by both users
and manufactures.
27

References:

G.F. Montillet, E. Mikes et al. "Underground

transmission and distribution GIS solutions"
IEEE/PES T&D Exposition and Conference, Dallas USA,
2003.
E. Mikes, Ch. Tschannen, et al. "GIS substation
extensions and upgrades" CEPSI Paper T1-068,
2000, Manila, Philippines.
CIGRE WG 23.10; Paper 23-102, 1998, Report on the
Second International Survey on High-Voltage Gas
Insulated Substations (GIS) Service Experience,
Paris, France 1998.
E. Mikes, H. Aeschbach et al. "Innovative GIS based
solutions for substations" CIGRE SC23 Colloquium
Venezuela, Paper 3.1, 2001.
D. Dufournet, C. Lindner et al. "Technical Trends in
Circuit Breaker Switching Technologies" CIGRE SC
A3 Colloquium paper, Sarajevo, Bosnia, 2003.
10-Sep-12
28
H.
Aeschbach,
E.
Mikes,
et
al.
"Space
saving
GIS

THANK YOU

10-Sep-12

29

 Since 1960, SF6 has been used as arc quenching and insulating medium for high
and medium voltage switchgear systems.
The favourable electrotechnical, chemical and physical characteristics of the gas
have considerably influenced the development of the switchgear technology.
Modern, state of the art, High Voltage and Extra High Voltage switching devices
(e.g. circuit breakers) use SF6 as an arc-quenching medium, almost exclusively.
Another design is the SF6 insulated metal-enclosed switchgear, where the SF6 gas
provide the main insulation of the equipment. Vacuum or SF6 interrupters can be
used. A particular case, broadly used in the public secondary network, is the SF6
insulated Ring Main Unit (RMU).
In this type of equipment switching devices are contained in a single enclosure,
where the SF6 gas ensures simultaneously two tasks: general insulation and arcquenching. It gives to the equipment a great simplicity, compactness, reliability and
safety. In this type of equipment switching devices are contained in a single
enclosure, where the SF6 gas ensures simultaneously two tasks: general insulation
and arc-quenching. It gives to the equipment a great simplicity, compactness,
reliability and safety.
In all these types of equipment there is a common design requirement. Gas-tight
enclosure is a functional and essential requirement, for obvious reasons.

Although the International Standard IEC 60694 still

describes three different types of pressure systems when
qualifying the tightness of the enclosure, nowadays
switchgear design is based on only two of these pressure
systems:
Closed pressure systems, which can be re-filled periodically.
IEC 60694 allows two standardised relative leakage rates of
1% and 3% per year. The present generation of switchgear
is according to the 1% criteria.
Sealed pressure systems are designed and manufactured to
have no emission. Therefore they do not need to be refilled
during the expected operating life (generally 20 to 40
years).