Gas insulated switchgear

up to 800kV
The Transmission
and Distribution Sector
The Transmission and Distribution
Sector (T&D) of ALSTOM provides
its customers with a complete range
of products, systems and services
for all key points in the transmission
and distribution of electrical energy
from the generator to the end-user.
The T&D Sector designs and
manufactures all types of equipment
and systems for transformation,
measurement, switching, control
and the monitoring and protection
necessary for national, regional or
private networks.
To satisfy an increasingly
demanding market, the T&D Sector
has also developed a capability for
the supply of turnkey installations,
including design, installation,
commissioning, and maintenance.
With a total workforce of 28 000
people throughout the world,
the Transmission and Distribution
Sector has a turnover of
2900 million Euros.
Through its numerous industrial and
commercial Units, the T&D Sector is
present in 40 countries and on all
the continents and is, therefore,
able to propose a complete bid at
local level and to offer customers a
local quality service.
High Voltage Gas Insulated
Switchgear
Within the Sector, we are a world
leader in the field of high voltage
gas insulated switchgear.
We are continuously developing
new products with still higher
quality, performance and reliability.
Long term experience
In 1966, our first GIS installation
was energized and the first large
245 kV substation was
commissioned in 1969, in France.
To meet world market requirements,
the range was extended to higher
voltages, 420 kV (France) in 1978
and 550 kV (Canada) in 1979.
In the same year 1979, the first
800 kV gas insulated switchgear in
the world was commissioned by our
Company in the United States at
Joshua Falls substation on the
American Electric Power network.
Since then, our products have
gained the benefits of higher
performance, technical
improvements and innovation which
recently has led to the development
of the first 420 kV circuit-breaker
with only one interrupter per phase.
We are developing new products
that take into account future trends
and user needs. These include the
importance placed upon partial
discharge measurement, internal
flashover detection, SF
6
analysis,
fault location methods and digital
control of substations.
More than 1000 gas insulated
substations have already been
ordered from ALSTOM T&D
worldwide, totalling about
8000 bays.
Worldwide references
A competitive solution
Variety and flexibility
of equipment able to cope
with the characteristics of each
project.
High reliability during service
due to the design of each piece
of equipment to be an integral
part of the complete GIS system.
Significant reduction of the
occupied space.
Reduction of project engineering
and management time and of
management tasks to complete
projects.
Ease of commissioning.
Simple operation and minimal
maintenance.
These advantages bring noticeable
reductions in life time costs
(construction and operation) and
make our gas insulated switchgear
a competitive solution.
Diverse applications
City installations: in buildings or
underground occupying minimal
space and resolving economical
and aesthetic aspects.
Industrial substations in highly
polluted or corrosive areas.
Installations in power plants close
to the generators to optimise the
general installation.
Substations subject to severe
local environmental conditions.
Increase in performances or
extension of existing substations
with very limited space available.
SF
6
busduct connections of very
long runs in shafts, underground
galleries or at ground level to
connect the GIS to overhead lines
with the minimum amount of
interfaces.
Applications examples and benefits
Unaffected by
environmental condition
The switchgear is designed to be
used, whatever the environmental
condition :
proximity to the sea
industrial pollution
storms
earthquakes
extreme climate
high altitudes
Compact design
GIS is extremely compact.
Its components are designed to be
as small as possible, to ensure
unquestionable advantages :
Space requirements are reduced
in comparison to conventional
switchgear, proportional to
voltage (up to 30 times less
space for an 800 kV substation!).
Adaptability
GIS can be adapted to any
operating situation.
It is designed to permit a wide
variety of arrangements while
guaranteeing an optimal layout.
Connection to a power
transformer can be made by
using SF
6
-air bushings or SF
6
-oil
bushings.
Any type of cable can be used
for cable connections, whether
oil-filled or dry.
A gas insulated substation can
be extended or modified to meet
changing operational needs, so that
capital investments can be spread.
Extensive
performance
Our GIS has been installed all over
the world with characteristics
covering :
Rated voltage from 72.5
to 800 kV inclusive.
Rated current from 800
to 8000 A.
Short-circuit interrupting current
from 12.5 to 80 kA.
Single phase and three-phase
enclosures.
Cast or welded aluminium alloy
enclosures.
Indoor, outdoor and underground
installations.
Performance range and basic technology
- simple, easy-to-understand
design.
- high reliability.
- maximum energy storage
without a constant auxiliary
energy requirement.
- low maintenance requirements.
- energy delivery independent of
temperature (proven to -50 C).
Hydraulic mechanism
The hydraulic mechanism is well
proven with over 30 years of
service experience having been
used previously on both
conventional and metal clad
equipment.
This type of mechanism is almost
maintenance free requiring only a
few periodical checks such as oil
level.
Reliable indicators
Position indicators on circuit-
breakers, disconnecting switches
and earthing switches are highly
reliable and clearly visible from
the ground.
Aluminium
alloy enclosures
Aluminium alloy enclosures are the
key to the adaptability to any
conditions of service,
because they are both light-weight
and corrosion-resistant.
Earthed metal enclosures ensure
no contact with live parts.
Aluminium alloy enclosures
require no internal protective
coating, eliminating the risk of
generating particles that could
cause internal flashover.
Conical
insulators
Long creepage distance
insulators (cone-shaped) give
excellent dielectric strength.
Gas
monitoring
Each bay of switchgear
is divided into several gas
tight zones.
Gas density relays constantly
monitor SF
6
density.
Each SF
6
zone has a moisture
absorbing cartridge to control
humidity.
Safety diaphragms prevent any
rupture of an enclosure.
Operational feedback proves that
less than 1% of the SF
6
is lost
per year.
Modern circuit-breaker
drives
Spring operating mechanisms
with proven service experience
and key features such as :
Short-circuit test laboratories
A 5000 MVA test laboratory with
two 2500 MVA generators
coupled in parallel for direct
testing.
A synthetic testing circuit. The
recovery voltage at the terminals
of the circuit-breaker under test is
obtained by the discharge of a
capacity in an oscillating circuit
(current or voltage injection
method).
Total energy up to 4 Megajoules.
Dielectric test laboratories for extra
high voltage tests
An impulse wave generator to
provide lightning impulse waves
of an amplitude of 3200 kV.
Power frequency test equipment
up to 1500 kV.
Complementary laboratories
Short time current withstand tests.
Temperature rise tests.
Mechanical-environmental tests.
EMC and electronic tests.
Resources for research into arc
physics
Study of the arc and gas flow
using strioscopy or interferometry.
Determination of pressure
gradients.
A large collection of software
programmes for scientific calculation
Fluid mechanics and energy
transfer (CELIA, MC3, etc.)
Simulation of HV networks
(EMTP)
Field analysis (FLUX 2D, PHI 3D)
Finite element and dynamic
behaviour of structures
(ANSYS...)
Accredited testing centre
Accreditation according
EN45001 European Standard.
Short Circuit Testing, liaison (STL)
membership.
Research and development
Objective
innovation
High performance and innovative
products are essential for the
existence and growth of our
Company and are the result of
extensive research and
development projects carried out
in our ALSTOM T&D test and
research centre.
Impressive
research facilities
The following facilities are available
in our test and research centre:
All components, including those
from outside suppliers,
are assembled in a controlled clean
workshop environment.
Efficient and flexible
management
To motivate our teams better, each
line of manufacture is structured in
self contained units, each
responsible for its own objectives
for quality, delivery and costs.
Powerful computer systems ensure
effective planning and project
coordination.
This kind of management provides
a combination of economical
modern industrial production with
the flexibility required for the
special requirements encountered in
each contract.
Design and manufacturing facilities
Strategic components
manufacturing
The manufacture of all strategic
components and specific process
applications are performed inside
our facilities such as :
Insulators in epoxy resin.
Busbar conductors.
Surface treatment of various parts
and components.
Spring operating mechanisms.
The rational layout of the different
workshops in the order of
production flow and the automation
of stock, handling and control, all
contribute to improved quality and
reduced delivery times.
Rigorous cleanliness
throughout manufacturing
The dielectric withstand of the GIS,
and its reliability depend on the
degree of cleanliness of the
enclosures and internal parts,
and hence the care used in the
assembly of all components.
Efficient
design offices
ALSTOM T&D continues to make
considerable investments in facilities
for the design and development of
new products and components,
including the use of 2D and 3D
Computer Aided Design (CAD),
data management and computer
graphics used in our engineering
design work.
Quality
orientated facilities
The successful manufacturing of gas
insulated substations constantly
demands new and better
technologies, modern production
facilities and efficient
organizational structures. Our
facilities are developed and
reviewed at regular intervals to
include these requirements to
manage the quality of components
and essential elements of our
products.
Highest quality
ALSTOM T&D has a long history of
developing, applying and
promoting a Quality Assurance
programme to meet the strictest
requirements (ISO 9001).
The Quality Assurance goals at
ALSTOM T&D can be summarised
as follows:
To guarantee that all our
equipment complies with all the
clauses of the contract signed
with the client and are built
according to good trade
practice. To that end, ALSTOM
T&D has always maintained
control over manufacture of every
component, insisting that its
suppliers provide the same
quality levels as its own
workshops.
To ensure that all equipments
give the final user the utmost
satisfaction while offering
continuity of service and easy
maintenance, and thus low
operating costs.
Each equipment is subjected to a
complete set of type, routine and
commissioning tests, in compliance
with international standards, and
the reports on those tests are held
available for operators to consult.
Reliability
GIS 's specific features guarantee
problem-free operation :
Calculations and strict tests are run
at each stage during manufacture,
from design to installation.
Heavy-duty high-performance
circuit-breakers, give high
mechanical and electrical
integrity due to the interrupting
techniques and operating
mechanisms employed.
Disconnecting switches and
earthing switches fulfill the latest
requirements for no load and
busbar switching.
The design of high speed
earthing switches positively
prevents unintentional operation.
Quality and reliability
Training
Our up to date and well equipped
training centre facilities provide
knowledge and technique to our
customers, on the installation,
operation and maintenance of
equipment.
In the end, this contributes to the
excellent level of reliability of our
gas insulated switchgear when in
service.
Preventive and corrective
maintenance
Designed for a working life of at
least 30 years, the switchgear
provides long trouble free service
with minimum maintenance.
ALSTOM T&D provides schedules
for the periodical inspections to be
made on the equipment, and upon
request can perform maintenance
work or other servicing on site.
Easy modification
Substitution, extension, renewal and
uprating of substations are always
possible. Requirements of ageing,
power and short-circuit increase,
higher safety, etc can often be
catered for by modification or
uprating.
ALSTOM T&D's staff at your service
Our teams can help the customers,
to cover all aspects of renovation
including cost estimation, design,
environmental effect analysis,
maintenance requirements or to
solve problems arising from mixing
old and new equipment.
Long term assistance
The customer's operating staff is
regularly visited by our specialists
who advise on maintenance works
and training.
Spare parts are available for all
types of equipment including the
oldest designs. Long term assistance
contracts can also be established to
secure the immediate and
permanent availability of strategic
spares.
Partnership with
our customers
From project conception through to
commissioning and on to after sales
services, ALSTOM T&D places great
emphasis on long term partnerships
with customers.
A worldwide network of
representatives and technical offices
ensure we maintain local contact
and develop partnerships
with customers at all times
throughout the world.
Installation and
commissioning
Due to the nature of the equipment,
on site installation is extremely
important. Supervision of erection
by a ALSTOM T&D specialist is
mandatory. Equipment is delivered
with comprehensive operating and
instruction manuals.
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ALSTOM T&D SA, HV Gas Insulated Switchgear, 1, rue Paul Doumer, P.O. Box 601, F-73106 Aix-les-Bains Cedex (France)
Tel. +33 (0)4 79 88 79 80, Fax +33 (0)4 79 88 79 39
ALSTOM AG, High Voltage Equipment, Carl-Sprecher-Strasse 3, P.O. Box 186, CH-5036 Oberentfelden (Switzerland)
Tel. +41 (0)62 737 33 33, Fax +41 (0)62 737 33 47
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION